How much does a website really cost in Ireland? Here is the breakdown with prices.
In 2023, building an e-commerce website has become a necessity for many brands in Ireland. With more and more consumers turning to online shopping, having a strong online presence is crucial for success.
However, the cost of building an e-commerce website can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including who you choose to build it. In this article, we will explore the three main options for building an e-commerce website in Ireland: doing it yourself, hiring a freelancer, or working with agencies. We will outline the pros and cons of each option, provide estimates of the associated costs, and suggest some e-commerce platforms for those who choose to build the website themselves.
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This Article Will Cover:
Option 1: Doing It Yourself
While the idea of building your own website may seem daunting, there are many e-commerce platforms that make it easier than ever to set up a professional-looking e-commerce site. The main benefit of doing it yourself is cost-effectiveness, as you can save on the cost of hiring a freelancer or working with an agency. However, it is important to note that building an e-commerce website is still a significant undertaking that requires a good amount of technical knowledge and skills
Pros:
- The most cost-effective option
- Complete control over the design and development of the website
- Flexibility to work on the project at your own pace
Cons:
- Requires a significant amount of time and effort
- Limited technical expertise may result in a less polished final product
- Lack of ongoing support and maintenance
Costs:
- Domain name: €10-€20 per year
- Hosting: €60-€200 per year
- Theme/site template: €35-€300 once off
- E-commerce platform: free or typically around €50+ per month (suggested platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, OpenCart)
- Payment gateway such as Stripe: transaction fees of 1.4%-3.4% plus a fixed fee of €0.25-€0.35
This is a good fit for:
- Small businesses with limited budgets
- Individuals who have free-time
- Those with a strong amount of technical knowledge and skills
- A side project selling a very small number of products with no variation
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Option 2: Hiring a Freelancer
Hiring a freelancer to build your e-commerce website can be a good middle ground between doing it yourself and working with an agency. With a freelancer, you get access to specialized skills and expertise without breaking the bank.
However, the quality of work can vary heavily between freelancers and it may be difficult to ensure long-term support. Websites like UpWork & Fiverr make it really easy to find Freelancers from all around the world.
Pros:
- More affordable than working with an agency
- Access to specialized skills and expertise
- Increased control over the project compared to an agency
Cons:
- Quality may vary depending on the freelancer’s experience and skills
- Language and cultural differences can slow down the process
- May have limited availability or capacity to work on the project
- May not offer ongoing support or maintenance
Costs:
- Website design and development: €1,000-€5,000
- E-commerce platform: €50-€200+ per month (suggested platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart)
- Payment gateway: transaction fees of 1.4%-3.4% plus a fixed fee of €0.25-€0.35
This is a good fit for:
- Small businesses with a small budget
- Those who want access to specialized skills and expertise
- Those who want more control over the project compared to working with an agency
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Option 3: Working with a Boutique Agency
When it comes to building an e-commerce website, working with an agency can provide you with the highest level of quality and ongoing support. A boutique agency like Stacks Creative can create a custom e-commerce website optimized to scale and generate revenue quickly.
Pros:
- A high quality of work and level of expertise
- Boutique agencies tend to specialise in individual niches, for example Stacks.ie specialises in e-commerce websites
- A more personal experience than a large firm
- More cost-effective than full-service agencies
- Ongoing support and maintenance
Cons:
- More expensive than doing it on your own or with a freelancer
- Less control over the project compared to doing it yourself or working with a freelancer
- May require more time for communication and collaboration with the agency team
Costs:
- Website design and development: €4,000-€40,000+ (typical platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce)
- E-commerce platform, plugins and hosting: €50-€350 per month
- Payment gateway: transaction fees of 1.4%-3.4% plus a fixed fee of €0.25-€0.35
This is a good fit for:
- Medium to larger businesses with a decent-sized budget
- Those who want the highest quality of work and access to a team of specialists
- Those who want ongoing support and maintenance
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Option 4: Working with a Full-Service Agency
For larger brands with complex requirements, a large full-service agency can be the best option. They have large teams of professionals, that can handle high e-commerce websites, complex software developments and app developments. Agency comparison websites such as Clutch and Design Rush can be extremely useful when comparing what Irish companies to partner with.
The cost of working with a full-service agency can be significantly higher than other options, but you can expect a high level of quality and ongoing support.
Pros:
- Highest quality of work and level of expertise
- Can handle requests with high-complexity
- May have specialisation in multiple disiplines
Cons:
- The most expensive option
- Full-service agencies may be bloated in terms of team size making them less cost-effective
- May require more time for communication and collaboration due to team sizes
Costs:
- Website design and development: A full-service agency typically charges between €20,000 and €100,000+ for an advanced e-commerce website
- Support / hosting: €500-€2,000+ per month
- Payment gateway: transaction fees of 1.4%-3.4% plus a fixed fee of €0.25-€0.35
This is a good fit for:
- Large businesses & multinational companies with sizable budgets
- Projects with high complexity and require a custom solution
- Those who want the highest quality of work and access to large teams of specialists