Start Selling With Shopify: The Easiest Tools To Launch Your Business
Online shopping has taken the world by storm, and entrepreneurs love it! So, if I were you, I would take this perfect opportunity to launch my own online store now! But you may be wondering, how do you start one? The answer is Shopify!
With Shopify, you can easily create an online store, add products, and start selling in no time. So buckle up because we'll take you into the world of Shopify and discuss everything needed to know to achieve your business goals!
Looking for a faster and more reliable way to build your business? Try Replo today! It's the quickest route to start a Shopify store, and our experts will guide you every step of the way. Book a demo today!
Everything You Need To Know About Shopify
Shopify is a comprehensive eCommerce platform that enables you to create and manage your online business. Setting up, customizing your store's look and feel, adding products, and selling them, all of these can be done with Shopify!
But wait, there's more! You can also manage and improve your online store through its powerful tools like analytics, marketing, and customer service.
One of the best things about Shopify is its support community. You can access tutorials, guides, and blogs to help you get started. Plus, their customer service team is always to the rescue if you ever need help with any questions or issues.
Why Should You Open A Shopify Store?
Picture this: you have all the ideas and resources for a business venture but don't know where to start. Tragic!
With Shopify, you can get your business up and running quickly. It doesn't matter if you lack technical experience; thanks to its intuitive, user-friendly interface, you can customize and manage your store seamlessly without needing to code!
Whether you're a small business owner or a big-time entrepreneur, Shopify is the simplest way to build, manage, and promote your online store through SEO optimization, social media integration, email marketing, and more. Plus, you can access a global market as Shopify allows you to accept payments from customers worldwide.
Still hesitant to open a Shopify store? Let Replo help you overcome your doubts with our excellent services. Check out our plan details.
Cost Of Starting A Shopify Store
Shopify has five different plans, and the prices range from $5 to $2000+ per month.(1)
1. Starter Plan
At just $5, you can sell products through email, social media, SMS, WhatsApp, and anywhere else you might want to share a link to a product. This plan also offers Shopify POS (a point-of-sale app that enables users to sell products in person).
2. Basic Shopify Plan
This $32 plan is ideal for those who are just starting out and want to test the waters. It includes features like unlimited products, 24/7 support, and manual order creation.
3. Shopify Plan
This plan is perfect for those seeking to expand their business and gain more customers, as it features tools like abandoned cart recovery, gift cards, and professional reports. This plan is offered at $92.
4. Advanced Shopify Plan
Best for those looking to scale their business and have more control over their store. For $399, you can enjoy the powerful features of this plan, including advanced report building, third-party calculated shipping rates, and advanced fraud analysis.
5. Shopify Plus
This is an all-in-one solution for high-volume businesses. Starting at $2,000 per month, you can enjoy all features offered in all other plans plus lower transaction fees.
NB: On top of the base costs from these plans, there are also additional fees to consider, such as payment processing fees, transaction fees, and third-party app fees. Both payment processing and transaction fees depend on the type of plan you choose, but typically, they don't exceed the 2.9% + 0.30 cent mark.
Third-party app fees depend on your app choice, but we highly recommend you check out Replo. Our experts will help you build your ideal online store with just a few clicks. Contact us today!
Build, test, and iterate on Shopify without the dev time
Replo has hundreds of templates to help you launch and test new landing pages - without writing a line of code.
Benefits Of Shopify Store
Managing and expanding an online store can be a grueling process, let alone starting one. Whether or not you're new to eCommerce, Shopify can help your business grow. Check out the benefits!
1. Affordable
Shopify offers five different plans depending on your needs and budget. It also provides a range of additional services, such as payment gateways, marketing tools, and shipping integrations, which can help save money in the long run.
2. Easy To Use
You don't have to be tech-savvy here! With its straightforward and easy-to-use interface, you can set up your online store with a few simple clicks.
3. Professional Design
If you don't like customizing that much, choose from Shopify's wide range of professionally designed themes.
4. SEO Friendly
Shopify is SEO optimized and can help increase your store's visibility by providing built-in tools such as keyword research, meta tags, and product descriptions.
5. Security
You can be sure that your store is safe and secure through Shopify's two-factor authentication, fraud protection, and PCI compliance.
6. Scalability
With Shopify, you can scale your plan up or down as your business grows, making it easy to expand your store and add more products or services.
7. Support
Shopify has a range of resources, such as tutorials, webinars, and forums. They also have 24/7 customer support.
Best Time To Start A Shopify Store
Timing is indeed everything, especially when it comes to starting a Shopify store. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the best time to launch an online business, you should consider the following factors:
Type Of Products
If you're selling products that are typically available or in demand during certain seasons, such as winter coats or summer swimsuits, you'll want to launch your store before the season starts to get your seasonal products in front of customers as soon as possible.
Consider The Competition
They say, “the early bird catches the worm,” so starting your online store ahead of competitors can give you an edge in a crowded market.
Timing Of Your Launch
Starting your own business is a big commitment. Launch your store when you have the time to focus on it and make sure everything is running smoothly.
Promotions Or Discounts
If you plan on offering any promotions or discounts, launch your store a few weeks prior to that so customers have the time to learn about your store and your products or services.
How Much Time Does It Take To Set Up A Shopify Store?
The time spent setting up your Shopify store depends on how much customization you want.
If you meticulously personalize the look, you'll need to spend more time setting it up. But if you're just starting out and want to get your store up and running quickly, you can use the Shopify theme library to quickly customize your store and start selling in just minutes!
Useful Tools To Launch Your Business
The processes involved in launching a business can be overwhelming, but check out some of the most useful tools Shopify offers:
1. Shopify App Store: You can find and install apps for marketing, analytics, customer service, and more to help customize and improve your store.
2. Shopify Point Of Sale (POS): TheShopify POS system enables you to accept payments and manage your store personally, which is great for businesses with both an online and a physical presence.
3. Shopify Payments: Integrating Shopify Payments into your store lets customers securely pay with their credit cards or PayPal.
4. Shopify Shipping: You can easily set up shipping rates, print labels, and track orders from anywhere with Shopify Shipping.
5. Shopify Design: We all want to add a personal touch to our store, and with Shopify Design, you can play around with different themes and templates to make your store stand out.
6. Shopify Support: You can contact Shopify's 24/7 customer support team for assistance, problems, and issues or browse their knowledge base for answers to FAQs.
7. Shopify Plus: Creating a business doesn't end in store launching. Shopify provides powerful features such as advanced analytics, customer segmentation, and more to help further improve your store.
The Quickest Way On How To Start A Shopify Store
Planning to launch your own online business soon? Create a Shopify store and start selling products to customers all over the world! Here are the steps you need to take to get started:
1. Prepare Yourself
Make sure you have a clear plan in place for what you want to accomplish with your store. Choose your niche, do product research, learn more about your target customers, and consider the different types of payments and shipments. At the end of the day, you must be prepared for everything that comes your way.
2. Open A Shopify Account
Opening a Shopify account is the first step to getting your business off the ground. Shopify is currently the #1 eCommerce platform where you can conveniently start, manage, and grow your online store.
3. Include Products
There are three ways to add products to your store: manually, importing from a CSV file, or using an app.
Manually: This is a simple and straightforward process. You simply add product images, descriptions, pricing information, and other details about each product.
Importing From A CSV File: Use this method If you need to add a large number of products to your store quickly.
Create a CSV file with all the product information, including images, descriptions, pricing, etc., then upload the file to your store in just a few clicks.
Using An App: Don't like manually entering product information? You can use an app to help you add products to your store quickly and easily.
No matter which method you choose, make sure that every product description is accurate and up-to-date.
4. Include Pages On Your Website
Create a variety of pages that will help your customers find the information they need and make their shopping experience smooth and more enjoyable.
- About Us: This page should give customers a brief overview of your business, what you do, and why you're passionate about it.
- Contact Us: Without this, customers cannot reach you. So, publish your contact information, such as your phone number, email address, and physical address.
- Shipping And Returns: This page should include information on how your customers can return products, as well as the shipping options you offer.
- FAQ: To answer any common questions about your products, payment methods, and delivery time.
5. Choose A Theme And Make Changes To Your Store
Deciding on a theme is crucial in setting up a Shopify store. Not only does it set the tone for your store, but it also affects how customers interact with your products.
Shopify themes are designed to be customizable, so you can change your store's overall impression to match your brand. You can adjust the colors, fonts, and layout of the theme to create a unique, personal style for your store.
Shopify themes are also mobile device friendly, meaning they will adjust to fit different screen sizes, so customers are sure to have a great experience regardless of the device they use.
6. Create A Custom Checkout Page
Completing the purchase is the main goal of every business, so put most of your effort into customizing your checkout page.
Your checkout page should be visually appealing and easy to navigate. It also must be secure, so customers can feel confident that their payment information is safe.
7. Establish Shipping
There are several options available, including flat-rate shipping, free shipping, and calculated shipping.
Flat-Rate Shipping: Charge a fixed rate for every order, regardless of the size or weight of the items. This is a great option for businesses that sell smaller items or items of similar size and weight.
Free Shipping: According to statistics, the free shipping option increases a store's sales and conversion rate by 50%.(2) But make sure to set up free shipping in a way that is sustainable for your business.
Calculated Shipping: This shipping option is ideal for businesses offering products that vary in size and weight. It is a more complex method that considers the size, weight, and destination of the order when calculating the cost of shipping.
Once the shipping option is decided, choose how to fulfill orders (choose fulfillment services like Fulfillment by Amazon or fulfill orders yourself). The decision is up to you.
8. Set Up Your Taxes
Depending on your location, you may be required to charge sales tax on certain items. But don't worry because Shopify can easily configure the taxes compliant with local laws.
Tax laws can vary by state, so check with your local government, register for a sales tax permit or number, and start charging taxes on your store accurately.
9. Configure Payment Gateways
Shopify offers a range of payment gateways, including popular ones like Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay, but you can also opt for Shopify's payment gateway “Shopify Payments,” which is integrated with Shopify's checkout process.
Remember that each payment gateway has its own set of fees and rules, so read up on the payment gateway's terms and conditions before you set it up to avoid any unexpected charges.
10. Be Ready For The Launch
Are you ready to start selling with Shopify? Before you launch your store, take some time to double-check these things:
1. Ensure that your store looks professional and user-friendly.
2. You have to guarantee that your Shopify store is secure and all payment gateways are working correctly.
3. Before completely jumping into it, create a marketing plan. Open social media accounts, use targeted advertising, and set up an email list.
4. Business management is tricky. So, make an inventory management system to help you keep track of your products and ensure that customers receive their orders quickly.
11. Open Your Shop
Now, it's time to unveil your store to the world. Once you have accomplished all the steps outlined above, launch your new store, and now you're ready to reap the fruits of all your labor!
Build, test, and iterate on Shopify without the dev time
Replo has hundreds of templates to help you launch and test new landing pages - without writing a line of code.
Get Started With Shopify Store With Replo Today
Want to create a Shopify store that will rise above the rest? Let Replo help! We offer comprehensive tools and resources to help you get started with your Shopify store quickly and easily.
With Replo, you'll have access to a user-friendly website builder, pre-built customizable templates, and a wide range of integrations that will enable you to create a unique and professional-looking online store that stands out from the competition.
Plus, our team of expert designers, developers, and marketers is always available to provide you with support and guidance throughout the entire process, from setting up your store to launching your first marketing campaign.
So, don't wait any longer to start your eCommerce journey - sign up with Replo today and start building your dream Shopify store!
Want to know what Replo can do for your business? Check out our latest blogs:
- What Is Klaviyo? Your Guide To Email Marketing
- Designing High-Converting Landing Pages with Replo
- Replo Raises $4M+ to Empower Mid-Market and Enterprise E-commerce Companies
FAQs
Is Shopify worth it for small businesses?
Absolutely! Shopify is a great platform for small businesses to get started with their online store. This powerful platform provides an easy-to-use interface with plenty of features to help you create and manage your store. It also offers excellent customer support and a wide range of apps and integrations to help you customize your store.
Is Shopify similar to Amazon?
No, Shopify is not the same as Amazon. While both platforms provide eCommerce solutions, Shopify is a user-friendly platform where users can sell their goods online. On the other hand, Amazon is an online marketplace with millions of consumers.(3)
How do Shopify store owners get paid?
Shopify store owners can accept payments from customers in various ways, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other payment methods. Shopify also provides its payment gateway, “Shopify Payments,” which allows store owners to accept payments directly from customers.
Is Shopify easy for beginners?
Yes, Shopify is easy to use for beginners. It offers hundreds of colors, fonts, and themes that you can easily choose from when building your store.
What is a good profit margin for Shopify?
The profit margin for a Shopify store depends on the type of products you are selling and the pricing of your products.
Generally, the higher the price of your products, the higher the profit margin. However, you should also factor in the cost of shipping, taxes, and other expenses when calculating your profit margin.
Sources:
- Shopify pricing - setup and open your online store today – free trial. Shopify. (n.d.-b). https://www.shopify.com/pricing?term=shopify+pricing&adid=566002061896&campaignid=15436644160&branded_enterprise=1&BOID=brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPKiBhDvARIsACn-gzBX7KBUopCq5OdoUaa_kfwoRArKAaHI_OaYCixNQeJhnnQxBpy7HxwaAgVcEALw_wcB&cmadid=516752332%3Bcmadvertiserid.
- Lazar, M. (2020, January 21). Reasons why a free shipping threshold gets you more sales. eCommerce Blog. https://blog.shift4shop.com/why-a-free-shipping-threshold-gets-you-more-sales
- 25+ amazon statistics [2023]: Facts about the largest U.S. e-commerce market. Zippia. (2023, March 28). https://www.zippia.com/advice/amazon-statistics/#:~:text=As%20of%202022%2C%20there%20are,members%20(148.6%20million%20people).