How to start an online store with Shopify: a complete guide

01What do you need to decide before building anything?

Start with three questions: what you sell, to whom, and why a customer should buy from you. The answers shape your range, pricing and how the pages are structured.

Think about how customers will find the store too. A store without traffic is a quiet place to be. Plan your channels before launch, even if you switch them on later.

02How do you choose a platform?

For many stores, Shopify is a sensible choice because it handles checkout, payments, inventory and product pages. The best platform depends on your range, your budget and the systems you already use.

Compare on what affects you directly: how the store should look, which integrations you need, who will run it, and what it costs over time.

03Payments, shipping and returns

Offer the payment options your customers expect. In Sweden, Klarna and Swish are two examples. Availability can differ between platforms and store setups, so check it in the solution you choose.

Shipping and returns must be clear before purchase. Customers should know what delivery costs, how long it takes and how a return works.

04Withdrawal rights and the withdrawal function

For distance purchases, consumers in Sweden generally have a 14-day right of withdrawal. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency, the period starts the day after the goods were received, or for services the day after the contract was concluded.

The Swedish Parliament has approved a law requiring a dedicated withdrawal function for contracts concluded through an online interface. The changes take effect on 19 June 2026 and apply to contracts concluded after that date. Plan the function during the build, because it affects checkout and the customer account. Check the current rules on the Consumer Agency's website before launch.

05VAT and business registration

Which VAT rules apply depends on what you sell, where your customers are, and how you are registered. Confirm this with the Swedish Tax Agency before you sell, especially if you plan to sell into other EU countries.

06Test before you launch

Place a test order from start to finish: product page, checkout, payment, order confirmation and the email the customer receives. Test on mobile too, because many purchases happen there.

07Launch and search visibility

Launch is the start, not the end. Complete titles, descriptions and product information before the store goes live.

Google's own SEO Starter Guide states that there are no secrets that will automatically rank your site first in Google, but that good practice makes it easier for search engines to crawl, index and understand your content. Then measure which pages produce orders and prioritise from there.

08What does it cost to start an online store?

The cost depends on the number of products, how much design and development you need, which integrations you want, and who runs the store. Split the costs into platform, domain, design, development, apps, payments, inventory, shipping and marketing.

Ask for quotes based on the same description of the store, so they are comparable.