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BigCommerce Fees Overview

BigCommerce is a fully hosted eCommerce platform that provides a comprehensive solution for online stores. Unlike open-source platforms like WooCommerce, it charges a flat monthly fee with additional costs for extensions, themes, and transaction-related services. Below is an extensive overview of all potential BigCommerce fees.


1. Subscription Plan Costs

BigCommerce charges a monthly subscription fee based on the chosen plan. Each plan has features and sales thresholds.

A. Standard Plans

  1. Standard Plan

    • $39/month (billed annually) or $39.95/month (monthly).

    • Best for businesses with annual sales up to $50,000.

  2. Plus Plan

    • $105/month (billed annually) or $105.95/month (monthly).

    • For businesses with annual sales up to $180,000.

    • Includes customer segmentation and abandoned cart saver.

  3. Pro Plan

    • $399/month (billed annually) or $399.95/month (monthly).

    • For businesses with annual sales up to $400,000.

    • Adds advanced reporting and Google customer reviews.

  4. Enterprise Plan

    • Custom pricing based on sales volume.

    • For businesses exceeding $400,000 in annual sales.

    • Includes priority support and advanced API features.


B. Sales Threshold Fees

If your sales exceed the plan’s limit, BigCommerce charges an upgrade or overage fee:

  • $150/month per additional $200,000 in sales.


2. Transaction Fees

BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees on top of those from payment gateways. However, gateway-specific fees apply:

A. Payment Gateway Fees

BigCommerce integrates with several payment gateways, including:

  1. PayPal Powered by Braintree

    • Fees start at 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction.

    • Volume discounts available for Pro and Enterprise plans.

  2. Other Gateways (Stripe, Square, etc.)

    • Standard rates: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (may vary by provider and country).


B. Multi-Currency Fees

Payment gateways may charge additional fees for multi-currency transactions:

  • Typically 1%–3% on top of the regular transaction fee.


3. Theme Costs

BigCommerce offers free and premium themes to customize your store.

A. Free Themes

  • Several modern, mobile-responsive themes are available at no cost.

B. Premium Themes

  • Cost Range: $150–$400.

  • Themes are one-time purchases and come with customization options.


4. App and Extension Costs

BigCommerce has a robust app marketplace with both free and paid extensions for added functionality.

A. Marketing and SEO Apps

  • Mailchimp Integration: Free.

  • Klaviyo: Free up to 250 contacts; $20–$1,700+/month for larger lists.

  • SEMRush Integration: $99/month and up.


B. Shipping Apps

  • ShipperHQ: $50–$300/month (based on features).

  • ShipStation: $9–$159/month.


C. Analytics and Reporting Apps

  • Google Analytics Integration: Free.

  • Third-Party Tools (e.g., Glew.io): $79–$299/month.


D. Custom Features

Paid apps for advanced capabilities, such as:

  • Subscription Services: $29–$199/month.

  • Product Personalization Tools: $50–$200/month.


5. Additional Services

BigCommerce offers optional add-ons and premium services for enterprise-grade functionality.

A. API and Developer Tools

  • Included in higher plans, but custom API integrations may require developer services: $50–$200/hour.

B. Migration Services

  • DIY Tools: Free.

  • Professional Migration Services: $1,500–$5,000+, depending on complexity.

C. Design and Customization

  • Third-party developers or agencies may charge for advanced design and functionality.

    • Rates: $1,000–$20,000+ per project.


6. Marketing and Advertising Costs

Marketing integrations and services to promote your BigCommerce store come with their own costs.

A. Email Marketing

  • BigCommerce Email Campaign Tools: Included in higher-tier plans.

  • Third-Party Platforms (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp): $10–$1,000+/month, depending on list size.


B. Paid Advertising

  • Google Ads Integration: Free, but ad spend varies.

  • Facebook Ads Manager: Free, but ad budget required.

C. Loyalty Programs

  • LoyaltyLion or Smile.io Integration: $50–$500/month.


7. Operational Fees

Running a store involves logistical and operational costs, especially for shipping and taxes.

A. Shipping Costs

BigCommerce integrates with carriers like FedEx, USPS, and UPS for real-time rates.

  • Third-party shipping services (e.g., ShipStation): $9–$159/month.


B. Tax and Compliance

  1. TaxJar Integration

    • $19–$99/month.

  2. Avalara for Tax Compliance

    • $50–$1,000/month, depending on volume.


C. Inventory Management

Extensions for stock tracking and fulfillment may cost:

  • $50–$300/month (e.g., TradeGecko, Orderhive).


8. Security and Maintenance Costs

Security is critical for online stores, and BigCommerce provides some built-in solutions.

A. SSL Certificates

  • Standard SSL: Free with all plans.

  • Premium SSL: $80–$300/year for additional trust seals and warranties.


B. Data Backups

  • Included in BigCommerce hosting, but third-party services like Jetpack are optional: $7–$79/month.


9. Global Selling Costs

Selling internationally introduces additional fees for localization and cross-border taxes.

A. Currency Conversion

  • Payment gateway fees for currency conversion: 1%–3%.

B. Translation and Localization

  • Third-Party Plugins (e.g., Weglot): $19–$200/month.


C. Duties and Taxes

  • Plugins for calculating international shipping duties: $50–$200/year.


10. Miscellaneous Costs

A. Staging Environments

  • BigCommerce Sandbox Testing: Free for Enterprise plans, paid for lower tiers.

B. Developer Time

  • Custom coding for unique features: $50–$200/hour.

C. Analytics Enhancements

  • Advanced reporting tools may cost: $50–$300/month.


Summary of Typical Costs

While BigCommerce provides a robust all-in-one solution, additional fees can significantly increase costs depending on the store’s complexity.

Cost Category

Estimated Cost

Subscription Plans

$39–$399/month

Transaction Fees

Gateway-specific (2.9% + $0.30/transaction)

Themes

$0–$400

Apps and Extensions

$0–$300/month

Custom Development

$1,000–$20,000+

Marketing Tools

$10–$1,000+/month

Tax and Compliance Tools

$19–$1,000/month

Shipping and Fulfillment

$9–$300/month

Security and Backups

$7–$300/year


BigCommerce’s predictable pricing model for subscription plans is ideal for scaling businesses, but additional costs for themes, extensions, and marketing tools should be factored in.

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