Congratulations! You’ve finally decided that migrating to Shopify will be a game-changer for your store! But here's the million-dollar question: which Shopify plan is the perfect fit for your business?

Don't worry, I've got you covered!

In this guide, I'll walk you through the process of choosing the ideal Shopify plan for your store migration.

Picking the right plan can increase your success! So, let’s get into which Shopify plan is right for you!

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What We'll Cover

Understanding Shopify's Plan Options

Shopify offers four main plans: Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Plus. I'll break them down for you, or you can check them out here.

Basic Shopify

This is your starter pack, perfect for new entrepreneurs or small businesses dipping their toes into e-commerce.

Priced at $29 USD/month, it gives you all the essentials to get your online store up and running.

You'll get a fully functional website, the ability to list unlimited products and access to Shopify's point-of-sale (POS) app.

However, if you're not using Shopify Payments, transaction fees are a bit higher on this plan.

Ideal For: New businesses and those with limited products.
Key Features:

Online store with unlimited products
Two staff accounts
Sales channels like online store, social media, and online marketplaces
Basic reporting
Shipping discounts
Up to 10 inventory locations

Limitations: Limited reporting tools and staff accounts.

Shopify

The middle child of the Shopify family, this plan is priced at $79 USD/month and is ideal for growing businesses.

You'll get everything in Basic, plus lower transaction fees and professional reports.

This plan is great if you're seeing steady sales and need more advanced features to manage your growing business.

Ideal For: Growing businesses with moderate sales volume.
Key Features:

Everything in Basic, plus:
Five staff accounts
Professional reports
Up to 50% shipping discounts

Limitations: Still somewhat limited reporting compared to Advanced.

Advanced Shopify

At $299 USD/month, this plan is for businesses that are really taking off.

It includes all the features of the previous plans, plus advanced report building, third-party calculated shipping rates, and significantly lower transaction fees.

If you're processing a high volume of orders and need detailed analytics, this could be your sweet spot.

Ideal For: High-volume sellers and those needing detailed reports.
Key Features:

Everything in Shopify, plus:
Fifteen additional staff accounts
Advanced report builder
Duties and import taxes calculation at checkout

Limitations: Higher cost but packed with features for scaling.

Shopify Plus

This is the enterprise-level solution, designed for high-volume merchants and large businesses.

Pricing for Shopify Plus starts at around $2,300 USD/month, but it's customized based on your specific needs. It offers everything in the Advanced plan, plus features like unlimited staff accounts, customizable checkout, and dedicated support.

Ideal For: Enterprise-level businesses and high-growth brands.
Key Features:

Everything in Advanced, plus:
Unlimited staff accounts
Customizable checkout
Dedicated account manager
Enhanced security and API limits
Access to Shopify’s wholesale channel
25 headless storefronts

Limitations: Premium pricing, but tailored for large-scale operations.

Did you know that businesses using Shopify Plus saw an average year-over-year growth of 126%?

Shopify Pricing Comparison Across Different Plans (CAD)

Basic Shopify: $51 per month
Shopify: $132 per month
Advanced Shopify: $517 per month
Shopify Plus: Custom pricing starting at around $2300 USD per month

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Ideal Business Sizes and Types for Each Plan

Basic Shopify
It's a great option if you're selling less than 50 products and your monthly sales are under $5,000.
Shopify
Great for businesses that are growing and need more advanced features to manage increased sales and customer interactions. This plan shines when you're selling 50-250 products and your monthly sales are between $5,000-$10,000.
Advanced Shopify
Best suited for businesses that have high sales volumes and need detailed reporting to make data-driven decisions. If you're selling hundreds of products and shipping orders left and right, Advanced Shopify could be your secret weapon.
Shopify Plus
Designed for large enterprises or businesses experiencing rapid growth, offering advanced customization and dedicated support. If you're selling over 250 products and your monthly sales exceed $10,000. The advanced reporting and lower transaction fees can save you a bundle as you scale.

Real-World Example

Let’s look at a couple of examples. Say you’re a small boutique just starting out—Basic Shopify might be your best bet. You get all the essential features without a hefty price tag.

On the other hand, if you’re running a fast-growing tech store with a high sales volume, Advanced Shopify will provide you with detailed analytics and more inventory locations to manage your stock efficiently.

And if you’re a major player like Kylie Cosmetics, Shopify Plus gives you the customization, support, and security needed to handle a high volume of transactions and complex business needs

Assessing Your Business Needs

Before you switch to Shopify, you have to think about your current e-commerce setup. What's working well? What's driving you crazy?

Maybe your current platform is slower than a snail, or maybe it's missing some crucial features you need. Write down these pros and cons - they'll be super helpful in determining what you need from Shopify.

Here's a quick exercise to help you out:

Write down your top 3 pain points with your current platform.
List 5 must-have features for your new Shopify store.
Note your current monthly sales and your sales goal for next year.
Count how many products you currently have and estimate future growth.

Identifying Must-Have Features for Your Online Store

Now that you have written down your pros and cons, you have to ask yourself what features you absolutely need in your online store.

Are you looking for better inventory management?

Dreaming of abandoned cart recovery?

Or maybe you're after some snazzy marketing tools?

Make a list of your must-haves. pinpoint the features you can’t live without. This ensures you choose a Shopify plan that meets all your requirements. Ask yourself,

Payment Gateways
Do you need multiple payment options?
Shipping Solutions
Are you looking for integrated shipping labels and carrier discounts?
SEO Tools
How important are advanced SEO features in driving traffic?
Customer Support
Do you need 24/7 support?

Thank About Your Sales Volume and Growth Projections

Next, let's crunch some numbers.

What's your current sales volume?

Are you selling 10 items a month or 1,000?

And where do you see yourself in a year or two?

If you're planning to be the next Amazon (hey, dream big!), you'll want a plan that can grow with you. Remember, Shopify's Basic plan is great for up to about $50,000 in annual sales, while Advanced Shopify can handle millions.

Ask yourself:

How many sales do you process monthly?
Are you planning to scale up rapidly in the next year?
Do you experience significant seasonal spikes that need robust support?

Example: If you’re currently making 500 sales a month but expect to double this in six months, you’ll need a plan that can handle increased traffic and transactions smoothly.

Consider Your Inventory Size and Product Types

Lastly, let's talk inventory. Are you selling a handful of handmade items, or are you managing thousands of SKUs? The size and complexity of your inventory can impact which plan is best for you. For instance, if you're dropshipping hundreds of products, you might benefit from the Advanced plan's inventory management features.

Finally, consider the size and nature of your inventory. This influences the complexity of your needs:

Inventory Size
How many products do you offer? Do you have a large, diverse inventory?
Product Types
Are your products simple or do they have multiple variants (sizes, colors)?
Inventory Management
Do you need advanced tools to manage stock levels across multiple locations?

By doing this homework, you're setting yourself up for success. Trust me, I've seen businesses skyrocket when they choose the right plan that aligns with their needs and goals.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shopify Plan

There's more to consider than just the price tag, so let's break down the key factors that'll make or break your decision.

Transaction Fees and Payment Gateways

Money talks, right? Well, in this case, it's all about how much of it stays in your pocket.

Each Shopify plan comes with different transaction fees, and here's the kicker - if you use Shopify Payments (which, by the way, is super easy to set up), you can wave goodbye to those extra fees.

Sweet deal, eh?

Lower-tier plans have higher fees, while higher-tier plans reduce these costs.

Basic Shopify: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
Shopify: 2.7% + 30¢ per transaction
Advanced Shopify: 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction

Payment Gateways: Shopify supports numerous payment gateways, but using Shopify Payments can save you on transaction fees. Consider which gateways your customers prefer and the associated costs.

For example, on the Basic plan, you're looking at 2.9% transaction fees if you're not using Shopify Payments. This drops to 2.7% on the Shopify plan and 2.4% on Advanced. It might not sound like much, but trust me, it adds up faster than you can say "cha-ching"!

Shipping and Inventory Management Features

Each Shopify plan offers different levels of support in these areas.

As your business grows, keeping track of what's in stock and getting it to your customers becomes a big deal. All Shopify plans offer basic inventory management, but the higher-tier plans give you more tools to play with.

For instance, the Advanced plan lets you set up third-party calculated shipping rates. This means you can offer your customers real-time quotes from shipping companies. It's like having a mini shipping guru built right into your store!

Customer Support Options

Customer support can be a lifesaver, especially when you hit a snag. Different Shopify plans offer varying levels of support.

Basic Shopify: 24/7 support via email and chat.
Shopify: 24/7 support via email, chat, and phone.
Advanced Shopify: Priority support and access to advanced resources.
Shopify Plus: Dedicated account manager and premium support options.

Customization and Design Flexibility

Your online store’s look and feel play a huge role in attracting and retaining customers. Shopify plans offer different levels of customization and design flexibility.

Higher-tier plans offer more flexibility in terms of customization.

For instance, Shopify Plus lets you customize your checkout process - a feature that can significantly boost your conversion rates. It's like being able to redesign your storefront every day if you want to!

Basic Shopify and Shopify: Access to free and premium themes, basic customization options.
Advanced Shopify: Full control over customization with advanced theme and script editing.
Shopify Plus: Unlimited customization options, including custom checkout and enhanced API access.

When to Upgrade Your Shopify Plan

Let's talk growth, baby!

Your business is your baby, and just like a growing kid, sometimes it needs a new size. Here's how to know when it's time to upgrade your Shopify plan, and how to do it without breaking a sweat.

Signs That You've Outgrown Your Current Plan

Here are some clear signs that it’s time to consider an upgrade:

High Transaction Volume
If your sales volume has increased significantly, the transaction fees on lower-tier plans might be cutting into your profits.
Advanced Reporting Needs
When basic reports no longer provide the insights you need, and you require more detailed analytics to make informed decisions.
Staff Accounts
If your team is growing and you need more staff accounts with varied permissions.
Inventory Complexity
Managing inventory across multiple locations can be challenging, and advanced features for tracking and automation are needed.
Customer Support
Needing faster, priority support to resolve issues promptly, especially during high sales periods.

Benefits of Upgrading to a Higher-Tier Plan

Moving to a higher-tier plan can unlock several advantages that support your business's expansion:

Lower Transaction Fees
Reduce costs per transaction, which can save you a significant amount, especially with high sales volumes.
Advanced Features
Gain access to advanced reporting, professional reports, and detailed analytics to better understand your business performance.
Enhanced Support
Priority customer support ensures any issues are resolved quickly, minimizing downtime.
More Staff Accounts
Manage a larger team with additional staff accounts, improving operational efficiency.
Advanced Inventory Management
Better tools for managing inventory across multiple locations and more sophisticated tracking features.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Upgrading vs. Staying on Your Current Plan

Upgrading involves additional costs, so it’s important to weigh these against the benefits:

Cost
Calculate the additional monthly fees for the higher-tier plan and any associated costs like additional apps or integrations.
Benefits
Assess the savings from lower transaction fees, the value of advanced features, and the potential for increased sales through better analytics and customer insights.
ROI
Determine the return on investment by comparing the increased costs to the potential revenue growth and operational efficiencies.

Example: If upgrading to the Advanced Shopify plan costs an additional $294 per month but saves you $500 monthly in transaction fees and provides valuable insights that boost your sales by 10%, the upgrade clearly offers a positive ROI.

Next up, we'll look at how to squeeze every drop of value from your chosen Shopify plan. Because no matter which plan you're on, there's always room to optimize!

Making the Most of Your Chosen Shopify Plan

Once you’ve picked the right Shopify plan for your business, it’s time to maximize its potential. Here’s how to make the most of your chosen plan.