Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you sign up through our link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If you’ve been putting off starting your store because it feels overwhelming — this guide is for you. We’ll go from a blank screen to a live Shopify store that can accept real orders.
Step 1 — Start your free Shopify trial
Shopify offers a free 3-day trial with no credit card required. Plans start from $29/month after trial. Head to our link to activate yours — it takes about 2 minutes.
No credit card required · Takes 2 minutes to sign up
Step 2 — Choose and customise your theme
Your theme is the visual skin of your store. For beginners, we recommend starting with Dawn (free, conversion-optimised) or Craft (clean, premium feel). In the Shopify theme editor, you can change your logo, colours, fonts, and hero image without touching code.
Step 3 — Add your first products
Go to Products → Add product. The most common mistake beginners make: writing product descriptions from the product’s perspective instead of the customer’s. Lead with the problem your product solves. Use 3–5 high-quality images minimum. Aim for 6–8 products before launching.
Step 4 — Configure payments and shipping
Enable Shopify Payments (available in US and Australia) — it’s the simplest option with no transaction fees. Also add PayPal as an alternative. For shipping, start with a simple flat rate ($5.99 domestic) or free shipping over $50.
Step 5 — Connect your custom domain
Your default Shopify URL is yourstore.myshopify.com. Buy a custom domain through Shopify ($14–20/year) or connect an existing one from Namecheap or GoDaddy. A custom domain makes your store look professional and is worth the cost immediately.
Step 6 — Final checks and launch
Before going live: place a $0.01 test order end-to-end, check your store looks good on mobile, add a Contact and About page, and configure your refund policy (required by Australian Consumer Law).
Join 12,400+ store owners who launched with StoreMints
Get the free 47-point launch checklist
Used by 12,400+ store owners before going live
