How to Build an Online Store with Shopify: Beginner’s Guide

Have you ever wanted to build an online store but got stuck thinking about all the technical stuff?

Most of our clients at 2HatsLogic felt the same way before they took their first step into e-commerce.

Building your online store doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With Shopify, even complete beginners can create a professional store without writing a single line of code.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to build an online store with Shopify from scratch, based on our experience helping dozens of businesses launch successful online shops.

Why Shopify is the Best Platform to Start With

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why Shopify stands out among e-commerce platforms.

Ease of use

Unlike platforms that require technical knowledge, Shopify’s interface feels intuitive even if you’ve never built a website before.

No coding needed

While knowing HTML or CSS can help with customizations, you can build a complete, professional-looking store without writing a single line of code.

Trusted by millions worldwide

Over 2 million businesses run on Shopify, from small startups to giants like Gymshark and Allbirds. This widespread adoption means constant improvements and stability.

App ecosystem for growth

As your business grows, Shopify grows with you through its extensive app marketplace.

Step-by-Step: How to Start a Shopify Store

Let’s break down the process into manageable steps that anyone can follow.

1. Sign Up on Shopify

Getting started with Shopify is straightforward:

1. Go to Shopify.com and click “Start free trial“
   
2. Enter your email address, password, and store name
   
3. Answer a few questions about your business

Free trial and plan selection

Shopify offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. This gives you time to build your store before committing to a paid plan.

After your trial, plans start at $29/month for the Basic Shopify plan, which includes everything most beginners need.

Choosing your store name

Your store name becomes part of your default URL (yourstore.myshopify.com), so choose something:

• Related to your business
• Easy to remember
• Available as a domain name

Don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure, you can change this later.

2. Set Up Basic Store Info

Once you’re in, Shopify walks you through setting up:

Address, currency, and tax settings

• Enter your business address for payment processing
  
• Select your store’s currency (affects how prices display)
  
• Set up tax collection based on your location

Add your brand logo and favicon

Your logo and favicon (the tiny icon in browser tabs) create the first impression of your brand:

1. Go to “Online Store” → “Themes” → “Customize“
   
2. Look for header settings to upload your logo
   
3. Under theme settings, find “Favicon” to upload a square version of your logo

3. Choose and Customize a Theme

Your theme determines how your store looks and feels.

Free vs paid themes

Shopify offers:

• Free themes: Great for beginners with limited budgets
• Paid themes ($180-$350): More features and specialized designs for specific industries

Drag-and-drop customizations

Customizing your theme is where your store comes to life:

1. Go to “Online Store” → “Themes” → “Customize“
   
2. Use the sidebar menu to navigate between sections
   
3. Change colors, fonts, and layouts with simple clicks
   
4. Add, remove, or rearrange sections by dragging them

Responsive design and branding tips

Always check how your store looks on mobile devices (over 70% of Shopify traffic comes from mobile users).

For branding consistency:

• Use no more than 2-3 fonts
• Stick to a color palette of 3-5 colors
• Keep your product photography style consistent

One of our clients increased their conversion rate by 15% simply by ensuring their mobile experience matched the quality of their desktop site.

4. Add Products

Your products are the heart of your store.

Titles, descriptions, pricing, inventory

For each product:

1. Go to “Products” → “Add product“
   
2. Create a clear, benefit-focused title
   
3. Write detailed descriptions (at least 300 words for important products)
   
4. Set pricing (regular and compare-at prices for sales)
   
5. Configure inventory tracking if needed

High-quality product images

Images sell products more than text ever will:

• Use at least 3-5 images per product
• Show products from multiple angles
• Include lifestyle images of products in use
• Maintain consistent dimensions

Organizing products into collections

Collections group similar products, making it easier for customers to find what they want:

1. Go to “Products” → “Collections” → “Create collection“
   
2. Choose between manual collections (you add products individually) or automatic collections (products added based on conditions you set)
   
3. Add a compelling description and a collection image

Common collections include “New Arrivals,” “Best Sellers,” and seasonal groupings.

5. Set Up Payments

Making it easy for customers to pay you is critical for success.

Shopify Payments setup

Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe) is the easiest option:

1. Go to “Settings” → “Payments“
   
2. Complete your business details
   
3. Connect your bank account for deposits

PayPal, Razorpay, Stripe, etc.

Offering multiple payment methods increases conversion rates:

1. In “Settings” → “Payments,” scroll to “Alternative payment methods“
   
2. Enable PayPal (it’s pre-integrated)
   
3. Add other payment providers relevant to your market

Understanding transaction fees

Be aware of the fee structure:

• Using Shopify Payments: Only credit card processing fees (starting at 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
• Using external payment providers: Additional 2% Shopify transaction fee

6. Configure Shipping & Taxes

Setting up proper shipping and taxes prevents surprises at checkout.

Zones and rates

1. Go to “Settings” → “Shipping and delivery“
   
2. Create shipping zones based on geographic areas you’ll ship to
   
3. For each zone, set up shipping rates (flat rates, calculated rates, or free shipping)

Shipping profiles

If you sell products of different sizes or types:

1. Create shipping profiles for product categories (e.g., “Heavy items,” “Digital products”)
   
2. Assign different shipping rates to each profile

Tax rules by country

1. Go to “Settings” → “Taxes“
   
2. Shopify automatically sets up tax regions based on your location
   
3. Adjust tax rates if needed or use Shopify Tax (US only) for automatic calculations

At 2HatsLogic, we often see beginners underprice shipping, cutting into their margins. Be realistic about your shipping costs!

7. Connect a Domain

A professional domain name builds trust with customers.

Buy a domain on Shopify or connect an existing one

Option 1: Purchase through Shopify

1. Go to “Online Store” → “Domains” → “Buy new domain”
2. Search for and purchase your domain (typically $14-$20/year)

Option 2: Connect existing domain

1. Go to “Online Store” → “Domains” → “Connect existing domain”
2. Follow instructions to update DNS settings at your domain provider

SSL setup and redirect tips

Shopify automatically provides SSL certificates (the padlock in browsers) for all stores.

For domain redirection:

1. Decide whether to use “www” or not (e.g., www.yourstore.com vs. yourstore.com)
2. Set up redirects so both versions lead to the same place
3. Update your primary domain in “Online Store” → “Domains”

8. Test & Launch Your Store

Before going live, thoroughly test your store.

Test checkout and order flow

1. Use Shopify’s test mode to place orders without actual payments
2. Go through the entire customer journey from homepage to confirmation
3. Test on multiple devices and browsers
4. Ask friends or family for feedback

Soft-launch strategy

Consider a soft launch before a full public announcement:

1. Share with a small group of supporters
2. Offer a special discount code
3. Gather feedback and make adjustments
4. Fix any issues before full marketing efforts

Go live with a launch checklist

Before your grand opening, check that you have:

• Legal pages (Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Refund Policy)
• Contact information and About Us page
• Working payment methods
• Configured email notifications
• Removed any “Coming Soon” messaging

After Launch: How to Run a Shopify Store

Launching is just the beginning. Now comes the work of operating your store.

Fulfilling orders

When orders come in:

1. You’ll receive email notifications
2. Go to “Orders” in your Shopify admin
3. Process orders by preparing packing slips and shipping labels
4. Mark orders as fulfilled when shipped

Customer support setup

Provide excellent support:

1. Set up a contact form on your site
2. Consider adding a live chat app like Tawk.to (free) or Gorgias
3. Create an FAQ page for common questions
4. Establish clear response time expectations

Inventory management basics

Stay on top of stock:

1. Set up low stock notifications in “Settings” → “Notifications”
2. Regularly review inventory reports
3. Use the Shopify mobile app to manage on the go

Use of apps like Oberlo, Klaviyo, PageFly

Extend your store’s functionality:

• Oberlo: For dropshipping products from suppliers
• Klaviyo: For email marketing automation
• PageFly: For advanced page building and customization

At 2HatsLogic, we advise new store owners to start with minimal apps and add only what’s necessary for their specific business model.

Bonus: Tips for Growing Your Shopify Store

Once your store is running smoothly, focus on growth.

SEO tips for product pages

Optimize for search engines:

• Include keywords in product titles and descriptions
• Write unique descriptions (not copied from manufacturers)
• Add alt text to all images
• Create a logical site structure with collections

Abandoned cart recovery

Recover potentially lost sales:

1. Enable abandoned checkout emails in “Settings” → “Checkout“
2. Customize the email message and timing
3. Consider offering a small discount to encourage completion

Email marketing

Build relationships with customers:

1. Install an email marketing app like Klaviyo or Omnisend
2. Create a welcome series for new subscribers
3. Segment your list based on purchase behavior
4. Send regular updates about new products and promotions

Paid ads integration

When you’re ready for paid advertising:

1. Install the Facebook pixel for Meta ads
2. Set up Google Analytics and Google Ads conversion tracking
3. Start with small daily budgets to test what works
4. Focus on retargeting before cold audience acquisition

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting

Learn from others’ missteps to save time and money.

Ignoring mobile optimization

Always check and optimize for mobile users, who often make up the majority of traffic.

Too many apps

App overload can slow your site and complicate management. Start with the essentials only.

No product-market fit

Validate demand for your products before investing heavily in inventory or marketing.

Skipping legal pages

Protect yourself by including:

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Refund Policy
• Shipping Information

We’ve seen stores temporarily shut down due to compliance issues that could have been easily avoided

Conclusion

The key to building an online store is simple: focus on the customer experience, and continuously improve based on real data and feedback.

Remember that every successful e-commerce brand started with a single product and a simple store.

The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t often comes down to persistence and willingness to adapt.

At 2HatsLogic, we’ve seen beginners transform into e-commerce experts through hands-on experience with their Shopify stores.

The platform grows with you, offering more advanced features as your skills and business develop.

The team at 2HatsLogic specializes in helping entrepreneurs build and optimize Shopify stores that convert. Contact us today for a free consultation on how to make your e-commerce vision a reality.