How Much Is a Shopify Store? What You’ll Spend in 2027

You’re ready to start your Shopify dropshipping store, you’ve picked a few products, and now you’re figuring out your budget. Shopify’s Basic plan is $39/month, so that should cover it, right? Well, not quite. Once you add a domain, dropshipping tools, apps, and advertising, the total starts adding up.

So, how much is a Shopify store, really? In this guide, I’ll break down the one-time and monthly costs, show you what a realistic beginner budget looks like, and help you figure out where to spend (and where you can save).

The Full Cost Of A Shopify Dropshipping Store

Here’s an overview of what you can expect to pay to start and run a Shopify dropshipping store. Some expenses are unavoidable, while others depend on how much you want to invest in tools, design, and marketing.

Costs are estimates in USD and vary by plan, provider, and store location. Card processing fees increase with sales volume, while advertising expenses depend on your budget. Product fulfillment costs are separate and vary with each order.

For beginners, $150-$300 per month before advertising is a reasonable budget to plan around. You can keep costs under $100 with a basic setup, spend a little more on automation and apps as a beginner, or invest $300+ in a more advanced store. I’ll break down these three budget scenarios later in the guide, so you can see exactly where your money goes.

How Much Does It Cost To Start Dropshipping? Startup Costs vs Monthly Costs

One thing to keep in mind when budgeting for your Shopify store: not every expense hits at the same time. Some you’ll pay upfront, others will show up every month, and a few only kick in once you start making sales. 

Here’s how to tell them apart:

• One-time start-up costs: Registering your domain (around $10-$20 for the first year), buying a premium theme if you want one, ordering product samples, and creating your logo or branding. Your domain will also need an annual renewal. 
• Recurring monthly costs: Your Shopify subscription, dropshipping automation tool, and any paid apps you install for reviews, email marketing, or other features. 
• Per-sale costs: Card processing fees and the amount you pay your supplier to fulfill each customer order. These depend on how many sales you make.

The good news is that Shopify offers a trial, making it easier for new sellers to get started. Currently, you can join the 3-day free trial, followed by three months at $1/month. That’s a nice little head start while you’re setting everything up and preparing for your first few sales.

So, what would your first month actually cost?

Let’s say you choose the Shopify Basic plan with the promotional offer ($1), register a domain ($15/year), subscribe to a basic automation tool ($26.90/month), install $20/month worth of apps, and spend $40 on product samples. 

That’s $102.90 to get started. Add an optional $100 advertising budget, and your total comes to $202.90 for the month, before payment processing fees and supplier fulfillment costs.

That’s just an example, of course. It doesn’t include transaction fees or supplier fulfillment costs, and your expenses will change once promotional pricing ends. But it shows how you can get started without investing hundreds of dollars in software alone. 

Shopify Plan Cost

Shopify charges a monthly subscription to keep your store running, with different plans depending on your needs. 

Here’s the current Shopify pricing in USD (keep in mind it varies by region):

• Basic: $39/month, or $29/month billed annually. Everything you need to launch your first online store.
• Grow: $105/month, or $79/month billed annually. Adds staff accounts and lower payment processing fees.
• Advanced: $399/month, or $299/month billed annually. Offers more staff accounts, better processing rates, and advanced shipping features.
• Plus: From $2,300/month with a three-year commitment. Designed for larger businesses needing more customization and advanced features.

For beginners, Basic is usually more than enough. You can always upgrade as your business grows. Annual billing saves money, but it requires paying for the year upfront, which can be a big sum if you’re just getting started. 

Domain Cost

Your Shopify domain is your store’s web address (like yourstore.com), what customers type into their browsers to visit your store. Shopify gives you a free myshopify.com subdomain, but a custom domain looks more professional and helps customers remember your brand. 

A standard .com domain typically costs $10-$20 per year, depending on where you buy it:

• Through Shopify: Around $16/year, with automatic setup and renewal at roughly the same price. 
• Through other registrars: Around $11-$20/year from providers like Namecheap or GoDaddy. A tip? Just be careful with renewal prices after the first year, as they can significantly increase.

That’s only $0.83-$1.67 per month when you spread the annual cost across your budget. But again: just remember that domains renew yearly, so prices can change. 

Card Processing Fees

Next up are card processing fees, an expense new sellers often overlook. What are these, exactly? Simple: every time a customer pays by card, you’ll pay a processing fee. It’s usually a percentage of the sale plus a small fixed amount. The exact rate depends on your Shopify plan, country, and payment method.

For example, Shopify Payments charges 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction on the US Basic plan. Higher-tier plans offer lower rates, but card processing fees still apply. 

Here are the standard online card processing rates for each Shopify plan in the US:

• Basic: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
• Grow: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
• Advanced: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction
• Plus: From 2.25% + $0.30 per transaction

Now, let’s see what that looks like with $1,000 in sales across 20 orders of $50 each on the Basic plan:

Percentage fee: $1,000 × 2.9% = $29

Fixed fee: 20 orders × $0.30 = $6

💳 Total processing fees: $35

And before moving on, there’s another cost to watch out for. If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee (2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, and 0.2% on Plus). This is charged on top of your provider’s own processing fees, not Shopify Payments’ standard card rates.

For example, if your third-party provider charges 2.9% + $0.30, processing a $50 order on Shopify Basic would cost $2.75 in total fees, compared to $1.75 with Shopify Payments.

So, if Shopify Payments is available in your country, it’s worth considering to avoid those extra transaction fees. Our guide on how to set up Shopify Payments walks you through the process, from checking eligibility to connecting your bank account.

Keep in mind that these are US standard online card rates. Premium cards, international payments, and other countries may have different fees. 

Theme Cost

A major part of owning a Shopify store is the theme. It’s basically what gives your storefront a specific look and structure, from product pages to navigation menus. And here’s some good news for your budget: you don’t necessarily need to pay for one, as Shopify offers both free and paid themes. 

Free themes include options like Dawn and Refresh, which are mobile-friendly, customizable, and perfectly capable of running a professional store. In fact, many stores never need a paid theme at all.

Then, if you want more advanced features or specific design options, premium themes on the Shopify Theme Store currently range from $100 to $500 as a one-time payment, not a monthly subscription.

My advice? Start with a free option and upgrade only when you have a good reason to.

Dropshipping Automation Tool Cost

Here’s another thing most beginners (and cost guides) overlook: automation. A dropshipping automation tool can save you hours of work by helping you import products, monitor prices and stock, manage orders, and update tracking information. But how much does that convenience cost?

Depending on the platform, you can start for free or pay around $27-$80+ per month for more advanced features. The important thing is to check what’s actually included in the subscription. Some tools charge extra for automatic order fulfillment, larger product catalogs, or other services.

Here’s how six popular dropshipping tools compare:

Prices are in USD and reflect published monthly rates as of November 2026. Free plans have different limitations, and supplier product and shipping costs are generally separate.

How Much Does AutoDS Actually Cost?

Let’s use AutoDS as an example, since it offers several subscription tiers depending on your catalog size and the features you need.

For Shopify stores, the pricing currently looks like this:

Here’s the detail worth paying attention to: automatic order placement requires the Orders Processor add-on, which costs another $9.90/month.

That means the entry-level Import plan costs $36.80/month with the Orders Processor, rather than $26.90. You’ll also need Auto-Order Credits, which are consumed when the system processes orders. The smallest package costs $9.90 for 20 credits, so your initial software and credit purchase would total $46.70 at standard monthly prices, before supplier costs. 

If you use Fulfilled by AutoDS, there’s another amount to budget for: your Managed Balance. This is prepaid money used to purchase products from suppliers on your behalf using AutoDS’s own accounts (not another subscription fee). Loading the balance currently costs an additional 5% by card or PayPal, or 3% through Payoneer. 

For example, adding $100 to your Managed Balance by card costs $105. The full $100 goes toward supplier purchases, while the extra $5 is the top-up fee. 

Do You Really Need A Paid Automation Tool?

You don’t necessarily need a paid automation tool at first, but it becomes much more useful as your order volume grows. For instance, if you’re testing five products from AliExpress and getting only a handful of orders, a free tool or a more manual workflow might be all you need.

But once you’re managing dozens of listings, working with multiple suppliers, or processing orders every day, automation becomes much more useful. Updating stock levels, checking supplier prices, and placing orders manually can quickly turn into a part-time job you didn’t sign up for. 

There’s no need to pay for every feature available, though. The goal is to choose a tool that fits your current workload and upgrade when the time it saves justifies the extra cost.

Other Apps: Reviews, Email And Upsells

Beyond your Shopify subscription and dropshipping automation tool, you might want a few extra apps to help you collect reviews, send marketing emails, or encourage customers to add more products to their carts.

The good news? You can start with free apps and upgrade as your store grows. Here’s how much three different setups might cost.

These are example combinations based on November 2026 pricing. Free plans have usage limits, while paid email and upsell costs can increase as your contact list and order volume grow.

For most beginners, there’s no reason to pay for everything right away. Start with the basics, see what your store actually needs, and add tools gradually. For example, if you’re trying to attract organic traffic, Shopify SEO apps can help you optimize product descriptions, improve meta tags, and fix technical issues, but they’re not something you need on the first day. 

This is especially important to understand because app subscriptions are separate from your Shopify plan, even when their charges appear on the same invoice. A few $15 or $20 subscriptions might not seem like much when you look at them individually, but they add up pretty fast if you’re not doing the math. 

Advertising: The Biggest And Most Variable Cost

Here’s where things get interesting (and potentially expensive). Advertising is often the highest cost of running a Shopify dropshipping store, but unlike your monthly subscription, there’s no fixed amount you have to spend. 

You might start with $5-$10 a day on Meta or TikTok ads, while established stores can spend thousands per month. It all depends on your products, audience, competition, and how well your campaigns perform.

For beginners, I’d recommend setting a test budget you’re comfortable losing. For example, $10 a day for two weeks gives you $140 to experiment with different ads. You might make sales, or you might learn that your product or campaign needs work. Sales aren’t guaranteed, but either way, you’ll have something to learn from the test.

📢 Marketing Tip: Getting more traffic isn’t always the answer. If customers keep leaving before completing their purchases, reducing cart abandonment might be more valuable than increasing your ad budget.

Before spending anything, though, figure out your break-even customer acquisition cost (CPA). That’s the maximum you can spend to acquire a customer without losing money on that order.

Advertising Costs Example

Let’s say you’re selling a product for $50:

• Supplier costs: $20
• Shipping costs: $5
• Payment processing fees: $1.75
• Total before ads: $23.25 per sale 

Now, let’s see how your advertising budget affects your profits:

👉 Scenario 1: Imagine you spend $100 on ads and generate 10 sales. That means you paid $10 in advertising for each customer, leaving you with $13.25 per sale to cover other expenses and hopefully make a profit.

👉 Scenario 2: But if that same $100 only brings in three sales, your advertising cost jumps to $33.33 per customer. At that point, you lose about $10 on every order.

In this example, $23.25 is your break-even advertising cost per customer. Spend more than that to get a sale, and you’re losing money on the order. With a $100 ad budget, you’d need at least five sales to cover your advertising and per-order costs, although you’d still have other business expenses to pay.

That’s why knowing your margins matters more than picking a random daily ad budget. And remember, even profitable ads don’t guarantee an overall profitable store once you account for subscriptions, returns, and other expenses.

💰 Financial Tip: Once you’re consistently acquiring customers profitably, you can start scaling your online business by gradually increasing your advertising budget and monitoring whether those margins hold up.

Hidden Or Easy-To-Miss Shopify Costs

Let’s talk about those expenses that typically catch sellers off guard. You know… the ones that seem insignificant at first, but then add up at the end of the month, or the ones that you don’t even think about. Some are occasional, others depend on where you sell, and a few are just easy to forget.

Here’s a quick checklist:

Not every store will face all these costs, but it’s worth leaving a little room in your budget for surprises. For dropshippers, having enough cash to fulfill orders before your payouts arrive can be just as important as covering your monthly subscriptions.

Realistic Monthly Budgets: Under $100, $150–300 And More

So, how much should you actually budget for your Shopify dropshipping store? Let’s look at three setups, from keeping costs to a minimum to investing in more automation and marketing tools.

Note: The following totals exclude advertising, card processing fees, supplier product and shipping costs, and taxes. Annual billing prices are shown as monthly equivalents, while Auto-Order Credits are usage-based purchases.

1. Bare-Bones Setup: Under $100/Month

If you’re just testing the waters, you can keep your monthly software costs surprisingly low. The trick is to use free apps, stick with a free theme, and handle orders manually.

The math: $29 + $1.25 + $19.90 = $50.15/month.

That’s well under $100! Just remember that annual subscriptions require upfront payments. In this example, you’d pay $601.80 upfront for a year of Shopify, AutoDS, and your domain. 

Of course, you could always just pick monthly billing to avoid the upfront investment. In that case, Shopify Basic would cost $39/month and AutoDS Import $26.90/month, bringing your total to $65.90/month, plus $15/year for your domain. That’s still under $100, without committing to a full year.

2. Lean Beginner Setup: Around $125/Month

Now, let’s say you’re ready to take things a little more seriously. You want automated order placement, a review app, and some upselling features, but you’re not interested in paying for tools you won’t use.

The math: $39 + $1.25 + $39.90 + $9.90 + $9.90 + $15 + $9.99 = $124.94

As you can see, this is still below the suggested $150-$300 beginner budget. The difference? This example only covers a specific software setup and one package of automation credits. Giving yourself an extra cushion is still a good idea, especially for unexpected expenses and additional order volume.

3. Fuller Stack: Around $225/Month

If you’re managing a larger catalog and want more tools for email marketing, SEO, reviews, and upsells, your monthly budget will naturally increase.

The math: $39 + $1.25 + $66.90 + $9.90 + $39.90 + $15 + $20 + $19.99 + $14.99 = $226.93

At this point, you’re investing in a more complete toolkit. But that doesn’t mean every store needs all these features. A larger catalog doesn’t automatically justify paying for more email or SEO tools, for example. 

So, there you go: you can run the software side of a Shopify store for under $100/month, while a more equipped setup might cost $125-$250 or more before ads. The $150-$300 range is a useful planning budget, not a minimum you have to spend. 

What Is The Biggest Cost Driver Once The Store Is Running?

For most Shopify dropshipping stores, advertising is the biggest and most unpredictable expense. Your Shopify subscription stays the same each month, but your ad budget can grow quickly as you try to attract more customers.

Think back to the earlier example: spending $10 a day on ads adds up to $300/month. That’s already more than the entire $226.93 monthly software budget in the fuller setup.

As sales increase, payment processing fees become another significant expense. At 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, processing 100 orders worth $50 each would cost $175 in fees.

Finally, as your catalog and order volume grow, you might need higher automation tiers, more order credits, or paid apps with larger usage limits. 

Bottom line? Your Shopify plan is a predictable expense, but advertising, transaction fees, and fulfillment costs are what you’ll need to watch most closely as your store grows. 

Ways To Keep The Cost Down

If you’re looking to launch your Shopify store with a budget-friendly strategy, here’s the good news: you can totally do it. Here are six ways to keep your expenses under control:

1. Choose annual billing when it makes sense. Shopify and many dropshipping tools offer discounts for yearly subscriptions. Just make sure you’re ready to commit before paying for a full year upfront.
2. Start with free themes and apps. Shopify’s free themes are perfectly capable of running a professional store. The same goes for many review, email marketing, and upsell apps. Upgrade when you actually need the extra features.
3. Don’t automate everything right away. If you’re only getting a few orders per week, manual fulfillment might be manageable. As orders increase, automation can save enough time to justify the subscription.
4. Set a limit on advertising tests. Decide how much you’re comfortable spending before launching a campaign. For example, testing at $5/day for two weeks means risking $70, rather than leaving ads running indefinitely.
5. Take advantage of free trials (but watch the calendar). Trials can help you test Shopify and paid apps without committing immediately. Set a reminder before each trial ends so you’re not surprised by a charge.
6. Review your subscriptions every month. Check which apps you’re actually using and whether they’re delivering value. That $20/month app you installed three months ago and forgot about? It might be time to say goodbye.

It’s not about cutting every possible expense, but about spending it where it makes a difference and avoiding paying for features your store isn’t ready to use. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it really cost to run a Shopify store per month, not just the subscription?

A Shopify dropshipping store can cost anywhere from $50 to $300+ per month before advertising, depending on your setup. Beyond the Shopify subscription ($39/month for Basic), you’ll need to budget for a domain, dropshipping tools, optional apps, and payment processing fees on each sale.

What’s a realistic monthly budget for a beginner dropshipping store on Shopify?

A reasonable starting budget is $150-$300 per month before advertising. However, a lean setup with Shopify Basic, AutoDS order automation, and a couple of paid apps can cost around $125/month. You’ll also need money for advertising, supplier payments, and unexpected expenses.

How much do dropshipping automation tools like AutoDS typically cost?

Dropshipping automation tools range from free plans to $80+ per month. AutoDS starts at $26.90/month for its Import plan, while Starter costs $39.90/month and Advanced costs $66.90/month. Automatic order placement requires the additional $9.90/month Orders Processor add-on, plus usage-based credits.

Are there hidden Shopify costs beyond the plan and apps?

Yes, there are costs that are easy to miss, including third-party transaction fees, currency conversion, chargeback fees, domain renewals, product samples, and refunds. You’ll also need enough cash to pay suppliers before your Shopify payouts arrive, and potentially cover taxes or business registration costs.

What’s the biggest cost driver once a store is up and running?

Advertising is usually the biggest variable expense, especially when you’re trying to attract new customers. Payment processing fees and supplier fulfillment costs also increase with sales volume, while higher automation tiers and paid apps can add to your monthly expenses as your business grows.

Can you run a Shopify dropshipping store for under $100 a month?

Yes! With Shopify Basic ($29/month on annual billing), AutoDS Import plan ($19.90/month on annual billing), a $15/year domain, and free themes and apps, your software setup costs approximately $50.15/month. Even with monthly subscriptions, you can stay under $100. Just remember that this doesn’t include advertising, card processing fees, or supplier fulfillment costs.

Spend Smarter, Not More, On Your Shopify Store

So, how much is a Shopify store, then? As I’ve covered, there’s a lot more to consider than the monthly subscription. Between your domain, automation tools, apps, and advertising, the costs can add up. But that doesn’t mean you need a huge budget to get started. The key is to start with what you actually need, keep an eye on your expenses, and invest more as your store grows.

And if you want to save some time (and money) on the setup itself, BuildYourStore can help you get started with a free AI-built Shopify store, including a high-converting theme, product pages, winning products, and a free .store domain. 

Build your store for free and see how it can help you simplify your setup workflow. 

In the meantime, here are a few related reads you might like:

How to Set Up Shopify Payments (And Avoid Costly Mistakes)

• Trust Badges Shopify Stores Need (And Where to Put Them)
• How To Remove ‘Powered By Shopify’ (2 Easy Methods)
• Best Products To Sell On Shopify In 2026

Written by:

Lola Rainero

Lola has focused on crafting high-impact content for B2B SaaS companies in the e-commerce and dropshipping space since 2019. With a strong background in digital marketing, she creates strategic content that helps dropshippers and business owners thrive at every stage of the funnel—from generating awareness to driving conversions. She translates complex software features into clear, actionable insights, helping online retail brands connect with their audience and stand out in competitive markets.

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