A low subscription price means little without required features and order volume. Some costs vary, while others apply after a trial or renewal. Compare providers using the same store profile and tax basis, without assuming that a higher or lower price automatically means better value.
Define a fair comparison
Alongside the twelve-month comparison, create a payment calendar. Put annual charges on their actual payment date and monthly items on their own dates. Record when introductory pricing ends and what is collected afterwards. This shows total cost and the cash needed before the first sales.
Platform fees on each sale
A platform may charge its own amount or percentage alongside payment processing. Check the calculation basis: order value, VAT, shipping and refunds may be treated differently. Use the quote or official pricing page for your country and plan. A percentage without that context is not a useful comparison.
Apps and external services
For every essential extension, ask for the billing unit: shop, employee, contact, order or usage. Enter current volumes and a busier scenario. In a trial environment, check what data you can export and what happens after cancellation. Record unknown charges as open questions.
Themes and setup
A paid theme may be a one-off purchase, while modifications and maintenance require additional work. Budget separately for photography, copy, accessibility and mobile checks. Do not compare a self-built shop with a fully configured quote without counting labour on both sides.
Payment processing is a separate cost
Processing costs can depend on payment method, country, currency, disputes and refunds. Use variables until your own tariff is confirmed. MicroCart charges 0% of its own transaction fees; this does not make payment processing free. Your payment provider charges separately.
Calculate growth and downside scenarios
Fictional monthly model excluding VAT: platform €39.95, domain budget €2, administration €15, provider fees P and external services E. Total €56.95 + P + E, before stock, shipping, marketing, returns and labour. Only €39.95 is the MicroCart product price; the other amounts are illustrative assumptions. Recalculate the same list for twenty and two hundred orders.
Ask about the complete contract term
Check renewal, data access, exports, limits and exit costs. Allow migration time for product mapping, redirects and test orders. MicroCart costs €399.50 annually or €39.95 per shop per month excluding VAT, with all MicroCart apps and B2B included. The trial lasts fourteen days without a credit card; it is not a permanent free plan.
Frequently asked questions
Are costs hidden if listed on the pricing page? They can still be overlooked; read terms and clarify uncertainties. Does a 0% platform fee mean no payment costs? No. Does a free plugin mean a free shop? Hosting, maintenance and additional services remain separate costs.
Make the budget usable
Save the date and source for every tariff and request written clarification of unknown charges. Decide after testing essential functions. Use the shop-cost guide for the wider operating budget.
Sources and checks
Primary sources checked on 26 October 2026: Shopify: abonnementen; WooCommerce: getting started.
