How Much Does an Online Store Cost in Kenya? (2026 Price Guide)

If you are ready to start selling online, the first question is usually a money question: how much does an online store cost in Kenya? An online store (also called an e-commerce website) is different from a simple brochure site — it needs a product catalogue, a shopping cart, a checkout, and a way for customers to pay you securely. All of that adds a little more work than a basic five-page website, so it naturally costs a bit more. The good news is that with the right partner, the price for an online store in Kenya can be fixed and clear from day one.

At Faztech Websites, we build online stores for Kenyan businesses with M-Pesa and card payments built in, at a fixed, all-in price. Below we break down every part of the cost so you can budget realistically and avoid nasty surprises.

How much does an online store cost in Kenya?

A complete online store in Kenya typically costs from KSh 25,000 for the website build itself. Faztech's E-commerce package is a fixed KSh 25,000 and includes a product catalogue, shopping cart, checkout, and M-Pesa plus card payments through Paystack. On top of the build, you should budget separately for a domain name and web hosting (small recurring yearly costs) and, if you want, an optional maintenance plan. There are no hidden fees — you start with a 50% deposit and never pay more than the agreed package price.

What parts make up the cost of an online store?

When you get a quote for an online store, the total is really made up of a few separate pieces. Understanding each one helps you compare offers fairly and plan your budget.

• The store build — designing and developing the website, adding your products, and setting up cart and checkout. This is the biggest, one-off part.
• A domain name — your web address, for example yourshop.co.ke. This is a small recurring cost, usually paid once a year.
• Web hosting — the space on a server where your store lives so it is always online. Also a small recurring cost, usually paid monthly or yearly.
• Payment gateway setup — connecting a service so customers can pay by M-Pesa, card, or bank transfer. Setup is part of the build; the gateway itself charges a small fee per transaction.
• Optional ongoing maintenance — updates, backups, security checks, and small changes after launch. This is a choice, not a must.

How much is the store build itself?

The build is where most of the value sits, because this is the actual shop your customers will use. Faztech's E-commerce package is a fixed KSh 25,000 and gives you a working online store with:

• A clean, mobile-friendly design that works well on phones, where most Kenyans shop
• A product catalogue you can organise into categories
• A shopping cart and a smooth checkout flow
• M-Pesa and card payments connected through Paystack
• Your branding, contact details, and key pages

You pay a 50% deposit to get started, and the balance before we hand the finished store over. The price is fixed, so the number we agree is the number you pay.

What about the domain and hosting?

Your domain and hosting are separate, recurring costs that keep your store online year after year. A domain name is your address on the web, and a .co.ke domain is a trustworthy choice for a Kenyan business. Hosting is the storage and server power that keeps the site running.

Both are small compared to the build, and they are usually paid yearly (domain) or monthly and yearly (hosting). Exact prices vary by provider and by the domain extension you choose, so we do not quote a fixed third-party figure here — but they are modest, ongoing amounts you should factor into your annual budget. Faztech can handle the domain setup for you so you do not have to wrestle with the technical side.

How do online payments work, and what do they cost?

To take money online, your store connects to a payment gateway. Faztech sets up Paystack, which lets your customers pay by M-Pesa, card, or bank transfer — the ways Kenyans actually like to pay. The setup is included in your store build.

The gateway itself charges a small fee on each transaction, which is a normal part of accepting online payments anywhere in the world. This is deducted per sale rather than being an upfront cost to you, so you only pay it when you are actually making money. We will not quote an exact figure here because it can change, but it is a small slice of each sale.

Do I need to pay for ongoing maintenance?

Maintenance is optional, but many store owners find it worthwhile. Once your store is live, you may want regular backups, security updates, and help adding new products or running seasonal offers. Faztech offers ongoing maintenance and support so your store stays fast, safe, and up to date without you lifting a finger.

If you would rather manage the day-to-day yourself, that is fine too — the store is yours, and maintenance is a choice you can add whenever you need it.

Why do some online stores cost much more?

You may see quotes for e-commerce sites that run into the hundreds of thousands of shillings. That does not mean anyone is overcharging — bigger stores genuinely need more work. The price climbs when a project involves:

• Large catalogues — thousands of products, complex categories, and filters
• Custom features — loyalty points, subscriptions, multi-vendor marketplaces, or bespoke workflows
• Integrations — linking to accounting software, delivery services, or inventory systems
• Heavy back-end logic — user dashboards, advanced reporting, or automation

For most small and medium Kenyan businesses launching their first shop, none of that is necessary on day one. A clean, fast store that takes M-Pesa and card payments is enough to start selling — and you can always grow later. If your idea does need heavier custom work, our Large package at KSh 20,000 covers backend-heavy builds with user accounts and dashboards, and we are happy to advise on the right fit.

How should I budget for my online store?

Here is a simple, realistic way to plan your first-year spend:

1. The store build — a one-off fixed cost. With Faztech, KSh 25,000 for a full e-commerce site.
2. Domain and hosting — small recurring yearly amounts to keep the store online.
3. Transaction fees — a small per-sale charge from the payment gateway, only when you make a sale.
4. Optional maintenance — add a support plan if you want us to handle updates and changes.

The largest number is the one-off build, and with a fixed-price package you know it upfront. Everything else is either small and recurring, or paid only when money is coming in — which makes an online store far more affordable than most people expect.

Ready to start selling online?

An online store does not have to be expensive or confusing. For a fixed KSh 25,000 you can have a professional shop with M-Pesa and card payments, built without surprises and paid with a simple 50% deposit to start. See the full breakdown on our pricing page, place your order online whenever you are ready, or get in touch to ask any question first. Let us help you get your business selling online.