The sticker price is the smallest number. Here is what a Jamaican online store costs over three years, all in.
Quick answer: Ezy Cart: J$35,000 to build, then J$9,500 a month — hosting, security, updates, WhatsApp support, phone app, receipts inbox, follow-up emails and EzyCart JM listing included; no per-sale fee. Shopify: US$39–105/month plus per-sale fees plus apps, and no Shopify Payments in Jamaica. WooCommerce: free plugin, but hosting, gateway plugins and a developer to keep it patched. Three-year total: Ezy ≈ J$377,000; Shopify ≈ J$260,000+ plus fees and your time; Woo varies wildly.
The costs people forget
- Per-sale fees on platforms
- Apps for reviews, WhatsApp, abandoned carts — USD monthly each
- A developer when the plugin update breaks checkout
- Your time chasing receipts in DMs
What J$9,500 a month buys on Ezy
Hosting, SSL, backups, updates, WhatsApp support, the store software, the phone app, receipts inbox, WhatsApp order updates, eBay import, abandoned-cart and win-back emails, click-to-edit, and the marketplace listing.
Custom builds
Bigger catalogues or custom design from J$85,000; tiers rise with catalogue size (J$9,500 / 12,500 / 18,500 / 35,000).
Sell online properly
- See it working — Ezy Cart: J$35,000 to build, then J$9,500 a month, everything included
- Not ready? List free on EzyCart JM and upgrade later
- Store by business type — 31 pages
Frequently asked
Is there a per-sale fee on Ezy Cart?
No on your own store; a small commission only on EzyCart JM marketplace orders.
Can I start cheaper?
Yes — list free on EzyCart JM and upgrade when repeat customers appear.
What about the deposit?
J$17,500 starts the build; balance before go-live.