Have an idea for an online store but don’t know where to start?
Starting a Shopify store is easier than you think. With this step-by-step guide, you can set up a fully functional online store in under an hour—even if you’ve never sold online before.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a working Shopify store and know exactly what to do next.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a powerful eCommerce platform that allows anyone to create and run an online store without coding. It handles everything from product listings to payments and shipping.
- Founded in 2006 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake
- Supports over 1.75 million merchants worldwide
- Easy-to-use checkout, inventory management, and marketing tools
With Shopify, you can sell online and offline, manage orders, and scale your business smoothly.
Step 1: Sign Up for Shopify
- Visit the Shopify website and create an account
- Shopify offers a 3-day free trial + 3 months for $1, so you can try risk-free
- Set a strong password and choose a memorable store name
Once your account is ready, you’ll land on the Shopify dashboard. Here, you can manage products, orders, marketing, and even get help from Shopify’s AI assistant.
Step 2: Add Your First Product
- Click Add Product from the dashboard
- Enter product name, description, price, and upload high-quality images
- Use AI tools to remove image backgrounds if needed
- Click Save to make your product live
Step 3: Customize Your Store
- Choose a theme or use AI to generate one quickly
- Browse popular free themes if you prefer a simple design first
- Customize colors, fonts, layouts, and sections to match your brand
- Add a custom logo using tools like Looka
Important pages to create: About Us, Contact, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. Shopify also has generators to create these pages quickly.
Step 4: Set Up Payments
- Choose a payment provider based on your target countries, accepted payment types, fees, and customer support
- Shopify Payments is recommended for fast, integrated transactions
- Follow provider instructions and verify documents if needed
Step 5: Set Up Shipping and Delivery
- Configure shipping rates for different regions
- Understand shipping methods and timelines for your products
- Check tax requirements based on your business location
Shopify simplifies this with built-in shipping options and guides.
Step 6: Choose Your Domain Name
- Your domain should be memorable and represent your brand
- Shopify provides a free subdomain (yourname.myshopify.com) or you can register a custom domain
- Existing domains from providers like Namecheap can also be connected easily
Step 7: Place a Test Order
- Run a test order to ensure everything works from a customer’s perspective
- Verify product details, checkout, payment processing, and notifications
Step 8: Launch Your Store
- Pick a Shopify plan:
- Basic: $39/month (good for small businesses)
- Shopify: $105/month
- Advanced: $399/month
- Plus: $2,300/month (high-volume businesses)
- Test all products, prices, and checkout processes
- Remove store password to make your store live
Once done, your store is ready to sell on Shopify!
What’s Next?
Shopify is user-friendly, powerful, and packed with tools to run your online business efficiently.
- Connect physical stores with Shopify POS
- Use marketing and analytics tools to grow your sales
- Explore Shopify’s help center for tutorials, tips, and expert advice
Start your 3-day free trial today and take the first step toward building your eCommerce business.
Happy selling with Shopify!