Chapter 2•Comprehensive Shopify Store Setup Guide

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Shopify

Creating a Shopify Account

Setting up your e-commerce journey with Shopify begins with creating an account. The process is straightforward and designed to get you started quickly while collecting the essential information needed to customize your experience.

Step-by-Step Account Creation Process

  1. Visit the Shopify Website: Navigate to Shopify.com and click on the "Start free trial" button prominently displayed on the homepage.

  2. Enter Your Email Address: Provide a valid email address that you regularly check, as this will be your primary contact method for important store notifications and communications.

  3. Create a Password: Choose a strong, unique password that combines uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. In 2025, Shopify recommends passwords of at least 12 characters for optimal security.

  4. Choose Your Store Name: Enter a name for your store. Don't worry if you're not completely decided—you can change this later. The name you choose will initially be used to create your temporary Shopify URL (e.g., your-store-name.myshopify.com).

  5. Business Information: Provide basic information about your business, including:

    • Whether you're already selling products
    • Your current revenue range (if applicable)
    • The industry or product category you plan to sell in
    • Your business address

  6. Verification: Complete any verification steps required, which may include confirming your email address or phone number.

  7. Free Trial Initiation: After completing these steps, your 14-day free trial begins automatically. No credit card is required to start the trial, giving you time to explore the platform before committing financially.

Setting Up Your Store Profile

Once your account is created, you'll be guided through an initial setup process to establish your store's basic profile:

  1. Complete Your Personal Profile: Add your name and contact details.

  2. Specify Your Business Goals: Indicate what you hope to achieve with your Shopify store, which helps the platform provide relevant recommendations.

  3. Add Your Business Logo: Upload your logo if you have one ready, or use Shopify's built-in logo maker tool to create a temporary one.

  4. Set Your Store's Primary Language and Currency: Choose the default language and currency for your store operations. With Shopify's 2025 updates, the platform now supports 20 languages natively.

  5. Connect a Custom Domain: While not required immediately, you'll have the option to either purchase a new domain through Shopify or connect an existing domain you already own.

First Steps After Account Creation

After creating your account, take these immediate steps to start building your store:

  1. Explore the Shopify Admin: Familiarize yourself with the dashboard layout and main navigation sections.

  2. Set Up Your Payment Information: Even during the trial, setting up how you'll receive payments will ensure a smooth transition when you launch.

  3. Add Your First Product: Creating at least one product listing helps you understand the product management system and gives you something to visualize when selecting themes.

  4. Choose and Customize a Theme: Select a theme that aligns with your brand and begin customizing its appearance.

  5. Configure Basic Store Settings: Set up your shipping zones, tax settings, and store policies (refunds, privacy, terms of service).

Remember that during your free trial, you can explore all of Shopify's features without limitations, allowing you to make an informed decision before selecting a paid plan.

Understanding Shopify Plans and Pricing

Shopify offers a tiered pricing structure designed to accommodate businesses at different stages of growth. Each plan provides a specific set of features and capabilities, allowing you to choose the option that best aligns with your business needs and budget.

Basic Shopify

Price: $29 per month (when billed monthly) or $24 per month (when billed annually)

Ideal for: New businesses and entrepreneurs just starting their e-commerce journey

Key Features:

  • Online store with blog and unlimited products
  • 2 staff accounts
  • 24/7 support
  • Sales channels including online marketplace integrations
  • Up to 4 inventory locations
  • Basic reports
  • Shipping discounts up to 77%
  • Shopify POS Lite included
  • Credit card rates: 2.9% + 30¢ USD online, 2.7% + 0¢ in-person
  • Transaction fees (when not using Shopify Payments): 2.0%

Limitations:

  • Limited reporting capabilities
  • No professional reports
  • No third-party calculated shipping rates
  • Higher transaction fees compared to more expensive plans

Shopify

Price: $79 per month (when billed monthly) or $69 per month (when billed annually)

Ideal for: Growing businesses with increasing sales volume and need for more advanced features

Key Features:

  • All Basic Shopify features
  • 5 staff accounts
  • Up to 5 inventory locations
  • Professional reports
  • Shipping discounts up to 88%
  • Credit card rates: 2.6% + 30¢ USD online, 2.5% + 0¢ in-person
  • Transaction fees (when not using Shopify Payments): 1.0%
  • International pricing
  • International domains
  • Translation management

Advantages over Basic:

  • Lower credit card rates and transaction fees
  • More comprehensive reporting tools
  • Additional staff accounts
  • Better shipping discounts
  • Enhanced international selling capabilities

Advanced Shopify

Price: $299 per month (when billed monthly) or $259 per month (when billed annually)

Ideal for: Scaling businesses with substantial sales volume and complex operational needs

Key Features:

  • All Shopify plan features
  • 15 staff accounts
  • Up to 8 inventory locations
  • Advanced report builder
  • Third-party calculated shipping rates
  • Shipping discounts up to 88%
  • Credit card rates: 2.4% + 30¢ USD online, 2.4% + 0¢ in-person
  • Transaction fees (when not using Shopify Payments): 0.5%
  • First 10 Shopify Flow automations included
  • Custom report builder
  • Enhanced international selling capabilities

Advantages over Shopify Plan:

  • Lowest credit card rates and transaction fees
  • Most comprehensive reporting and analytics
  • Significantly more staff accounts
  • Third-party calculated shipping rates
  • Workflow automation capabilities

Shopify Plus

Price: Custom pricing, typically starting around $2,000 per month

Ideal for: Enterprise-level businesses, high-volume merchants, and global brands

Key Features:

  • All Advanced Shopify features
  • Unlimited staff accounts
  • Up to 20 inventory locations
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Advanced customization capabilities
  • Unlimited Shopify Flow automations
  • Shopify Organization admin
  • Role-based access controls
  • Advanced API capabilities and higher API call limits
  • Multiple expansion stores
  • Enhanced security features
  • Priority support
  • Wholesale channel capabilities
  • Launch team and merchant success program
  • Multiple business entities management (new in 2025)
  • Advanced payout currencies options (new in 2025)

Advantages over Advanced:

  • Personalized support and strategy
  • Enterprise-grade infrastructure
  • Advanced customization options
  • Multiple store management
  • Higher API limits
  • Enhanced security and reliability
  • B2B/wholesale capabilities

Shopify Lite

Price: $9 per month

Ideal for: Businesses that want to add e-commerce functionality to an existing website or sell in person

Key Features:

  • Buy button for existing websites
  • Invoicing system
  • Shopify POS Lite
  • Facebook and Instagram selling
  • Credit card rates: 2.9% + 30¢ USD online

Limitations:

  • No standalone online store
  • Limited features compared to other plans
  • Basic reporting only

Comparing Plans: How to Choose the Right One

When selecting a Shopify plan, consider these factors:

  1. Current Business Size: Match your plan to your current operational scale while allowing room for near-term growth.

  2. Monthly Sales Volume: Higher-tier plans become more cost-effective as your sales volume increases due to lower transaction fees and credit card rates.

  3. Required Features: Identify must-have features for your business model and ensure they're included in your chosen plan.

  4. Staff Size: Consider how many team members need access to your Shopify admin.

  5. Growth Projections: If you anticipate rapid growth, choosing a slightly higher tier might save you the hassle of upgrading soon.

  6. International Selling Needs: If you plan to sell globally, the Shopify plan or higher offers better international features.

  7. Reporting Requirements: More advanced plans provide increasingly sophisticated analytics and reporting capabilities.

  8. Budget Constraints: Balance the features you need against what you can realistically afford, especially when starting out.

Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond the monthly subscription fee, be aware of these potential additional costs:

  1. Apps and Extensions: Many specialized features require third-party apps that have their own subscription costs, typically ranging from $5 to $250+ per month.

  2. Theme Costs: While free themes are available, premium themes typically cost between $150-$350 as a one-time purchase.

  3. Domain Name: A custom domain typically costs $14-$20 per year.

  4. Transaction Fees: If you don't use Shopify Payments, you'll pay transaction fees on each sale (0.5%-2.0% depending on your plan).

  5. Credit Card Processing Fees: These vary by plan but generally range from 2.4% to 2.9% plus a fixed fee per transaction.

  6. Shipping Costs: While Shopify offers discounted rates, shipping costs will vary based on your products and customer locations.

  7. Email Marketing: Basic email features are included, but advanced email marketing may require additional services.

  8. Point of Sale Hardware: If selling in person, POS hardware like card readers and cash drawers are additional costs.

Upgrading or Downgrading Your Plan

Shopify makes it easy to change your plan as your business evolves:

  1. Upgrading: You can upgrade at any time, and the change takes effect immediately. You'll be charged the prorated difference between your current and new plan.

  2. Downgrading: You can downgrade at any time, with changes taking effect at your next billing cycle.

  3. Trial Period Transitions: When your 14-day free trial ends, you'll need to select a plan to continue using Shopify.

  4. Annual vs. Monthly Billing: Annual billing offers a discount but requires a larger upfront payment. Consider your cash flow and commitment level when deciding between billing options.

Remember that your choice isn't permanent—Shopify's flexibility allows you to adjust your plan as your business needs change.

Setting Up Your Store Basics

After creating your account and selecting a plan, it's time to configure the fundamental elements of your Shopify store. These basic settings establish your store's identity and ensure legal compliance.

Store Name and URL

Your store name and URL are crucial elements of your brand identity:

  1. Finalizing Your Store Name:

    • If you're still undecided about your store name, conduct market research to ensure it resonates with your target audience
    • Check trademark databases to avoid legal issues
    • Ensure the name is memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to your products

  2. Setting Up Your Store URL:

    • By default, your store will have a myshopify.com domain (e.g., your-store-name.myshopify.com)
    • This URL will always work for admin access, even after adding a custom domain

  3. Adding a Custom Domain:

    • Navigate to Settings > Domains in your Shopify admin
    • Choose between buying a new domain through Shopify or connecting an existing domain
    • If purchasing through Shopify:
      • Search for available domains
      • Select your preferred extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.)
      • Complete the purchase (typically $14-$20 per year)
    • If connecting an existing domain:
      • Follow Shopify's instructions to update DNS settings at your domain registrar
      • Verify domain ownership
      • Set up URL forwarding if needed

  4. Domain Configuration Best Practices:

    • Enable SSL certificate for your custom domain (automatically handled by Shopify)
    • Set up domain forwarding to ensure both www and non-www versions direct to your store
    • Configure email forwarding if you want to use your domain for business email addresses

Contact Information

Properly configured contact information builds trust with customers and ensures they can reach you when needed:

  1. Store Contact Details:

    • Navigate to Settings > General in your Shopify admin
    • Enter your business email address, phone number, and physical address
    • These details will appear on order confirmations and may be displayed on your website

  2. Customer Service Contact Options:

    • Consider adding multiple contact channels (email, phone, chat)
    • Set clear expectations for response times
    • In 2025, Shopify offers AI-powered customer service tools that can handle basic inquiries automatically

  3. Social Media Profiles:

    • Link your business social media accounts to your Shopify store
    • Navigate to Settings > General > Social media accounts
    • Add links to your profiles on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, etc.

  4. Store Location Settings:

    • Set your store's time zone, unit system, and weight units
    • These settings affect how dates, times, and measurements appear throughout your store

Legal Pages Setup

Every e-commerce store requires certain legal pages to comply with regulations and build customer trust:

  1. Privacy Policy:

    • Navigate to Settings > Legal in your Shopify admin
    • Use Shopify's template as a starting point, then customize it to reflect your specific data collection and usage practices
    • Ensure compliance with relevant privacy laws like GDPR (Europe), CCPA (California), and other regional regulations
    • Include information about cookies, tracking technologies, and third-party services
    • Update your policy whenever your data practices change

  2. Terms of Service:

    • Create clear terms that outline the relationship between your business and customers
    • Include information about:
      • Account responsibilities
      • Intellectual property rights
      • Prohibited activities
      • Payment terms
      • Order cancellation policies
      • Limitations of liability
    • Use plain language while ensuring legal protection

  3. Refund Policy:

    • Develop a fair and transparent refund policy
    • Specify:
      • Eligible products for returns
      • Time limits for return requests
      • Condition requirements for returned items
      • Who pays return shipping costs
      • How refunds are processed and timeframes
      • Any restocking fees
    • Different policies may apply to different product categories

  4. Shipping Policy:

    • Create a dedicated shipping policy page that outlines:
      • Processing times
      • Shipping methods and carriers
      • Estimated delivery timeframes
      • International shipping information
      • Tracking information availability
      • Handling of lost or damaged packages

  5. Legal Page Implementation:

    • After creating these policies, add them to your store's footer navigation
    • Ensure they're easily accessible from any page on your site
    • Link to relevant policies during the checkout process
    • Consider having an attorney review your legal pages, especially as your business grows

Navigating the Shopify Admin Dashboard

The Shopify admin dashboard is your command center for managing all aspects of your online store. Understanding its layout and functionality is essential for efficient store management.

  1. Home Dashboard:

    • Provides an overview of your store's performance
    • Displays recent orders, traffic statistics, and to-do items
    • Shows announcements about new Shopify features
    • In 2025, includes AI-powered insights and recommendations

  2. Orders Section:

    • View and manage all customer orders
    • Process refunds and cancellations
    • Print shipping labels and packing slips
    • Track fulfillment status
    • Access order analytics

  3. Products Section:

    • Add and manage your product catalog
    • Organize products into collections
    • Manage inventory levels
    • Create product variants (sizes, colors, etc.)
    • Upload product images and media

  4. Customers Section:

    • View customer profiles and purchase history
    • Create customer segments for targeted marketing
    • Manage customer accounts
    • Export customer data for analysis

  5. Analytics Section:

    • Access detailed reports on sales, acquisition, behavior, and marketing
    • Track key performance indicators
    • Monitor conversion rates and average order value
    • Analyze traffic sources and customer journeys
    • With the 2025 updates, includes enhanced AI-driven predictive analytics

  6. Marketing Section:

    • Create and manage marketing campaigns
    • Set up automated email sequences
    • Create discount codes and promotions
    • Manage social media integrations
    • Access the marketing activity dashboard

  7. Discounts Section:

    • Create percentage or fixed amount discounts
    • Set up automatic discounts
    • Establish buy-one-get-one offers
    • Manage shipping discounts
    • Schedule promotional periods

  8. Apps Section:

    • Browse and install apps from the Shopify App Store
    • Manage installed apps
    • Access app settings and configurations

  9. Settings Section:

    • Configure store details, payments, checkout, shipping, taxes, notifications, and more
    • Manage staff accounts and permissions
    • Set up sales channels
    • Configure language and localization settings

  10. Online Store Section:

    • Access theme settings and customization
    • Manage blog posts and pages
    • Configure navigation menus
    • Set up URL redirects
    • Manage SEO settings

  11. Point of Sale Section (if enabled):

    • Manage POS settings and hardware
    • Configure in-person selling options
    • Sync online and offline inventory

  12. Sidekick AI Assistant (New in 2025):

    • Access Shopify's AI assistant for help with store management
    • Get personalized recommendations
    • Automate routine tasks
    • Generate content and product descriptions
    • Available in 20 languages as of the 2025 update

Customizing Your Admin Experience

Shopify allows you to personalize your admin experience for improved efficiency:

  1. Staff Accounts:

    • Create accounts for team members with specific permissions
    • Assign roles based on responsibilities (e.g., order processing, product management)
    • Set permission levels to control access to sensitive information

  2. Notification Preferences:

    • Customize which events trigger notifications
    • Choose notification methods (email, SMS, mobile app)
    • Set working hours to control when notifications are sent

  3. Quick Access Shortcuts:

    • Pin frequently used sections for easy access
    • Create custom shortcuts to specific pages
    • Use keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation

  4. Mobile Management:

    • Download the Shopify mobile app to manage your store on the go
    • Receive real-time order notifications
    • Process orders and update products from your smartphone
    • Track sales performance with mobile analytics

  5. Dashboard Customization:

    • Arrange dashboard elements based on your priorities
    • Add or remove report cards from your home screen
    • Focus on the metrics most relevant to your business goals

By thoroughly setting up these store basics, you create a solid foundation for your Shopify business. These fundamental elements not only ensure legal compliance but also establish your brand identity and streamline your store management processes. With these essentials in place, you'll be ready to move on to more advanced aspects of your Shopify store setup.