"How much does a Shopify VA cost?" is the first question most store owners ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on how the VA charges and what you need done. Prices vary a lot between people, so instead of quoting a number that may not match your situation, this guide shows how pricing works so you can compare quotes properly.
The Three Common Pricing Models
⏱️ Hourly
You pay for the hours worked. Flexible and easy to start, good for varied or unpredictable tasks. Ask how time is tracked and reported.
📦 Per Project
A fixed price for a defined job, like setting up a store. Good when the scope is clear. Make sure the quote says exactly what is included.
🔁 Monthly Retainer
A set monthly fee for ongoing support. Good for daily operations such as orders, products and customer messages.
My Pricing
- Shopify store setup: starting at $899, or you can choose an hourly rate. This covers store setup and domain connection, theme installation and customization, homepage and navigation, up to 20 products and basic SEO.
- Store management: a monthly retainer is available for product uploads and optimization, order processing and fulfillment, customer support, inventory management and Shopify app integration.
The final number depends on your store, so I quote after a short call.
What Changes the Price
- Scope. Uploading 20 products is not the same as 500 products with variants and translations.
- Skill level. Theme and Liquid edits, app setup and tracking work cost more than data entry.
- Volume and speed. More hours per week, or tight deadlines, change the rate or the retainer.
- Tools and apps. Some jobs need paid apps. Check whether those costs are separate from the VA's fee.
- Communication needs. Daily check-ins, customer chat hours and time-zone overlap can all affect the arrangement.
Hidden Costs to Ask About
- Revisions. Are they included, or billed separately?
- Minimum hours or a minimum term. Some retainers have both.
- Payment fees. Who pays platform or transfer fees?
- Unused hours. Do they roll over or expire?
How to Compare Quotes
- Write the same task list and send it to everyone.
- Ask each person to confirm what is included and what isn't.
- Compare the total for the same scope, not only the hourly rate.
- Ask for examples of similar work.
- Start with a small paid task to see how they communicate and deliver.
Is It Worth It?
Think in terms of your own time. If you spend 15 hours a week on uploads, orders and support, and your hours are better used on marketing, products or suppliers, delegating those tasks lets you work on the parts that grow the business. Do the sum with your own numbers and see whether it makes sense.
Book a Free 30-Min Discovery Call
Tell me what you need done and I'll quote it clearly: hourly, per project or monthly.