Your physical store closes at 6 PM. Your online store never closes. The Albanian e-commerce market keeps growing every year, and Albanians are buying more and more online. If you're a business owner without an online store, your competitors are taking those sales every single day.
Step 1: Choose the right platform
| Platform | Cost | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | €500–2,000 | Many products, full control |
| Shopify | $29–79/month | Fast launch, no technical knowledge |
| Custom solution | €2,000–8,000 | Specific needs, complex integrations |
For most Albanian businesses, WooCommerce is the optimal solution: a reasonable price and full flexibility.
Step 2: Choosing online payments
This is the main obstacle for Albanian businesses, but there are solutions:
- Stripe: For businesses registered in the EU, the UK or the US (not yet for businesses registered in Albania). A good fit if your company is in the diaspora.
- PayPal: Globally recognized, ideal if you sell internationally.
- Local card: Raiffeisen, BKT, Credins offer integrated terminals.
- Cash on Delivery: Still very popular with Albanians. Don't remove it from your options.
Step 3: What you need technically
- ✓A domain (.com or .al)
- ✓Fast hosting (don't cut corners here)
- ✓SSL certificate (HTTPS)
- ✓Product management system
- ✓Payment integration
- ✓SEO-optimized product pages
- ✓Order confirmation email
- ✓Return policy and terms of service
How much does an online store cost? Real costs
| Expense | Minimum cost | Realistic cost |
|---|---|---|
| Design & development | €700 | €1,000–4,000 |
| Hosting (year) | €100 | €200–400 |
| Product photography | €300 | €500–1,000 |
| Initial marketing | €200/month | €400–800/month |