The True Cost of Building a WooCommerce Store: A Complete Guide

WooCommerce is a free plugin you can add to your WordPress website to start selling products and services online. While WooCommerce itself doesn’t cost anything to download and use, there are other costs you might encounter when building your eCommerce store.

In this article, we will explore the different expenses involved in creating an eCommerce site with WooCommerce. We’ll also provide tips on how to keep the costs low and make the most out of your WooCommerce store.

What you get in WooCommerce for free

One reason WooCommerce is a top WordPress eCommerce plugin is its high customizability and scalability. Here’s what you get for setting up an online store in WordPress using the WooCommerce core plugin.

Product management

The open-source software lets you sell various product types, from simple and grouped products to variable products and digital downloads. This feature makes WooCommerce ideal for business-to-customer (B2C) eCommerce, specifically for building online retail stores and individual brand sites.

The product editor provides options to manage important details for each product, such as price, description, and images. Additionally, WooCommerce includes an inventory management system to help you track stock levels and set stock status. You can also limit purchases to one item per order to create a sense of urgency for your products. Meanwhile, the category system is useful for keeping your store organized.

Payment options

WooCommerce offers deep integration with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe via extensions. It also has an in-house payment solution plugin, WooPayments, that accepts credit and debit card payments as well as local payment methods in various currencies. Other supported payment methods include direct bank transfers, cheque payments, and cash on delivery.

Shipping methods

The eCommerce plugin has flexible shipping rates, allowing stores to set flat rates, offer free shipping, or calculate shipping rates manually. Stores can display a shipping calculator in the shopping cart to give customers a more accurate estimate. Use shipping zones to offer selected shipping methods to certain regions. This feature allows you to set shipping rules based on customer location, enhancing your store’s accessibility.

Customization

WooCommerce provides a library of themes for different niches to kickstart your online business journey. If you can’t find the right one, browse the WordPress theme directory for more free theme choices. Easily customize your WooCommerce store’s appearance with the WordPress site editor. The block-based editor lets you create reusable block patterns from pre-made layouts and elements to reduce design time. As WordPress is an open-source platform, you can access and modify the source code to meet your specific needs. Therefore, those who know how to code can customize store functions and designs using custom PHP code snippets like hooks and filters.

Marketing tools

The built-in coupon feature lets you generate discount codes and offer free shipping to entice customers to purchase. Customize these coupons by setting minimum and maximum spending limits and restricting their use with other promotions. There’s also an option to exclude sale items from the discount, giving you greater control over your marketing strategies. Additionally, WooCommerce integrates with third-party marketing tools and social platforms to implement other marketing strategies, such as email and omnichannel marketing.

Analytics and reporting

WooCommerce Analytics allows merchants to monitor their store’s performance. The built-in reporting and data analysis tool generates reports and provides advanced filtering and segmenting tools for identifying trends and customer behavior. You can also effortlessly customize your WordPress dashboard to track important metrics. Here are some of the main metrics tracked by WooCommerce Analytics:

Gross, net, and total sales
Number of new orders placed
Average order value (AOV)
Items sold
Refunds
Total tax

WordPress functionality

Since WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, you automatically gain access to WordPress’s native features as a content management system (CMS). WordPress makes creating and managing product pages and static content like About Us and Contact pages easy. You can also use its blogging capabilities for content marketing to attract and engage with your customers. The user management system allows store owners or administrators to assign roles and permissions, granting access to different parts of the website. This feature simplifies task distribution among team members and helps maintain your online store’s security. Other beneficial WordPress features for WooCommerce stores include a media library for uploading and managing images and videos, built-in SEO tools for improving search engine rankings, and multilingual support to reach a global audience. Check out our WordPress guide to learn more about how the platform works and how to make the most of it for your online business.

What you have to pay when using WooCommerce

Even though WooCommerce is free to download and utilize, the plugin requires paid resources to function. Let’s discuss the costs involved in developing a WooCommerce store.

Hosting service

WooCommerce runs on a self-hosted WordPress site, so you’ll need a hosting service to store your website’s files and make them accessible online. Hosting costs for small to medium-sized websites can vary from $1 to $200/month, depending on your needs. When selecting a hosting plan, consider the following factors that influence pricing:

Web hosting type
Web hosting provider

Read our tutorial on web hosting types to understand these differences and find the most suitable option for your business.

Web hosting provider

Most popular web hosting providers offer managed hosting services, which means they handle maintenance, updates, security, and backups for their users. A reliable web host is essential for smooth website operation and fast loading speeds, ensuring an optimal customer experience. Here’s what to look for when choosing a web hosting company to host your WooCommerce store:

WordPress or WooCommerce support
Server location
Backend access
Security features
Customer support

Explore our list of the top WooCommerce hosting providers to help you narrow down your choices and find the best fit for your needs.

Domain name

In addition to web hosting, a WordPress website requires a domain name to function. It serves as your store’s unique address on the internet, allowing customers to find and access your site. The cost of a website domain typically ranges from $10 to $20/year, depending on the following factors:

Domain registrar fees
Top-level domain (TLD)
Domain privacy protection
Domain registration duration

Check out our domain name checker to instantly check domain name availability.

Premium WooCommerce extensions and plugins (optional)

Extensions and plugins are tools that add extra features and functionality to your WooCommerce site. Extensions specifically scale WooCommerce functionality, while plugins modify the overall WordPress site. Investing in premium extensions and plugins unlocks advanced features not available in the free versions. These features include enhanced security, better SEO tools, and improved payment and shipping options. The total cost for premium plugins varies depending on the subscription period, plan tier, and any paid add-ons.

Premium themes (optional)

Paid WordPress themes offer more than just flexibility in customization over free ones. Often tailored for specific website types, they offer advanced features, updates, and dedicated support to keep your website functional, secure, and up-to-date. The cost of premium themes typically ranges from $2 to $200/year.

Transaction fees (optional)

If your online store accepts online and card payments, you need to account for transaction fees in your WooCommerce pricing. Payment gateways charge these fees per transaction, usually as a percentage of the sale amount plus a fixed cost. Transaction fees can reduce your profit margins, especially if your products have low margins.

How to minimize the cost of building a WooCommerce store

By now, you know that building an online store with WooCommerce still requires some investment. Follow our tips to reduce costs and maximize the value of your WooCommerce store.

Get hosting with a free domain name

Many hosting providers offer a free one-year domain with long-term or high-tier hosting plans. This bundle combines essential web services, making setting up a website more accessible and more cost-effective. As a hosting provider recommended by WordPress.org, Hostinger offers a free one-year domain worth $9.99, along with WHOIS domain privacy protection alongside every managed WooCommerce hosting plan.

Opt for Alternative TLDs

Some domain extensions like .com and .net are popular because they are widely recognized and trusted by users worldwide. This popularity drives up their cost as businesses compete for these sought-after domains. Consider using alternative TLDs to reduce costs.

Limit paid plugins and extensions

Reducing the number of plugins will keep your store running optimally and help manage costs. To limit paid plugins and extensions, look for free alternatives that offer similar functionality. Additionally, consider using all-in-one plugins that combine multiple features into one solution. Take advantage of free trials to decide if premium plugins are necessary.

Use free themes

Starting with a free theme is a great way to cut costs when setting up your WooCommerce store. While free themes may have limited features and customization options, they allow you to create a professional design without spending a lot of money.

Keep an eye on sales and discounts

Planning your purchases around major promotional events can help you save money while allowing you to access advanced features and designs for your WooCommerce store. Subscribe to newsletters from WordPress and WooCommerce developers to stay informed about upcoming sales and special offers.

Conclusion

WooCommerce allows business owners with limited budgets to establish an online presence easily and quickly. While WooCommerce isn’t completely free, it still offers an affordable way to turn your WordPress site into a full-fledged online store. The key to keeping costs down is to have a clear budget and know exactly what your business needs. We hope this article answers your questions about the cost of building a WooCommerce store. If you have more questions, feel free to drop a comment below.

Can I create a WooCommerce store for free?

Yes, you can create a WooCommerce store for free by downloading the plugin on your WordPress site. However, you will need to pay for web hosting and a domain name to set up WordPress. Additional costs might include premium themes, plugins, extensions, and transaction fees, depending on your business needs.

What is the best WooCommerce alternative?

Hostinger Website Builder is one of the best WooCommerce alternatives because of its ease of use. It addresses WordPress and WooCommerce’s steep learning curve with AI tools that simplify eCommerce website creation for all skill levels. Additionally, this all-in-one eCommerce solution is budget-friendly. The Business plan offers hosting, a free domain, and access to AI functions and eCommerce features for $3.99/month. The site builder doesn’t charge any transaction fees.

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