Are you thinking about launching an online store in Taiwan and considering using Shopify? It's a fantastic platform with a global reputation, but it's natural to wonder, "What's this actually going to cost me?" You're in the right place! Let's break down the costs of running a Shopify and a Shopify Plus store in Taiwan, so you can figure out the best fit for your business.

It’s a bit like choosing a car. Are you looking for a reliable daily driver, or do you need a high-performance machine built for the racetrack? Standard Shopify plans are like that dependable car, perfect for most businesses starting and growing. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is the supercar, designed for high-volume, complex enterprises.

Let's pop the hood and look at the numbers.

The Foundation: Your Monthly Shopify Subscription

First things first, you've got your monthly subscription fee. This is the base cost for using the Shopify platform. Think of it as the rent for your digital storefront. Shopify offers a few different tiers, and you can even get a discount if you pay for the year upfront.

Here’s a quick look at the standard plans:

Plan	Monthly Fee (Paid Monthly)	Monthly Fee (Paid Annually)
Basic Shopify	~ $29 USD	~ $24 USD
Shopify	~ $79 USD	~ $69 USD
Advanced Shopify	~ $299 USD	~ $299 USD

Prices are often listed in USD and may fluctuate slightly.

So, what about Shopify Plus? This is the enterprise-level solution for big players. The pricing here is more customized. It generally starts at $2,300 USD per month with a three-year term, or $2,500 USD per month for a one-year term. For businesses with very high sales volume, the fee can become a variable percentage of revenue.

The All-Important Transaction Fees

Now, this is where things get a little different for us in Taiwan. Globally, if you use Shopify's own payment system, Shopify Payments, you don't have to pay an extra transaction fee to Shopify. But here's the catch: Shopify Payments isn't available in Taiwan yet.

What does this mean for you? It means you'll need to use a third-party payment gateway to process your customers' credit card payments. And when you do that, Shopify charges a small transaction fee on top of what your payment gateway charges. This fee is for providing the secure, integrated checkout experience.

The Shopify-levied transaction fee depends on your plan:

Basic Shopify: 2.0%
Shopify Plan: 1.0%
Advanced Shopify: 0.6%
Shopify Plus: 0.20%

As you can see, the more you pay for your monthly plan, the lower your Shopify transaction fee becomes. For high-volume stores, upgrading to a higher plan can actually save you money in the long run.

The Local Heroes: Third-Party Payment Gateways in Taiwan

Since you can't use Shopify Payments, you'll need to partner with a local payment gateway. This is the company that will actually handle the credit card processing. The good news is, there are several excellent options that integrate smoothly with Shopify.

Here are some of the main players in Taiwan:

ECPay 綠界
HiTRUST 網際威信 (often in partnership with TapPay)
PayNow 立吉富
TapPay

These gateways will have their own transaction fees, which are separate from the Shopify fees we just discussed. These fees are typically a percentage of the transaction amount. For example, you might see rates for overseas cards around 2.95% from a provider like ECPay. For many domestic transactions, you can expect fees in the ballpark of 2.8%, though this can be negotiable, especially for larger merchants.

So, your total transaction cost per sale will be:
(Third-Party Gateway Fee) + (Shopify's Transaction Fee)

Don't Forget the Extras: Other Potential Costs

Running an online store is more than just the platform and payment fees. Think of it like owning a home; there's always a little something extra to consider. Here are a few other costs you should budget for:

Cost Category	Description	Estimated Cost
Themes	This is the design and layout of your store. Shopify offers great free themes, but you might want to purchase a premium one for more features.	Free to ~$350 USD (one-time)
Apps	The Shopify App Store is a treasure trove of tools to add functionality to your store, from 行銷 to logistics. Many have monthly subscription fees.	Varies widely. Simple apps might be a few dollars a month. Logistics and invoicing apps can be around $29-$49 USD/month.
Domain Name	You'll want a custom domain (e.g., www.yourstore.com.tw).	Roughly $14-$30 USD per year.
Email Hosting	For a professional email address (e.g., hello@yourstore.com.tw), you'll likely need a service like Google Workspace.	Around $6 USD per month.
Local Service Integration	In Taiwan, services like convenience store pickup (超商取貨) and electronic invoicing (電子發票) are essential. Apps that integrate these services have their own fees.	Convenience store pickup can add a fee per transaction, and logistics apps often have a monthly cost.
Development Costs	If you need custom features or a completely unique design, you might hire a Shopify expert or agency.	This can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity.

So, Shopify or Shopify Plus?

Choosing between a standard Shopify plan and Shopify Plus really comes down to your business's scale and needs.

Go with a standard Shopify plan (Basic, Shopify, or Advanced) if you're a small to medium-sized business, just starting, or have a steady but not massive volume of sales. You can always upgrade as you grow!
Consider Shopify Plus if you're a large, high-volume enterprise. The lower transaction fees (0.20% with a third-party gateway) can lead to significant savings that offset the higher monthly cost. Plus, you get a ton of advanced features like expanded customization, dedicated support, and the ability to manage multiple storefronts.

Running a Shopify store in Taiwan is a powerful way to build your brand and reach customers. By understanding this cost breakdown, you can plan your budget effectively and choose the right path for your e-commerce journey.

Taiwan E-commerce Startup Budgeting: Unveiling Shopify, Shopify Plus, and TapPay Costs