Maab S.

19 Sep 2025

7min Read

How Much Does It Really Cost to Start an Online Store in South Africa?

Cost is one of the first and most important things to think about when starting any new venture. If you’ve been trying to figure out how much does it cost to start an online store, you’re not alone.

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer because costs depend on many factors like the type of store you want to run, the platform you choose, how much customization you need, and whether you DIY or hire a professional.

That said, most online stores fall somewhere in the range of R2000 to R50,000 or more. We know that’s still a pretty big gap, so in this guide, we’ll break down the key expenses to give you a clearer picture of what to expect.

What You Need to Start an Online Store

Let’s start by listing out all the things you’ll need to get your online store up and running:

Domain name (your website’s address)
Web hosting or an online store platform (like HOSTAFRICA, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, etc.)
Website builder or CMS (the tool to build and manage your store, like the our online store builder)
SSL certificate (to keep transactions secure)
Payment gateway (to accept online payments)
Store design or theme (free or paid templates, or custom design)
Product photos and descriptions
Marketing tools (email marketing and SEO tools etc.)
Shipping setup and logistics tools (labels, couriers etc.)

Cost Breakdown of Starting an Online Store in South Africa

Now that we know what’s needed to set up an online store, let’s go over the costs involved. We’ll look at each item one by one and share tips on how to keep expenses reasonable.

Domain Name

Your first likely cost will be for domain registration.

Cost: Around R100 – R200 per year for a .co.za, and R250 – R500+ for a .com.
Tip: Register through a reliable and transparent registrar. The top providers, like HOSTAFRICA, provide free domains along with their hosting plans.

Web Hosting or Online Store Platform

You’ll need either hosting for a self-managed store (like WordPress + WooCommerce) or a hosted platform (like HOSTAFRICA or Shopify).

Cost: R80 – R300 per month for shared hosting, or R400 – R2500+ per month for managed platforms.
Tip: If you’re just starting, shared hosting or an entry-level plan with HOSTAFRICA is often enough. You can upgrade later as traffic grows.

Website Design and Development

This covers the look and feel of your store, from themes to custom builds.

Cost: Free – R2,000+ for templates, R5,000 – R30,000+ if you hire a freelancer or agency for custom development.
Tip: Start with a professional-looking theme instead of paying for custom design right away. You can always hire a developer later when your business grows.

SSL Certificate

An SSL certificate secures customer transactions and builds trust in your site. Without it, browsers will flag your store as “Not Secure,” which can scare visitors away.

Cost: R0 – R1,500 per year. Many web hosts now include SSL certificates for free.
Tip: Check if your hosting or platform already provides a free SSL.

Payment Gateway

This allows you to accept payments.

Cost: Usually no setup fee, but expect 1–3.5% per transaction. Some charge monthly fees of around R200 – R500.
Tip: Compare options like PayFast and Yoco. Look at transaction fees, payout times, supported payment methods, and any hidden charges.

Shipping and Logistics

You’ll also need a way to deliver products.

Cost: R60 – R120 per parcel with local couriers, depending on size and distance.
Tip: Negotiate bulk rates with couriers once you start shipping regularly. Some platforms integrate with courier services for easier setup.

Marketing and SEO

At this point, your store should be live; but that’s only half the battle.

Cost: Free (basic SEO tools + DIY) to R2,000+ per month (SEO services, ads, guest posts, email marketing tools etc.).
Tip: Start with free marketing tools (Google Analytics, social media) and scale paid ads when you start making sales.

Ongoing Maintenance

This covers updates, backups, bug fixes, and customer support.

Cost: Free – R2,000 per month, depending on whether you do it yourself or hire someone.
Tip: If you’re using WordPress or another self-hosted platform, budget for plugins and regular updates. Hosted platforms handle most of this for you.

DIY vs Professional Setup – Which Is Better for South Africans?

As you may have noticed, the costs can differ a lot depending on whether you set things up yourself or hire a professional. The right choice really comes down to your skills, budget, timeline, and long-term goals. Here are a few things to think about before you decide:

Your technical knowledge: If you’re comfortable working with website builders and hosting platforms, you can save a lot by doing the setup yourself.
Time vs money: DIY is cheaper, but it can be time-consuming. If your time is limited, you may be better off hiring a professional.
Mix and match: You don’t have to outsource everything. For example, you could set up the store yourself but hire a designer for branding, or get a developer to handle tricky integrations.
Quality and polish: A professional setup usually looks more refined and may give your store an edge when it comes to trust and user experience.
Long-term needs: Think about maintenance and growth. A DIY setup may be fine at first, but a professional can help build a more scalable foundation if you plan to expand.
Budget reality check: If funds are tight, start with a DIY approach and upgrade parts of your store later as sales grow.

How HOSTAFRICA Makes Online Stores Affordable

If you are in South Africa, then HOSTAFRICA is the one-stop shop for everything you need to start and scale your online store. Here are some features that make it stand out:

All the tools you need to run a store, including payment gateway integration, Zapier connections, inventory management, Facebook/Instagram store sync, and even calendar integration.
A simple drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy for anyone to create a store, even with no technical background.
A free trial so you can test the platform before committing.
Over 100 eCommerce templates to choose from.
AI-powered writing tools to help you create product descriptions and content quickly.
Built-in SEO tools to help your store rank on Google.
Free SSL included with every plan.
Local support that’s based in South Africa, so help is always nearby.
Pre-installed WordPress and WooCommerce for those who prefer running their store on a trusted open-source solution.
Access to website design and development professionals if you need expert help at any stage.

With HOSTAFRICA, you won’t need to leave the platform to get anything you may need, whether you’re just starting out or growing your store.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out for When Starting an Online Store

Finally, here are some hidden costs that many first-time store owners overlook.

Plugins and extensions: While many platforms have free add-ons, premium plugins (for SEO, shipping, analytics, or custom features) can cost anywhere from R200 to R2,000+ per year.
Backup and security tools: You may be able to start with free tools, but larger sites usually need more dedicated backup and security services. Expect R100 – R500 per month for premium options.
Domain renewal: Your domain may cost R100 – R500 per year initially, but renewal prices often go higher. For .com domains, expect to pay R350 – 700+ for renewals.
Resource scaling costs: As your store grows, you may need more bandwidth or storage. This can mean moving from R100 per month hosting to R500 – R1,000+ per month.
Professional email accounts: A custom email (me@mystore.co.za) helps build trust. Services like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 cost around R100 – R400+ per user per month.
Legal costs: Depending on your needs, you may need anywhere from R1,000 to R10,000 to draft privacy policies, terms and conditions, or disclaimers, or handle trademark registration.
Returns and refunds: Handling returns isn’t free. You may need to cover return shipping or absorb product loss. This cost varies but is worth budgeting for.

Conclusion

So now you know exactly how much it costs to start an online store in South Africa. We hope that this breakdown gives you a clear idea of the basics, the must-haves, and even the hidden costs that often get overlooked. Whether you decide to go the DIY route or bring in professionals, the key is to start within your budget and scale as your store grows.

If you choose a provider like HOSTAFRICA, you’ll have all the tools and support you need in one place — from a powerful online store builder to expert help — making the journey a lot smoother.