Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level eCommerce solution from Shopify, and is used by some of the top global brands such as Gymshark, Allbirds, Steve Madden, and many more. It is undoubtedly one of the best platforms out in the market but, at a starting cost of US $2,300 per month, you may find yourself asking, "Is Shopify Plus really worth it?"

And this isn't always a clean-cut answer—while many of our retail clients have chosen Shopify Plus for their business, there have been other cases when we suggested not making the leap just yet, opting for Shopify Advanced, or even choosing other frameworks such as Magento Open Source.

Perhaps you're in a similar position. You might be using a lower-tier Shopify plan, or even a different platform like BigCommerce, but as your turnover or operational requirements change, your current system feels like it’s hitting a ceiling. So, how do you know when it's time to make the leap to Shopify Plus? This article will guide you through the decision-making process by answering a crucial question: When does it make sense to upgrade or switch to Shopify Plus? We’ll break down the factors that make Shopify Plus a good fit, highlight scenarios where it might not be necessary, and help you determine if the platform aligns with your current and future needs.

TMO specializes in developing highly-customized storefronts using eCommerce solutions like Shopify Plus.

Before You Decide: Key Features of Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is designed to handle the complexities of large-scale businesses and high-volume operations. Here's an overview of the features that set Shopify Plus apart from the standard Shopify plans:

• Scalability for High-Volume Sales without slowing down.
• Advanced customization with Shopify Scripts, checkout personalization, and higher API limits.
• Market Expansion Tools for rapid scaling into multi-currency and multi-language storefronts.
• Automation to streamline operations like inventory management, promotions, and order processing.
• Enterprise-Grade Security and 24/7 Support, including a dedicated account manager, two-factor authentication, and enhanced fraud protection.
• Unlimited Staff Accounts give your team more control over permissions and workflows.

Questions to Ask Yourself: Is Shopify Plus the Right Fit for Your Business?

1. What’s Your Annual Revenue & Transaction Volume?

One of the primary factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade is your business's revenue and transaction volume. As a general rule of thumb, the conversation around choosing Shopify Plus starts to make financial sense closer to the US $800k mark in annual revenue, but the cost analysis might also vary greatly depending on your Sales Volume vs. Average Order Value (AOV).

Not sure where to start or what eCommerce solution to implement? Get in touch with us for an assessment of your specific business needs.

Shopify Plus typically starts at a monthly flat rate of US $2,300 (changing to revenue-based at higher volumes), which is considerably higher than Shopify Advanced's US $299 fee. On top of that, transaction fees—which vary by payment method and region but are lower in Shopify Plus—also need to be factored in:

• For smaller firms, the higher base price might outweigh the savings on variable costs, but past a certain revenue you might already be paying more than you should if you're still on Shopify Advanced
• Example: Let’s say your business generates $1M in annual revenue. If you're using Shopify Advanced, you might be paying around 2.5% + 30¢ per transaction. In this case, the upgrade to Shopify Plus basically pays for itself because of the lower card rates.

2. What’s Your Total Cost of Ownership (TOC)?

When assessing Shopify Plus, it’s crucial to consider the Total Cost of Ownership (TOC), which includes not just the platform fees, but all the additional costs required to run your business:

• Hosting
• Third-party apps, add-ons, and integrations
• Payment processing fees
• Custom development and design work
• Support and maintenance costs

For businesses operating on other systems such as self-hosted solutions like Magento, costs can add up quickly with apps, integrations, and manual processes that Shopify Plus can often replace. Shopify Plus streamlines operations by consolidating features, potentially reducing the need for third-party apps and external solutions.

• Example: If you’re currently using separate subscription services for fraud prevention, advanced analytics, and multi-currency functionality, Shopify Plus could eliminate the need for those services by offering them natively on the platform. Shopify's TOC is an estimated 33% lower than other solutions.

Beyond Costs: Shopify Plus Can Still Be Worth It If…

Even if cost isn’t the only factor, Shopify Plus can provide significant value under the following circumstances:

• Your Business Is Growing Rapidly or Faces Frequent Traffic Spikes: Shopify Plus is optimized to handle heavy traffic and high sales volume without any performance issues, even during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
• You’re Expanding Into New Markets: Shopify Plus offers powerful tools for multi-currency and multi-language support, as well as the ability to set up multiple storefronts to tailor your business to different regions and customer needs. This makes it an excellent option for brands that are looking to go global, need additional staging/testing sites, or channel-specific stores like Wholesale.
• Back-End Repetitive Tasks Are Holding You Back: Shopify Plus includes automation tools like Flow and Launchpad that can automate tedious processes like inventory management, order fulfillment, and marketing campaigns. This saves your team time and reduces human error.
• You Need Specific Features (B2B, Custom Checkout, etc.): Shopify Plus offers a range of features that cater to B2B businesses, including custom pricing, bulk ordering, and wholesale functionalities. You also gain access to more customizable checkout experiences, which can improve your conversion rates, and that alone could have an impact on your ROI.
• Your Staff Accounts Hit Limits: Shopify Plus provides unlimited staff accounts, making it easier to manage large teams and delegate permissions for different roles.
• Upgrading Your Current Solution Is Too Expensive or Complex: If maintaining your current platform (e.g., Magento or WooCommerce) is costly, time-consuming, or technologically challenging, Shopify Plus can simplify your operations and reduce ongoing maintenance costs.

When NOT to Upgrade to Shopify Plus

1. Your Current Platform Still Meets Your Needs

If your existing platform (e.g., Shopify Advanced, BigCommerce, Magento) is still serving your needs, there’s no immediate rush to upgrade. Many businesses operate successfully on lower-tier plans for years, and Shopify Plus might only be necessary when your operations reach a certain threshold. Remember you can always revisit this decision at a later point.

If you are currently on other systems like Adobe Commerce's, we can conduct a Magento store audit and come up with a plan for site optimization.

2. The Cost, Effort, or Time of Switching Outweighs the Benefits

While it offers one of the fastest time-to-market, switching to Shopify Plus involves time, effort, and costs for migration, redesign, and training. If you’re happy with your current solution and it’s serving your needs, the cost of migrating might not be worth the benefits, especially if your growth is steady and doesn’t require the advanced features of Shopify Plus just yet.

3. Extremely Large Product Catalogs with Highly Complex Variations

While Shopify Plus is a great fit for many eCommerce stores, if your product catalog is extremely large and complex (with hundreds of variations or highly customized options), you might find that Shopify’s templated structure doesn’t offer the depth of customization that open-source solutions like Magento can provide.

4. Need for Complete Ownership and Control Over Your Infrastructure

Shopify Plus is a hosted solution, which means Shopify handles the infrastructure and servers. If you require complete control over your hosting environment, or need to implement a highly custom backend infrastructure, Shopify Plus may not be suitable compared to self-hosted platforms like Magento.

Consider Starting on a Shopify Advanced and Work Your Way to Plus

If you're unsure whether Shopify Plus is the right fit, you don’t have to jump straight into it. Shopify’s lower-tier plans, such as Shopify Advanced, offer a lot of functionality and can handle moderate to high-volume businesses, yet still can help you pave the way to an upgrade at a later point in time. You can always test features like multi-currency support or third-party integrations through apps before making the leap to Plus.

This approach allows you to gauge your business’s needs without committing to the higher fees associated with Shopify Plus until you’re certain you need them. Sometimes, if it's only one feature that you are looking for, there are workarounds like getting a paid app or separate Advanced installations which, even with their limitations, can prove cheaper than the upgrade.

Build Stunning, High-converting Storefronts with Shopify Plus and TMO

With its enhanced customization options, automation tools, and enterprise-level support, Shopify Plus is designed to meet the demands of high-volume businesses.

However, deciding whether to upgrade to Shopify Plus is not a one-size-fits-all decision. It’s a careful three-way analysis that evaluates your business’s financials, the platform features you need, and the markets you intend to target. If your business has the sales volume, growth potential, and the need for more robust tools, Shopify Plus can be the perfect solution to scale effectively.

At TMO, we specialize in helping businesses transition smoothly to Shopify Plus and make the most out of their investment. As a trusted Shopify Partner Agency, we focus on custom theme development and headless eCommerce implementations, leveraging Shopify Plus to create tailored, high-performance solutions. Our team has deep industry-specific expertise in fields such as B2B and Health & Beauty, ensuring that we understand the unique needs of your industry.

If you’re unsure whether Shopify Plus is the right fit for your operational requirements or if you need guidance on the best approach, we’re here to help. Reach out to us for a free consultation, where we can discuss your project, explore potential alternatives, or guide you through the Shopify Plus implementation process.