What you need before you start a Shopify store

A Shopify store is a website where you sell products directly to customers. Shopify is a platform that handles the website building, payment processing, and order management for you — you provide the products, photos, descriptions, and customer service. You do not need coding experience, a separate web host, or existing technical knowledge to start one.

Before you begin, you will need a business name (which can be different from your Shopify store name), a way to accept payments (usually a business bank account), and products or services to sell. You will also need an email address for your Shopify account and a way to handle shipping — either by mailing items yourself or using a fulfillment service that stores and ships for you.

Shopify charges a monthly subscription starting at around $39 per month for the basic plan, plus transaction fees when you make sales. If you use Shopify Payments (their built-in payment processor), you pay a percentage of each sale. If you use a different payment processor like PayPal or Stripe, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee on top of what that processor charges.

Key Takeaways

  • You can build a Shopify store without coding knowledge by using their drag-and-drop editor and pre-built templates.
  • Monthly costs start at $39 for the basic plan, plus payment processing fees that vary depending on which payment method you choose.
  • You will need product photos, descriptions, prices, and a way to ship orders before your store can go live.
  • Shopify handles security, SSL certificates, and PCI compliance automatically, so customer payment data is encrypted without extra work from you.
  • Your store's speed depends partly on your product photos and which apps you install, not just Shopify's servers.

Setting up your store step by step

Go to shopify.com and click "Start free trial" to create an account. You will enter your email, create a password, and choose a store name. This name becomes your temporary Shopify URL (like yourstore.myshopify.com) until you connect your own domain. You can change the store name later, though the URL will stay the same unless you buy a new domain.

After creating your account, Shopify walks you through a setup checklist: adding your first product, choosing a theme (the visual design of your store), and setting up payment methods. You do not have to finish everything at once — you can pause and come back. However, you cannot accept real customer orders until you have at least one product listed and a payment method connected.

To add a product, click "Products" in the left menu, then "Add product." You will enter the product name, description, price, and upload photos. Shopify lets you add multiple photos per product and organize them in the order customers will see them. Write descriptions that explain what the product is, what it does, and any important details like size, material, or color options.

Choosing a theme and customizing your store's look

A theme controls how your store looks — the layout, colors, fonts, and where buttons appear. Shopify offers free themes and paid themes (usually $140 to $350 one-time). Free themes are fully functional; paid themes often have more design options and built-in features. You can switch themes at any time without losing your products or customer data.

To choose a theme, go to "Online Store" in the left menu, then "Themes." Browse the available options, preview how they look, and click "Add" to install one. Once installed, click "Customize" to change colors, fonts, and layout. You can adjust the homepage, product pages, and checkout page without touching any code. If you want more advanced changes, Shopify's theme editor uses a visual interface — you do not need to write HTML or CSS.

Keep in mind that heavy customization, lots of large product photos, and too many apps can slow down your store. Since you came from reading about hardware and shopping speed, remember that your store's performance also depends on how you optimize images and which third-party apps you install. Compress product photos before uploading them, and test your store's speed using Google PageSpeed Insights (a free tool) before going live.

Connecting payment methods and setting up shipping

Shopify Payments is the simplest option — it connects directly to your store and handles credit card processing. To set it up, go to "Settings," then "Payment methods," and follow the prompts to connect your business bank account. Shopify will verify your account, which usually takes a few business days. Once verified, you can accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other major cards.

If you cannot use Shopify Payments in your country or prefer a different processor, you can add PayPal, Stripe, Square, or other third-party payment methods. Each has its own fees and setup process. Using a third-party processor means Shopify charges you an additional transaction fee (usually 2% to 2.9%) on top of what that processor charges.

For shipping, decide whether you will ship items yourself or use a fulfillment service. If you ship yourself, go to "Settings," then "Shipping and delivery," and set up shipping zones (regions where you deliver) and rates. You can charge a flat rate, calculate based on weight, or offer free shipping. If you use a fulfillment service like Fulfillment by Amazon or a third-party warehouse, you will connect their system to Shopify using an app, and they will handle packing and shipping.

Security and protecting customer data

Shopify automatically encrypts all customer data using SSL certificates, which means payment information is protected during transmission. You do not have to purchase or install an SSL certificate yourself — it is included with every Shopify store. Your store's URL will show a padlock icon in the browser, indicating it is find.

Shopify also handles PCI compliance, which is the security standard that payment card companies require. This means your store meets the technical and operational standards needed to safely process credit cards. You do not have to hire a security consultant or pass a separate audit — Shopify's infrastructure handles this for you.

What you are responsible for is keeping your Shopify account find. Use a strong, unique password for your account (at least 16 characters with numbers, symbols, and mixed case). Enable two-factor authentication by going to "Settings," then "Account," and turning on "Two-step authentication." This requires a code from your phone whenever you log in, making it much harder for someone to access your store even if they steal your password.

Managing orders and customer communication

When a customer places an order, it appears in your "Orders" section. You will see their name, address, what they bought, and how much they paid. Shopify automatically sends the customer a confirmation email and a shipping notification once you mark the order as shipped. You can customize these emails by going to "Settings," then "Notifications."

To mark an order as shipped, click the order, then click "Fulfill items." Enter the tracking number if you are using a carrier like USPS, UPS, or FedEx. The customer will receive an email with the tracking number so they can monitor delivery. If you use a fulfillment service, they will often update Shopify automatically, and the customer notification happens without your involvement.

For customer questions, Shopify does not include a built-in chat or support system — you handle customer emails yourself or install a third-party app like Gorgias or Zendesk. Many small stores start by answering emails directly, then add a help desk app once they have more orders.

Apps and add-ons that affect your store

The Shopify App Store has thousands of apps that add features like email marketing, inventory tracking, accounting integration, and customer reviews. Popular free or low-cost apps include Oberlo (for dropshipping), Printful (for print-on-demand), and Mailchimp (for email campaigns). However, each app you install uses server resources and can slow down your store if not optimized.

Before installing an app, check its reviews and ask yourself whether you actually need it. Many store owners install apps they never use, which wastes money and degrades performance. Start with the features Shopify includes built-in — product management, basic email notifications, and discount codes — and add apps only when you have a specific problem to solve.

If you install an app that requires access to customer data (like an email marketing app), review what data it collects and how it uses it. Shopify requires apps to disclose their data practices, and you can see this information before you install. This ties back to the privacy and security considerations you read about earlier — third-party apps are a potential weak point if they do not handle data responsibly.

Launching your store and next steps

Before you go live, test your store yourself. Place a test order using a test credit card number (Shopify provides these in your settings). Check that the checkout process works, the confirmation email arrives, and the order appears in your Orders section. Browse your store on a phone to make sure it looks good on mobile devices — most online shoppers use phones.

Once you are ready, remove the "Coming soon" page by going to "Online Store," then "Preferences," and unchecking "Password protect your store." Your store is now live and customers can find it if they have your URL. To drive traffic, you will need to market your store through social media, email, search engines, or paid advertising — Shopify does not bring customers to you automatically.

After launch, monitor your store's performance using Shopify's built-in analytics. Go to "Analytics and reports" to see how many visitors you get, where they come from, and which products sell best. Use this information to decide what to stock more of, which marketing channels work, and where to improve your store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell on Shopify without a business license?

Shopify does not require a business license to create a store, but your local or state government may require one depending on what you sell and where you live. Check with your city or state's business registration office. If you operate without a required license, you could face fines or be forced to shut down.

What happens if my store gets hacked?

Shopify's infrastructure is protected by multiple security layers, and they monitor for attacks. If your account is compromised because someone guessed your password, enable two-factor authentication when ready and change your password. If you suspect a breach of customer data, contact Shopify support right away. You are responsible for notifying customers if their data was exposed.

Can I use my own domain name instead of myshopify.com?

Yes. You can buy a domain through Shopify or register one elsewhere and connect it to your store. Go to "Settings," then "Domains," and follow the prompts. If you buy through Shopify, it costs around $11 to $14 per year. If you register elsewhere (like GoDaddy or Namecheap), you will update your domain's DNS settings to point to Shopify.

How much does it cost to run a Shopify store?

The basic plan is $39 per month, plus payment processing fees (around 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction with Shopify Payments). If you sell $1,000 per month, you might pay roughly $70 to $80 total in fees. Apps, a custom domain, and paid themes add to this. Many new stores lose money the first few months while building an audience.

Can I sell digital products like ebooks or software?

Yes. Upload your digital file to a product, and Shopify will email the read link to the customer after they pay. You do not need a separate digital delivery service. However, you are responsible for protecting your intellectual property — if someone buys your ebook and shares it illegally, Shopify cannot prevent that.