Selling online is no longer optional. In 2026, over 75% of consumers in Spain, Italy and Latin America research online before buying, even when they end up buying in a physical store.
But not all platforms work for the same thing, nor are all "free online stores" really free when you add up the hidden costs. In this guide you'll see the real options, updated prices, payment gateways available in each country and the concrete steps to launch your store.
What do you need to have an online store?
An online store isn't just "a website with products". It's a system that has to solve several things at once:
- Product catalogue: photos, descriptions, prices, variants (size, color).
- Shopping cart: customer can add several products and pay all together.
- Inventory management: stock updates in real time.
- Payment gateway: accepts card, transfer, PayPal, etc.
- Shipping: automatic cost calculation based on destination and weight.
- Order management: panel to view, process and track orders.
- Invoicing: issue invoices or receipts per local regulation.
- Security: SSL, data protection, fraud prevention.
An online store is not a website with products: it's a complete sales system. If you're missing any of these pieces, you lose sales or eat complaints.
The 3 most used platforms in 2026
Shopify: the easiest to start
Shopify is an "all in one" platform where you handle selling and they handle hosting, security and updates.
Pros:
- Ready to use in hours, not weeks
- Hosting, SSL and security included
- Thousands of templates and apps
- 24/7 support in multiple languages
- Own payment gateway (Shopify Payments) integrated
Cons:
- Monthly cost: from $39 USD/month (Basic plan) to $399 USD/month (Advanced plan)
- Sale commission: up to 2% additional if you don't use Shopify Payments
- Shopify Payments transaction commission: 2.4% to 2.9% per sale
- You can't modify the code deeply (proprietary Liquid language)
- It's a rental: if you stop paying, the store disappears
Ideal for: entrepreneurs starting without technical knowledge and need something working fast.
WooCommerce (on WordPress): the most flexible
WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress into an online store. It's used by 37% of all online stores in the world.
Pros:
- Open source: you own 100% of the site and data
- Zero sale commission: you only pay the payment gateway (usually 3% to 5%)
- Total personalisation: any functionality can be programmed
- Thousands of plugins and extensions
- Powerful SEO (it's WordPress)
Cons:
- You need to contract hosting ($200 to $1,000 USD/year)
- Technical maintenance on your side (updates, security, backups)
- Higher learning curve
- Support not included (depends on community or hosting)
Ideal for: businesses that want to scale, have total control and not pay abusive commissions.
Regional platforms
Local platforms designed for specific markets. In Spain and Italy, Shopify and WooCommerce dominate, but there are also options like Prestashop (very popular in Europe) or Wix eCommerce for simpler projects.
Pros:
- Adapted to local market (specific payment gateways)
- Support in local language
- Cheaper monthly plans
Cons:
- More limited functionality than Shopify or WooCommerce
- Fewer templates and apps
- Limited for international selling
Ideal for: SMEs selling in one country that need to start simple.
Quick comparison
| Platform | Initial cost | Monthly cost | Sale commission | Technical level | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | $0 | $39-$399 USD | 2-2.9% | Low | Start fast |
| WooCommerce | $300-$1,500 USD | $15-$80 USD | Only gateway (3-5%) | Medium-high | Scale and control |
| Prestashop | $0 | $20-$200 USD | Only gateway | Medium | European SMEs |
| Wix eCommerce | $0 | $27-$159 USD | Only gateway | Low | Very simple projects |
Step by step to create your online store
1. Define what you're going to sell and to whom
Before choosing a platform, be clear about:
- Physical, digital or service product?
- How many products will you have at launch? In 6 months?
- Will you sell only in your country or also abroad?
- Does your customer buy from mobile or computer?
2. Choose the platform for your case
- Less than 50 products and want to start now: Shopify or Wix eCommerce.
- More than 100 products and plan to scale: WooCommerce or Prestashop.
- Need unique functionality (subscriptions, bookings, etc.): WooCommerce or custom site.
3. Set up payment gateways
This is the most important part and the one that varies most by country. Without a reliable local payment gateway, you lose sales.
Spain:
- Stripe (most popular for online businesses)
- Redsys (most used in Spanish physical commerce)
- PayPal
- Bizum (increasingly important)
Italy:
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Nexi
- Satispay
Argentina:
- MercadoPago (most used, accepts card, debit, cash payment)
- PayPal (for international sales)
- Stripe (with local regulation limitations)
Mexico:
- MercadoPago
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Conekta
- OXXO Pay (cash payment in stores)
Colombia:
- MercadoPago
- PayU
- Wompi
- ePayco
4. Design the product catalogue
Each product needs:
- 5 to 10 quality photos (white background + real use)
- Clear description with benefits, not just features
- Visible price and, if applicable, old price crossed out for offers
- Updated stock (or mark as "last units")
- Weight and dimensions for shipping calculation
65% of abandoned carts are due to lack of product information or surprise shipping costs. Solve it from the start.
5. Set up shipping
Common options:
- Home delivery (with local courier, Correos, DHL, FedEx, etc.)
- Local pickup (if you have a physical point)
- Free shipping above a certain amount (recommended to increase average ticket)
- Automatic calculator by postal code/destination
6. Test everything before launching
Before publishing:
- Make a test purchase yourself
- Test from mobile, tablet and computer
- Check that confirmation emails arrive
- Verify stock deducts correctly
- Make sure invoice/receipt generates properly
7. Launch and promote
- Post on social media with well-photographed products
- Set up campaigns on Meta Ads or Google Shopping
- Ask for reviews from your first customers (social proof is key)
- Enable email marketing for abandoned carts
Real costs to launch an online store in 2026
| Concept | Cost in Spain/Italy | Cost in LatAm |
|---|---|---|
| Platform (month 1) | $39 to $399 USD | $9.000 to $80.000 ARS |
| Initial design | $800 to $3,000 USD | $200.000 to $600.000 ARS |
| Domain + hosting (annual) | $50 to $500 USD | $40.000 to $80.000 ARS |
| Payment gateway (commission per sale) | 2% to 3.5% | 3% to 5% |
| Monthly maintenance | $50 to $200 USD | $30.000 to $120.000 ARS |
| Total first year | $1,500 to $5,000 USD | $1,000,000 to $3,500,000 ARS |
At Imagine AI we build a free demo of your online store before you pay. We show you the design, the navigation and how your products would look. No commitment. Request your demo.
Common mistakes when creating an online store
- Choosing platform by price without thinking 2 years ahead. Starting on Wix eCommerce and migrating to WooCommerce later costs you double.
- Bad product photos. Over 80% of online shoppers say photos are the most important thing. Invest in good photos.
- Not configuring local payment gateways correctly. If your Spanish customer can't pay with Bizum, they don't buy.
- Ignoring mobile. 70% of online purchases are made from mobile. Test everything on mobile before launching.
- No clear returns policy. This lowers conversion and generates complaints.
- Forgetting abandoned cart email. Recover up to 15% of lost sales with an automatic email.
- Launching without testing a purchase yourself. On launch day you discover errors you can no longer fix quickly.
FAQ
How much does it cost to create an online store in 2026?
Depends on platform and scale. A basic Shopify store starts around $1,500 USD/year total. A professional WooCommerce store costs between $2,500 and $7,000 USD the first year. A fully custom store can run from $5,000 to $20,000 USD.
What's the best platform to start?
If you want to start fast and sell less than 100 products: Shopify. If you plan to scale and want total control: WooCommerce. If you sell in Europe and need something mid-range: Prestashop.
Can I have an online store for free?
Yes, with some platforms with very limited plans. But "free" is expensive in limited functionality. For a serious business you need to invest in a professional platform.
Do I need to invoice when selling online?
Yes, in all countries there's an obligation to issue invoices or receipts. In Spain and Italy VAT is mandatory. Configure your system to issue receipts automatically.
How long does it take to have an online store ready?
- Shopify or Wix eCommerce: 1 to 3 weeks
- WooCommerce: 3 to 6 weeks
- Custom store: 6 to 16 weeks
Is it better to have an online store or sell on Amazon/marketplaces?
Depends. Marketplaces give you immediate traffic but charge high commissions (15% to 20%) and you don't own the customer. Your online store gives you independence and margin, but you need to generate your own traffic. The ideal is to have both. If you want a quick solution, read how to sell online in 72 hours.