“How much does a Shopify store cost?” is one of the first questions people ask us. The honest answer is that a Shopify store has a few separate costs. Some are monthly, some are one-time, and the biggest one is often marketing, not the store itself.
Here is a clear breakdown of what it costs to start a Shopify store in Pakistan, so you can plan your budget properly.
1. Shopify plan (monthly)
Shopify charges a monthly subscription in US dollars. The price depends on the plan you choose and whether you pay monthly or yearly. Shopify often runs a free trial or a low-cost first month for new stores. Always check the current prices on Shopify’s own pricing page, because they change from time to time. For most new stores in Pakistan, the basic plan is enough at the start.
2. Theme (free or one-time)
Shopify has good free themes that are fast and mobile-friendly. Premium themes are a one-time purchase and usually cost a few hundred dollars. A premium theme is not required to sell. Many successful stores start on a free theme that is customized well.
3. Apps (often monthly)
Apps add features like product reviews, WhatsApp chat, upsells and courier booking. Many have free plans, while others charge monthly. Only install what you need: too many apps slow your store down and add up every month.
4. Domain name (yearly)
A custom domain such as yourbrand.com or yourbrand.pk costs a small yearly fee. It makes your store look professional and builds trust with customers.
5. Store setup and design (one-time)
You can build the store yourself or hire someone. Setting a store up properly takes time: theme customization, product uploads, collections, policies, payment and shipping settings, and tracking pixels. Our Shopify store development packages start at:
| Package | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Store | $99 | New, simple stores |
| Growth Store | $200 | Brands ready to scale |
| Custom Store | Custom quote | Large catalogs or custom features |
6. Payments and couriers in Pakistan
Most online orders in Pakistan are cash on delivery. You will work with couriers such as TCS, PostEx or Leopards, which charge delivery fees and, for COD, collection fees. Several of them have Shopify apps for booking and tracking. Remember to include returns in your planning, because failed COD deliveries cost money.
7. Marketing budget (the biggest cost)
A store without visitors makes no sales. Most new stores in Pakistan get customers through Facebook and Instagram Ads and TikTok Ads. Your ad budget is paid directly to Meta or TikTok and depends on your goals. Start with a test budget you are comfortable losing while you learn which products and videos work, then scale what is profitable.
Over time, SEO can bring free traffic from Google, but it takes months to build.
A simple way to plan your budget
- One-time: store setup, optional premium theme, product photos or videos
- Monthly: Shopify plan, paid apps, ads management (if you hire help)
- Yearly: domain name
- Ongoing: ad spend, courier and COD fees, product costs
Want an exact quote?
Every store is different. Tell us what you sell and we will give you a clear, written quote with no hidden costs. We are an e-commerce and digital marketing agency in Faisalabad, and we run our own Shopify brands. Book a free consultation or message Aun on WhatsApp.