E-commerce Website Cost in Kenya: What You Actually Pay for M-Pesa Stores

The real cost of selling online in Kenya

Many quotes for ecommerce website cost in Kenya hide critical items. We break down every component so you can budget confidently.

One-time setup costs

Platform choice

• Shopify: KES 3,500–12,000/month + transaction fees. M-Pesa via Flutterwave/Paystack.
• WooCommerce: KES 45,000–120,000 setup + hosting. More flexible, but you manage updates.
• Custom Next.js: KES 120,000–300,000 setup. Fastest, most scalable, no platform fees. Our recommendation for serious stores.

Core e-commerce features

• Product catalog (50 items): Included in most builds
• Inventory management: KES 10,000–25,000 extra
• Shipping calculator (Kenya-wide): KES 8,000–15,000
• Tax/VAT configuration: Usually included

M-Pesa integration

• Daraja API setup: KES 5,000–10,000
• STK Push checkout: KES 15,000–30,000
• Recurring billing/subscriptions: KES 25,000–50,000

We include basic M-Pesa on all e-commerce projects under our web design service.

Security & compliance

• SSL certificate: Free via Let's Encrypt
• PCI compliance guidance: Included
• Privacy Policy + Terms generator: KES 3,000–8,000

Ongoing monthly costs

• Hosting: KES 3,000–15,000/month depending on traffic
• Platform fees (if Shopify): KES 3,500–12,000/month
• Payment processing: 2.9–3.5% per M-Pesa transaction
• Content updates: KES 5,000–20,000/month optional
• SEO + ads management: KES 15,000–50,000/month optional

Hidden costs to watch for

• Plugin licenses for WooCommerce (can add KES 10,000+/year)
• Theme customization beyond basic setup
• Product photography and copywriting
• Customer support tool integrations (WhatsApp Business API, etc.)

ROI-focused budgeting tip

Allocate 20–30% of your total budget to post-launch marketing. A beautiful store that no one finds won't generate sales. We help with SEO and Google Ads — see our pricing page for bundles.

Get a store-specific quote

Tell us about your products, target customers, and sales goals. We'll send a fixed quote for your ecommerce website cost in Kenya within 24 hours. Message us on WhatsApp to start.