/ Ecommerce
How much does an ecommerce website cost in the UK?
£1,500–£5,000 for a well-built Shopify store, £5,000–£20,000 for custom or complex catalogues. Plus platform fees and transaction costs.
/ 01
The short version
The build is only part of it. Product data, photography and shipping setup eat more time than the design does.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • Shopify basic build: £1,500–£4,000 depending on customisation.
- • WooCommerce build: similar, with more ongoing maintenance.
- • Custom/headless: £10,000+ and only worth it at real volume.
- • Platform fees: Shopify from £25/month plus transaction charges.
- • Photography and product copy: budget separately, it's the slow part.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
A store with 20 products described properly outsells one with 400 half-finished listings. Cataloguing is the actual project.
/ 04
What to do next
Count your SKUs and check whether you have photos and descriptions for all of them. That tells you your real timeline.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get ecommerce builds right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
Is Shopify cheaper long-term?
Usually — you're paying for maintenance you'd otherwise fund yourself.
Can I start small?
Yes. Launch with your best sellers and expand.
/ Related
Shopify vs WooCommerce — which is better for my UK store?
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What's a good ecommerce conversion rate?
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Shopify or WooCommerce for a UK small business?
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How do I take payments on my website in the UK?
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Why is my online shop getting traffic but no sales?
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How do I write product descriptions that sell?
Ecommerce
Still not sure?
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