How to set up an online store: products, shipping and checkout

Before you start

• Connect a payment provider, such as Stripe, so you can take card payments.
• Have product photos, descriptions, prices and variants (sizes, colours) ready.
• Decide where you ship and how much it costs.

Step 1: Create your products

1. Go to Payments → Products and create a product.
2. Add the name, description, media, price and any variants.
3. Switch on Include in Online Store and save. Products without this setting won't show in your store.

Step 2: Add the store to your website

Go to Sites → Stores to start the guided setup, or add store elements to your website in the builder: Featured Products, Collections List and Cart. The cart lets shoppers adjust items, and checkout collects their details, shipping choice, coupon codes and payment.

Step 3: Set up shipping

1. Go to Payments → Settings → Shipping & Delivery.
2. Create a shipping zone, name it and choose the countries and states it covers.
3. Add rates: flat rates, or rates based on order value or weight, such as free shipping over a set amount.
4. Add a default zone for everywhere else, so no customer sees "no shipping available".

At checkout, the cheapest option shows first and free shipping is selected by default when available. You can also offer pickup in store.

Step 4: Fulfil orders

Orders appear under Payments → Orders. When you ship, add the tracking number, carrier and tracking link so the customer is kept informed.

Step 5: Market to your buyers

Because every order creates a contact, you can send follow-up emails and texts, ask for reviews, recover abandoned checkouts and run campaigns. For single hero products, a product funnel with order bumps and upsells often converts better than a store page.