How much does it cost to launch an online store in Spain in 2026? It depends on catalogue size, payments, logistics, and whether you start from a template or custom development. In practice, many SMEs can start on a modest budget (initial setups often land around EUR 500–2,000), while a professional store built to sell reliably usually sits between EUR 2,000 and 8,000. Only e-commerce with heavy integrations or bespoke business rules tends toward larger investments.
In 2026, artificial intelligence is also shifting the equation: it shortens time on product copy, baseline legal text, first layouts, and repetitive support. That does not replace solid engineering, but it does let you flex the budget much further—spending on what drives sales and automating the rest—with studios that use these tools in a controlled way.
For corporate website pricing (without online sales), see our 2026 business website cost guide. This article focuses only on e-commerce: what you pay, to whom, and which costs appear after launch.
Quick answer: indicative ranges in Spain (2026)
- Template or configured SaaS store: EUR 500 – 2,000 (setup + basic tailoring).
- Professional store (WooCommerce, PrestaShop, similar): EUR 2,000 – 8,000.
- Custom build (Laravel or proprietary stack): EUR 8,000 – 18,000 (very complex projects can go higher).
Typical timelines: 4–8 weeks for standard projects; 3–6 months with ERP, B2B rules, multi-warehouse flows, or large catalogues.
Template, technical studio, or large agency?
| Option | 2026 range | Usually includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template / assisted DIY | EUR 500 – 2,000 | Theme, plugins, basic gateway, small catalogue | Testing online demand on a tight budget |
| Technical studio (e.g. aatsoft) | EUR 2,500 – 9,000 | Architecture, UX, technical SEO, payments, training | SMEs that need to scale without rebuilding in year one |
| Large full-service agency | EUR 12,000 – 30,000+ | Brand, campaigns, content, development | Teams with marketing cadence and launch planning |
WooCommerce, PrestaShop, or custom Laravel
At aatsoft we mainly deliver PrestaShop, WooCommerce, and Laravel when the business needs proprietary logic. The choice is not framework loyalty—it is fit for catalogue, team, and budget.
- WooCommerce: fast if you already run WordPress; good for smaller catalogues and content-led shops. Watch plugin sprawl and performance without optimisation.
- PrestaShop: e-commerce-first; solid fit for Spanish stores managing tax, carriers, and catalogue rules.
- Custom Laravel: when you need B2B portals, subscriptions, ERP/CRM integrations, or pricing rules that standard CMS setups cannot handle cleanly.
Costs few budgets include (until they hurt)
- Hosting and performance: EUR 25 – 120/month depending on traffic, CDN, and backups.
- Payment gateway: per-transaction fees (often around 1.4% + fixed with Stripe/Redsys, depending on volume and bank).
- Shipping and logistics: carrier integrations, labels, returns.
- Product photography and copy: EUR 10 – 60/product outsourced (less when combining AI + human review) outsourced; internal hours if you do it yourself.
- Legal and tax: policies, cookies, invoicing (including Spain’s evolving e-invoicing context where applicable), VAT when selling abroad.
- Maintenance: security updates, patches, monitoring—EUR 60 – 280/month by complexity.
How much does online store maintenance cost?
For a well-built WooCommerce or PrestaShop store, plan EUR 60 – 180/month for technical care. High volume or heavy integrations often need EUR 180 – 320/month. One failed checkout during a peak sales day usually costs more than a year of maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I launch for less than EUR 1,000?
Yes, with a template, a small catalogue, and content tasks supported by supervised AI. It works to validate demand; strong SEO, logistics automation, and a polished checkout usually need a phased upgrade.
Does AI really lower store costs?
Partly: it cuts hours on copy, product variants, and prototypes. What you should not trim is architecture, payments, security, and real purchase testing. A sound 2026 budget blends smart automation with technical work where it matters.
How long does a serious project take?
About 6–10 weeks for medium catalogues with custom design, payments, and training. ERP or POS integrations extend the timeline.
What about Shopify or other SaaS?
They make sense when speed matters more than deep customisation. Recurring subscription + app fees can exceed self-hosted costs over 2–3 years. We favour owned setups when the business case supports it.
How do I avoid paying twice?
Ask for a phased breakdown: design, development, content, technical SEO, QA, and training. If catalogue, payments, and legal are bundled into one opaque line, expect surprises.
Next step: turn catalogue into revenue
A store is not only a cart—it is logistics, trust, and product pages that answer objections before a chat starts. For conversion beyond price, read An online store that sells: 5 keys to make your e-commerce work.
Want a scoped estimate for your case? Share catalogue size, integrations, and revenue goals. On our online store development page we prepare a clear proposal—no hidden line items.
