E-commerce hosting: $500? $15,000!? Price of website of this nature? (VERY long)?

[J]

most of the things you want done are included in premium themes, except for the (honest) contests and book keeping, but they could be done by a good php/mysql database system. that system could be one that exists and looks like it meets your needs, then customized by the coder or more expensive new system

as to the hosting, you will need good bandwidth and capable of multiple databases-- which any reputable hosting company can supply- prices for this range from $20 per year and up-- with some this would include premium themes of your choice

the maintaining of the site, could be done by you or a site admin which of course implies an employment or contract agreement that you would negotiate

if you are unfamiliar with installing a WP platform, plugins, themes, etc some hosting companies offer that service- then either you or your siteadmin configure it as you like.

online business dev costs can run the entire range you were quoted, but there are usually large differenced between what is done by each dev, such as guidance, graphics, business dev , etc

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