This guide is specifically about building your online store — platform, cost, and launch timeline. If your store is already live and you're trying to get found on Google, see our separate e-commerce SEO guide instead, which picks up exactly where this one ends.
Choosing a Platform: Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Custom
Shopify is fully hosted, the easiest to get started with, and charges an ongoing monthly platform fee. WooCommerce runs on WordPress, is self-hosted, has no mandatory monthly platform fee, and gives more control — at the cost of managing your own hosting. Custom-built stores are constructed from scratch for very specific business models, at the highest cost and longest timeline.
Real Cost Breakdown by Platform
Rough ranges for a standard product catalog in 2026: Shopify or WooCommerce setup with theme customization and product upload typically runs ₹25,000-₹50,000. A fully custom-coded store, built without a pre-existing platform, typically starts around ₹80,000 and rises with feature complexity. These ranges cover setup and design — ongoing hosting or Shopify subscription fees are separate.
Payment Gateway & Checkout Setup
Popular Indian payment gateways include Razorpay, PayU, Instamojo, and Cashfree. Setup itself is usually free or low-cost, but expect a per-transaction fee (commonly around 2%) on every sale. You'll typically need business KYC documents and a current account to get a gateway approved, so it's worth starting that process early rather than at the last minute.
Realistic Timeline to Launch
A Shopify or WooCommerce store with 20-50 products typically takes 2-4 weeks to launch. Fully custom builds usually take 6-10+ weeks. In practice, the biggest delay is almost never the platform itself — it's waiting on product photography and content to be ready, so preparing that early can meaningfully shorten your actual timeline.
Talk to our team
Ready to launch your online store? We build on Shopify, WooCommerce, and fully custom — and help set up payment gateways too.
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After Launch: What Comes Next
Launching the store just makes it live — being found is a separate, ongoing effort. Once you're live, our e-commerce SEO guide covers product-page optimization, category structure, and the local + ecommerce hybrid strategy that drives ongoing traffic. You'll also need a plan for product photography, inventory management, and customer service as orders start coming in.
What Our Clients Say
Real feedback from businesses RS Web Solutions has worked with in Gorakhpur.
"RS Web Solutions ne hamari website ka complete SEO kar ke Google first page pe laya. Gorakhpur mein inka koi mukabla nahi. Highly recommended!"
"Best digital marketing company in Gorakhpur. They designed our e-commerce website and handled our social media. Sales increased by 40% in just 3 months. Excellent team!"
"Professional team, timely delivery, and excellent support. RS Web Solutions is the go-to digital marketing agency in Gorakhpur for any business wanting to grow online."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper for a Gorakhpur seller?
WooCommerce has lower ongoing platform fees since there's no mandatory monthly subscription, but it needs more hands-on hosting and maintenance management compared to Shopify's all-in-one hosted approach.
How much does a payment gateway cost to set up?
Setup itself is usually free or low-cost with providers like Razorpay or PayU, but expect a per-transaction fee (typically around 2%) on every sale processed.
How long does it take to launch an online store?
A standard Shopify or WooCommerce store with 20-50 products typically takes 2-4 weeks, mostly depending on how quickly product content and photos are ready.
Do I need a business registration to accept online payments?
Most Indian payment gateways require business KYC and a current bank account, so having your business registration in order before setup saves time.
Is building the store enough, or do I also need SEO?
Building the store just makes it live — ranking and getting found on Google is a separate, ongoing effort; see our e-commerce SEO guide for what comes after launch.
