To start a Shopify store, sign up for the trial, add your first products, pick a theme, connect a domain, set up payments, shipping and taxes, write your policy pages, then place a test order before you remove the password. As of October 2026 the Basic plan is $25 a month, or $19 billed yearly.
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $25 a month | $19 a month |
| Grow | $65 a month | $49 a month |
| Advanced | $399 a month | $299 a month |
| Plus | From $2,300 a month | Not listed |
Updated
Shopify's own setup guide starts with three tasks: add a product, choose a theme and set up a domain. A store that can take real orders needs more than that, so the checklist below covers the full path from sign up to first sale and remembers what you have ticked on this device.
Tick each step as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser only.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended square size | 2048 x 2048 pixels |
| Largest allowed | 5000 x 5000 pixels (25 megapixels) |
| Maximum file size | Under 20 MB |
| Formats | PNG, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, SVG, HEIC, WebP |
A starting file for a single product. Only Title is required for new products, and Status can be active, draft or archived. Shopify's help centre offers a sample CSV listing every supported column.
Title,URL handle,Description,Vendor,Price,SKU,Product image URL,Status
Canvas Tote Bag,canvas-tote,Heavy cotton tote with inside pocket.,Harbor Goods,24.00,TOTE-01,https://example.com/tote.jpg,draftHave a store name, a logo or wordmark, at least a few products with photos and prices, and a rough idea of shipping costs. Building goes much faster when the content exists first.
Decide how you will fulfil orders: from your own stock, a print on demand provider or a supplier. That choice shapes your shipping settings and delivery promises.
Shipping zones and rates, tax collection, the sender email address, order notification templates and the refund, privacy and terms pages all live in settings, away from the theme editor. Missing any of them causes problems on the first order.
Check checkout on a phone. Most visitors will see it there, and small text or a confusing shipping step is easier to spot on a small screen.
Submit your sitemap in Search Console, connect analytics and set up an abandoned checkout email. Then spend your time on traffic and product pages rather than tweaking the theme.
Review the orders and support emails from the first weeks. They show which product details, sizes or delivery questions your pages still do not answer.
As of October 2026 Shopify lists the Basic plan at $25 a month billed monthly, or $19 a month billed yearly, after a 3 day free trial and 3 months at $1 a month. Add a domain, any paid theme or apps, and payment processing fees per sale.
Yes, through print on demand or dropshipping apps that fulfil orders for you. You still need product photos, descriptions and prices, and you should order samples so you know what customers will receive.
The account takes minutes. A store ready for customers usually takes a few days of work on products, photos, policies and settings. The checklist keeps that work in order.
Shopify gives every store a myshopify.com address, but a custom domain looks more trustworthy and is yours to keep. You can buy one through Shopify or connect one from another registrar.
Start with a free theme built by Shopify. Pick one designed for your catalogue size, since a one product store and a large catalogue need different layouts, and change it later if you outgrow it.
Related: Print on demand website guide, How to build an ecommerce website, Website image sizes, Ecommerce design best practices, Business name generator.
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