Three ways to build an online store
| Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom-built | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hosted store platform, monthly plan | Free plugin for WordPress, on your own hosting | A store built for your business |
| Set-up cost | ₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000 for a good theme and setup | ₹50,000 – ₹2,50,000 | Around ₹4,00,000 and up |
| Running costs | Monthly plan, apps, and transaction fees on some plans | Hosting, paid plugins, updates | Hosting and maintenance |
| Flexibility | Good within the platform’s rules | High, but plugins can clash | Anything you need |
| Best for | Most new D2C brands | Content-heavy stores, tight budgets | Unusual pricing, B2B, deep integrations |
Platform prices and fees change, so check each provider’s India pricing page before deciding. What matters more is total cost over two or three years, including the apps and plugins you will add.
Costs beyond the website
| Cost | How it works |
|---|---|
| Payment gateway | Usually around 2% of each online payment, plus GST on that fee |
| Shipping | Per shipment through a courier or a shipping aggregator, by weight and distance |
| Cash on delivery | Extra courier charges, plus the cost of orders refused at the door |
| Returns | Reverse pickup, damaged goods, and repacking time |
| Product photos and content | Often the most underestimated item for a new store |
| Marketing | Ads, influencers and discounts — usually the biggest ongoing cost |
Features every Indian store needs
- Fast pages on mid-range Android phones and patchy networks
- UPI, cards, net banking and wallets, with clear failure handling
- Pin-code serviceability check and delivery dates on the product page
- GST invoices with HSN codes, generated automatically
- Order updates on WhatsApp or SMS
- Simple returns and refunds that customers can request themselves
- An admin panel your staff can actually use to pack and ship
When a custom store is worth it
- B2B or wholesale ordering with customer-specific prices, minimum quantities and credit.
- Made-to-order products — tailoring, printing, furniture — where the order needs measurements or approval.
- Several warehouses or stores sharing live stock.
- Your own systems — billing, ERP, warehouse — must stay in sync in real time.
- Platform fees and app costs have grown past what a custom build would cost over a few years.
The general trade-offs are in custom software vs off-the-shelf. For a simpler site without a store, see how much a website costs in India.
Your own store or a marketplace?
Marketplaces bring ready traffic but take a commission and own the customer relationship. Your own store keeps the customer and the margin but needs you to bring visitors. Many brands do both: marketplaces for reach, their own store for repeat customers, bundles and better margins.
Questions people ask
- Can I start an online store for under ₹50,000?
- Yes, on a platform with a ready theme, if you do the product setup yourself. You’ll still pay monthly platform or hosting fees and per-order payment and shipping costs.
- Is Shopify or WooCommerce better in India?
- Shopify is easier to run and needs less technical upkeep. WooCommerce gives more control and can be cheaper month to month, but needs updates and good hosting. Choose by who will manage the store day to day.
- Do I need a GST number to sell online?
- Rules depend on what and how you sell, and sellers on marketplaces generally need GST registration. Check your situation with your accountant before launching.
- How long does it take to launch an online store?
- A platform store with a good theme can launch in two to four weeks once products and photos are ready. A custom store usually takes two to four months.
Planning something like this?
Tell us what you want to build. You’ll get a written scope and a fixed quote before any work starts.