Shopify is an e-commerce platform for building and running an online store, handling everything from product listings and checkout to payment processing and basic marketing. For a social enterprise selling handmade goods, agricultural products, or branded merchandise to fund its mission, it removes most of the technical setup involved in taking payments and managing inventory online.
Key features
- Full storefront builder with customizable themes, no coding required for a standard setup.
- Built-in payment processing supporting major cards and regional payment methods.
- Inventory and order management across online and, with add-ons, in-person sales.
- A large app marketplace for adding shipping, email marketing, or accounting integrations.
- Basic built-in marketing and discount code tools for running promotions or campaigns.
Pricing
Shopify commonly runs an introductory trial (often a nominal $1/month for the first few months) before standard pricing applies. The Basic plan runs around $29 to $39 a month depending on billing term, aimed at a solo seller or small team. Grow and Advanced tiers run roughly $79 to $105 and $299 to $399 a month respectively for higher transaction limits and more advanced reporting. A custom-priced Plus tier exists for large-scale operations, starting well into the thousands per month, which will be out of reach for most social enterprises.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Handles payment processing, inventory, and storefront design without needing separate tools | Monthly subscription plus transaction fees add up for a low-margin mission-driven product line |
| Large app ecosystem covers most additional needs (shipping, email, accounting) | Costs increase notably between the Basic and Grow tiers as an organization scales |
| Reliable, well-documented platform with strong uptime and support resources | Overkill for an organization selling only a handful of products occasionally, where a simpler tool may suffice |
Who it’s for
Social enterprises with an ongoing product line, whether merchandise, agricultural goods, or fair-trade items, that need a reliable, scalable storefront and are ready to commit to a monthly subscription.
Who should skip it
Organizations selling only occasionally or in very small volume, where a simpler, lower-cost storefront tool or a marketplace listing (rather than a dedicated store) will cover the need without a recurring subscription.
How to get started
Use the introductory trial period to build out your storefront and test checkout before the standard monthly rate begins.
FAQ
Are there transaction fees on top of the monthly subscription?
Yes, unless using Shopify’s own payment processing exclusively, additional transaction fees typically apply on top of the plan cost when using third-party payment providers.
Can Shopify handle both online and in-person sales, like at a market or pop-up?
Yes, with the appropriate point-of-sale add-on and hardware, Shopify can sync in-person sales with the same inventory as the online store.
Disclosure: Impact DOTS may earn a commission if you sign up for Shopify through the links in this article. This does not change what you pay, and it does not influence which tools we choose to cover.
