Shopware B2B Pricing 2025: Costs, Editions & Hidden ROI Lever

Introduction: Why Price Is Only Half the Story

If you're searching for "Shopware B2B pricing" in 2025, you've likely experienced an initial shock. While you once calculated with a one-time license fee, you now navigate a world of monthly subscriptions that quickly reach the level of an employee's salary.

But the question "What does Shopware cost?" is actually the wrong question. The right question for B2B companies is: "What does it cost me not to sell digitally?" or "How high are my Cost of Sales compared to the software license?"

In this comprehensive guide, we analyze not just the raw numbers of the Shopware editions Rise, Evolve, and Beyond. We uncover the hidden costs (TCO), illuminate the critical changes through the Fair Usage Policy 2025, and show you why even the most expensive plan leaves a decisive gap in B2B sales—and how to close it. Understanding Shopware AI features becomes essential for maximizing your investment.

Shopware B2B Pricing Overview: Official Costs

Since the pricing model transition in September 2022 and the adjustments for 2025, Shopware no longer offers purchase licenses. According to Shopware, the model is purely rental-based (SaaS or Self-Hosted Subscription).

Here is the current status quo for 2025:

Edition Comparison

Note: Prices for Evolve and Beyond are often revenue-dependent (GMV) and negotiable. The values mentioned are market-standard entry prices, as confirmed by [erock-marketing.de](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQE3g3MNST2S29UVfIpmbwBLhLO2HZhXASNbHhBa3PxRBB8VkR91qlAI3rmeYyKrXsytDUPEZmZz8GfvFgNLS3tPOtLjFNVvvtKWL-f-WMeBR3UKadub1W2p3GGsmTnhd8-YCbGCssXc) and [webwirkung.ch](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFZRj-ZYHmMyUY_PaalS7Xl4b3ux9bZa7GCapAZ4XmM2kWG1l5LgJ45XdTOWrKaUqpb5t5N6vrAh9fIssbWm3D73by8ARUG-0F-q_V7AtQulhzURXbdSMkHgJsQAYm_7BrdoKsSeIOawOnLk_ygrACpi_PVjDMFk6gohvY=).

The Elephant in the Room: Fair Usage Policy (March 2025)

A decisive factor for your calculation is the new Fair Usage Policy, which takes effect on March 24, 2025. Previously, many high-revenue B2B merchants used the free Community Edition to save on license costs.

This information is confirmed by themeware.design. The "budget hack" of simply using the free version for large B2B shops is officially over.

What Are the B2B Components?

Why is the jump from Rise (€600) to Evolve (~€2,400) so massive? The answer lies in the B2B Components. Formerly known as the "B2B Suite" (a plugin), these functions are now deeply integrated into the Shopware core, as detailed by into-commerce.de.

When you book Evolve, you gain access to:

1. Rights & Roles: Mapping complex company hierarchies of your customers (purchasers, department heads, administrators).
2. Budgets & Approvals: Approval workflows (e.g., "Orders over €500 must be approved by the manager").
3. Quick Order: Upload CSV files or enter article numbers (SKUs).
4. Quote System (Quotes): Customers can request a quote instead of purchasing, which sales processes in the backend.

Additional feature details are available at scope01.com.

The True Costs: Setup, Agency & Total Cost of Ownership

A common mistake in budget planning is focusing on license costs. In reality, these often represent only 15–25% of total costs (Total Cost of Ownership) over three years, as reported by exwe.de.

One-Time Project Costs (Setup & Migration)

Shopware is a powerful framework. Using it "out of the box" is rarely possible in the B2B sector, as ERP integrations (SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage) and individual pricing logic are necessary.

• Small B2B Project: €15,000 – €30,000 (Standard theme, simple ERP interface, minimal customizing)
• Medium B2B Project: €40,000 – €80,000 (Individual UX design, complex B2B logic, PIM integration)
• Enterprise B2B Project: €100,000+ (Headless architecture, multi-country, complex configurators)

Ongoing Agency Costs

Beyond the license, you need maintenance, updates, and development. Working with a Shopware full service agency can help manage these ongoing requirements effectively.

• Hourly Rates 2025: German Shopware agencies currently charge between €100 and €160 per hour, according to shopwareagentur.info and satware.com.
• Maintenance Contracts: Expect monthly retainers of €500 to €2,000 for security updates and monitoring.

Sample Calculation: Year 1 (Mid-Sized B2B Shop)

Key Insight: You invest nearly €90,000 in the first year. The decisive question now is: When does the shop earn this money back?

Where Standard Shopware B2B Reaches Its Limits

Here we arrive at the strategic core problem that most price comparisons ignore.

You've invested €90,000 and pay €2,400 monthly for the Evolve license. For that, you technically have everything a B2B shop needs: budgets, roles, price lists. But technical availability is not the same as commercial success.

The Problem: Administration vs. Consultation

Shopware's "B2B Components" are administrative tools. They help an existing customer who knows exactly what they want to order it efficiently (re-order).

But what about:

• New customers who don't know your product range by heart?
• Existing customers who have a new problem but don't know which product solves it?
• Complex technical products that require explanation?

The Reality of B2B Purchasing

According to Gartner, 75% of B2B buyers prefer a rep-free experience.

BUT: Simultaneously, buyers who purchase purely digitally regret their decision significantly more often ("Purchase Regret") because they lacked consultation, as additional Gartner research confirms. This finding is also supported by mi-3.com.au.

A standard Shopware shop is a silent catalog. It waits for the customer to enter the correct article number. If the customer is unsure, they abandon or call support. Both cost you money:

1. Abandonment: Lost revenue.
2. Call: High process costs (a technical sales representative costs you approximately €1.50 to €3.00 per minute).

This is where the "Content Gap" emerges: Your expensive Shopware license manages orders, but it doesn't actively sell. This is precisely where AI e-commerce transforms the customer journey.

The Game Changer: B2B Product Consultation Through AI

To maximize the ROI of your Shopware investment, you must transform the shop from "administrator" to "consultant." This is where modern AI comes into play—not as a simple FAQ chatbot, but as a Guided Selling System. Implementing Shopware 6 chatbots represents a fundamental shift in how B2B shops engage customers.

Administrative B2B vs. Consultative B2B

How AI Lowers the Cost of Sales

Imagine integrating an AI solution that possesses your technical product knowledge. The AI selling revolution is already transforming how B2B companies approach digital sales.

A customer comes to your Shopware shop and searches for an "industrial pump for acid."

• Without AI: They type "pump," get 500 results, are overwhelmed, and leave the shop.
• With AI: The assistant asks: "What flow rate do you need? What temperature is the acid?" and suggests exactly the right product based on the answers.

This approach to AI-powered product consultation can dramatically improve conversion rates while reducing support costs.

Strategy: The Middle Ground Solution

For many mid-sized companies, the combination of a cheaper Shopware plan (or the Community Edition up to €1M GMV) and a specialized AI consultation solution is economically more sensible than upgrading to Evolve purely for features. Leveraging AI product consultation technology provides enterprise capabilities without enterprise pricing.

• Scenario: You save approximately €1,800 in license costs per month (difference between Rise and Evolve).
• Investment: You put part of this budget into an AI solution that actively sells.
• Result: More conversions from new customers, fewer support tickets for trivial questions.

Feature vs. Plan Matrix: Where Standard Falls Short

To visualize where the real gap lies, consider this expanded comparison. The AI product finder capability represents the key differentiator that no standard Shopware plan provides out of the box.

The consultative capability—the ability to guide uncertain customers to the right product—is the missing checkmark that only AI can provide, regardless of which Shopware plan you choose. See how the AI Employee Kira demonstrates this in practice.

TCO Deep Dive: Calculating Your Real Investment

Understanding the true cost of your B2B e-commerce platform requires looking beyond monthly license fees. The AI Customer Service automation can significantly impact your support cost calculations.

Year 1 TCO Breakdown with AI Integration

The math is clear: AI integration pays for itself by reducing the need for human support staff to handle routine product questions. Implementing AI sales forecasting can further optimize your resource allocation and budget planning.

Conclusion: Which Shopware Solution Pays Off for Whom?

The choice of the right Shopware edition and strategy in 2025 depends heavily on your revenue volume and the complexity of your products.

Recommendation A: The Smart Starter (< €1M GMV)

• Setup: Shopware Community Edition or Rise Plan
• B2B Functions: Use plugins for "Quick Order" or "Net Prices" (instead of expensive Evolve plan)
• Strategy: Invest the saved license money in AI product consultation. Since you want to grow, new customer acquisition is more important than complex rights-roles management for corporations.
• Costs: ~€600/month (plus plugins/AI)

Recommendation B: The Scaling B2B (> €1M GMV)

• Setup: Shopware Evolve Plan (mandatory due to Fair Usage Policy)
• B2B Functions: Use native B2B Components for your large customers (budgets, approvals)
• Strategy: Automation is king. Connect Evolve's administrative strengths with the sales power of an AI. Use Evolve's "Flow Builder" features to automatically follow up on quotes.
• Costs: ~€2,400/month

Recommendation C: The Enterprise Player (Complex Corporations)

• Setup: Shopware Beyond
• B2B Functions: Multi-Inventory (different warehouses), customer-specific prices in the high-performance range
• Strategy: This is about TCO optimization through maximum integration. License costs are secondary compared to savings through process automation.
• Costs: ~€6,500/month

Organizations at this level should also consider how AI expert consultants can augment their existing teams for maximum efficiency.

Summary

Don't be blinded by "Shopware B2B prices." The license is just the entry ticket.

True success in B2B e-commerce 2025 is not determined by whether you transfer €600 or €2,400 to Shopware, but by whether your shop is capable of closing the consultation gap that arises from the absence of personal sales representatives.

Frequently Asked Questions