Shopify Store Setup Checklist: 30 Steps to Launch a Store That Sells

A Shopify store can look finished and still lose every sale: a payment method not activated, shipping rates missing for one country, a checkout nobody tested. This Shopify store setup checklist walks you through every step in order, from planning to the final test order, so your store is ready to sell on day one.

Use it for a new store, or to audit one you've already built.

1. Plan before you build

1. Choose your niche and audience. Stores that try to sell everything to everyone rarely convert well.
2. Decide product categories and how customers will browse them.
3. Set pricing, including shipping and returns costs.
4. Write your policies: shipping times, returns, refunds and exchanges.
5. Pick your markets: which countries and currencies you'll sell in.

2. Account and store settings

6. Choose a Shopify plan that fits your stage. See our Shopify store setup cost guide for plan and fee details.
7. Add business details: legal name, address and tax details for billing.
8. Connect a custom domain in Settings, then Domains.
9. Set store currency, units and time zone.
10. Create staff accounts with only the permissions each person needs.

3. Theme and design

11. Choose a fast, well-supported theme. Free themes are a solid start.
12. Add your logo, colours and fonts to match your brand.
13. Build the home page: clear value proposition, best sellers, trust signals.
14. Set up navigation: main menu, footer menu and search.
15. Check every page on mobile, where most shoppers browse.

4. Products and collections

16. Write product titles and descriptions for customers and search.
17. Upload high-quality images with consistent sizes and descriptive alt text.
18. Set variants, SKUs, prices and inventory.
19. Create collections that match how people shop.
20. Add product SEO: page titles, meta descriptions and clean URLs.

5. Payments, shipping and taxes

21. Activate payments. Shopify Payments is often the simplest where available; add PayPal or other gateways your customers expect.
22. Set shipping zones and rates for every country you sell to.
23. Configure taxes: sales tax in the US, VAT in the UK and EU. Check rules with an accountant if unsure.
24. Set up order notifications and customise customer emails.

6. Legal pages and trust

25. Publish policies: refund, privacy, terms of service and shipping. Shopify's generators are a starting point, not legal advice.
26. Add a contact page and clear customer service details.
27. Set up cookie consent if you sell to the UK or EU.

7. Apps, analytics and marketing

28. Install only essential apps: reviews, email marketing, maybe upsells. Every app can slow your store.
29. Connect analytics and sales channels such as Google, Meta and Shopify's own analytics.

8. Test before launch

30. Place real test orders. Test checkout on mobile and desktop, every payment method, discount codes, shipping rates for several countries, order emails and refunds. A store isn't ready until orders go through without errors.

Then remove the store password and launch.

After launch

• Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console.
• Ask early customers for reviews.
• Watch where visitors drop off and improve product pages.
• Keep speed in check as you add apps and images.

If you're still deciding where to sell, our comparison of Amazon vs Etsy vs Shopify can help.

Shopify store setup FAQ

How long does it take to set up a Shopify store?

A basic setup can be done in a few hours, but building a full catalogue, design and policies usually takes days to weeks.

What's the most common Shopify setup mistake?

Launching without testing checkout, shipping and taxes for every market. It's the fastest way to lose early sales.

Do I need apps to launch a Shopify store?

Only a few. Start with the essentials and add more when you have a clear reason.

Can I hire someone to set up my Shopify store?

Yes. A Shopify setup service can handle theme, products, payments, shipping and testing, which often saves time and avoids costly mistakes.

Launch with confidence

Follow the checklist in order, test every step of checkout and keep the store simple at first. You can add features once customers start buying.

OCTASKY provides Shopify store setup and e-commerce services, including Amazon and Etsy store management, for sellers in the US, UK and Europe. Tell us about your products and we'll send an itemised setup quote.