The price of an ecommerce platform is only one part of the total cost. This guide explains every cost component — subscription, domain, payments, shipping, design, plugins, marketing, support and transaction fees — so you can budget accurately. Useful whether or not you choose BharatGo.
Many businesses choose an ecommerce platform based on the monthly subscription alone, then discover hidden costs later — transaction fees, paid plugins, separate payment gateway charges, premium themes or additional staff accounts. The real cost of running an online store is the sum of all these components.
This guide breaks down each cost category so you can estimate your total cost before committing to a platform.
The monthly or annual fee for using the ecommerce platform. This is the base cost and varies widely between platforms. Some offer free plans with limitations; others charge based on features or sales volume. Check what is included and what costs extra.
A custom domain (e.g. yourstore.in) gives your store a professional identity. Some platforms include a free subdomain; custom domains are purchased separately from domain registrars. The cost is typically annual.
Payment gateways charge a fee on each transaction — typically a percentage of the order value. Some platforms also charge their own per-order fee on top. Check both the gateway fee and any platform transaction fee. Direct-to-bank settlement may be important for cash flow.
Shipping costs depend on the courier, package weight, distance and delivery speed. Some platforms include courier aggregator integration; others require third-party apps. Pay on Delivery may incur additional courier fees. You may also need shipping label printing.
Some platforms include free themes; others charge for premium themes or custom design. If you need a unique brand identity, custom design work may require a developer. Platforms with configuration-based customisation (colours, logo, banners) may not need additional design spend.
Features like Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, abandoned-cart recovery, social-proof notifications or SEO tools may be included or may require paid plugins. Add up the cost of plugins you need — a platform with built-in features may be cheaper than one that charges for each add-on.
Running ads, creating marketing content and promoting your store costs money. Some platforms include basic marketing tools (coupons, loyalty, WhatsApp sharing); others require separate marketing software. AI-assisted content generation can reduce content costs if included.
Is support included in your plan or charged extra? Do you need priority support? If you have staff, do you need additional staff accounts? Some platforms limit staff accounts on lower plans or charge per additional user.
Some platforms charge a per-order commission or service fee, especially on free or lower-tier plans. This is separate from the payment gateway fee. Check whether there is a per-order fee and at what sales volume it applies. Higher plans may reduce or waive this fee.
Note the monthly or annual subscription for the plan that fits your needs. Check if annual billing saves money.
Find the payment gateway percentage fee and any platform transaction fee. Estimate based on your expected monthly sales volume.
If you want a custom domain, add the annual domain registration cost.
Identify which features you need that are not included — SEO tools, analytics, abandoned-cart recovery, marketing — and add their costs.
Shipping is usually passed to the customer, but you may absorb some costs for free-delivery promotions. Factor in courier aggregator fees if applicable.
In India, GST is typically applicable on SaaS subscriptions. Check whether prices are inclusive or exclusive of GST.
BharatGo offers transparent pricing with two ecommerce plans: a Standard plan and a Pro plan, both with monthly billing and an annual billing option that gives 14 months for the price of 12. A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
Key things to know about BharatGo pricing:
For current pricing details, visit the pricing section on the BharatGo homepage.
The cost depends on the platform you choose and the components you need. At minimum, you need a platform subscription, a domain (if you want a custom domain), and a payment gateway. Some platforms offer free trials or free plans with limitations. The total cost is the sum of all components described in this guide — not just the subscription price.
14 days, no credit card. Test BharatGo and see if it fits your budget.