How much does an online store cost in the US? A 2026 guide for small businesses
If you run a business in the United States and want to sell online, this guide helps you understand what you pay for, which costs come every month and how to compare quotes.
Many small businesses in the United States start selling on Instagram, WhatsApp or at local markets, and at some point they need their own online store. I work remotely with clients in several countries, and the first question is always the same: “how much is this going to cost me?”.
What you pay once and what you pay every month
An online store has an upfront investment (design, development, product setup and configuration) and monthly costs (platform, domain, apps and transaction fees). To compare quotes fairly, add both together and look at the total cost for the first year.
What the upfront investment includes
- Custom design built around your brand and designed for mobile first.
- Cart, payments and shipping ready to go, with automatic emails for your customers.
- Product setup with variants, photos and collections.
- A store in English, Spanish or both, depending on your audience.
- Initial SEO setup: heading structure, meta tags, URLs and other technical details that help Google crawl and understand your store. Rankings also depend on competition, content and ongoing SEO work.
- Product copy written to sell.
- Training so you can manage orders and inventory on your own.
As a reference, at LBN Studio an online store (ecommerce) starts at USD 500 and a landing page at USD 300. The final price depends on your catalog, languages and integrations, and I always send it as a fixed quote. Because I work remotely, the cost is usually lower than hiring a local agency.
| Type of project | Estimated price |
|---|---|
| Landing page | from USD 300 |
| Online store for a small brand | USD 500 – 1,200 |
| Custom online store with bespoke design | USD 1,200 – 2,500 |
| Online store with advanced integrations or migration | from USD 2,500 |
Estimated prices in US dollars. The final price depends on each project.
Monthly costs
Platform
Shopify is the most widely used platform in the US: a monthly plan that includes hosting, security and built-in payments. WooCommerce is free, but it needs hosting and maintenance.
.com domain
It renews every year and is one of the smallest costs.
Payments
Most stores accept cards through Shopify Payments or Stripe, plus PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Each one charges a fee per sale.
Sales tax
In the US, sales tax varies by state. Platforms can calculate it automatically; check with your accountant which states you need to collect it in.
Shopify or WooCommerce?
For most businesses in the US, Shopify is the most practical option: everything works together and it needs almost no maintenance. If you already have WordPress or need something very custom, WooCommerce gives you more freedom. I explain it in Shopify vs WooCommerce: which one is right for you.
Before you hire someone
- Ask for a breakdown of what the quote includes.
- Add up the upfront investment and the costs for the first 12 months.
- Make sure the domain and the store account are in your name.
- Ask what support you'll get after launch, and during which hours.
Take a look at some of my projects, like Vinos Argentinos or Nemi Café.
How much would your online store cost?
Every business has different needs. If you're thinking about launching an online store or redesigning the one you have, LBN Studio can review your project and prepare a quote tailored to your catalog, design and features.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an online store cost in the US?
It depends on your catalog, languages and integrations. The right way to compare is to add the upfront investment and the monthly costs for the first year. At LBN Studio an online store starts at USD 500 and a landing page at USD 300, with a fixed quote.
Can my store be in both English and Spanish?
Yes. Shopify lets you run your store in several languages so each customer sees it in their own.
Does the store calculate sales tax automatically?
Yes, platforms like Shopify can calculate it by state. Check with your accountant where you need to collect it.