GUIDE
An online store can cost far more than the headline plan once fees and apps pile on. Here is the real answer, and how to sell without a cut of every sale.

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THE SHORT ANSWER
An ecommerce website cost is rarely just the plan. Transaction fees, paid apps for basics, and rising tiers are where it adds up. Instinctor gives you products, cart and checkout in one flat price from $30/mo, and takes no cut of your sales beyond the normal card fee.
WHAT DRIVES THE COST
Transaction fees
Some platforms take a cut of every sale on top of the card fee, which grows as you sell more.
Paid apps for basics
Features you expect to be included often need paid apps, and a few add up to more than the base plan.
Rising tiers
Lower tiers cap features or charge higher fees, nudging you up to pricier plans as you grow.
Payment processing
The card processor takes its standard rate, which is normal, but some platforms add their own on top.
Hosting and upkeep
A self-built store adds hosting, security and updates, which a managed platform folds into one price.
Design and setup
A custom theme or setup help is an optional cost, worth it for some, avoidable with a good builder.
WHY ONE PRICE WINS
A cut of every sale sounds small until you do the math over a year of orders. A flat price with no revenue cut means growing your store does not grow your platform bill.
Keep your margin
No cut of your sales means the money from a busy month stays with you, not the platform.
Basics included
Cart, checkout, coupons and hosting come in the price, so you are not buying apps for things you expected.
Growth stays cheap
Because the price is flat, selling more does not push you up a tier or raise a per-sale fee.
COMMON QUESTIONS
The plan is only part of it. Transaction fees, paid apps and rising tiers add up. Instinctor is one flat price from $30/mo with cart and checkout included and no cut of sales.
Transaction fees on top of card processing, paid apps for features you expected to be included, and higher tiers that unlock basics. These often exceed the headline plan price.
Some do, on top of the card fee. Instinctor does not. You pay only the payment processor its standard rate, so more of each sale stays with you.
On some platforms, basics like coupons or extra shipping options need paid apps. A platform with those built in avoids a stack of subscriptions that raise the real cost.
Usually, once you sell regularly. A low plan with a per-sale cut costs more as you grow, while a flat price keeps the cost the same whether you have a quiet or busy month.
Products, a cart, checkout, coupons, shipping and hosting in one flat price from $30/mo, with no cut of your revenue beyond the normal card fee.
KEEP READING
Read next: How to add an online store  ·  How to add a shopping cart  ·  See all solutions and guides
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