Here are a few thoughts on how pricing works with shopping carts, based on the 12 carts I’m reviewing for the Guide. Like most things about shopping carts, there’s no right answer, there’s just what’s right for you—
Software License vs. Monthly Subscription
With some paid shopping carts you invest all the cash up front, with others you send a little bit of cash each month.
A monthly subscription can be as little as $5, an affordable option if we’re starting a business on a tight budget. I like that there’s an inherent customer-centeredness around paying a monthly fee…if the service provider wants continuous income, they must continually provide a good service.
With a shopping cart software license, you’re fully invested from the start. Licenses can be very affordable—like around $50—and upgrades are often free. But my question is: Where is the monetary incentive for developers to add new features or fix bugs? Money-back guarantees are short-term or nonexistent, so what we buy may be all we ever get.
However, when we compare the expense of a $50 license to a $5/month service, in our first year we’ll spend $50 on the license and $60 for the service. After that, the license costs us nothing while the service costs us $60 every year…maybe more if they raise the price.
Note: There are free shopping carts if your budget is very tight, but paying for a shopping cart often means you get some kind of technical support. Often. Not always.
