Before you start: have your logo (or store name), 3–10 products with photos, prices, and shipping rates ready. You'll move much faster.
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Shopify setup steps
Sign up and start your trial
Go to Shopify (opens in a new tab), enter your email and answer the setup questions. See how the Shopify free trial works.
Add your products
Products → Add product. Add a clear title, a benefit-led description, high-quality images, price, compare-at price (if on sale), inventory, weight for shipping, and variants like size or color.
Organize products into collections
Create collections (e.g. "New arrivals", "T-shirts") to power your navigation and homepage. Automated collections update themselves based on rules.
Choose and customize a theme
Online Store → Themes. Start with a free theme, add your logo and brand colors, and build your homepage sections. See best Shopify themes.
Create key pages
About, Contact, FAQ, and policy pages (refund, privacy, terms, shipping). Shopify can generate policy templates under Settings → Policies.
Set up navigation
Online Store → Navigation. Keep the main menu simple: Shop, collections, About, Contact. Put policies in the footer.
Set up payments
Settings → Payments. Activate Shopify Payments and consider adding PayPal. See Shopify Payments review.
Configure shipping
Settings → Shipping and delivery. Set rates by zone (flat, free over a threshold, or calculated). Enable local pickup/delivery if relevant.
Set up taxes
Settings → Taxes and duties. Shopify calculates most sales taxes automatically, but you're responsible for registering where required.
Connect a domain
Settings → Domains. Buy one through Shopify or connect your own.
Install essential apps only
Reviews, email capture, and search. See best Shopify apps.
Pick a plan and launch
Choose a plan (see Shopify pricing), place a test order, run the launch checklist, then remove the password.
Product page tips that increase sales
- Lead with the main benefit, then features and specs.
- Use 5–8 images: lifestyle, detail, scale, and packaging.
- Answer objections: sizing, shipping time, returns.
- Add reviews as soon as you have them.
SEO settings to fill in
For each product and collection, edit the search listing preview with a keyword-focused title and description. Add alt text to images. Our Shopify SEO guide covers this in depth.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up a Shopify store?
A simple store can be set up in a day or two. Writing product descriptions and taking photos usually take the most time.
Do I need to register a business before setting up Shopify?
You can build your store first. Before taking real payments, set up the business details your country requires for payouts and taxes.