Shopify can get your online store up and running quickly, without you having to speak fluent machine code and dream in binary. It’ll guide you through the process of setting up your online store, helping you every step of the way with a suite of AI tools and templates. You’ll also be able to set up secure payments and manage orders and stock all from one place.
Things to be aware of are the ongoing costs, including subscription fees and transaction charges. It’s also a little one-size-fits-all, so if you’re looking to really customise your online shop, this wouldn’t be your first choice. For this reason, it’s worth comparing other e-commerce platforms.
Overall, Shopify is one of the easiest e-commerce platforms to use for beginners. Perfect if you’re contemplating a side hustle selling items online.
Pros and cons
Pros
Quick to set up. Shopify allows you to launch an online store relatively quickly
No technical skills required. The platform handles hosting, security and updates so you don't need coding knowledge
Secure checkout. Customers can pay using a range of methods
Built-in tools and integrations. Includes basic marketing features but you can choose to add more as your business grows
Cons
Ongoing costs. Monthly fees and transaction charges can eat into profits.
Limited control. You are restricted to the templates Shopify uses, unless you have technical skills or pay for development
App dependency. Many advanced features require paid third-party apps
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What is Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that can help you create an online shop and sell products quickly and easily. Rather than building a website from scratch or managing multiple tools, Shopify brings everything together in one place. This includes the storefront your customers will see, the payments system, and the tools needed to manage orders.
Once you sign up, you can choose a design template, upload products and set prices. Customers will then be able to head to your website, browse your products and make a purchase.
Shopify offers 4 different pricing plans, with its cheapest and most popular option aimed at solo entrepreneurs. It offers a one-month free trial, and if you pay annually rather than monthly, you’ll save 25%.
Who is Shopify for?
Shopify could work for you if you’re looking to set up a small online business to sell items but don’t have the time or skills to build a website from scratch. Perhaps you want to sell handmade jewellery and accessories or printed T-shirts, for example.
Because it does a lot of the hard work for you, Shopify could be ideal if you’re using your online business as a side-hustle while still working your full-time job. You don’t need coding skills and you can get a basic store live relatively quickly.
But Shopify is also used by established brands and retailers.
What are the main features?
The key features of Shopify are as follows:
Website builder
This is a core feature, enabling you to build an online store using AI, custom templates and drag and drop tools to get your website looking how you want it, without needing coding knowledge. You can buy a domain through Shopify, or connect to an existing one if you already own one from a third-party provider.
SEO and analytics
Shopify includes basic search engine optimisation (SEO) features, such as the ability to edit page titles, meta descriptions and URLs. It also provides built-in analytics to track traffic and sales performance. But if you want more advanced SEO tools, you’ll need to pay for third-party apps.
Payment processing
Shopify Payments enables you to accept a variety of payment methods at checkout and customers can make a purchase in a single click. Shopify Payments protects your customers’ data through fraud detection and encryption methods, with payment processing fees depending on the subscription plan you’ve selected.
Inventory management
Managing inventory can be a headache, but Shopify’s dashboard will enable you to easily track stock levels, manage deliveries and stay on top of customer orders. You can automatically generate shipping labels and provide customers with tracking information.
Sales and marketing
Shopify can also help you promote your products on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok to generate sales.
If you later choose to expand, you can reach international customers by listing items on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay and Etsy.
"I signed up to Shopify to see how difficult it was to get started for a beginner and was pleasantly surprised. After accepting a £1 trial, I went into the dashboard and was ready to start building my store in under 5 minutes. No demos, no sales calls, and no complicated software installation.I had a look around the dashboard and was impressed with the analytics setup. Having run my own websites before, I know you can gain a lot of knowledge from data and reporting, so it was nice to see this already built out for me without any extra work.I liked the new AI feature called Sidekick. I started up a quick conversation and had a bit of back and forth, and it seemed capable of directing me to the right place. I can imagine this is a big win for people who don't have the resources to hire their own developers or designers. "
Matt Boyle
Publisher at Finder
AI-powered assistant
Built into Shopify admin, Sidekick works alongside you to answer business-specific questions, give you insights and reports, help with content creation and automate technical tasks.
Is Shopify safe?
Shopify is a safe, secure and legitimate platform for both buyers and sellers. It features robust, built-in security such as SSL encryption and PCI DSS compliance (the highest standard for payment security). It also comes with built-in fraud detection and secure payment processing.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Kate Steere
as part of our
fact-checking process.
Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time.
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Ever wanted to build your own online store? Discover how to set one up over the weekend.
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I had a look around the dashboard and was impressed with the analytics setup. Having run my own websites before, I know you can gain a lot of knowledge from data and reporting, so it was nice to see this already built out for me without any extra work.
I liked the new AI feature called Sidekick. I started up a quick conversation and had a bit of back and forth, and it seemed capable of directing me to the right place. I can imagine this is a big win for people who don't have the resources to hire their own developers or designers. "
