Key takeaways
- An online store will cost less on average in 2026 than many people think — provided you pay attention to hidden costs.
- In addition to the subscription, also include transaction costs, apps, themes and shipping.
- Fixed, transparent prices prevent surprises during growth.
- Build for free with Microcart. Go live and sell with Growth, with 0% transaction fees of its own and your payment provider's fees charged separately.
A webshop in the Netherlands costs roughly 20 to 40 euros per month in platform costs. But that monthly price is not the whole story. What you really pay depends on transaction costs, apps and costs per sale that only increase when you start selling.
This overview lists all cost items, including the items that starters most often overlook. You will receive calculation examples at three turnover levels, an honest answer to “can it be done for free”, and a way to keep your monthly costs predictable. Then you know exactly what an online store will cost you — and what you should pay attention to before choosing a platform.
The short version: what does an online store cost on average?
For a working webshop you count on these items:
- Platform/subscription: about 20–40 euros per month for most packages.
- Domain name: 10–15 euros per year.
- Payment provider: a few cents plus a small percentage per transaction.
- Apps/plugins: 0 to tens of euros per month, depending on the platform.
A starter quickly ends up with 30–60 euros per month. The difference between platforms is rarely in the entry price — it is in what is added per sale and per additional function. Are you just starting? Then also read the step-by-step plan to start a webshop, because you won't need everything you can pay for in the beginning.
The four types of costs
1. Platform or subscription fees
This is the fixed monthly price for your webshop software. With most providers you choose a package, and the more products or features you want, the higher the subscription. Pay attention to whether you pay monthly or annually — annual contracts are often cheaper, but commit you for longer.
2. Transaction costs
You pay your payment provider for every payment. With iDEAL this is usually a fixed amount of a few cents per transaction; a percentage for credit cards. Some webshop platforms charge an additional percentage on each sale. That is the item that grows fastest with your turnover. In Accept iDEAL in your webshop we discuss the provider costs in more detail.
3. App and plugin fees
This is the silent post. Many platforms have a cheap entry price, but features like reviews, email marketing, advanced shipping or inventory links are included in paid apps. If you add these together, your monthly costs simply double. More features sounds good, but simplicity usually wins out over a long list of features — especially if you're just starting out.
4. One-off and individual costs
Consider your domain name, possibly a logo, and product photos if you have them taken. These are one-off and don't need to be spent right away — a phone with good lighting goes a long way, and AI tools can polish smartphone photos.
The hidden costs that frustrate starters
The monthly price on a platform's homepage is almost never what you ultimately pay. Two items surprise starters most often:
- Transaction fees on top of your payment provider. A platform that charges a percentage per sale becomes more expensive as you become more successful. With a turnover of 5,000 euros per month, 1.5% is already 75 euros — every month, regardless of your subscription.
- Mandatory apps. Functions that you expect as a basic sometimes turn out to be a separate paid app for 10 to 30 euros per month. Always include that in your comparison.
It is one of the biggest mistakes that starting web shops make: choosing the lowest monthly price without looking at the costs per sale.
Calculation example: your total costs at three turnover levels
The monthly price means little without your turnover. Therefore, compare the total monthly costs. Below is a platform with a low subscription (25 euros) plus 1.5% transaction fee and two mandatory apps (together 20 euros), compared to an all-in-one platform with one fixed price of 29 euros without fees or separate apps.
- With 1,000 euros turnover/month: model with fees = 25 + 15 + 20 = 60 euros. All-in-one = 29 euros.
- With 5,000 euros turnover/month: model with fees = 25 + 75 + 20 = 120 euros. All-in-one = 29 euros.
- With 15,000 euros turnover/month: model with fees = 25 + 225 + 20 = 270 euros. All-in-one = 29 euros.
The lesson: a low entry fee can be expensive once you start selling. Always calculate with your expected turnover, not with the homepage price.
What does it cost on the well-known platforms?
The pricing models differ greatly:
- Shopify charges in dollars and has several packages. The entry level is low, but many functions run through paid apps, and if you do not use their own payment solution, an additional percentage per sale is charged.
- Lightspeed, CCV Shop and Mijnwebwinkel are Dutch players, each with their own package structure. Here you mainly calculate the subscription plus individual modules.
- All-in-one platforms such as Microcart include built-in features in your plan. Microcart charges 0% transaction fees of its own; your payment provider's fees and any external service costs are additional.
If you want to see the options side by side, we have listed the best Shopify alternatives for Dutch entrepreneurs. For a direct comparison, read Microcart vs Shopify, vs WooCommerce, vs Lightspeed or vs CCV Shop.
Starting an online store for free — is that possible?
Half. You will find free trial periods and free entry-level plans, but a serious online store is rarely completely free. The hooks:
- free plans often show ads or a platform name in your address;
- your own domain name, payment methods and most functions still cost money;
- “Free” with high transaction fees is more expensive than a fixed rate once you sell.
What you can do: use a free trial to set up and test your store before paying. The full explanation and the hooks can be found in start your free webshop. Then calculate the real monthly costs, not the free entry moment.
How much do you have to sell to break even?
Convert your costs back to sales. Suppose you pay 35 euros per month to the platform and provider, and you earn an average of 12 euros in margin per order. Then you need three sales per month to cover your fixed costs. Anything above that is profit.
This calculation is your best choice aid: choose a platform on which you know how much you need to sell to break even, and which does not secretly become more expensive as soon as you start selling harder.
This way you keep your costs predictable
The difference between an expensive and an affordable webshop is rarely the entry price. It's in predictability. Three rules of thumb:
- Always include the cost per sale, not just the subscription.
- Add the price of apps you really need to the monthly price.
- Avoid models that grow with your turnover, unless you consciously choose to do so.
Microcart charges 0% transaction fees of its own. Your payment provider's fees still apply, regardless of the number of orders.
Frequently asked questions
What does an online store cost on average per month?
For most starters 30 to 60 euros, including platform, domain and payment costs. The spread is mainly due to transaction fees and paid apps.
Is there a cost per sale?
You almost always pay your payment provider per transaction. Some platforms charge their own percentage on top of that — keep that in mind.
What is cheaper: paying monthly or annually?
Annual contracts are usually cheaper per month, but bind you for longer. If you are just starting out, monthly offers more flexibility.
Do I need expensive apps?
Not to start. Start with the basics; don't add paid features until they pay for themselves. Much is already included with an all-in-one platform.
Does a Microcart webshop cost transaction costs?
Microcart works with one fixed price without transaction costs per sale; you only pay the usual costs of your payment provider.
How much turnover do I need to cover costs?
Divide your fixed monthly costs by your margin per sale. With 35 euros in charges and 12 euros margin, that is three sales per month.
Your next step
Take your expected monthly turnover and calculate two platforms: subscription, costs per sale and the apps you need. The platform with the lowest total costs based on your turnover wins — not the platform with the lowest price on the homepage. If you don't know where to start yet, first read the step-by-step plan to start a webshop, or immediately view the approach for your industry.
Further reading
step-by-step plan to start an online store
simplicity usually wins out over a long list of features
biggest mistakes that starting web shops make
