Webshop development cost from €1,500 with over 20 years of experience, transparent and with no hidden costs

Webshop development starts from €1,500, and the final price depends on the number of products, the integrations required and the level of customization to business processes, from simple retail solutions to complex B2B platforms. A webshop is an online store that allows a business to sell products or services directly over the internet, with a product catalog, shopping cart, payment system and order management combined into a single system. Unlike a regular website that presents an offer, a webshop has to run reliably 24 hours a day, since any error in the purchase process directly means lost revenue. Below is a transparent price overview by project type.

Why work with a Croatia-based team

A Croatia-based development team combines Western European engineering standards with a cost structure that's typically 30-50% lower than agencies in Germany, Austria, the Nordics or the UK for comparable quality and experience. As an EU member state, Croatia operates under the same regulatory framework as the rest of the EU, GDPR compliance, standard contract law, and full legal recourse if something goes wrong, none of the uncertainty that comes with offshoring outside the EU. The team works in the CET time zone, meaning real-time collaboration during your business hours. Prolink is based in Zagreb, a direct flight of one to two hours from most major European business hubs, and in-person meetings, whether a kickoff workshop or an on-site consultation, are entirely possible when a project calls for it.

Webshop development cost

The prices below are based on project complexity and functional scope, but the final price is always set after a requirements analysis. The price is one-time and fixed, no subscription, no hidden platform licensing or plugin costs, no later charges for functionality that should have been included from the start.

Realistic budget planning also includes supporting services that depend on the specifics of the project. Technical SEO preparation is a standard part of every build, while ongoing optimization, product entry, copywriting and maintenance are separate line items whose scope varies depending on catalog size, material availability and the client's long-term business goals.

Hidden and ongoing costs

Beyond the one-time build cost, it's worth budgeting for costs that recur after launch. Hosting and domain typically run between €50 and €300 a year, depending on expected traffic and database size. An SSL certificate is a prerequisite for secure data transfer and is included with most reliable hosting packages today, though it's worth checking whether it's part of the offer or a separate cost. Advanced features like advanced filters, personalized recommendations or specific paid add-ons may require additional licenses billed monthly or annually, depending on the provider.

Factors that determine webshop cost

Platform and architecture are the first decision with long-term financial consequences, since a custom solution built around the client's business processes and an off-the-shelf platform like WordPress or Shopify aren't the same cost either short or long term, the difference becomes clearest only two to three years after launch. Catalog size directly affects system architecture, since a webshop with a few dozen items doesn't need the same databases, filters and admin logic as a system with thousands of variants and categories. The features a webshop needs, from the cart and checkout process to B2B models, loyalty programs, product configurators or multiple currencies, each carries its own development cost defined at the start, not after the project is complete. Integrations with external systems like ERP, CRM, payment gateways and delivery services are usually the largest single cost segment, since they require knowledge of both the client's business processes and the technical specifications of external systems at the same time. The business logic behind sales, pricing rules, discounts, tax requirements, specific delivery conditions or wholesale customer management, further defines development complexity, since it requires custom components that off-the-shelf platforms can't offer without compromise. Support for multiple languages and currencies is a separate factor that grows with the number of markets the client operates in, since every additional language means translated content, and every additional currency requires syncing with exchange rates and local payment methods.

Integrations a webshop can support

A webshop rarely functions as an isolated system, it usually needs to exchange data with the client's existing business systems, from ERP and CRM to accounting tools, delivery services and marketing platforms. Prolink can integrate a webshop with any external system that has an API or another standardized method of communication and for which the provider can supply technical documentation. The scope and cost of integration depend on how open the external system is to connection and how complex the business logic is that needs to be automated, which is why every integration is scoped and estimated as a separate line item in the quote.

Why a custom solution isn't more expensive long term

Off-the-shelf platforms like WordPress with WooCommerce or Shopify have a lower initial cost, but the picture changes over a three to five year horizon. Every plugin added is a new dependency whose development and security someone else controls, and combining multiple plugins is the most common cause of system instability under real traffic. Licensing costs grow with business growth, and scalability limitations become visible exactly when the system is under the most load, during seasonal sales peaks or when entering new markets. This difference is clearest with webshops built for business customers, which are technically more demanding and more expensive than a classic B2C system since they need to support business models that differ significantly from standard retail, customer-specific price lists, quote systems, order approval by managers and integration with internal procurement processes. Pro-farma is an example of this kind of webshop that Prolink built for the agricultural equipment segment, a system that functions simultaneously as a B2C and B2B platform, with customer-specific price lists and discounts, a quote system and advanced filters matching the specific categorization of technical equipment. A custom webshop is built once around the client's actual needs, without accumulating technical debt and without dependency on third-party platforms whose terms can change without notice.

Why clients choose Prolink for webshop development

More than 20 years of experience building webshops across different industries, from retail, optics and toys to B2B equipment, publishing and gaming, gives Prolink an understanding that can't be gained through a generalist approach. Every sector has its own purchasing logic, its own administrative requirements and its own relationship between technical complexity and business outcome. The development price is one-time and fixed, scope is precisely defined before work begins, and the system is delivered in full ownership to the client. The only situation where the price can change is if the client requests functionality mid-project that wasn't part of the original scope, which is then scoped as a separate request with its own timeline and price. If you're considering webshop development and looking for a partner who understands both the technical side and the business logic behind online sales, get in touch, a conversation about scope and approach commits you to nothing.

 

Frequently asked questions about webshop development cost

How much does webshop development cost?

Basic solutions start from €1,500, advanced webshops with custom design and integrations range between €3,500 and €7,000, while complex systems with ERP/CRM integration and business process automation start from €7,000 upward. The final price is always set after a requirements analysis.

What's included in the price?

The price includes design, development, feature implementation, testing and launch. Technical SEO, analytics setup and a development server are standard on every project. Integrations, product entry and maintenance are scoped separately.

Is a custom webshop more expensive than WordPress or Shopify?

Short term, the initial price of a custom solution is usually higher. Long term, the picture changes, since off-the-shelf platforms bring plugin licensing costs, scalability limits and technical debt that grows with the business.

What has the biggest impact on the final price?

Integrations with external systems are usually the largest single cost segment. Right behind that is business logic, specific pricing rules, discounts or B2B models that require custom component development.

Is the price fixed or can it change?

Prolink works exclusively on a fixed-price basis, scope is precisely defined before work begins. The price only changes if the client requests functionality outside the original scope mid-project.

How much does a B2B webshop cost compared to a standard one?

A B2B webshop is a more complex and more expensive solution since it needs to support customer-specific price lists, quote systems, order approval and procurement integrations, requiring custom components that standard solutions can't offer without compromise.

Does the number of products affect the price?

Product count affects price through two components, architecture and data entry. A webshop with thousands of items and advanced filtering needs a more complex database than a system with a few dozen products.

How much does webshop maintenance cost annually?

Maintenance cost depends on system complexity and agreed scope, from technical updates to performance optimization, defined as a separate service with no platform subscription or hidden costs.

What are hosting, domain and SSL certificate costs as ongoing expenses?

Hosting and domain typically run between €50 and €300 a year, depending on expected traffic and database size. An SSL certificate is usually included with reliable hosting packages, though worth confirming.