What you are really paying for
An ecommerce website has three kinds of cost. There is the cost to build it once. There is the monthly cost to keep it running. And there is your time, which is the cost most people forget. A cheap build with a heavy monthly bill is not cheap. A free tool that eats every weekend is not free either. Compare all three over a year, not just the first invoice.
Agency-built store
An agency designs and builds a store to your brief. You get a custom look and someone to call. You also get the biggest bill. Shopify's own cost guide puts custom-built stores at $2,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on how complex they are. In India, quotes vary a lot by city and team. On top of the build, most agencies charge a monthly retainer for hosting, fixes and small changes. This makes sense once you have steady sales and know what you need. It rarely makes sense for a first store.
Store builder
A hosted store builder gives you themes, a product editor, checkout and hosting in one monthly plan. There is little or nothing to pay upfront, and many builders have a free plan to start. The platform handles security, updates and uptime. Your trade-off is less control over the code. For most first stores, that trade is worth it. You can be live in a day and spend your money on stock and ads instead.
DIY on open source
Open-source tools like WooCommerce are free to download. The store is not free to run. You pay for hosting, a theme, paid plugins for things like GST invoices, and backups. You also own every update and every security fix. If a plugin breaks your checkout during a sale, it is your problem at midnight. DIY suits you if you enjoy the technical side or already have a developer you trust.
Costs people forget
Whatever you pick, a few costs show up on every store. A domain name costs roughly $10 to $30 a year, per the same Shopify guide. A payment gateway takes a small cut of each order. Paid apps or plugins each add a monthly line. Good product photos cost money or time. And packaging is not part of the website, but it lands on your bill with every order. Add these up before you compare options.
Agency vs builder vs DIY at a glance
| Option | Upfront cost | Monthly cost | Who maintains it | Time to launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency-built store | High - custom builds often run into lakhs | Hosting plus a support retainer | The agency, on a contract | Weeks to months |
| Store builder | Low - a free plan to start | Plan fee, for example ₹1,199 or ₹4,999 a month | The platform | Hours to days |
| DIY on open source | Low to medium - theme, plugins and setup | Hosting, paid plugins and your time | You, or a freelancer you pay | Days to weeks |
Which fits your stage
If you have not made your first sale yet, start on a builder and keep your upfront cost close to zero. Prove people will buy, then spend. If you sell steadily and need custom features, an agency can earn its fee. If you have strong technical skills, DIY gives you control at the price of your time. The builder prices in the table are The Storemate's paid plans, and you can begin on a free plan before you pay for one.