What you need to start a Shopify store

You can create a Shopify store in about 15 minutes if you have three things ready: an email address, a payment method (credit card or debit card), and a store name. Shopify handles the hosting and technical setup for you — you don't need to buy a separate domain or pay a web host. You can start with Shopify's free trial, which gives you 14 days to build and explore without being charged.

The paid plans start at $39 per month for the Basic plan, which includes a storefront, product listings, and the ability to accept payments. Shopify also offers a $29 per month Starter plan if you want to sell on social media or through a link before committing to a full store. Each plan includes the same core tools; the difference is mainly in transaction fees and advanced features like staff accounts and advanced reporting.

You'll also need products to sell — either physical items you make or source, or digital products like files or courses. If you don't have inventory yet, you can set up your store structure and add products later.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign up with an email and payment method, choose a store name, and you can start building immediately without technical knowledge.
  • Shopify's 14-day free trial lets you explore all features and design your store before you pay anything.
  • The Basic plan at $39 per month includes everything most small sellers need: a storefront, product pages, and payment processing.
  • You can add your own domain name (like yourstore.com) or use Shopify's free subdomain while you're starting out.
  • Shopify charges transaction fees on top of your monthly plan, so factor those into your pricing strategy.

Signing up and choosing your store name

Go to shopify.com and click "Start free trial" in the top right. Enter your email address and create a password. Shopify will ask you to create a store name — this becomes your temporary web address (like yourstore.myshopify.com) until you add a custom domain. Choose something that describes what you sell or your brand name, but don't overthink it; you can change it later.

Next, Shopify asks a few questions about your business: what you're selling, whether you've sold online before, and what you're hoping to accomplish. These answers help Shopify suggest relevant features and apps, but they don't lock you into anything. You can skip questions or change your answers anytime.

You'll be asked to enter a payment method to activate your account, even though you're on the free trial. Shopify won't charge you during the 14-day trial period. When the trial ends, your plan will convert to whichever paid plan you've chosen, or your store will pause if you don't select one.

Adding your first products

Once you're logged in, click "Products" in the left sidebar, then "Add product." Enter the product name, description, price, and upload photos. You can add multiple photos per product by clicking the image upload area multiple times. Write descriptions that explain what the product is, what it's made of, and who it's for — this helps customers decide whether to buy and reduces questions.

For each product, set the price and the cost (what you paid to make or buy it). Shopify uses the cost to calculate your profit margin in reports. You can also set a compare-at price — the original price before a discount — which shows customers they're getting a deal. Add product categories and tags so customers can filter and search your store.

If you're selling physical items, add weight and dimensions so Shopify can calculate shipping costs. If you're selling digital products like PDFs or video files, upload the file and Shopify will send it to the customer after they pay. You don't need to add every product at once; you can launch with a few and add more later.

Designing your storefront

Click "Online Store" in the left sidebar, then "Themes." Shopify offers free themes and paid themes (usually $140 to $350 one-time). Free themes work well for most stores and include options for different industries — fashion, food, services, and more. Pick a theme that matches your brand, then click "Customize" to edit colors, fonts, and layout.

In the theme editor, you can change your store's logo, header image, and colors without touching any code. You can also rearrange sections on your homepage — add a featured products section, a testimonials section, or a newsletter signup. Most themes include these sections as templates you can turn on or off. Click "Save" after each change, and you can preview how your store looks on phones and computers.

Add pages for "About Us," "Contact," and "Shipping & Returns" so customers know who you are and how to reach you. Click "Pages" in the left sidebar, then "Add page." These pages build trust and reduce customer confusion. You can write these pages yourself or use Shopify's templates as a starting point.

Setting up payment and shipping

Click "Settings" in the left sidebar, then "Payments." Shopify Payments is the default option and works in most countries. It lets customers pay with credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Shopify Payments charges a transaction fee (usually 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction on the Basic plan) on top of your monthly fee. You can also add other payment methods like PayPal or Stripe, though each has its own fees.

For shipping, go to "Settings," then "Shipping and delivery." Add the countries and regions you ship to, then set flat rates or weight-based rates. For example, you might charge $5 for orders under 1 pound and $10 for orders 1 to 3 pounds. You can also integrate with carriers like USPS, UPS, or FedEx so customers see real shipping costs at checkout. If you're starting out, flat rates are simpler and easier to manage.

Set your tax settings in the same area. If you're in the US, you'll need to collect sales tax in states where you have a physical presence or meet sales thresholds. Shopify can calculate and display tax at checkout, but you're responsible for understanding your local tax laws. Many sellers consult a tax professional before launching.

Customizing checkout and policies

Your checkout page is where customers enter payment and shipping information. Go to "Settings," then "Checkout" to customize what information you collect. By default, Shopify asks for name, email, address, and phone number. You can add optional fields (like a gift message) or remove fields you don't need. Keep checkout simple — every extra field reduces the number of customers who complete their purchase.

Add your store policies in "Settings," then "Legal." Shopify provides templates for a privacy policy, terms of service, and refund policy. Read through these templates and edit them to match your actual practices. For example, if you offer 30-day returns, say that in your refund policy. If you don't offer returns, say that too. Clear policies reduce disputes and build customer confidence.

You can also set up email notifications so you and your customers get order confirmations, shipping updates, and other alerts. Go to "Settings," then "Notifications" to customize these emails. Shopify sends these automatically, so you don't have to email customers manually.

Launching your store and next steps

Before you launch, test your store by placing a test order. Add a product to your cart, go through checkout, and use the test card number 4111 1111 1111 1111 (this doesn't charge you). This helps you see what customers experience and catch any problems with shipping calculations or checkout flow.

When you're ready to go live, your store is already live on the free trial. If you want to keep it running after 14 days, choose a paid plan in "Settings," then "Plan." Your store will stay online as long as you pay your monthly fee. You can pause your store anytime by downgrading to the Starter plan ($29/month) or pausing your subscription entirely.

After launch, focus on getting your first customers. Share your store link on social media, email friends and family, or use Shopify's built-in marketing tools. Shopify includes free channels to sell on Facebook and Instagram, so you can reach customers where they already spend time. Track your sales and customer feedback in the "Analytics" section to see what's working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my own domain name to start?

No. Your store gets a free Shopify domain (like yourstore.myshopify.com) when you sign up. You can add a custom domain later for about $11 to $14 per year. Many sellers start with the free domain and upgrade once they're making sales.

Can I sell on multiple platforms with one Shopify store?

Yes. Shopify lets you connect your store to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon from one dashboard. You manage inventory and orders in one place, and Shopify syncs your products across all channels. This saves time if you're selling in multiple places.

What happens to my store if I stop paying?

Your store goes offline and customers can't access it. Your products and data stay in your Shopify account, so you can reactivate anytime by choosing a new plan. Shopify doesn't delete your store after a certain period; it just pauses it.

How much does it cost to run a Shopify store?

The Basic plan costs $39 per month, plus transaction fees (usually 2.9% plus 30 cents per sale). If you sell $1,000 per month, you'd pay roughly $39 plus about $30 in transaction fees. Costs vary based on your sales volume and which plan you choose.

Can I use Shopify if I'm selling services instead of products?

Yes. You can list services as products and set them up for booking or one-time purchase. Shopify also offers appointment booking apps if you want customers to schedule time with you. Many service businesses use Shopify to manage pricing, payments, and customer information.