The verdict in three sentences
Migrating from Shopify to custom costs 20,000 to 60,000 EUR in 2026, over 10 to 18 weeks. The switch becomes profitable above 500,000 EUR of annual revenue, when platform fees and commissions weigh heavily. Done well, migration preserves your catalogue and SEO and pays back in 18 to 30 months.
Why and when to leave Shopify
Shopify is excellent to start and scale up to a point. Beyond that, customisation limits, add-on app fees and platform commissions become brakes. Here is the typical 2026 costing.
| Migration item | Cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture + design system | 5,000 - 12,000 | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Catalogue + cart development | 8,000 - 20,000 | 4 - 6 weeks |
| Data migration (products, clients) | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1 - 2 weeks |
| SEO carry-over (redirects, URLs) | 2,000 - 6,000 | 1 - 2 weeks |
| Integrations (payment, ERP, logistics) | 5,000 - 18,000 | 2 - 4 weeks |
| QA + go-live | 3,000 - 8,000 | 1 - 2 weeks |
The real saving on platform fees
The true lever is removing the Shopify Plus subscription and commissions. The higher your revenue, the faster migration pays back.
| Annual revenue | Estimated Shopify Plus fees/yr | Saving after migration | Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300,000 EUR | 8,000 - 12,000 EUR | Low | Rarely justified |
| 500,000 EUR | 14,000 - 20,000 EUR | Clear | 24 - 30 months |
| 1,000,000 EUR | 25,000 - 35,000 EUR | Strong | 18 - 24 months |
| 2,000,000 EUR | 45,000 - 65,000 EUR | Very strong | 12 - 18 months |
Mini case study
Julie, co-founder of a fashion brand in Lyon, does 1.1 million EUR of revenue/year on Shopify Plus. Between subscription, apps and commissions, she spends about 30,000 EUR/year on platform fees. Her logistics automation needs exceed what apps allow.
She invests 42,000 EUR in a custom migration. Fee savings reach 28,000 EUR/year, maintenance runs at 6,300 EUR/year (15%). The net annual gain is 21,700 EUR, i.e. a break-even in around 23 months. Uncosted bonus: the freedom to build the logistics automation that was blocking her growth.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Will I lose my search ranking when migrating?
Not if migration is done well. A 301 redirect plan, preserved URL structures and transferred metadata protect SEO. Budget 2,000 to 6,000 EUR for this critical step.
How long does migration take?
10 to 18 weeks depending on catalogue size and number of integrations. Data migration and QA often make up a third of the schedule.
At what revenue does migration pay off?
Generally above 500,000 EUR of annual revenue. Below that, Shopify fees stay lower than the cost and maintenance of custom: better to wait.
Can we migrate without interrupting sales?
Yes. The new platform is built in parallel, tested, then switched over in a short window (often overnight). In-flight orders and stock are synced before the switch.
What maintenance budget after migration?
Around 15% of the migration cost per year, i.e. 3,000 to 9,000 EUR. You no longer pay a platform subscription, but keep a budget for enhancements and security.
Let's scope your project. Share your revenue, your current Shopify stack and your blocking integrations: we will cost the migration and its break-even. 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.