Establishing an online presence on the right platform is essential, especially if you are a product-based seller. When it comes to e-commerce platforms, Shopify clearly stands out as one of the top choices.
If you want to build your store but are unsure where to begin, take a deep breath and trust us. You are in the right place. This blog covers the initial stage of setting up a Shopify store, guiding you through each step in a simple and practical way.
Follow this guide, and your Shopify store will be ready to sell in no time.
What is a Shopify store?
A Shopify store is a complete, cloud-based e-commerce platform designed to help individuals and businesses create, customize, and manage an online store with ease. It allows you to set up a fully functional store without requiring any technical background or coding knowledge.
In fact, a Shopify store acts as an all-in-one solution for selling products online and in person. It manages essential tasks such as product management, inventory tracking, secure payment processing, and shipping. More importantly, Shopify offers built-in tools and integrations that simplify daily operations, allowing businesses to focus on selling and long-term growth.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Set Up a Shopify Store
Are you a beginner looking for guidance on the setup process? Our simplified, step-by-step Shopify setup guide provides clear, expert instructions. Explore it and follow each step to build your own store with confidence.
1. Search Shopify on the Search Engine
Open Google or any search engine that you use and type Shopify. Click on the official Shopify website from the search results.
Once you land on the homepage, you will see a “Start free trial” button. Click on it to begin the signup process. Shopify will then ask you to create an account.
- You need to enter the following details:
- Your email ID
- A secure password
- Your store name (you can change this later if needed)
After submitting these details, your Shopify account will be successfully created. At this stage, Shopify may display different pricing plans. You can skip the payment step if you want and continue using the free trial without any charges.
If you choose to upgrade later, Shopify supports multiple payment options, including:
- Credit or debit cards
- PayPal
- UPI (available in selected regions)
2. Tell Shopify About Your Online Store
After signing up, Shopify will ask a few basic questions to better understand your business model and selling goals. These questions allow Shopify to personalize your dashboard, default settings, and feature recommendations from the very beginning.
You will see options such as:
Selling online – Best for businesses that plan to sell products through a website using Shopify’s storefront and checkout system.
Selling in a physical store – Ideal for offline businesses that want to use Shopify POS for in-store sales, billing, and inventory syncing.
Selling on social media – Suitable for brands that want to sell directly through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp using Shopify integrations.
Selling on online marketplaces – Helpful if you plan to sell on platforms like Amazon or Etsy while managing orders and inventory from one dashboard.
Starting a new business or already running one – This helps Shopify adjust setup guidance, tutorials, and default workflows based on your experience level.
Choose the option that best reflects how you plan to sell your products. These selections do not impact your store’s SEO, speed, or performance. Instead, they help Shopify enable relevant tools, integrations, and recommendations, making the setup process smoother and more efficient.
3. Enter Business and Store Details
Now Shopify will ask for important business details. These settings define how your store operates from day one and should be selected carefully.
You need to choose:
Country – This determines your default business location and helps Shopify configure taxes, shipping zones, and available payment providers.
Currency – This sets the primary currency for product pricing and checkout. It directly affects how customers see prices and how payments are processed.
Time zone – This controls order timestamps, reports, analytics, and automation schedules inside your Shopify admin panel.
These settings are important because they directly affect:
- Product pricing and currency display
- Tax calculation and compliance
- Available payment gateways and payout methods
- Shipping rates and delivery calculations
Once these details are selected, click Continue. You will then be redirected to the Shopify admin panel, where you can start adding products, customizing your store design, setting up payments, and managing your business operations.
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4. Understand the Shopify Dashboard
The Shopify dashboard is the control center of your store. This is where you manage daily operations, monitor performance, and control every aspect of your online business.
Key sections include:
Orders – View and manage customer orders
Products – Add and manage products
Customers – Store customer data
Content – Create pages and blogs
Analytics – Track sales and traffic
Settings – Configure payments, shipping, taxes, and domains
Spend a few minutes exploring the dashboard to get familiar with its layout. Understanding the dashboard early will help you manage your store efficiently and avoid setup mistakes later.
5. Choose a Shopify Pricing Plan
Once your trial ends, you must choose a plan.
Shopify plans (approximate prices in USD):
Basic – $39/month
Suitable for beginners and small businesses
Shopify – $105/month
Ideal for growing stores with more reporting features
Advanced – $399/month
Best for large businesses with advanced analytics
You can start with the Basic plan and upgrade anytime as your business grows.
6. Add Products to Your Store
To start selling on Shopify, you first need to add products to your store. From the Shopify dashboard, go to Products and click Add product.
You will be asked to enter basic product details such as the product title, description, and images. Make sure the title is clear, and the description explains what the product is, how it can be used, and why customers should buy it. Upload high-quality images so customers can see the product clearly.
Next, set the product price and add a discount if required. Enter the inventory quantity to keep track of available stock and avoid overselling.
Shopify also allows you to add product variants like size or color, assign an SKU for inventory management, and include shipping weight for accurate delivery charges.
Well-written product descriptions improve customer trust and also help your store perform better in search results.
7. Choose and Customize a Shopify Theme
To design your store, go to the Online Store and then select Themes in the Shopify dashboard.
Shopify offers two types of themes:
Free themes, which are suitable for beginners and small businesses
Paid themes, usually priced between $180 and $350 as a one-time fee, offering advanced design and features
Choose a theme that matches your brand style and product type. Once selected, click Customize to personalize your store.
Using the theme editor, you can:
- Upload your brand logo
- Change colors and fonts
- Edit homepage sections
- Add banners and featured products
Shopify’s theme editor is user-friendly, and no coding skills are required to customize your store design.
8. Set Up a Domain Name
To set up your store’s domain name, first log in to your Shopify admin dashboard. From the left-hand menu, click on Settings, which is located at the bottom. Inside Settings, select Domains.
This section is where you manage your store’s website address. From here, you can buy a new domain through Shopify or connect a domain you already own. All domain-related actions, such as connecting, changing, or managing your store’s URL, are handled from this page.
Also, you can:
Buy a domain from Shopify, usually priced between $14 and $20 per year. This is the simplest option, as Shopify handles the setup and connection automatically.
Connect an existing domain if you already own one from providers like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Shopify provides step-by-step guidance to link it to your store.
A custom domain replaces the default Shopify URL and gives your store a unique web address. This makes your store look more professional, builds customer trust, and improves brand credibility.
9. Set Up Payment Methods
To accept payments from customers, go to Settings → Payments in your Shopify dashboard.
Shopify supports multiple payment options, allowing you to offer flexible and convenient checkout choices. Common payment methods include:
- Shopify Payments
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Razorpay
- Cash on Delivery
Choose payment methods based on your target audience and location.
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10. Configure Shipping Settings
To manage how your products are delivered to customers, go to Settings → Shipping and delivery in your Shopify dashboard.
This section controls everything related to shipping. From here, you decide where you ship, how much you charge for shipping, and how shipping costs are calculated at checkout. Shopify uses these settings to automatically apply the correct shipping rates when a customer places an order.
You can create shipping zones based on countries, states, or regions and assign specific shipping rates to each zone. You can also choose whether to offer free shipping, flat-rate shipping, or location-based rates. All shipping rules are applied automatically during checkout, ensuring a smooth and accurate buying experience for your customers.
Set up:
- Shipping zones
- Shipping rates
- Free or flat-rate shipping
You can also offer free shipping to increase conversions.
11. Set Up Taxes
To configure taxes for your store, go to Settings → Taxes in the Shopify dashboard.
Shopify automatically suggests tax settings based on your selected country and business location. These suggestions help apply the correct tax rates to your products during checkout.
Review the tax settings carefully to ensure they align with your local tax rules. Once everything looks correct, save the changes. Proper tax setup helps you stay compliant and avoids issues during order processing.
12. Install Shopify Apps (Optional but Useful)
To extend your store’s functionality, go to the Shopify App Store from your dashboard.
Shopify offers apps across many categories, including:
- SEO tools to improve search visibility
- Email marketing apps to engage and retain customers
- Product review apps to build trust and social proof
- Live chat and WhatsApp integration for faster customer support
Most apps are priced between $5 and $30 per month, depending on features. Install only essential apps that support your business goals to avoid unnecessary costs and keep your store running smoothly.
13. Test Your Store Before Launch
Before going live, test everything to ensure your store works smoothly and provides a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
- Add a test product to the cart
- Complete a test checkout
- Check payment and shipping
- Test mobile responsiveness
Make sure to fix any issues or errors you find before launching your store. As this impacts your website performance.
14. Launch Your Shopify Store
Once everything is set up, it’s time to launch your store. Go to Online Store → Preferences in your Shopify dashboard.
Here, remove the password protection to make your store publicly accessible. This step allows customers to visit your store, browse products, and place orders.
After removing the password, your Shopify store is live and ready for customers.
Still have queries? Get in touch with Softtrix
Our Shopify store setup guide is designed to make the process simple and hassle-free. However, some businesses may still find certain steps challenging, or they may not have the time to manage the setup on their own. That’s where we can help.
Connect with our Shopify experts who bring hands-on experience and in-depth platform knowledge. Share your vision with us, and we’ll build an e-commerce store that aligns with your business goals and supports long-term growth.
