The process of finding a specialist to do the development of Shopify may be confusing as each freelancer offers a different price. When you have typed how much does it cost to hire a Shopify expert, you will see that the price ranges between ₹500/hour and 10,000/hour. Then what is a proper price to pay?
This paper completely dissects all this, giving examples, tables, and real-life knowledge, allowing you to hire without throwing money away.
What Is a Shopify Expert & Why Hire One?
A Shopify expert is a shopify expert who is trained with the development of Shopify, theme development, store development, integration with apps, marketing and scaling.
You need to get a Shopify expert when:
- You want a premium brand look
- You require some tailored functionality.
- Your sales are stuck
- You are moving out of WooCommerce, WordPress, or Magento.
Outsourcing a professional will save you time and prevent errors and make sure your store operates efficiently.
Factors That Influence the Cost
1. Experience Level
Level | Typical Hourly Rate |
Beginner | ₹500 – ₹1,200/hour |
Intermediate | ₹1,500 – ₹3,500/hour |
Expert/Top Rated | ₹4,000 – ₹10,000/hour |
2. Type of Service
Design is inexpensive compared to custom code. The cost of creating apps is higher than theme editing.
3. Project Complexity
More features = more money.
Example:
❌ Editing a theme button → ₹1,000
✔ ️ Tailor-made product builder + 40,000 and above.
4. Location of Expert
- India: Affordable, skilled
- USA/UK: Highest pricing
- Eastern Europe: Mid-range
Average Cost to Hire a Shopify Expert
1. Hourly Pricing
The majority of Shopify professionals are hourly paid:
₹1,200 – ₹10,000 per hour depending on skills.
2. Project-Based Pricing
This is the most common.
Type of Project | Cost Range |
Basic Shopify Store Setup | ₹10,000 – ₹30,000 |
Premium Store Setup | ₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000 |
Custom Theme Development | ₹80,000 – ₹4,00,000 |
Shopify App Development | ₹60,000 – ₹5,00,000 |
Shopify Migration | ₹25,000 – ₹1,20,000 |
- Monthly Retainer
To support continuously, fix and update bugs:
₹15,000 – ₹60,000 per month
Cost Breakdown by Service Type
Shopify Store Setup
Perfect for new sellers.
Cost: ₹10,000 – ₹80,000
Includes:
- Theme setup
- Branding
- Basic pages
- Payment gateway setup
Shopify Theme Customization
Individual design, fonts, colors and individual design.
Cost: ₹20,000 – ₹1,50,000
Scenario: A fashion shop which requires a tailored product scanner.
Shopify App Development
For advanced features like:
- Subscription systems
- If it is a custom product, the product configurators are custom.
- Multi-vendor marketplace characteristics.
Cost: ₹60,000 – ₹5,00,000+
Shopify Migration
Switching WooCommerce to Wix, Magento.
Cost: ₹25,000 – ₹1,20,000
Shopify SEO & Marketing
In order to achieve organic traffic and increase conversions.
Cost: ₹5,000 – ₹40,000 per month
Ongoing Maintenance
For updates, backup, bug fixes.
Cost: ₹5,000 – ₹30,000 per month
Price Comparison Table (Beginner vs Expert)
Task | Beginner | Intermediate | Expert |
Homepage customization | ₹3,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹20,000+ |
Shopify store setup | ₹10,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹60,000+ |
Custom coding | ₹1,500/hour | ₹2,500/hour | ₹6,000/hour |
Bug fixes | ₹500 | ₹1,000 | ₹3,000+ |
How to Choose the Right Shopify Expert
1. Check Portfolio
Find actual Shopify stores that they have established.
2. Read Reviews
The developers that have low communication should be avoided.
3. Compare Value, Not Just Price
Low cost developers are actually expensive in the long run.
4. Ask for Clear Deliverables
Always receive an offer in writing.
Tips to Save Money When Hiring a Shopify Expert
- Use better themes rather than out-of-house designs.
- Provide exact references
- Avoid mid-project changes
- Use pre-built Shopify apps
Common Mistakes Store Owners Make
❌ Hiring the lowest priced developer.
❌ Failure to screen platform expertise.
❌ No clear roadmap
❌ Failure to request revisions in writing.
When You Should Not Hire a Shopify Expert
You do not have to be an expert when you are:
- Adding products
- Changing store text
- Installing basic apps
- Editing simple images
Shopify has an easy to use administration to perform these tasks.
Conclusion
The price of a Shopify professional is determined by the experience, type of service, and complexity. You may require everything to be shopify development, or those features that are custom tailored or simply developed and set up a store, when hiring the right expert, you are guaranteed that you can enjoy the benefits both in the short term and the long term. Rather than making estimates, evaluate your needs, price, and select the professional who matches your business vision- not your budget.
FAQs
1. How much does a beginner Shopify developer charge?
Usually between ₹500–₹1,200 per hour.
2. Is it worth hiring a Shopify expert?
Yes, more so when you want a professional convertible store.
3. How much does a complete Shopify store cost?
An entire store system will cost between 20000 and 150000 rupees based on design and features.
4. What is the cost of Shopify app development?
₹60,000 – ₹5,00,000+, depending on complexity.
5. Do Shopify experts offer maintenance plans?
Yes, the majority of them have monthly retainer options between ₹5,000 and 30,000.