[ Cost guide ] · 7 min read
Shopify Migration Services: What to Expect in Cost and Timeline
A small store migration to Shopify runs $5,000 to $15,000 and takes 2 to 4 weeks. Enterprise replatforming can pass $200,000 and take 6 months. Here is what Shopify migration services include at each tier, and where the hidden costs sit.
Key takeaways
- A small store migration costs $5,000 to $15,000 and takes 2 to 4 weeks; enterprise replatforming can pass $200,000 and run 4 to 6 months.
- Catalog size, custom theme work, third-party integrations, and preserving SEO through 301 redirects drive most of the cost variance between quotes.
- Budget 15 to 20% contingency on top of any quote for data cleanup, added app subscriptions, and internal team time not covered in the base scope.
- A 30 to 60 day post-launch support window is standard on most shopify migration services contracts, and worth confirming before signing.
- SEO preservation is not automatic. It requires deliberate redirect mapping as part of the migration, not an afterthought handled once the new store is live.
Shopify migration services span a wide range depending on store size, and the quote gap between a small catalog and an enterprise one is not really about the platform fee, it is about integration work, data volume, and how much custom logic the old store carried. A small store migration runs $5,000 to $15,000 over 2 to 4 weeks. Mid-market stores land at $15,000 to $75,000 over 8 to 16 weeks, and enterprise Shopify Plus replatforming starts near $80,000, passes $200,000 on complex catalogs, and takes 4 to 6 months end to end.
| Store size | Typical timeline | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (standard theme, automated tools) | 2 to 4 weeks | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Mid-market (custom design, data mapping, staging) | 8 to 16 weeks | $15,000 to $75,000 |
| Enterprise (ERP integration, B2B, compliance) | 4 to 6 months | $80,000 to $200,000+ |
What drives the cost above the base quote
- Catalog size and variant complexity, since every product, variant, and attribute needs mapping into Shopify's data structure without breaking on import.
- Third-party integrations and custom theme work, especially ERP, subscription, or wholesale systems that were never built with Shopify's API in mind.
301 redirect and SEO preservation belongs on this list too, and it is the one most often underscoped in early quotes. Every URL on the old store that carries ranking value needs a deliberate redirect plan, not a generic bulk mapping done after launch when traffic has already started dropping.
What usually hides in the fine print
Data cleanup, internal team time spent reviewing and approving each stage, new app subscriptions replacing functionality the old platform had built in, and a 30 to 60 day post-launch support window rarely show up in a headline number but always show up in the invoice. A 15 to 20% contingency on top of any quote covers most of what surfaces once the migration is underway and the old store's real complexity becomes visible.
What the work actually looks like, stage by stage
A migration runs through discovery and data mapping first, then theme and design build, then rebuilding integrations and apps against Shopify's API, then staging and QA against the live store side by side, then redirect mapping and a final content freeze, then launch, then the post-launch support window. Skipping the staging step to save time is the single most common cause of a migration running over budget, since problems caught in staging cost a fraction of what they cost after go-live.
If you are not sure which tier your store falls into, a Shopify store audit before scoping the migration usually saves more than it costs, since it catches integration and data issues before they turn into change orders mid-project.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to migrate to Shopify?
Small stores run $5,000 to $15,000, mid-market stores run $15,000 to $75,000, and enterprise replatforming starts near $80,000 and can pass $200,000 depending on integration complexity and catalog size.
How long does a Shopify migration take?
Small stores typically finish in 2 to 4 weeks, mid-market stores take 8 to 16 weeks, and enterprise migrations with ERP integrations or compliance reviews can run 4 to 6 months.
What happens to my SEO rankings during a Shopify migration?
Rankings hold up when every old URL with ranking value gets a deliberate 301 redirect as part of the migration plan, not added afterward. Skipping this step is the most common cause of traffic loss after a platform switch.
Do I need a developer to migrate to Shopify?
Small, simple catalogs can sometimes move with automated migration tools alone, but any store with custom integrations, subscriptions, or a large variant catalog needs a developer to map data and rebuild integrations without losing functionality.
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