How much does an online store cost for an UMKM? Count the right components
A guide to calculating online-store costs for an UMKM: platform fees, transaction commission, payment gateway, domain, content, and operations.
An UMKM's online-store cost includes the platform, transaction fees, payment gateway, an optional domain, content, and daily operations. On Biome, Starter is Rp0 per month with 0% platform commission, Growth is Rp149,000 per month, and Scale is Rp349,000 per month; payment-gateway fees still apply.
The question “how much does an online store cost?” is often answered with one monthly number. That number covers only part of the decision. An UMKM also needs to count transaction-based fees, store assets, and the time spent updating products and handling orders.
Separate fixed costs from transaction costs
| Component | How to count it |
|---|---|
| Platform | A monthly fee or transaction percentage according to the plan |
| Payment gateway | Fees from the payment method and provider; check current rates |
| Domain | The cost of a custom domain if the seller chooses one |
| Content | Product photos, video, writing, or the time to create them |
| Operations | Packing, shipping, support, and stock maintenance |
| Acquisition | Content, ads, or channels used to bring visitors |
The Biome plans that need to be separated
Biome's product documentation defines three public plans. Starter costs Rp0 per month with 0% platform commission, limits of 50 products, 5 variants per product, 500 MB storage, and 1 custom page. Growth costs Rp149,000 per month with up to 100 products, while Scale costs Rp349,000 per month with 300 products, unlimited variants, and 30 custom pages. Payment-gateway fees still apply to every plan.
When does Starter make sense?
Starter is a good fit when a seller wants no monthly platform fee or commission and the limits of 50 products, 5 variants per product, 500 MB storage, 1 custom page, and about 10k visitors per month are enough.
When should you choose Growth or Scale?
Because every plan has 0% platform commission, there is no commission break-even point to calculate. Choose Growth for up to 100 products and about 100k visitors per month; choose Scale for up to 300 products, unlimited variants, 30 custom pages, and about 500k visitors per month. Payment-gateway fees, taxes, shipping, and operating costs remain outside the plan price.
An example plan comparison
| Plan | Platform cost | Main limit | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Rp0 / 0% | 50 products; 5 variants; 10k visitors/month | Payment gateway and operations |
| Growth | Rp149,000 / 0% | 100 products; 10 variants; 100k visitors/month | Payment gateway and operations |
| Scale | Rp349,000 / 0% | 300 products; unlimited variants; 500k visitors/month | Payment gateway and operations |
Remember costs that do not appear on the pricing page
- Time to photograph products and update descriptions.
- Packaging, labels, and fulfillment.
- Shipping or subsidies chosen by the seller.
- Content and promotion used to bring visitors.
- Time spent on questions, complaints, cancellations, and order reconciliation.
How to compare platforms fairly
Compare plans at the same transaction volume and write down what each plan includes. Do not treat a platform fee as the total cost of the business. A cheap platform that makes the seller handle more technical work may move the cost into time and risk. A fixed fee should be tested against expected revenue, not a target that has not happened.
What should you ask before signing up?
- Is there a monthly fee, transaction commission, or both?
- Are payment-gateway fees charged separately?
- What are the product, media, domain, staff, and page limits?
- Who handles payment verification and when can checkout be used?
- Does a custom domain require DNS changes by the seller?
For an UMKM, the useful number is not the smallest price displayed. It is the total cost at the way the store will actually be used. Start with checkable assumptions, record transactions, and review the plan once a sales pattern is visible.
Frequently asked questions
Is Starter completely free?
Starter has no monthly fee and 0% platform commission, but payment-gateway fees still apply according to the method.
When should I upgrade to Growth or Scale?
Upgrade to Growth when you need up to 100 products and about 100k visitors per month. Choose Scale for up to 300 products, unlimited variants, 30 custom pages, and about 500k visitors per month.
Are domains and product photos included?
That depends on the platform and how you create the assets. Custom domains, photos, content, shipping, and operations should be counted separately when they are not included.
Can payment-gateway fees be ignored?
No. Payment-gateway fees sit outside the comparison of monthly fee and platform commission.