E-commerce projects have a wider cost range than regular websites, because "online store" can mean a 10-product catalog or a multi-category platform with inventory across variants. Here’s what actually drives the number.
What adds cost beyond a basic store
A simple catalog with a handful of products and a standard checkout is the baseline. Cost increases with: product variants (size, color, custom options), inventory tracking across multiple SKUs, custom shipping or delivery logic, multiple payment methods, and admin tooling beyond basic product management — like order workflows, discount codes or customer segmentation.
Typical starting ranges
A straightforward store with a modest catalog and standard checkout often starts around ₹50,000. Stores with more complex product structures, custom admin workflows or tighter payment/shipping integration typically move into the ₹1,00,000+ range. Highly custom platforms with unique business logic are usually quoted individually rather than estimated from a general range.
The cost most businesses forget to plan for
Payment gateway fees, hosting, and ongoing maintenance are separate from the build cost but matter just as much to your actual budget. It’s worth asking upfront what’s included in a quote versus what becomes an ongoing cost after launch, so there are no surprises once the store is live.