Quick answer: A Shopify development company in Australia typically charges AU$80 to AU$200 per hour. A basic store setup often starts from around AU$3,000 to AU$8,000, a custom-designed store commonly costs AU$10,000 to AU$40,000, and complex or Shopify Plus builds can reach AU$50,000 or more. Ongoing support usually runs from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month. The final price depends mainly on design, integrations, migration needs and who builds it.
If you’ve asked a few agencies for a quote and received very different numbers, that’s normal. A simple store using a customised theme is a completely different job from a multi-currency store with custom features and ERP integration.
This guide explains what a Shopify development company charges, what drives the price and how to get a quote you can trust.
Typical Shopify Development Rates in Australia
Rates vary by the type of provider. These are indicative ranges:
| Provider type | Typical hourly rate (AUD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
|
Freelancer |
$60 – $130 |
Small, well-defined tasks |
|
Australian agency |
$120 – $200 |
Complex builds needing a full team |
|
Offshore team |
$25 – $60 |
Budget-conscious, well-documented projects |
|
Hybrid (local lead plus offshore delivery) |
$50 – $110 |
Balance of cost and local accountability |
The lowest hourly rate isn’t always the lowest project cost. An experienced team often works faster, makes fewer mistakes and builds a store that’s easier to maintain.
Common Pricing Models
Fixed price
You agree on a price for a defined scope. This suits projects with clear requirements, such as a store build from an approved design. Work outside the scope is quoted separately.
Time and materials
You pay for hours worked. This suits projects where requirements may change, and it gives flexibility, though costs can grow without good tracking.
Dedicated developer or team
You pay a monthly fee for a developer or team working on your store. This suits growing brands with regular development needs.
Retainer or support plan
A monthly fee covers updates, fixes, small improvements and a set number of support hours.
What Different Shopify Projects Cost
These ranges are a general guide. Your quote depends on your specific requirements.
| Project type | Typical cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
|
Store setup with a premium theme |
$3,000 – $8,000 |
|
Theme customisation |
$2,000 – $10,000 |
|
Custom-designed store |
$10,000 – $40,000 |
|
Migration from another platform |
$3,000 – $20,000+ |
|
Custom features or private app |
$3,000 – $30,000+ |
|
Integrations (ERP, inventory, shipping, accounting) |
$3,000 – $20,000+ |
|
Shopify Plus build |
$30,000 – $100,000+ |
|
Ongoing support |
$500 – $3,000 per month |
For more on what’s involved in each type, see our guides to Shopify store development in Australia and Shopify theme customisation in Australia.
8 Factors That Affect Your Shopify Development Cost
1. Design approach
A premium theme with light customisation costs far less than a fully custom design built from scratch. Custom design is worth it when your brand or customer experience needs to stand out.
2. Number of products and complexity
A store with 50 products is quicker to set up than one with 10,000 products, variants, bundles or subscriptions.
3. Migration
Moving from WooCommerce, Magento or BigCommerce means transferring products, customers, orders and URLs, and setting up redirects to protect your search rankings. Messy source data adds time.
4. Custom features and apps
Shopify’s app store covers many needs, but unusual requirements, such as custom product builders or special pricing rules, may need custom development.
5. Integrations
Connecting to your ERP, warehouse, accounting software, CRM or marketing tools takes work, especially if the other system has a poor or limited API.
6. Shopify Plus requirements
Plus gives access to advanced checkout customisation, automation and wholesale features. These bring extra development work and a higher platform cost.
7. Timeline
Tight deadlines usually mean more people working in parallel, which raises the cost.
8. Team location and experience
Australian teams cost more per hour than offshore teams, but may reduce communication overhead and risk. See the comparison below.
Local, Offshore or Hybrid: Which Is Cheaper?
| Model | Cost | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
|
Local |
Highest |
Same time zone, face-to-face meetings, easier accountability |
|
Offshore |
Lowest |
Time-zone gaps, more management effort, quality varies widely |
|
Hybrid |
Moderate |
Needs a well-run process, but gives a local contact with efficient delivery |
Many Australian store owners choose a hybrid model: a local contact handles strategy and communication, while a larger team does the build. If you’re deciding who to hire, our guide to choosing a Shopify development company in Australia walks through what to compare, and there’s a Melbourne-specific version for choosing a Shopify development company in Melbourne.
Costs People Forget to Budget For
The development quote is only part of the cost of running a store. Plan for:
- Shopify plan fees: these vary by plan, so check Shopify’s current pricing page.
- Paid apps: many apps charge monthly, and they add up.
- Theme licence: premium themes have a one-off cost.
- Payment and transaction fees: these depend on your payment setup and Shopify plan.
- Content, photography and copywriting.
- Marketing and SEO.
- Ongoing maintenance: updates, fixes and small improvements after launch.
Australian Costs and Setup to Plan For
A few costs and setup tasks are specific to selling in Australia:
- GST: your store needs correct tax settings, and your developer should set them up properly.
- Buy now, pay later: Afterpay and similar options are close to expected by Australian shoppers. Our guide on BNPL and checkout optimisation on Shopify explains why and how to set it up.
- Shipping: integration with Australia Post, courier services and local rate tables.
- Mobile speed: most Australian shoppers browse on mobile, so a fast store matters. See our guide to Shopify site speed and Core Web Vitals.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
You’ll get better pricing if you prepare before you ask.
- State your goals: what you want the store to achieve for your business.
- List must-have features: separate essentials from nice-to-haves.
- Share your catalogue size: number of products, variants and collections.
- Note existing systems: your current platform, ERP, inventory and accounting tools.
- Share examples: stores whose design or features you like.
- Set a budget range and timeline: a good company will tell you honestly what’s achievable.
- Ask for a breakdown: a quote should show phases, deliverables and assumptions, not just a single number.
Red Flags in a Shopify Quote
- A single total with no breakdown
- A price far below every other quote: it often means missing scope, junior staff or shortcuts
- No mention of testing, mobile design or post-launch support
- No plan for SEO during migration: broken URLs can cost you traffic and sales
- No clear ownership: you should own your Shopify account, domain and store data
- Pressure to sign quickly
- Overpromises on timeline or results
- No portfolio or references
Is the Cheapest Shopify Developer Worth It?
Sometimes, for small and clearly defined tasks. But for a store that earns your income, the lowest price often costs more over time through slow performance, poor mobile design, broken integrations and fixes that never end. A better question than “what’s the cheapest option?” is “which option gives me a store that sells well and is easy to maintain?”
If you’re comparing a single expert with an agency, our guide to finding the right Shopify experts in Australia explains the trade-offs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Shopify development company charge per hour in Australia?
Most charge between AU$80 and AU$200 per hour. Offshore teams are usually lower, and larger Australian agencies are usually higher.
How much does it cost to build a Shopify store in Australia?
A basic store with a premium theme often costs AU$3,000 to AU$8,000. A custom-designed store typically costs AU$10,000 to AU$40,000, depending on features and integrations.
How much does a Shopify Plus build cost?
Plus builds usually start around AU$30,000 and can reach AU$100,000 or more, depending on checkout customisation, integrations and automation. Platform fees are separate.
Is fixed price or hourly better?
Fixed price suits clearly defined builds. Hourly or dedicated-team models suit ongoing development where requirements will change. A good company will recommend what fits your situation.
How much does it cost to migrate to Shopify?
It depends on the size of your catalogue, the platform you’re leaving and how clean your data is. Migrations that protect SEO with proper redirects usually cost more upfront, but protect your traffic.
Do I need to pay for support after launch?
In most cases, yes. Stores need updates, bug fixes, app management and small improvements. A monthly plan is usually cheaper than paying for each fix separately.
Why do Shopify quotes vary so much between companies?
Differences usually come from design approach, scope assumptions, team experience, location and what’s included. Compare quotes line by line, not just by total.
Can I reduce my Shopify development cost?
Yes. Start with a premium theme and customise only what matters, prioritise essential features for launch, prepare your product data and images early, and add more later. Cutting testing or mobile design to save money usually backfires.
Get a Clear Shopify Development Quote
Ecommerce Partners is a Shopify development company helping Australian businesses build, customise and grow their online stores. We handle store development, theme customisation and apps and integrations.
Call: 1300 72 50 90
Email: info@ecommercepartners.com.au
Planning a project? Request a free consultation and quote and we’ll help you scope the work and understand the cost.