Starting an online store is both thrilling and scary. But, with the right tools and help, launching a Shopify store in 2024 is easier than you think.
This guide is for anyone wanting to start a Shopify store. We’ll cover setting up a store that looks great and connects with your customers. You’ll learn about Shopify’s features and how to make your online store a success.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, with over 2 million daily active users
- Setting up a Shopify store can take less than 30 minutes if you follow a step-by-step guide
- Shopify offers a variety of pricing plans to fit different business needs and budgets
- Branding assets like your store’s name, logo, and product photos are crucial for creating a professional identity
- Integrating your Shopify store with social media channels can help increase conversions and sales
What is Shopify
Shopify is a top e-commerce platform with over two million users daily. It helps you create and manage your online store easily, without needing design or coding skills. It’s great for small and medium-sized businesses and even large enterprises.
By paying a monthly fee, Shopify gives you all the tools to start, run, and grow your online store. It has features like website building, inventory management, and marketing tools. This makes it a complete solution for businesses of any size.
Shopify Features for Businesses of All Sizes
- Over 100 well-designed website templates available in the Shopify Theme Store
- Customization options to add new sections, change typography, colors, logos, and more
- Ability to sell through websites, social media channels, e-commerce marketplaces, and in-person
- SEO optimization tools for product pages
- Integration with over 100 third-party payment providers
- Streamlined order and customer management through the Shopify dashboard
- Comprehensive shipping setup with options for local delivery or pickup
- Marketing tools for SEO, social media, email, and Google Ads
Shopify is perfect for any business. Whether you’re a small business starting, a medium-sized enterprise growing online, or a large corporation needing a scalable e-commerce platform, Shopify has you covered.
Why Should You Start a New Shopify Store?
Are you thinking about starting a new Shopify store ? Shopify is a top e-Commerce platform with a big market share. It’s great for building your online business, no matter if you’re small, medium, or large.
Shopify is easy to use and has lots of e-commerce tools. You can design, customize, and manage your store without needing to know a lot of tech stuff. You don’t need to worry about coding or technical skills—Shopify handles all of that for you, making the process smooth and user-friendly. It’s also mobile-friendly and supports cross-channel selling, helping you reach more people.
Shopify also makes payments and shipping easy. This lets you focus on growing your business instead of dealing with payment and shipping issues.
Starting a Shopify store is also scalable. It works for businesses of all sizes. As your business grows, you can upgrade your Shopify plan to meet your needs.
In summary, Shopify’s easy-to-use interface, strong e-commerce features, and scalable plans make it a great choice for entrepreneurs. It’s perfect for launching a successful online store and beyond.
What to Sell on Shopify?
When starting your Shopify store, you have many options for products to sell.
- Products you buy or make yourself, like homemade candles or custom jewelry.
- Dropshipping products, where you sell items like trendy phone cases or fitness gear without holding any inventory. The supplier ships the products directly to your customers, making it super easy!
- Print-on-demand products, such as personalized t-shirts or custom mugs, which let you create unique designs that are printed only when someone orders them.
- Digital products like e-books or online courses that people can download instantly.
- Offering services, like graphic design or social media management, which can be a great way to use your skills to help others while earning money.
Each of these options opens up exciting possibilities for your Shopify store!
How Long Does It Take To Set Up a Shopify Store?
Setting up a Shopify store is quick and easy, especially if you know the platform well. By following this guide, you can have your store ready in under 30 minutes.
The time it takes to set up your store varies. It depends on your business’s complexity and how much you’ve prepared beforehand. The initial setup is fast, but planning your business takes longer.
The time to set up a Shopify store depends on your preparation and business complexity. Good planning makes the setup process smoother and faster.
Get Prepared: Create a Business Plan and Gather Assets
Starting an e-commerce business on Shopify begins with preparation. You need a solid business plan and all the assets for your online store. This sets the stage for success.
First, define your business idea clearly. 88% of successful businesses start with a good idea. Spend time researching and validating your concept. Look at 30 small business ideas to find the right fit for your store.
After deciding on your idea, focus on building your brand. Choose a memorable name, design a logo, and gather branding assets.
- Do market research to know your audience and competitors
- Find and source the products or services you’ll offer
- Make a detailed business plan for your store’s setup and growth
- Create a logo, brand guidelines, and other visual assets for a professional look
Remember, 30 small business ideas can spark your creativity. 4 print-on-demand ideas are great for starting with little investment. Proper planning and preparation are key to your store’s success.
“Starting a business can seem scary, but with a good plan and tools, anyone can succeed. Shopify’s ‘First Day to First Sale’ course has helped users make over $1 million in potential sales.”
Whether you’re new or experienced in business, launching a Shopify store requires preparation. A solid business plan and the right assets will help you create a thriving online store. This will help you reach your e-commerce goals.
How Much Does It Cost To Set Up a Shopify Store?
Starting an online store can cost differently based on your needs and budget. Shopify has various pricing plans for all types of businesses.
The Shopify Starter Plan starts at €5 a month. It’s ideal for individuals, solopreneurs, or small businesses looking to sell products without the need for a full-fledged online store.
Other plans include:
•Basic Shopify: €24/month•Shopify Plan: €69/month•Advanced Shopify: €289/month•Shopify Plus: Starting at $2,300/month 
These prices may vary slightly based on specific country regulations and transaction fees associated with each plan.
When setting up your store, consider these extra costs:
- Domain name: $10 to $30 a year
- Premium Shopify theme: $100 to $500 (free themes are also available)
- Third-party apps and services: Free to hundreds of dollars a month, based on your needs
The total cost of your Shopify store depends on your business needs and growth goals.
“Shopify’s checkout converts 15% better on average than other commerce platforms.”
Choosing the right Shopify pricing plan and optimizing your Shopify themes and third-party apps can make your store professional and effective. It will help drive sales and please your customers.
Beginner’s Guide: How to Launch a Shopify Store
Starting an online business is exciting and rewarding. Shopify is a top choice for setting up your e-commerce store. This guide will help you launch a successful Shopify store, whether you’re new or experienced.
Step 1: Create a Shopify Account
Start by signing up for a Shopify account. You get a 3-day free trial to try the features before paying. If you’re still unsure, Shopify offers an enticing deal: enjoy 3 months for just €1 per month on select plans. This limited-time offer allows you to explore all the features Shopify has to offer without a significant financial commitment.
After that, Shopify will ask you what would you like to sell. Simply select the option that best represents your business and click “Next” to receive a more personalized Shopify experience.
As you proceed, Shopify will prompt you to indicate your current business status. You’ll be asked to choose between two options:
- I’m just starting: Select this if you’re launching a new business venture.
- I’m already selling online or in person. Choose this option if you have an existing business, whether it’s operating online or in a physical.
Finally, choose the type of products you plan to sell and click the “Get Started” button to proceed.
This information helps Shopify tailor its features and guidance to better suit your specific business needs and level of experience. After this, Shopify will prompt you to create an account. You can sign up using your Google account or by entering your email to set up a new account.Note: You may receive a confirmation email from Shopify asking you to verify your email address. Just click the link in the email, and you’re all set! Step 2: Add Products
Adding products to your Shopify store is easy!
Go to the “Products” section. Click “Add product” and enter a clear title and detailed description. Upload images to showcase your product, set the price, and specify if you want to charge taxes.
If tracking inventory, enter the quantity and any SKU information. For physical items, check the box for physical products and enter the weight for shipping. If applicable, add variants for different sizes or colors.
Finally, click “Save” to add your product to the store. Repeat these steps for any additional products!
Step 3: Choose a Theme & Customize Your Site
Shopify has hundreds of free and premium store themes. Pick one to make your store look good and match your brand. Navigate to “Online Store” > “Themes” to select a design that fits your brand from the available templates.
Use the theme editor to adjust layouts, colors, and fonts. Take a few moments to adjust the settings and options, so your store not only looks the way you envision but also provides a seamless experience for your customers.
Step 4: Set Up a Custom Domain
Give your Shopify store a unique domain name. It makes your store look professional and easy to remember. Go to “Settings” > “Domains” to purchase or connect a domain for your store.
Note: If you already have a domain name registered with a third-party provider, you can easily connect it to your Shopify store.
Step 5: Configure Shipping and Delivery
Shopify shipping helps you send products to your customers easily. First, you set up shipping options in your Shopify store, where you can choose how much to charge for shipping, like a flat fee or offering free shipping on orders over a certain amount.
You can also use real-time shipping rates from companies like USPS or UPS, which automatically calculate the cost based on the package’s weight and where it’s going.
Once you get an order, you can print shipping labels right from Shopify, making it simple to pack and send items. Plus, you can track shipments so both you and your customers know when to expect their orders!
Set up shipping rates and payment methods go to “Settings” > “Shipping” and “Delivery.”
Step 6: Set Up Payments
To start selling, you need to be able to accept payments. Navigate to “Settings” > “Payments” to choose how you want to accept payments from customers. You can enable options like credit cards, PayPal, and other payment gateways that suit your audience.
Click on “Complete Account Setup” and enter your bank account information. Along with Shopify Payments, I also recommend setting up PayPal.
There are many options available, so it is important to think about your needs before making a decision.
- First, think about which countries you want to sell to. Some payment providers only operate in certain countries.
- Second, think about what type of payment methods you want to accept.
- Finally, compare the fees charged by different providers.
You will want to weigh the customer support offered by the provider. This is important in case you have any problems with your customer payments.
Step 6: Place a Test Order
Placing a test order is an excellent way to experience your Shopify store from a customer’s perspective. It also allows you to explore various store features and ensure everything functions smoothly.
To get started correctly, follow these simple steps from Shopify to learn how to place a test order.
Step 7: Launch Your Store
Now it’s time to go live! Launching involves making your store accessible to customers. Before launching your store, ensure everything is properly set up.
First, select the Shopify plan that best fits your needs. To do this, navigate to your Shopify admin, click on “Settings > Plan“, and finally select Choose a plan to make your selection. This step is crucial for accessing the features that will support your business effectively.
Next, take the time to thoroughly test your store. Ensure that all your products are ready for sale, accurately priced, well-photographed, and have detailed descriptions. Additionally, confirm that the checkout process is seamless.
Then, remove the password from your online store to allow customers to browse and shop freely. You can do this by going to your “Online Store > Preferences“. In the Password protection section, deselect Restrict access to visitors with the password > Click Save.
If everything looks great, you’re ready to start selling! This step marks the beginning of welcoming customers and building your brand. Congratulations on reaching this point—your Shopify store is officially open for business!
“Starting an online business with Shopify is a game-changer. The platform makes it easy to create a professional-looking store and reach a global audience.”
Conclusion
This guide has shown you how to start a successful Shopify store. You now know how to create an e-commerce business that can grow. By following these steps, you’re on your way to making your business dreams come true with Shopify.
Shopify offers many features, like different payment options and shipping setups. Its pricing plans fit all business sizes, making it easy for new and big businesses to start. You can also find themes and apps to make your store look good and work well.
The e-Commerce world is booming, with a huge jump in sales during the pandemic. Now is a great time to use Shopify to start your Shopify store. With over 1.75 million businesses using Shopify, the chance for e-Commerce success is clear. By following this guide, you’ll be ready to succeed in the Shopify store launch world.