Shopify

May 17, 2025

Shopify Plus vs Shopee, Lazada, TikTok: A $100K/month Breakdown

May 17, 2025

You’ve hit $100K per month on Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop. That means you’ve figured out how to sell and scale.

But as revenue increases, so do the platform fees and the competition. You’re stuck in a pricing war, with shrinking margins and no control over your customer base.

This isn’t just about saving on fees. It’s about owning your brand, your data, and your growth.

In this article, we’ll explore why more high-performing sellers are turning to Shopify Plus. Not to abandon marketplaces, but to create a more profitable and sustainable foundation beyond them.


Marketplace Reality: The Hidden Cost of Convenience

Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop make it easy to start selling. But once your sales grow, so do the costs — and the pressure.

Here’s what most sellers don’t talk about:

You’re not just paying fees — you’re locked in a pricing war with hundreds of sellers offering the same product. Margins shrink. Loyalty disappears. You’re replaceable with a cheaper listing.

On $100K/month revenue:

  • Shopee: 8–12% platform fees = $8,000–$12,000/month

  • Lazada: 7–10% = $7,000–$10,000/month

  • TikTok Shop: ~11.88% = $11,880/month

Now compare that with Shopify Plus:

  • $2,300/month platform fee

  • ~2.15% payment fees = $2,750

  • ~$250 in apps

    = Around $5,300/month total (~5% of revenue)

That’s a $5,000–$7,000/month difference — straight into your pocket.

But more importantly:

Owning your website means owning your customers. No middlemen, no algorithm shifts, and no race to the bottom. You build loyalty, brand value, and long-term growth.


6 Reasons You Should Build Your Own Shopify Store Now

1. Lower Long-Term Fees

While marketplace fees grow with your revenue, Shopify Plus offers a predictable flat fee structure—perfect for scaling.

2. Better Brand Experience

With your own site, your brand comes first. You control the design, customer journey, and messaging—something marketplaces don’t allow.

3. Customer Ownership

Building a customer list is essential for long-term growth. Shopify lets you build that audience, engage them through email and loyalty tools, and bring them back.

4. More Ways to Increase Revenue

Upsells, cross-sells, subscription models, and bundles—Shopify Plus makes it easy to increase average order value and repeat purchases.

5. Smarter Operations

Automate repetitive tasks, manage campaigns, and streamline operations with tools like Shopify Flow and Launchpad.

6. Ready for Global Growth

Shopify Plus helps you manage multiple currencies, languages, and regional stores—all from one dashboard.


Cost & Control Comparison: Shopify Plus vs Marketplaces @ $100K/month

Feature

Shopify Plus

Shopee

Lazada

TikTok Shop

Monthly Platform Cost

$2,300

Free

Free

Free

Transaction & Payment Fees

~$2,750 (~2.15%)

~$8–12K (8–12%)

~$7–10K (7–10%)

~$11,880 (11.88%)

App/Plugin Costs

$200–$500

None

None

None

Branding Control

Full control

Limited

Limited

Limited

Customer Data

Fully owned

Restricted

Restricted

Restricted

Custom Checkout

Yes

No

No

No

Marketing Tools

Full access

Built-in only

Built-in only

Built-in only

Scalability & Support

Dedicated support

Standard

Standard

Standard


When Is the Right Time to Build Your Own Store?

If you're doing:

  • $100K+/month consistently

  • Reaching limits on what you can do in marketplaces

  • Looking to reduce fee load and increase retention

…it’s worth investing in your own store. You can still sell on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok—but having a Shopify store gives you more margin, more control, and more options.


Let’s Build It Together

At ShadowCraft Studio, we help marketplace sellers make the leap:

  • Smooth migration from Shopee/Lazada/TikTok

  • Custom, fast-loading Shopify themes

  • Built-in analytics, automation, and upsell flows

We’ve worked with brands like RoxyDC Shoes, and Quiksilver. Let us help you build what’s next.

👉 Book your free Shopify Plus consultation and take ownership of your growth. Start here

Tags: build ecommerce website Shopee Lazada TikTok, Shopify Plus vs Shopee Lazada TikTok, own online store vs marketplace, migrate to Shopify Plus

You’ve hit $100K per month on Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop. That means you’ve figured out how to sell and scale.

But as revenue increases, so do the platform fees and the competition. You’re stuck in a pricing war, with shrinking margins and no control over your customer base.

This isn’t just about saving on fees. It’s about owning your brand, your data, and your growth.

In this article, we’ll explore why more high-performing sellers are turning to Shopify Plus. Not to abandon marketplaces, but to create a more profitable and sustainable foundation beyond them.


Marketplace Reality: The Hidden Cost of Convenience

Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop make it easy to start selling. But once your sales grow, so do the costs — and the pressure.

Here’s what most sellers don’t talk about:

You’re not just paying fees — you’re locked in a pricing war with hundreds of sellers offering the same product. Margins shrink. Loyalty disappears. You’re replaceable with a cheaper listing.

On $100K/month revenue:

  • Shopee: 8–12% platform fees = $8,000–$12,000/month

  • Lazada: 7–10% = $7,000–$10,000/month

  • TikTok Shop: ~11.88% = $11,880/month

Now compare that with Shopify Plus:

  • $2,300/month platform fee

  • ~2.15% payment fees = $2,750

  • ~$250 in apps

    = Around $5,300/month total (~5% of revenue)

That’s a $5,000–$7,000/month difference — straight into your pocket.

But more importantly:

Owning your website means owning your customers. No middlemen, no algorithm shifts, and no race to the bottom. You build loyalty, brand value, and long-term growth.


6 Reasons You Should Build Your Own Shopify Store Now

1. Lower Long-Term Fees

While marketplace fees grow with your revenue, Shopify Plus offers a predictable flat fee structure—perfect for scaling.

2. Better Brand Experience

With your own site, your brand comes first. You control the design, customer journey, and messaging—something marketplaces don’t allow.

3. Customer Ownership

Building a customer list is essential for long-term growth. Shopify lets you build that audience, engage them through email and loyalty tools, and bring them back.

4. More Ways to Increase Revenue

Upsells, cross-sells, subscription models, and bundles—Shopify Plus makes it easy to increase average order value and repeat purchases.

5. Smarter Operations

Automate repetitive tasks, manage campaigns, and streamline operations with tools like Shopify Flow and Launchpad.

6. Ready for Global Growth

Shopify Plus helps you manage multiple currencies, languages, and regional stores—all from one dashboard.


Cost & Control Comparison: Shopify Plus vs Marketplaces @ $100K/month

Feature

Shopify Plus

Shopee

Lazada

TikTok Shop

Monthly Platform Cost

$2,300

Free

Free

Free

Transaction & Payment Fees

~$2,750 (~2.15%)

~$8–12K (8–12%)

~$7–10K (7–10%)

~$11,880 (11.88%)

App/Plugin Costs

$200–$500

None

None

None

Branding Control

Full control

Limited

Limited

Limited

Customer Data

Fully owned

Restricted

Restricted

Restricted

Custom Checkout

Yes

No

No

No

Marketing Tools

Full access

Built-in only

Built-in only

Built-in only

Scalability & Support

Dedicated support

Standard

Standard

Standard


When Is the Right Time to Build Your Own Store?

If you're doing:

  • $100K+/month consistently

  • Reaching limits on what you can do in marketplaces

  • Looking to reduce fee load and increase retention

…it’s worth investing in your own store. You can still sell on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok—but having a Shopify store gives you more margin, more control, and more options.


Let’s Build It Together

At ShadowCraft Studio, we help marketplace sellers make the leap:

  • Smooth migration from Shopee/Lazada/TikTok

  • Custom, fast-loading Shopify themes

  • Built-in analytics, automation, and upsell flows

We’ve worked with brands like RoxyDC Shoes, and Quiksilver. Let us help you build what’s next.

👉 Book your free Shopify Plus consultation and take ownership of your growth. Start here

Tags: build ecommerce website Shopee Lazada TikTok, Shopify Plus vs Shopee Lazada TikTok, own online store vs marketplace, migrate to Shopify Plus