How to Start a Shopify Store (Nine-Step Guide for Beginners)

Between setting up your Shopify store and figuring out how to attract customers, the to-do list can seem endless. Where do you even begin? How do you build an eCommerce store without coding experience? How do you make sales?

If you’re asking these questions, you’re in the right place. Shopify is one of the easiest and most powerful platforms for launching an online business. With over 4.6 million live stores and 199 million orders each month, the numbers speak for themselves.

The best part? You don’t need a tech background. Shopify handles the complicated processes, from hosting and security to payments, so you can focus on building a brand and making sales.

This guide to starting a Shopify store walks you through everything you need to know to launch an online business in 2025, step by step. Whether you want to sell handmade goods, dabble in dropshipping, or launch your own brand, you’ll learn how to set up, optimize, and market your store.

Step 1: Choose Your Niche and Products

Starting a Shopify store without knowing your niche is like opening a restaurant without deciding what kind of food to serve. If you try to sell everything, you’ll sell nothing.

A well-defined niche helps you:

• Stand out from competitors instead of getting lost in a sea of generic stores.
• Attract customers who are already looking for what you offer.

According to Shopify, successful stores sell to specific audiences, not broad markets. For example, instead of selling “clothing,” a niche brand sells sustainable activewear or minimalist streetwear.

How to Find a Profitable Niche

Here’s how to pinpoint your target market and carve out a niche that sets you up for long-term success:

1. Identify Market Demand

Not all ideas make money. A product might seem exciting, but if no one is searching for it, sales won’t follow. Use:

• Google Trends to see if interest is growing or declining.
• Shopify’s Trending Products for high-demand items.
• Amazon Best Sellers and Etsy trends for popular niches.

2. Solve a Problem or Tap Into Passion

Most people buy products for two main reasons: to solve problems or to fuel passions. The best niches cater to specific needs or interests.

• Examples of problem-solving products: Posture-correcting chairs, blue-light-blocking glasses, anti-acne skincare products.
• Examples of passion-based products: Hiking gear, art supplies, collectible sneakers.

3. Check Out the Competition

Competition is a good sign of demand. But if a market is too saturated, breaking in can be tough. Use:

• Facebook Ads Library to see what products competitors are promoting.
• TikTok and Instagram to find trending products.
• SEMrush or Ubersuggest to check how hard it is to rank for niche keywords.

Business Models: What to Sell on Shopify

Once you have a niche, decide on your business model. Shopify supports different ways to sell:

1. Dropshipping: Sell products without holding inventory. Suppliers handle shipping. (Low startup cost, but competitive.)
2. Print-on-demand: Sell custom designs on t-shirts, mugs, phone cases. (Great for artists and brands.)
3. Private labeling: Brand your own products and source from manufacturers. (Higher control, better margins.)
4. Handmade & custom products: Sell crafts, jewelry, or home decor. (Best for artisans and creators.)

Step 2: Create Your Shopify Account

After finalizing your niche, it’s time to set up your Shopify store and bring your brand to life. Don’t worry; Shopify is designed for beginners, which is why over 4.7 million businesses use it to power their online stores.

How to Set Up Your Shopify Account

If you’re a Netflix or Spotify subscriber, setting up a Shopify account can be just as easy.

1. Sign Up for Shopify

All you need to do is: 

• Go to Shopify.com and click “Start Free Trial.” Shopify has a 3-day free trial, then $1 monthly for 3 months.
• Enter your email, store name, and password to create your account.

2. Choose a Shopify Plan

Beginners can start with the basic plan, which includes all the essential features to launch and manage an online store. As your business grows, you may need a plan with advanced reporting, lower transaction fees, and additional staff accounts to support higher sales volume. Shopify also has premium options for scaling businesses requiring more customization and automation tools.

Pricing may vary depending on your country, so it’s best to check Shopify’s official website for the most accurate rates based on your location.

Recommended article: Shopify or Shopify Plus? Choose Wisely!

3. Set Your Store Name and Business Info

Your store name is one of the first things customers notice, so it should be unique, memorable, and relevant to your brand. Think of a name that mirrors your niche, products, or overall brand personality. Avoid generic or difficult names to make it easier for customers to find you online.

Shopify has a built-in availability checker, so as you type your desired store name, the platform will instantly tell you if it’s taken. If your first choice isn’t available, try slight variations, such as adding a keyword related to your niche or using a different word structure

Once you’ve chosen your store name, you’ll need to fill in your business details, including your:

• Business address to help Shopify calculate shipping rates and tax settings based on your location
• Currency settings allow Shopify to suggest a default option based on your location, but you can adjust it to suit your target market or if you’re selling internationally.
• Tax settings to automate tax calculations based on local regulations.

4. Get Familiar with the Shopify Dashboard

The Shopify dashboard is where you add products, track sales, customize your site, and manage orders. Click around and explore the sections—you’ll be using them often!

Step 3: Customize Your Store with a Theme

Your Shopify store is just a blank canvas right now. Let’s change that. Your theme is your store’s first impression, and it needs to look good, function smoothly, and match your brand.

How to Choose a Shopify Theme

Shopify has free and paid themes available. Here’s how to pick the best one:

• Industry-specific layouts: Some themes work better for fashion, electronics, or home goods. Shopify lets you filter themes by industry.
• Mobile-friendly design: Over 70% of eCommerce traffic comes from mobile users. Your theme should be visually pleasing and responsive on every device.
• Easy navigation: Customers should find what they need in seconds without scrolling through a confusing layout.
• Fast load speed: Even you would exit a slow-loading page, no?
• Customizable features: Choose a theme that lets you adjust font styles, colors, and layouts to match your brand.

As for how to install and customize your theme:

1. Go to the Shopify Theme Store and browse themes by category.
2. Preview different themes to see how they look with sample products.
3. Install your chosen theme with one click.
4. Customize it in the Shopify Editor by adjusting colors, fonts, and homepage sections.
5. Upload your logo and banner images to reinforce brand identity.
6. Test your store on mobile and desktop to ensure everything looks polished.

After deciding on a theme, you can move on to adding products.

Step 4: Add and Organize Your Products

Now, it’s time to upload your inventory, write product descriptions, and organize everything so customers can shop easily.

How to Add Products in Shopify

Here’s a step-by-step guide for beginners:

1. Go to Shopify Dashboard → Products → Add Product
2. Upload high-quality images
3. Write a persuasive product title
4. Craft a product description focused on benefits, not just features
5. Set the price and inventory details
6. Optimize for SEO, such as adding keywords to titles, descriptions, and metadata
7. Save and repeat for every product

How to Organize Your Products for Easy Shopping

Customers shouldn’t hunt for what they need. Organizing your store properly makes shopping smooth and enjoyable.

1. Create product categories: Group products by type (e.g., “Men’s Shoes,” “Home Decor”).
2. Use filters: Allow customers to sort by price, size, or bestsellers.
3. Feature best-selling items: Highlight your top products on the homepage.

With your products added and organized, your store is finally taking shape. Next up, setting up payments and shipping so customers can check out without issues.

Step 5: Set Up Payment and Shipping

Your store looks terrific, and your products are ready to go, but none of that matters if customers can’t pay or receive their orders on time. A smooth checkout experience builds trust and reduces cart abandonment. Not-fun-fact: 70% of online shoppers abandon their cart.

How to Set Up Payment Methods on Shopify

Customers expect multiple payment options. They may leave without buying if they don’t see their preferred method. Shopify simplifies this process with built-in payment solutions and third-party providers. All you have to do is:

1. Go to Shopify Dashboard → Settings → Payments
2. Choose a Payment Provider

How to Set Up Shipping Options

At least 55% of shoppers abandon carts due to added costs like shipping. If possible, offer the following to increase trust and conversions:

• Free shipping
• Flat rate shipping
• Real-time carrier rates
• Local delivery and pickup

To implement any of the above and more, simply:

1. Go to Shopify Dashboard → Settings → Shipping and Delivery
2. Set your shipping zones (domestic, international, or specific countries)
3. Choose a pricing model (free, flat rate, or real-time carrier rates)
4. Enable shipping carriers or third-party apps (like Shippo or Easyship)

With payments and shipping set up, your store is now functional. But to turn visitors into buyers, you need to optimize for conversions.

Further reading: 10 Best eCommerce Checkout Practices to Boost Sales

Step 6: Optimize Your Store for Conversions

Getting traffic to your Shopify store is one thing, and getting visitors to buy is another. If people browse your store but don’t purchase, it might be a sign that something isn’t clicking. The average Shopify conversion rate is 1.4%, but top-performing stores convert between 3.2% to 4.7%.

Here’s how to turn visitors into customers:

1. Write a Compelling “About Us” and Contact Page

Customers buy from brands they trust. A strong About Us page builds credibility and tells your brand story in a way that’s relatable to your audience. Remember to:

1. Make it personal: Share why you started the business and what problem you’re solving.
2. Use customer-friendly language: Avoid corporate jargon. Write like you’re talking to a real person.
3. Include real photos: Showing your team, workspace, or process makes your brand feel more human.

Also read: 30 Must-Have Pages and Assets Every Website Needs

2. Build Trust with Reviews and Social Proof

Did you know 88% of online shoppers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations? If your store has no reviews, visitors may hesitate.

1. Add customer testimonials: Use apps like Loox or Judge.me to collect and display reviews.
2. Showcase user-generated content: Encourage customers to post product photos on Instagram and tag your brand.
3. Display trust badges: “Secure Checkout,” “Money-Back Guarantee,” and “Fast Shipping” badges boost confidence.

3. Optimize Your Navigation and Product Discovery

A confusing website structure frustrates visitors and leads to lost sales. Customers should find what they want in three clicks or less.

1. Use a simple, straightforward menu: Categories should be easy to understand (e.g., “Men’s Shoes” instead of “Footwear Collection”).
2. Add a search bar: Stores with search bars convert 1.8x better than those without.
3. Highlight bestsellers: Showcase popular products on your homepage to guide new visitors.

4. Speed Up Your Store

A slow website kills sales. More than half of visitors click out if a site takes any longer than three seconds to load. To load within this timeframe: 

1. Compress images: Use tools like TinyPNG to minimize file sizes.
2. Limit third-party apps: Too many plugins slows load speed.
3. Enable lazy loading: This technique helps web pages load faster by loading images only when needed, improving performance. Click here to learn more about lazy loading.

5. Use Exit-Intent Pop-Ups and Limited-Time Offers

Sometimes, visitors need a little extra push to make a purchase. Strategic pop-ups can recover up to 15% of abandoned carts. These include:

• Exit-intent pop-ups: When visitors move their mouse to leave, show a special discount or free shipping offer.
• Countdown timers: Create urgency by displaying a limited-time deal.
• Bundle discounts: Offer discounts on multiple items (e.g., “Buy 2, Get 1 Free”).

Even minor tweaks can improve your bottom line. Focus on building trust, making navigation a breeze, improving page speed, and using strategic offers to boost conversions. Additional guide: 10 Costly Mistakes Tanking Your eCommerce Conversions

Now that your store is optimized for sales, it’s time to install a few Shopify apps.

Step 7: Install Shopify Apps

Your store is coming together, but before you launch, add tools to help with marketing, customer service, SEO (search engine optimization), and automation. Shopify’s App Store has over 8,000 apps, but installing too many can reduce your site’s speed. Simply choose the ones that will make your life (and operations) easier.

Here are some must-have Shopify apps:

• For Marketing and Sales

• • Klaviyo: Email & SMS marketing to increase customer retention.
  • Recart: Facebook Messenger marketing to recover abandoned carts.
  • PushOwl: Sends push notifications to bring visitors back to your store.

• For Social Proof and Customer Trust

• • Loox: Displays photo reviews to build trust.
  • Trust Badges Bear: Adds secure checkout icons to increase confidence.

• For SEO and Traffic

• • SEO Booster: Optimizes product pages so your store ranks higher in Google.
  • JSON-LD for SEO: Helps Google display rich snippets (star ratings, price, stock info) in search results.

• For Store Optimization & Automation

• • PageFly: Custom page builder for landing pages and promotions.
  • ReConvert: Post-purchase upsells to boost average order value (AOV).
  • Lucky Orange: Tracks visitor behavior with heatmaps and session recordings to find conversion roadblocks.

How to Install Shopify Apps

Just follow these instructions:

1. Go to Shopify Dashboard → Apps → Visit Shopify App Store
2. Search for the app you need (or browse categories)
3. Click “Add App” and install it with one click
4. Customize settings based on your store’s needs
5. Test the app to ensure it integrates smoothly

Step 8: Test Your Store Before Launching

One more step before launch: testing everything to avoid losing sales over small mistakes. Go through checkout to ensure payments go through, click every link, and browse your store on mobile since over 78% of shoppers use their phones. Check for typos, missing images, and broken buttons. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to confirm your site loads in under three seconds, and sign up for your own email list.

Once everything is working perfectly, it’s time for the moment you’ve been waiting for: launching your Shopify store and making your first sales!

Step 9: Launch and Market Your Store

Congratulations, you’re ready to launch! It’s time to get your first customers. Start by announcing your new online store on social media, email lists, and personal networks. To encourage purchases, you can also offer a limited-time discount or free shipping.

To drive consistent traffic, run Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok ads targeting your ideal audience. Collaborate with micro-influencers to gain exposure, set up email marketing to convert visitors into repeat buyers, track everything in Shopify Analytics, and keep refining your approach. Success doesn’t come from launching; it comes from consistently promoting and optimizing.

Next Steps

Every successful online business started with zero sales, zero customers, and zero experience. What separates those who succeed from those who don’t is doing research and taking action.

You’ve now learned how to choose a niche, set up your store, optimize it for conversions, and market it effectively. The next step? Launch, learn, and improve! No store is perfect from day one. Track your analytics, listen to customer feedback, and tweak your strategy over time. The best eCommerce brands grow because they test, adapt, and keep showing up.

Do you need help? PrimeView is Arizona’s go-to eCommerce marketing agency for Shopify store design, optimization, and scaling. If you need help with setup, branding, or sales, we can turn your ideas into a thriving online business. Let’s make it happen today.