How much does it cost to create and maintain an online store in 2026?

Introduction

Setting up an online store is one of the most commonly considered options by entrepreneurs in the2025 - and still in 2026. On the one hand - the promise of unlimited access to customers, scalability and profits, on the other - the need for an investment, the amount of which is often a mystery to novice business owners.

I remember a conversation with a client who wanted to get into e-commerce, but didn't know where to start. He had a great idea, but was intimidated by the various technology options and unclear costs. "How much does it all cost?" - this question kept coming back like a boomerang. In this article, we'll break down the topic so you can make an informed decision and plan a budget for your own online store.

The cost of building an online store

Creating an online store is not just about choosing a platform - it's also about deciding on a domain, hosting, graphic design and integration with payment systems and logistics.

a) Domain and hosting - the foundation of your store

Without a domain and hosting, there is no store. A domain is your online address, and hosting is where the store "lives." Here are sample costs in 2025/2026:

b) Choosing a platform - an off-the-shelf solution or a dedicated store?

The choice of platform has a huge impact on the cost. You can bet on off-the-shelf solutionsSaaS (subscription), such as Shopify or Shoper, oropen-source (e.g., WooCommerce, PrestaShop, OpenCart), which are "free to start" but require hosting, implementation and maintenance.

In practice, what matters most is not just "how much the platform costs," but how much the entire ecosystem costs: payments, integrations (courier/ERP/marketplace), applications/modules, marketing and technical maintenance.

c) Hosting costs - which one to choose?

The choice of hosting depends on the e-commerce platform and the expected number of visitors (traffic), the number of products, integrations and whether the store has to "pull" advertising campaigns without performance drops.

If you want a fully customized store (dedicated solution), you can have it built by an agency or developer. The cost depends on the scope: from a simple MVP to a complex system with integrations and automations.

Technical maintenance and security (especially Woo/Presta):

Even the best hosting is no substitute for updates, backups, monitoring and rapid response to failures. With open-source, it's worth assuming a fixed budget for maintenance (updates, patches after plugin/module updates, security). This is a cost that doesn't "sell", but protects you from downtime and lost sales. The cost is about 300-1500 PLN/month for a small store.

The cost of maintaining an online store

In practice, the cost of living is divided into 3 baskets:

1. marketing (SEO + ads),
2. operations (payments, logistics, returns, customer service),
3. Technology (updates, security, patches, monitoring).

It is the last two baskets that are most often overlooked in a startup budget.

a) SEO costs - without visibility there are no sales

Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the key elements of a long-term e-commerce strategy. Without it, even the best-designed store will not bring traffic and customers.

In SEO, it's worth separating two things:the cost of "setting the foundations" (audit + technical fixes + category/product order) andcost of "delivery" (content, linking, constant optimization). For most stores, it's better to do the foundation decently first, and then pump the budget into content and links.

b) Operating costs, payments and customer service - most often overlooked in the budget

These are costs that increase with the number of orders - and often eat up margin if you don't count them beforehand.

In SaaS (e.g. Shopify/Shoper) and with some payment gateways, there may also be additional fees depending on the payment configuration. Therefore, when planning your budget, always include "cost per order," not just subscription.

(c) Analytics and consents (CMP / Consent Mode) - to make marketing make sense

If you're investing in SEO and advertising, you need to have the correct measurement: GA4/Tag Manager, e-commerce events, conversions, and in the EU, also the consent mechanism (CMP) and Consent Mode setup. Without this, data is incomplete, campaigns are harder to optimize, and ad budgets are more likely to "run away" without a clear return.
Cost: From a few hundred zloty at a time (simple setup) to several thousand zloty (full tracking, events, attribution, integrations).

(d) The cost of advertising an online store

Even the best SEO needs the support of paid advertising. Google Ads and Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram) are some of the most popular options for online store owners.

• Google Ads - budget fromPLN 1500/month. up (when testing campaigns, it often makes sense to start at3,000-5,000 PLN/month.)
• Meta Ads - fromPLN 1000/month. Up to several thousand zlotys (depending on margin, AOV and competition)
  Also add to the advertising the cost of preparing the creative, product feed, landing pages and analytics (without this it is easy to burn through the budget).

How to optimize the cost of building and maintaining a store?

If you're just starting out, you don't need to invest tens of thousands of zlotys right away. Key tips:

• Start with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) - a simpler version of the store will allow you to test the market.
• Choose a flexible solution - WooCommerce and PrestaShop allow you to grow without huge subscription fees, but remember that open-source requires regular maintenance.
• Don't skimp on SEO - without visibility, there are no sales. It's better to invest in a good foundation than to play catch-up later.
• Automate marketing - email marketing and retargeting will help retain customers at a lower cost.
• Count the "cost per order" (payments + logistics + returns + service) before you increase your advertising budget. This is the easiest way not to sell "at zero."

Summary - how much does an online store cost in 2026?

The total cost of a store depends on many factors. If you want to start an online business, you should prepare to spend on the order of:

• PLN 6,000 - 20,000 - Basic store (SaaS or simple WooCommerce) + basic integrations
• PLN 20,000 - 80,000 - Mid-sized store with personalization, integrations and better UX
• PLN 80,000+ - Extensive e-commerce (multiple integrations, automations, B2B, multilingual, custom processes)

The cost of living?

Usually800-1500 PLN/month. (minimal maintenance + basic tools), but with active marketing and a growing store realistically3,000 - 20,000+ zlotys/month.

E-commerce in 2026 presents huge opportunities, but also competition. It's worth approaching the subject strategically and investing where it really pays off.