How to Start an Online Store: A 7-Step Plan
By Savora Finance · Reviewed 2026-11-08
A practical seven-step plan to go from a product idea to a store that is open for business.
1. Choose a product you can supply
Decide whether you will make it, buy it wholesale, use print on demand or sell digital files. Pick one product or a small group of related ones to start.
2. Check the numbers first
Work out your price, product cost, shipping and payment fees before you build anything. Our profit calculator shows your profit per sale and how many sales cover your monthly costs.
3. Name the store and get a domain
Choose a short, clear name and check that the domain is available. Your name should tell people what you sell.
4. Set up the store
Open a Shopify trial, pick a theme and add your products with clear photos and honest descriptions. Themes and the visual editor mean you do not need to code, and Shopify's connector for Claude can help draft a store preview and product descriptions.
5. Set shipping, returns and payments
Write simple shipping and return policies, turn on payments and set tax settings for where you sell. Customers buy more readily when the rules are clear.
6. Place a test order
Buy your own product to check checkout, emails and shipping rates before anyone else does.
7. Launch and tell people
Share the store with friends, on social media, in local groups and by email. Collect email addresses from day one so you can sell to the same people again.
Affiliate link: we earn a commission if you sign up for a paid plan through the button below. It does not change your price.
Ready to test your idea? Open a Shopify store, and use its Claude connector to help build it.
Keep reading
Check your product's profit. Use our free profit calculator before you spend money.
Open the calculatorGeneral information only, not financial advice.