What's Inside
Why Shopify Is Still the #1 Choice in 2026
Let me save you weeks of research and second-guessing: if you're serious about building an eCommerce business that actually makes money, Shopify is where you need to be. I've helped dozens of entrepreneurs migrate from Etsy, Amazon, WooCommerce, and Wix — and the ones who move to Shopify consistently grow faster, spend less time fighting their platform, and keep more of their revenue.
Here's the thing most "experts" won't tell you: it's not about the platform's features list. It's about getting set up correctly from day one so you don't spend six months undoing amateur mistakes. That's exactly what this guide is for.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you click a single button, get these things ready. Trust me — stopping mid-setup to hunt for your business address or figure out your store name kills your momentum and leads to sloppy decisions you'll fix later.
Shopify Account Setup Checklist
- Email address — personal is fine to start, switch to business email later
- Store name idea — doesn't have to be final, you can change it
- Business address — home address works if you don't have a registered business address
- Phone number — personal or Google Voice number
- Credit or debit card — for the $1 trial subscription
- A password you'll remember — or better yet, use a password manager
How to Choose the Right Shopify Plan
Don't overthink this. I've seen entrepreneurs spend days comparing plan features when the answer is almost always the same: start on Basic and upgrade when your revenue justifies it.
❌ What Most People Do
- Spend days comparing every feature across all plans
- Choose a higher plan "just in case" they need it
- Pay $105-$399/month before making a single sale
- Use maybe 20% of the advanced features they're paying for
✅ What Smart Store Owners Do
- Start with Basic at $39/month
- Focus spending on products, branding, and marketing
- Upgrade to Grow only when they hit $10K+/month consistently
- Let revenue drive plan decisions, not fear of missing out
Basic — $39/month: Unlimited products, discount codes, abandoned cart recovery, 24/7 support. This covers 90% of what new stores need.
Grow — $105/month: Better reporting, lower transaction fees. Makes sense once you're doing consistent volume and need detailed analytics.
Advanced — $399/month: Custom reporting, calculated shipping rates, the lowest transaction fees. This is for established stores doing serious revenue.
Shopify Plus — Starts at $2,300/month: Enterprise-level. You'll know when you need this — and if you're reading this guide, it's not today.
Step-by-Step: Create Your Shopify Account
Here's the straightforward walkthrough. The entire process takes about 15 minutes if you have your checklist items ready. Let's get it done.
1 Navigate to the Shopify Signup Page
Go to Shopify's signup page to get started. This link gives you access to the current trial offer.
2 Fill Out Your Account Information
Enter your email address, first name, last name, and create a strong password. This email is how Shopify communicates with you — order notifications, account alerts, and platform updates all go here.
Save these credentials somewhere safe right now. Don't skip this step thinking you'll remember. You won't when you need them most.
3 Add Your Payment Method
Enter your credit card details and click the "Subscribe for $1 USD" button. This starts your trial period at just $1, giving you full access to build your store before committing to a monthly plan.
4 Review the Available Plans
You'll see all the Shopify plans laid out. Here's what you're looking at:
- Basic: $39/month — start here
- Grow: $105/month — upgrade when you're scaling
- Advanced: $399/month — for established, high-volume stores
- Shopify Plus: Starts at $2,300/month — enterprise level
We're going with Basic. It has everything you need to launch and start generating revenue.
5 Enter Your Business Information
Once you've selected your plan, Shopify will ask for your business details. Fill in your business name and address. If you're operating from home, your home address works perfectly fine here — this is for Shopify's records and your store's legal information, not displayed publicly to customers by default.
6 Add Your Phone Number
Shopify requires a phone number to complete your business address setup. This is straightforward — add your business number if you have one.
If you don't have a dedicated business line (and most new store owners don't), use your personal number. The reality is that most customer communication happens through email, not phone calls. If you're worried about privacy or expect high call volume down the road, set up a free Google Voice number.
7 Answer Shopify's Onboarding Questions
Shopify will ask you a few questions about your business — where you want to sell, what you plan to sell, and your goals. Here's what you need to know: these answers don't change your store setup. They simply help Shopify personalize the app recommendations and suggestions you'll see in your dashboard.
Answer honestly, but don't agonize over it. You can always change your approach later. The important thing is getting through setup and into your actual dashboard where the real work begins.
What to Do Immediately After Setup
Your account is created, but your store isn't ready to sell yet. Here's your priority list for the next 48 hours — in order. Don't jump ahead, don't skip steps, and definitely don't start browsing the app store yet (that's the #1 time waster for new store owners).
First 24 Hours
- Choose and install your theme
- Set up your navigation and main pages (About, Contact, Shipping Policy, Returns)
- Add your logo and brand colors
- Configure your shipping zones and rates
Next 24 Hours
- Add your first 5-10 products with quality photos and descriptions
- Set up Shopify Payments (or your preferred payment gateway)
- Configure your tax settings
- Place a test order to make sure checkout works
Before You Launch
- Connect your custom domain
- Set up email marketing (I recommend Omnisend for eCommerce)
- Install essential apps only — less is more at this stage
- Remove the password page and go live
Watch the Full Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Store Is Waiting — Now Build It Right
You've got your Shopify account set up, you know which plan to start with, and you have a clear roadmap for your first 48 hours. That puts you ahead of 90% of people who are still "researching" and never actually start.
But here's what I know from coaching dozens of entrepreneurs through this exact stage: the difference between stores that generate consistent revenue and stores that collect dust isn't the setup — it's the strategy behind it. Your theme, your product pages, your email automation, your SEO foundation — these are the systems that turn a Shopify account into a business that funds your life instead of consuming it.
Ready to build a store that actually converts? Let's talk about your specific products, your market, and the exact systems you need to start generating revenue consistently.
