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How to start a Shopify store

Question: How do I start a Shopify store?

Short answer

To start a Shopify store, sign up for a plan, choose and customize a theme, add products with prices and inventory, set up payments, shipping and taxes, add your policies, then connect a domain and launch. Unlike a marketplace, Shopify doesn't bring shoppers to you, so plan how people will find your store before you launch.

Choose a plan with your costs in mind

Shopify charges a subscription. When we checked Shopify's pricing page on October 28, 2026, it showed a short free trial, introductory pricing on most plans, and plan prices that are lower when billed yearly. It also notes that third-party transaction fees may apply when you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, and that Shopify Payments is only available in certain countries.

Add the cost of any paid theme or apps you plan to use. Many store owners end up paying for several apps, so list what you actually need first.

Set up the essentials

  • Theme: pick one that suits your product photos and works well on phones.
  • Products: titles, descriptions, images, variants (size, color), prices and inventory.
  • Payments: Shopify Payments where available, or a supported third-party provider.
  • Shipping: rates and zones you can afford, including packaging.
  • Taxes: review the tax settings for where you sell; get advice if you're unsure.
  • Policies: refund, privacy, terms and shipping policies, written for your business.
  • Domain: connect a domain so the store has a name customers remember.

Plan how customers will find you

On Etsy or Amazon, shoppers are already searching inside the marketplace. On Shopify, you bring the traffic: search engines, social media, email, ads, word of mouth or other sales channels. Decide on one or two channels you can keep up with each week rather than trying everything at once.

Decide how orders get fulfilled

You can pack and ship orders yourself, use a third-party warehouse, or connect a print-on-demand service such as Printful, which lists Shopify among its integrations. Whatever you choose, make sure the delivery times on your product pages match what you or your partner can actually deliver.

Check what you're allowed to sell

Shopify has an Acceptable Use Policy that restricts certain products and activities. Payment providers can have their own rules too. Read both before you build a store around a product.

Example: a first month on Shopify

A candle maker might spend week one choosing a plan and theme and adding five products with full photo sets; week two setting up shipping zones, taxes and policies and placing a test order; week three connecting a domain and launching; and week four posting product videos on one social channel and emailing friends and past market customers. The goal of the first month is a working store and a repeatable way to bring visitors, not a big sales number.

Is this a good fit for you?

Likely a good fit if

  • You already have an audience, or a clear plan to build one.
  • You want your own brand, domain and customer list.
  • Your products don't fit marketplace rules like Etsy's.

Think twice if

  • You have no time for marketing in the first months.
  • A monthly subscription is hard to justify before your first sale.

Common pitfalls

  • Launching without a plan for traffic and expecting sales from day one.
  • Stacking up paid apps before you know you need them.
  • Leaving default policy text that doesn't match how you operate.
  • Showing delivery estimates you can't meet.
  • Skipping a test order before launch.

Before you launch

  • Compare current plans on Shopify's pricing page, including payment fees.
  • Add products with complete titles, images, variants and prices.
  • Set up payments, shipping rates and tax settings.
  • Write refund, shipping and privacy policies for your business.
  • Connect a domain.
  • Place a test order and check the confirmation emails.
  • Pick one or two traffic channels and plan your first month.

Official sources

Fee and policy details on this page were checked against these official pages on October 28, 2026. They change, so confirm current terms before you rely on them.

Shopmation is an emerging AI seller-workflow product. The platforms named here are independent companies; mentioning them doesn't mean they are Shopmation integrations or partners. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

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