BigCommerce Fees Review
BigCommerce is a leading e-commerce platform designed for scalability and robust functionality, catering to businesses of all sizes. Understanding its fee structure is essential for sellers to evaluate its cost-effectiveness. Here’s an in-depth review of BigCommerce fees from a seller’s perspective:
1. Subscription Plans
BigCommerce operates on a subscription-based pricing model with different tiers to accommodate various business needs.
Standard Plan
Cost: $39/month.
Features:
Unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth.
Built-in SEO tools and payment integrations.
Revenue Threshold: Up to $50,000 annually.
Plus Plan
Cost: $105/month.
Features:
Includes all Standard Plan features.
Abandoned cart saver.
Advanced customer grouping for targeted marketing.
Revenue Threshold: Up to $180,000 annually.
Pro Plan
Cost: $399/month.
Features:
Custom product filtering.
Google customer reviews.
Increased revenue threshold.
Revenue Threshold: Up to $400,000 annually; $150 for each additional $200,000 in sales.
Enterprise Plan
Cost: Custom pricing (varies by business size and needs).
Features:
Priority support.
Unlimited API calls.
Dedicated account manager.
Revenue Threshold: Unlimited (custom fees may apply).
Pro Tip: As your revenue increases, the tiered structure can escalate costs, so plan accordingly when scaling.
2. Transaction Fees
BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees, which is a significant advantage over some competitors. However, payment gateway fees still apply.
3. Payment Gateway Fees
BigCommerce integrates with over 100 payment gateways. Payment processor fees vary by provider:
Popular Gateways
PayPal powered by Braintree:
Rates:
2.59% + $0.49 per transaction for Standard Plan.
Lower rates for higher plans.
Stripe:
Fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Square:
Fee: 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction.
Currency Conversion Fees
If you sell internationally, payment gateways may charge 1–2% for currency conversion.
4. Hosting Costs
BigCommerce is a fully-hosted platform, meaning hosting costs are included in subscription fees.
Included Features:
Unlimited bandwidth.
Automatic scalability.
Secure hosting (SSL).
Benefit: No need for separate hosting fees, unlike self-hosted platforms like WooCommerce.
5. Domain Costs
A custom domain is not included in the subscription and must be purchased separately.
Cost: $10–$20/year (via BigCommerce or third-party registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy).
Renewal Fees: Often higher than the initial cost.
6. Themes
BigCommerce offers free and premium themes to customize your store’s appearance.
Free Themes
Cost: $0.
Options: Several modern and responsive themes are included.
Premium Themes
Cost: $150–$350 (one-time purchase).
Features: Advanced design options, enhanced mobile optimization, and better support.
Pro Tip: A premium theme can be a worthwhile investment for branding and user experience.
7. Apps and Integrations
BigCommerce’s app marketplace offers tools to extend your store’s functionality.
Free Apps
Many apps are available for essential tasks like basic SEO, email marketing, and social sharing.
Paid Apps
Cost: $10–$300+/month per app.
Examples:
ShipperHQ for advanced shipping: $50+/month.
TaxJar for tax automation: $19+/month.
8. Payment for Features
Some features included in competitors’ plans require separate payment on BigCommerce.
Examples:
Abandoned Cart Saver: Included in Plus Plan and above.
Product Filtering: Included in Pro Plan and above.
Multi-currency Support: Only available in Pro and Enterprise Plans.
9. Marketing and SEO Tools
BigCommerce includes built-in marketing tools, but sellers often invest in additional tools.
Email Marketing
Apps: Klaviyo, Mailchimp.
Cost: $10–$200/month (depending on subscribers).
SEO Tools
Included: SEO-friendly URLs, metadata control.
Additional Costs: Premium SEO apps ($20–$100/month).
10. Shipping Costs
BigCommerce provides several shipping options, but advanced features may incur costs.
Real-Time Shipping Rates
Included: Standard Plans support live rate quotes for major carriers (UPS, USPS, FedEx).
Advanced Shipping: Requires apps like ShipperHQ.
Shipping Labels
Cost: Varies by app or integration.
11. Taxes and Compliance
Tax management is essential, particularly for international sellers.
Included Tools
Built-in tax settings for manual configuration.
Automated tax calculations in some regions.
Tax Automation Apps
Examples: Avalara, TaxJar.
Cost: $20–$100+/month.
12. Customer Support
BigCommerce offers 24/7 support for all plans, but higher-tier plans get priority.
Support Options:
Email, live chat, phone support.
Enterprise customers receive dedicated account managers.
13. Security Costs
Security features are built into BigCommerce plans:
Included:
SSL Certificate.
PCI compliance.
Additional Security Apps: Rarely needed but available.
14. Multi-Currency and Multi-Language
Multi-currency: Available on Pro Plan and above.
Multi-language: Requires third-party apps like Weglot ($99/month).
15. Enterprise Customization Costs
Enterprise customers often need custom solutions:
Custom Integrations: $5,000–$50,000+ (depending on complexity).
Developer Costs: $50–$200/hour.
16. Miscellaneous Costs
Backup and Migration
BigCommerce automatically backs up data.
Migration Services: Often included but may incur costs for complex migrations.
Analytics
Built-in analytics are robust.
Advanced reporting tools may require additional apps ($50+/month).
BigCommerce provides a robust and scalable platform with transparent pricing for most features. Key considerations for sellers:
Understand the revenue thresholds: Fees increase as your revenue grows, especially with the Pro Plan.
Plan for paid apps: Essential features like advanced tax automation and shipping tools may require add-ons.
Leverage built-in tools: Avoid unnecessary app costs by maximizing included features.
BigCommerce is a cost-effective solution for mid-to-large-sized businesses but may feel pricey for small-scale sellers compared to alternatives.
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