eCommerce Website Development Cost Breakdown Tips by Location and Tech Stack

eCommerce is a rapidly growing industry, and developing an eCommerce website is essential for any business looking to succeed in the digital age and a question that we at ProCoders get asked very often is how much does it cost to build an e-commerce website? Well, the cost of eCommerce website development can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, such as location, tech stack and features or functionality.

We at ProCoders have put together a guide for you so you can follow our recommendations and whether you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise, this article will provide valuable insights and guidance for eCommerce website development cost optimization.

eCommerce Website Development Costs Structure: Costs’ Control Check List for CEOs and CTOs

Developing an eCommerce website requires careful planning and budgeting to ensure that the final product meets all business needs and functions effectively. To help CEOs and CTOs keep track of development costs, we at ProCoders have put together a comprehensive checklist that covers all stages of the process, from conception to maintenance.

Planning and Design: 

The CTO needs to consider the project’s technical scope and requirements, ensuring alignment with company capabilities and future goals. Critical considerations include designing for robust security, scalability in infrastructure and software architecture, system stability for regular updates and feature integration, and cost-effectiveness regarding the technology stack.

At the same time, the CEO focuses on the project’s alignment with the company’s broader strategic goals. This entails assessing scalability not just in terms of user growth, but also the potential for business model evolution and market expansion. Additionally, turnaround opportunities, marketing and sales-enabling features, and overall development cost vis-à-vis expected return on investment are paramount.

Both leaders must collaborate to ensure the design is technically sound, business-aligned, and sets the stage for a successful project. Depending on the project’s complexity, this crucial stage typically ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 in cost.

In our Discovery Phase, we delve deep into your business. This includes a comprehensive competitor analysis and examination of industry trends to identify unique opportunities. We pay close attention to potential for scalability and marketing and sales opportunities. The end result is an implementation plan tailored to your business needs, considering factors like budget, timeline, and required resources, effectively addressing the core interests of both the CTO and CEO.

Front-End Development: 

Once the design is approved, the front-end development phase begins. This involves creating the user interface and functionality of the website. Costs for this stage can range from $8,000 to $20,000.

Back-End Development: 

The back-end development phase is the building of the server-side of the website, where the site’s logic and functionality are implemented. This stage includes database integration, content management system integration, and payment gateway integration. Costs for this stage can range from $10,000 to $30,000.

Be aware! Front-end and back-end development usually happened simultaneously, we separated them there in order to give you cost estimation, not a development plan!

Testing and Bug Fixing: 

Once the development is complete, the site must undergo rigorous testing to ensure that it functions as intended. This is a crucial stage in the development process as it can impact the quality of the code and user experience. The cost for testing and bug fixing can range from $3,000 to $8,000.

Launch and Maintenance: 

After testing, the website can be launched. However, maintenance is essential to ensure the site remains functional and up-to-date. Maintenance costs can include software updates, bug fixes, and technical support, and can range from $1,000 to $5,000 per month.

All-Around Costs: 

In addition to the cost to develop an ecommerce website, there are other expenses associated with creating an eCommerce website. These can include domain registration, hosting, SSL certificates, and payment gateway fees. These expenses can range from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the chosen service provider and hosting plan.

Overall, the ecommerce website costs can vary widely depending on the scope of the project and specific requirements. CEOs and CTOs must be vigilant and stay on top of the development process to ensure that costs remain under control.

The location of the development team and the use of outsourcing and outstaffing services can also affect the total cost of developing an eCommerce website. At ProCoders, we recruit top-tier developers from locations with less competitive markets, such as Albania and Croatia. This strategy allows us to offer a pricing model that is not only flexible but also takes into account the unique scope and requirements of each project. Our experienced team of developers, designers, and project managers are dedicated to providing high-quality eCommerce website development services.

The most Popular Ecommerce Website Tech Stack

The tech stack of an ecommerce website refers to the combination of programming languages, frameworks, and tools used to develop it. A tech stack can greatly influence the performance, scalability, and security of an ecommerce website. Here you can learn how to choose the best technology stack for web development. Below ProCoders discuss some of the most popular ecommerce website tech stacks.

Off-the-shelf eCommerce platform

Magento

Open-source ecommerce platform written in PHP. It has a vast community of developers and offers a wide range of features and functionalities that make it a preferred choice for large ecommerce websites. Magento offers flexibility, scalability, and customization, making it ideal for businesses with complex ecommerce requirements.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is also an open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress, written in PHP. Best for small and medium-sized businesses due to its ease of use and flexibility. WooCommerce offers a wide range of features and functionalities, including customizable themes, plugins, and extensions. At ProCoders, we have experience in developing custom WooCommerce solutions that are tailored to our client’s needs. Also, you can read about WordPress developer salary cost for further insight.

Shopify

A cloud-based ecommerce platform that offers an all-in-one solution for businesses. Written in Ruby on Rails and is a preferred choice for businesses with limited technical expertise. Shopify offers a wide range of themes, plugins, and extensions, making it easy to customize the platform. It also offers features such as inventory management, order tracking, and payment processing.

BigCommerce

It is a popular choice for businesses with high scalability requirements, as it offers a wide range of features and functionalities to meet the needs of large ecommerce websites. BigCommerce offers features such as product management, payment processing, and order tracking.

PrestaShop

Another open-source ecommerce platform written in PHP. A very popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses due to its ease of use and flexibility. PrestaShop offers a wide range of features and functionalities, including customizable themes, plugins, and extensions.

Bespoke eCommerce Website 

MEAN Stack

The MEAN stack is a popular tech stack for custom ecommerce websites that uses JavaScript as the primary programming language. MEAN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js. This tech stack is ideal for businesses that require real-time data processing and high scalability.

LAMP Stack

A traditional tech stack that stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Widely used for building custom ecommerce websites because it is cost-effective, secure, and has a large community of developers. It is also easy to scale and can handle high traffic.

MERN Stack

Similar to the MEAN stack, but instead of AngularJS, it uses React.js as the frontend framework. MERN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js. This tech stack is ideal for businesses that require a high level of interactivity and a smooth user experience.

Ruby on Rails

One of the most popular open-source web development framework that uses the Ruby programming language. A great choice for building custom ecommerce websites because it is easy to use, has a large community of developers, and offers a wide range of plugins and extensions.

Django

Widely used web development framework written in Python. It is a popular choice for building custom ecommerce websites because it is easy to use, secure, and offers a wide range of plugins and extensions. Django also has a large community of developers, making it easy to find support and resources.

WordPress

WordPress is a powerful CMS system that can be used to build an ecommerce site. It offers an intuitive administration panel, customizability, and a vast number of plugins and themes, making it easy to create a unique platform. It offers a range of benefits, including fast page loading, Google Page Speed Indicator, Content Delivery Network, and a choice of pure CSS or Elementor. 
ProCoders can help businesses with their WordPress ecommerce site by providing a team of specialists, including designers, software engineers, project managers, and QA experts. Our team undergoes a rigorous testing process to verify both the hard and soft skills of team members, ensuring the quality of the services provided. We provide a range of custom packages, including support, maintenance, part-time, and full-time. Our clients choose ProCoders because of their maturity, confidence, and reputation for delivering great results to help their businesses grow. If you’re planning to undertake an SEO marketing project, WordPress is an excellent solution for this, You can find more details in our comprehensive guide hire cms developers to understand everything involved in the process.

Cost Breakdown Tips by Location

The location of your development team can have a significant impact on the cost to build ecommerce website. Hiring a team in a country with a higher cost of living, such as the United States or the United Kingdom, will typically result in higher development costs compared to hiring a team in a country with a lower cost of living, such as Estonia or Croatia.

For example, the average hourly rate for an eCommerce developer in the US can range from $50-$250 per hour, while in Estonia or Croatia, the average hourly rate is around $20-$50 per hour. Keep in mind that the cost of living in each country and region may affect these rates.

Hiring offshore developers or to outsource website development can be an effective way to reduce the cost to start an ecommerce website without sacrificing quality. Many offshore development companies offer competitive rates and access to a pool of talented web developers for hire. Working with a reliable eCommerce development partner like ProCoders can help you optimize costs while ensuring high-quality work.

Key Software Development Cost Estimation Methods

Software development cost estimation is a crucial aspect of any software project, and it involves determining the resources required to complete the project within a specified time and budget. Using our ProCoders wisdom here are some of the key software development cost estimation methods:

Expert Judgment

Expert judgment involves consulting with experienced professionals to estimate the time and cost required to complete the project. This method relies on the knowledge and experience of experts in the field, who can provide insights into the complexity of the project and the resources required. 

ProCoders’ Discovery Phase is such a service. It involves a detailed analysis of a project’s requirements, including user needs, technical feasibility, and risks. The Discovery Phase provides a comprehensive understanding of the project’s scope, which helps to develop a more accurate and realistic project estimate.

Bottom-Up Estimation

the project is divided into smaller, more manageable components, and the time and cost needed for each component are estimated. The estimations are then combined to get a project-wide estimate. While taking more time, this approach yields a more precise estimate.

Top-Down Estimation

Estimates the overall cost of the project and then breaking it down into smaller components. This method is less accurate than bottom-up estimation but is useful for providing a quick estimate.

Parametric Estimation

Uses historical data and statistical models to estimate the cost and time required to complete the project. 

Three-Point Estimation

For each work in the project, a three-point estimation strategy utilizes calculating the best-case, worst-case, and most likely situations. The anticipated length and cost of the project are then determined using the estimates.

Agile Estimation

Agile estimation involves breaking down the project into small, manageable chunks and estimating the time and cost required for each chunk. This method is based on the Agile methodology, which emphasizes flexibility and responsiveness to change.

Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of method will depend on the specific needs of the project.

Types of eCommerce Websites and How Development Costs Can Depend on This? 

There are several types of eCommerce websites, each with its own unique features and development costs:

Type of eCommerce Website	Target Audience	Complexity	Development Cost Range
B2B eCommerce Website	Businesses	More complex, advanced features such as pricing and inventory management systems	$50,000 to $500,000
C2C eCommerce Website	Consumers	Less complex, fewer features than B2B websites	$10,000 to $100,000
C2C eCommerce Website	Businesses	Less complex than B2B websites, may require advanced features such as payment processing and inventory management	$10,000 to $100,000
C2C eCommerce Website	Consumers	Less complex than B2C websites, may require advanced features such as payment processing and customer review systems	$10,000 to $50,000
P2P eCommerce Website	Individuals	Less complex than C2C websites, may require advanced features such as payment processing and customer review systems	$10,000 to $50,000
Multivendor (Marketplace) eCommerce Website	Multiple vendors	Most complex, advanced features such as vendor management, payment processing, and inventory management	$100,000 to $500,000

Key Development Costs Where You Can Save a Lot

Developing a software project can be expensive, and unexpected costs can quickly add up. ProCoders have outlined some key stages in the development process where you can save a lot and avoid unexpected costs:

Planning and Design:

During the planning and design stage, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the project’s requirements and scope. This stage sets the foundation for the entire project, and changes made later on can be costly. By investing more time and effort in planning and design, you can save a lot of money later on in the development process.

Communication:

Effective communication is essential throughout the development process. Miscommunications and misunderstandings can lead to delays and unexpected costs. It’s important to have regular meetings and check-ins with the development team to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Testing:

Testing is a critical part of the development process, as it helps identify and fix issues before they become larger problems. By investing in thorough testing, you can avoid unexpected costs caused by bugs and other issues that can arise later on in the development process.

Agile Development:

Agile development is an iterative approach that focuses on flexibility and responsiveness to change. This approach can help you save a lot of money by allowing you to make changes to the project as needed, without incurring significant costs or delays.

Open-Source Software:

Open-source software can be a cost-effective alternative to proprietary software. By using open-source software, you can save money on licensing fees and other costs associated with proprietary software.

Hiring:

Outsourcing and outstaffing can be cost-effective alternatives to hiring full-time employees for software development projects. Clients can save on labor costs, and overhead costs, and benefit from the flexibility, access to specialized skills, and risk mitigation offered by these services. 

We at ProCoders offer flexible engagement models like Dedicated team, Staff Augmentation, etc that can be tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. With a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, ProCoders is a trusted partner for clients looking to save on hiring costs and achieve their software development goals. For a further understanding, ProCoders recommend hire an ecommerce developer.

How Much Does It Cost To Develop an eCommerce Website?

How much does it cost to create an ecommerce website is not a simple question to answer as ecommerce website design cost can vary widely depending on a variety of factors, such as the size and complexity of the site, the features and functionality required, the platform used, and the level of customization needed.

On average, the development of a basic ecommerce website costs between $10,000 and $50,000. This would typically include standard features such as product pages, a shopping cart, and a payment gateway integration.

For a more complex eCommerce website with additional features such as advanced search functionality, user profiles, and social media integrations, the development cost can range from $50,000 to $100,000 or more.

If the eCommerce website requires extensive customization or integration with other systems, the development cost can be significantly higher, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 or more.

It’s important to note that these are just rough estimates, and the actual cost of developing an eCommerce website will depend on the specific requirements and goals of the project. To get a more accurate estimate, it’s best to consult with an experienced eCommerce development team like ProCoders, who can provide a detailed analysis of the project’s requirements and a customized quote based on the client’s specific needs.

How Can Procoders Help You to Save Costs While Developing an eCommerce Website?

ProCoders is dedicated to helping clients save costs while developing an eCommerce website. We achieve this through a variety of means, including offering a discovery phase that allows clients to analyze the market and competition, identify project requirements and goals, and recognize potential opportunities for cost savings. By investing time and effort into this phase, we can help our clients avoid costly mistakes and ensure that the development process runs smoothly and efficiently.

Take, for instance, our work with Deine Baustoffe, a German retail eCommerce company. We utilized the PHP Spryker framework to develop a unique solution that allowed them to sell building materials in unconventional units like pieces, square meters, or liters—something not possible on standard platforms like Shopify. Our approach saved them money while delivering a high-quality, custom eCommerce solution. This was made possible due to our indepth analysis of the market during the Discovery Phase and identifying features that would make the product stand out.

ProCoders offers a unique advantage by not only assuming the responsibility for the time-consuming and expensive aspects of recruitment, onboarding, and managing employee leave but also by providing flexible team scalability as per your project needs. We can swiftly expand the development team when the project requirements increase and similarly, downsize it when certain roles are no longer necessary. This dynamic adjustment means you avoid the costs and complexities of hiring and letting go of staff. You gain access to our experienced developers from Central Europe, all of whom have specialized in eCommerce development. This ensures you receive high-quality development services without the overheads of a traditional hiring process. Furthermore, our adherence to the agile development methodology allows for flexible and responsive development, swiftly adapting to changing project requirements and avoiding costly delays and revisions.

We pride ourselves on providing customization options for eCommerce websites, each tailored to suit our clients’ unique needs and budgets. This approach enables us to avoid unnecessary and costly features and functionalities. Instead of always starting from scratch, we incorporate third-party services and platforms where possible, delivering robust, affordable solutions.

Our work for a client offering an online delivery service is an excellent example of this. The client started with a simple alcohol delivery service for parties and eventually grew into a full-fledged goods delivery platform. We developed a custom solution allowing them to add their stores and products to the platform while creating distinct applications for customers, delivery personnel, and stores. Our team used Angular/Ionic for front-end, Firebase for real-time database, and Node.js for back-end development. This bespoke solution precisely fits the client’s needs, all the while being cost-effective.

At ProCoders, we place a strong emphasis on clear communication with the client throughout the development process to ensure that there are no misunderstandings or miscommunications that can lead to increased costs. Our goal is to help our clients save costs without sacrificing quality or functionality, and we achieve this through our expertise, experience, and commitment to delivering high-quality eCommerce development services.

Conclusion

Now that you have an idea about how much does an ecommerce website cost, you must understand that developing an eCommerce website can be a complex and expensive process, but by carefully considering the location and tech stack, businesses can save costs without compromising on quality. Additionally, by working with an experienced development team like ProCoders, businesses can benefit from expert guidance and cost-saving strategies throughout the development process. With a focus on clear communication, customization, developers, third-party integrations, testing, and maintenance, ProCoders is a trusted partner for businesses looking to develop high-quality eCommerce websites while keeping costs under control.