There is no single price for a custom e-shop, the same way there is no single price for a house. A simple store and a multi-warehouse platform with ERP integration and a recommendation engine are different projects with different budgets. But the ranges are knowable, and so are the things that move them.
This guide breaks down what a custom e-shop costs on the Czech market in 2026, what drives the number up or down, and how it compares over five years to renting a platform like Shoptet.
The Short Answer
Scope | Indicative price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
Simple store (standard flows) | from ~250 000 CZK | 6-10 weeks |
Mid-range (integrations, custom UX) | 400 000-700 000 CZK | 12-16 weeks |
Complex / enterprise (ERP, marketplaces, AI) | 1 000 000-2 500 000 CZK | 4-8 months |
Hosting and maintenance | 40 000-120 000 CZK/year | ongoing |
These are one-time build costs with no per-product or per-order fee. You own the code, so the price does not climb as the store grows, which is the core difference from a rented platform.
What Drives the Price
- Integrations: every connected system (ERP, accounting, payment gateway, carriers, marketplaces) adds scope, and this is usually the single biggest cost driver
- Catalog complexity: variants, bundles, pricing rules, B2B price lists
- Custom features: configurators, subscriptions, loyalty, AI recommendations
- Design and UX: a bespoke, conversion-focused front end vs a standard layout
- Migration: moving products, customers, and order history from an old platform
- Performance and scale: traffic spikes, multi-warehouse, multi-currency
A useful rule of thumb: underestimating integration complexity is the most common reason e-commerce projects run over budget. The connection layer is where the real work hides. Our API integration guide covers how it is built.
Rent vs Build: The Cost Models
Renting a platform like Shoptet is cheap to start (from 349 CZK a month) and the cost scales with tier and add-ons. A custom build is a larger one-time cost with a predictable yearly amount after. Here is how Shoptet tiers look in 2026 (excl. VAT):
Shoptet tarif | Price/month |
|---|---|
Basic | 349 CZK |
Business | 1 199 CZK |
Profi | 1 999 CZK |
Enterprise | 3 749 CZK |
Premium | from 12 000 CZK |
For when renting stops making sense and a build pays off, see the full comparison in custom e-shop vs Shoptet.
The Hidden Costs to Plan For
- Post-launch changes: real stores evolve; budget 15-30 percent over the build for the first year of improvements
- Maintenance: hosting, security updates, dependency upgrades, support
- Add-ons on rented platforms: advanced shipping, feeds, and connectors that creep past 3,000 CZK a month at scale
- Integration upkeep: when a connected system changes its API, the link needs attention
The 5-Year View
Over five years a mid-range custom e-shop costs roughly 700,000 to 1,000,000 CZK all in. A growing Shoptet store on Profi with add-ons lands lower in raw subscription terms. So custom is not the cheaper line item; it earns its keep when fit, speed, and integrations move revenue, and when you stop paying more every time you add a person or a feature. The break-even usually appears once the store passes roughly 15 million CZK in annual revenue or needs integrations a platform cannot do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a custom e-shop cost to start?
A simple custom store starts from around 250,000 CZK. Most growing businesses land in the 400,000 to 700,000 CZK range once integrations and a bespoke front end are included.
How long does it take to build?
A simple store is 6 to 10 weeks, a mid-range store 12 to 16 weeks, and complex platforms 4 to 8 months, delivered in phases so the core goes live early.
What does ongoing maintenance cost?
Plan for 40,000 to 120,000 CZK a year for hosting, updates, and support, depending on traffic and the number of integrations.
Is a custom e-shop more expensive than Shoptet?
In raw cost, yes. It pays off through ownership, speed, and integrations that move revenue, not through subscription savings. Below roughly 15 million CZK in annual revenue, a rented platform is usually the smarter spend.
The Bottom Line
A custom e-shop is a one-time investment from 250,000 CZK that you own outright, with cost driven mostly by integrations and complexity. It is the right spend when a rented platform starts costing you revenue rather than just subscription fees.
Want a Real Estimate?
Tell us what your store needs to do and we will give you an honest range, not a sales number.
Book a free consultation and we will scope it with you.
