If you’re thinking about opening an online store, you’ve probably come across the Shopify platform. It’s a popular solution for many entrepreneurs who want to start selling online without having to have advanced technical knowledge. However, before you take the plunge, it’s worth understanding the costs associated with running a Shopify store in Poland. In this article, we’ll take a look at the different subscription plans Shopify offers and the additional fees that may arise over the course of your business. This will help you better assess whether this platform is right for your business and how to optimize your expenses related to using it.
Costs of running a store on Shopify in Poland
Shopify offers a variety of subscription plans that can be customized to suit the needs of any entrepreneur. Choosing the right plan is key to optimizing the costs of running an online store. There are four main plans available: Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify and Shopify Plus. Each has different features and monthly and annual costs. The Basic Shopify plan is ideal for new stores, offering basic sales tools for around $32 per month. The Shopify plan, available for around $92 per month, expands the capabilities with additional analytics and support for small teams. Advanced Shopify is an option for larger businesses that need advanced analytics and lower transaction fees, and costs around $399 per month.
For the largest market players who require an individual approach and the widest range of functions, a plan is available Shopify Plus. The cost of this solution is negotiated individually, but it usually ranges from $2,300 to $2,500 per month. It is worth noting the potential savings when choosing an annual payment - entrepreneurs can save up to 25% compared to monthly payments. Here are some key differences between the plans:
- Number of employee accounts: Basic – 2, Shopify – 5, Advanced – 15.
- Functionalities: All plans offer online and social media sales and an integrated marketing platform.
- Additional services: The Advanced plan includes Third-party calculated shipping rates.
With this information, you can better understand which plan best suits your business needs and how to optimize the costs of running a store on Shopify.
Shopify Transaction Commissions
Shopify transaction fees may vary depending on the subscription plan you choose. When choosing a plan Shopify Basic, you have to count on a commission of 2% from each transaction. Plan Shopify offers a lower commission of 1%, while Advanced Shopify it's only 0.6%. For the biggest players, using Shopify Plus, commissions are negotiated individually, which can bring additional savings with large turnovers. It is worth noting the possibility of avoiding additional fees by using Shopify Payments. Thanks to this solution, you can bypass commissions associated with external payment providers, which is especially beneficial for stores with high sales volume.
Using Shopify Payments has several benefits. First of all, it eliminates the need to pay additional fees for using services such as Przelewy24 or PayPal. Additionally, payment integration is simplified and more efficient. However, if you decide to work with other payment providers, you need to be prepared for additional costs. Here are some things to consider:
- Commission costs: Third party providers may charge their own fees for each transaction.
- Integration Complexity: Integrating different payment systems may require more technical work.
- Feature availability: Some features may only be available using Shopify Payments.
When considering the right plan and payment method, it’s worth carefully analyzing your needs and potential costs related to commissions and additional fees. This will help you optimize your expenses and increase the profitability of your online store.
We invite you to read our comprehensive guide on website costs, you can find the article here: How much does a website cost?
Additional costs associated with running a store
When running a Shopify store, in addition to the standard subscription fees, it is worth paying attention to the additional costs that may arise. One of these are fees for applications available in the Shopify Store. Many stores decide to expand the basic functionality of the platform by installing various applications. For example, a live chat application can cost from $18 per month, and a landing page creation tool like Shogun is an expense of $39 per month. It is also worth considering investing in affiliate programs or marketing tools that can increase customer engagement and sales.
You can't forget about the costs associated with maintaining a domain and an email server. Although Shopify provides hosting for the store, the domain must be paid for separately. The cost of annual domain maintenance can range from a few to a dozen or so zlotys per month. Additionally, if you plan on professional communication with customers, it is worth investing in an email server, which can generate an additional expense of a few to several dozen zlotys per month. To sum up, running a store on Shopify involves various additional costs that are worth including in your budget:
- Shopify Store Apps: Expanding store functionality through additional applications.
- Domain Costs: Fees for registering and maintaining an Internet address.
- Email server: Professional e-mail support for communication with customers.
Example cost scenarios for different turnover levels
When analyzing the costs of running a Shopify store at different turnover levels, it's worth noting how different subscription plans affect your total expenses. For a store generating a monthly turnover of 100,000 PLN, choosing the Basic plan may seem attractive due to the low cost of the license, which is about PLN 92 per month. However, you should remember about the transaction commission, which in this case is 3,25%. With this level of turnover, the total monthly cost can be around PLN 3,400. In turn, the Shopify Plus plan, despite a higher license fee of PLN 10,000, offers lower transaction fees (1.45%), which translates into a total cost of around PLN 11,250.
For stores with higher turnover, for example 250,000 PLN monthly, the cost differences become even more visible. Choosing the Basic plan, the entrepreneur must expect a total cost of around PLN 8,317 per month. On the other hand, the Shopify plan with a PLN 276 subscription and a lower transaction commission (2.25%) allows you to reduce this cost to around PLN 6,191. It is also worth considering the Advanced or Plus plan, which, despite higher subscription fees, offer more favorable commission conditions for high turnover. The final choice should depend on individual business needs and the store development strategy.
Pros and cons of choosing Shopify as your e-commerce platform
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that has gained recognition for its ease of integration with social media. This allows you to easily connect your store to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, which allows you to reach a wider audience and increase sales. What's more, Shopify offers the possibility international sales, which is extremely beneficial for companies planning to expand into foreign markets. The platform supports various currencies and languages, which makes it easier to serve customers from different parts of the world.
However, like any platform, Shopify has its drawbacks. One of the main challenges is costs related to additional functionalities. While basic subscription plans offer a lot of tools, you often find that you need additional apps available in the Shopify Store. These apps can incur additional monthly costs. Additionally, if you want to use advanced analytics or marketing features, you’ll have to expect higher fees. So it’s worth carefully analyzing your business needs and considering which features are essential to its growth.
How Much Does an Online Store Cost on Shopify? Let's Sum Up
Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that offers a variety of subscription plans tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs in Poland. Choosing the right plan can significantly affect the costs of running an online store. There are four main plans available: Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify, and Shopify Plus. Each of them differs in functionality and costs, allowing you to adjust to specific business requirements. For new stores, Basic Shopify may be the ideal choice, while larger companies can take advantage of the advanced tools available in the Advanced plan or negotiate individual terms within Shopify Plus.
Transaction fees also vary depending on the plan you choose, which has a significant impact on your overall store expenses. Using Shopify Payments allows you to avoid additional fees associated with third-party payment providers, which is beneficial for stores with high sales volume. Additional costs may arise from installing apps available in the Shopify Store and maintaining a domain and email server. When looking at different cost scenarios at different levels of turnover, it’s worth carefully considering your needs and the potential savings of choosing the right subscription plan.
- Shopify offers a variety of subscription plans that can be customized to suit the needs of any entrepreneur. Choosing the right plan is important to optimizing the costs of running an online store.
- There are four main plans available: Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify, and Shopify Plus. Each has different features and monthly and annual costs.
- Shopify's Basic plan is ideal for new stores, offering basic sales tools for around $32 per month.
- The Shopify plan, available for around $92 per month, expands your capabilities with additional analytics features and support for small teams.
- Advanced Shopify is an option for larger businesses that need advanced analytics and lower transaction fees, and costs around $399 per month.
- For the largest market players, there is a Shopify Plus plan. The cost of this solution is negotiated individually, but it usually ranges from $2,300 to $2,500 per month.
- Shopify transaction fees may vary depending on the subscription plan you choose. The Basic plan comes with a commission of 2%, the Shopify plan comes with a commission of 1%, and the Advanced plan comes with a commission of 0.6%.
- Using Shopify Payments allows you to avoid additional fees associated with third-party payment providers.
- Additional costs may include apps from the Shopify Store, domain costs, and an email server.
- Analyzing costs at different levels of turnover shows that choosing the right plan can significantly impact a store’s overall expenses.
- The advantages of Shopify are the ease of integration with social media and the ability to sell internationally. The disadvantages may be the costs associated with additional features.
FAQ
Can I change my Shopify subscription plan at any time?
Yes, Shopify lets you change your subscription plan at any time. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan based on your business needs. However, keep in mind that changing your plan may affect your monthly costs and available features.
What are the support options for Shopify users in Poland?
Shopify offers a variety of support options, including email, live chat, and phone support. Additionally, users can take advantage of an extensive online knowledge base and community forum where they can find answers to many questions about the platform.
Can I use my own domain with Shopify?
Yes, you can connect your own domain to your Shopify store. If you don't already have a domain, you can purchase one directly through Shopify or use a third-party domain registrar.
What are the possibilities for integrating Shopify with other systems?
Shopify offers a wide range of integrations with various systems and applications, such as ERP systems, CRMs, and email marketing tools. With APIs and apps available in the Shopify Store, you can easily extend the functionality of your store.
Are there any limits to the number of products in a Shopify store?
There is no limit to the number of products you can add to your Shopify store. However, it is worth remembering that a large number of products can affect page performance and load times.
What payment methods are available to customers in Poland?
For customers in Poland, Shopify offers various payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, Przelewy24, and PayPal. You can also set up other local payment methods according to your customers' needs.
Can I sell digital products through Shopify?
Yes, Shopify lets you sell digital products like e-books and music files. However, you need to use the right apps to manage and deliver the digital files to your customers after they purchase them.
Do I have to pay additional fees to use apps in the Shopify Store?
Many apps available in the Shopify Store are free or offer a free trial period. However, some apps may require a monthly subscription fee to access their full features. It is important to read the terms carefully before installing an app.
Can I run a multilingual store on Shopify?
Yes, Shopify supports multilingual stores. You can set up different language versions of your site using the appropriate apps or themes that support multiple languages.
What are the most common challenges of running a store on Shopify?
Running a Shopify store can be challenging, such as optimizing the costs of additional apps or integrations, and managing logistics and customer service with growing orders. It’s important to regularly monitor your store’s performance and adjust your business strategy to changing market needs.
