The verdict in three sentences
A PrestaShop to Shopify migration costs EUR 15,000 to 45,000 excl. VAT for a B2B SME in Berlin in 2026, depending on catalog size, history to migrate and the complexity of B2B rules (in Bordeaux, the same project runs EUR 12,000 to 40,000). Plan 8 to 14 weeks, a third of which goes to data migration and testing. The real risk is SEO: without a line-by-line 301 redirect plan, losing 10 to 20% of organic traffic for 3 to 6 months is common.
Why PrestaShop 1.6 is a liability in 2026
PrestaShop 1.6 has not received patches for years and often runs on PHP versions that are themselves out of support. Third-party modules are no longer updated, hosts charge for dedicated environments to keep old versions alive, and every known vulnerability becomes an entry point. Add German e-invoicing requirements: since 2025 every company must be able to receive structured e-invoices (XRechnung or ZUGFeRD), with issuing obligations phasing in from 2027, which requires up-to-date connectors.
Shopify, through Shopify Plus or native B2B features now available on advanced plans, covers most SME needs: catalogs and prices per company account, net 30 or net 60 terms, minimum quantities, quick order.
| Criterion (2026 estimate) | Keep PrestaShop 1.6 | Upgrade to PrestaShop 8/9 | Move to Shopify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project cost | EUR 3,000 to 8,000 per year of patches | EUR 17,000 to 50,000 | EUR 15,000 to 45,000 |
| Annual hosting and maintenance | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 | EUR 4,000 to 8,000 | EUR 1,000 to 3,000 excl. subscription |
| Platform subscription | EUR 0 | EUR 0 | EUR 1,200 to 27,000 per year by plan |
| Security and patches | Your responsibility | Your responsibility | Included |
| B2B features | Paid modules | Paid modules | Native on advanced plans |
| Developer dependency | High | High | Medium |
The detailed migration budget
A migration is not just copying products. Migrating customers with their price groups, order history for customer service, URLs and template redesign make up most of the budget.
| Work package | SME EUR 1 to 3M | SME EUR 3 to 8M | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit and scoping | EUR 2,000 to 3,500 | EUR 3,500 to 6,000 | Module and data flow inventory |
| Theme and front-end | EUR 5,000 to 9,000 | EUR 9,000 to 16,000 | Adapted or custom theme |
| Products, customers, orders | EUR 3,000 to 5,500 | EUR 5,500 to 10,000 | Variants, customer groups, 3 to 5 years of history |
| B2B features (account pricing, deferred payment) | EUR 2,500 to 5,500 | EUR 4,500 to 8,500 | Configuration and apps |
| 301 redirects and SEO plan | EUR 1,200 to 2,800 | EUR 2,500 to 4,500 | Exhaustive URL mapping |
| ERP, carrier, e-invoicing connectors | EUR 1,300 to 4,500 | EUR 3,500 to 6,500 | DATEV, lexoffice, JTL, carriers |
| Total | EUR 15,000 to 30,800 | EUR 28,500 to 45,000 | 8 to 14 weeks |
Protecting SEO through the switch
Shopify enforces its own URL structures (/products/, /collections/, /pages/). Every old PrestaShop URL that drives traffic or links must point to its new address with a 301 redirect. We export all indexed URLs from Google Search Console and server logs, then map them one by one. Title tags, meta descriptions, category copy and Product structured data are carried over unchanged first and improved afterwards, not the other way round. Daily 404 monitoring for 30 days catches anything missed. German-language URLs with umlauts deserve particular care, as encoding differences often break redirects.
Mini case study
Julia, head of e-commerce at a Berlin distributor of hospitality supplies, generates EUR 3.2 million in online revenue, 70% from restaurants and hotels. Her PrestaShop 1.6 costs EUR 7,500 a year in hosting and patches.
- Shopify migration with B2B features: EUR 35,000 excl. VAT
- Subscription and apps: EUR 6,500 per year, maintenance EUR 2,000 per year
- Savings on old maintenance: EUR 7,500 per year, a net annual extra cost of EUR 1,000
- Target gain: B2B conversion from 2.1% to 2.5% thanks to quick order and account pricing, about +EUR 190,000 revenue per year at constant traffic
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
At a 30% gross margin, the gain covers the project in about 8 months, provided SEO traffic is preserved.
FAQ
Can customer passwords be kept?
No, they cannot be transferred because of encryption. Customers receive an account activation invite, and 60 to 75% of active B2B customers accept it within 4 weeks with one reminder.
Do we need Shopify Plus for B2B?
Not necessarily in 2026: core B2B features are available on advanced plans. Shopify Plus, around EUR 2,300 a month, makes sense above several million euros in revenue or for heavy automation.
How much order history should we migrate?
Usually 3 to 5 years. Older data goes into a searchable archive export, cutting migration cost by 20 to 30%.
Is Shopify GDPR-compliant for German customers?
Yes, with a data processing agreement, a properly configured cookie banner and a review of installed apps. Budget EUR 500 to 1,500 for a compliance check.
When should we switch?
Outside peak season: for hospitality suppliers, avoid the pre-Christmas period. A Tuesday morning launch limits the impact on orders.
Let's scope your project. Send us your PrestaShop version, catalog size and B2B rules: we will price a migration between EUR 15,000 and 45,000 excl. VAT with an SEO plan and an 8 to 14 week schedule. 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.
