The verdict in three sentences
An ecommerce store for an established London brand costs 5,000 to 60,000 GBP excluding VAT to build in 2026, depending on catalogue size, integrations and design ambition. The middle tier, 12,000 to 30,000 GBP, fits most brands already stocked in shops: Shopify or an open source platform, cards plus wallets, tiered UK delivery and stock sync. Add the recurring costs every year (platform plan, card fees, apps, support), which often outweigh the gap between two build quotes.
The three tier pricing grid
The founder of a London natural skincare brand, stocked in 40 independent shops and a few department store concessions, wants to grow direct online sales across the UK, then ship to the EU. Here is what each tier covers, as a 2026 estimate.
| Item | Starter | Growth | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build price excl. VAT | 5,000 to 12,000 GBP | 12,000 to 30,000 GBP | 30,000 to 60,000 GBP |
| Products | 50 to 100 | 100 to 300 | 300 to 500 and bundles |
| Payments | Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Plus PayPal and buy now pay later | Plus multi currency checkout for EU and US |
| Delivery | Flat UK rate | Tiered rates, next day option, click and collect | International shipping, duties shown at checkout |
| Marketing | SEO ready product pages | Discount codes, reviews, abandoned cart emails | Subscriptions, loyalty, referral programme |
| Operations | Order dashboard | Low stock alerts, returns portal | Stock sync with retail and wholesale channels |
| Time to launch | 4 to 6 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks | 10 to 16 weeks |
Kolonell builds custom stores as web applications, priced in FCFA with a remote team: 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA (about 2,290 to 3,810 EUR) for a simple project in 1 to 2 months, 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (about 3,810 to 6,100 EUR) for a medium one in 2 to 3 months, and 4,000,000 to 8,000,000 FCFA and up (about 6,100 to 12,200 EUR) for a complex one in 3 to 6 months.
The recurring costs to add
| Recurring item | 2026 amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Platform plan, for example Shopify | Monthly subscription, public price varies by plan, roughly 25 to 300 GBP a month (2026 estimate) | Higher tiers lower card rates |
| Card processing | About 1.5 to 2.5 % plus a small fixed fee per order (2026 estimate) | Depends on plan and card type |
| Apps and extensions | 50 to 400 GBP a month | Reviews, subscriptions, search, returns |
| Kolonell maintenance | 25,000, 50,000 or 75,000 FCFA a month (38, 76 or 115 EUR) | Updates, backups, fixes, support |
| UK delivery | 3 to 6 GBP per parcel (2026 estimate) | Charged or free above a basket threshold |
| Product photography | 30 to 80 GBP per product | Refresh with each collection |
| Cosmetics compliance | UK Responsible Person and product notification | Required before selling skincare in Great Britain |
Over a year, a Growth tier store selling 25,000 GBP a month pays about 6,000 GBP in card fees at 2 %, 1,200 GBP in platform fees and 2,400 GBP in apps: nearly 10,000 GBP to build into your margins.
What moves a quote between tiers
Three factors push a project up a tier. The first is variants: a cream in 3 sizes and 2 scents creates 6 SKUs to manage. The second is stock sync with retailers and wholesale, which prevents selling online what the warehouse has already promised to a department store. The third is selling abroad, which brings multi currency checkout, duties and EU VAT rules for distance sales.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Chloe, founder of a London natural skincare brand, chooses the Growth tier at 22,000 GBP for 140 products. From month four, the store takes 600 orders a month at a 42 GBP average basket, 25,200 GBP in sales. With a 30 % margin after product, delivery and fees, she earns 7,560 GBP a month, about 7,400 GBP after maintenance and apps: the build pays back in roughly 3 months of steady trading.
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FAQ
What is the minimum price for a professional ecommerce store in London?
Around 5,000 GBP excluding VAT for 50 to 100 products on a hosted platform. Below that, design and integrations are usually template level.
How much do card payments cost a UK online store?
Roughly 1.5 to 2.5 % per transaction plus a small fixed fee, depending on plan and provider. On 25,000 GBP of monthly sales, that is about 375 to 625 GBP a month.
Is Shopify the right platform for an established brand?
It suits most brands under a few million pounds of online revenue who want minimal technical management. Brands needing deep customisation or no platform dependency often choose an open source solution instead.
What does maintenance cost?
At Kolonell, 25,000, 50,000 or 75,000 FCFA a month (38, 76 or 115 EUR) depending on support level. A London agency retainer typically runs 300 to 1,500 GBP a month.
How long until the store goes live?
From 4 to 6 weeks for Starter to 10 to 16 weeks for Premium. Product photography and copy prepared by the brand remain the first cause of delay.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your product count, payment needs and delivery zones, and we will recommend the right tier with an indicative budget and launch date. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.