Starting an online store has never been easier, but "easy to sign up" and "ready to take orders" are two very different things. This guide walks through the steps that actually matter for a South African Shopify store, in the order you should do them.
1. Get clear on what you're selling and who to
Before you open a Shopify account, write down three things: what you sell, who buys it, and why they'd buy it from you rather than someone else. This shapes every decision that follows, from your theme to your shipping rates.
If you're still deciding what to sell, read our guide on choosing the right product to sell online first.
2. Pick a Shopify plan
Shopify offers several plans with different monthly fees and transaction costs. For most new South African stores, the entry-level plan is enough to launch. You can upgrade later when your sales justify it.
Prices change, so always check the current figures on Shopify's pricing page before you commit. Shopify also regularly runs a free or discounted trial, which is a good time to set everything up before you start paying in full.
3. Set up your payment gateway
Shopify's own payment system, Shopify Payments, is not available to South African stores. Instead, you'll connect a local payment provider such as Paystack, PayFast, Yoco or Ozow.
Each has different fees, payout times and supported payment methods (cards, instant EFT, SnapScan and so on). Our guide to Shopify payment gateways in South Africa compares what to look for.
4. Sort out shipping before you launch
Shipping is where many South African stores lose money without realising it. A single flat rate might be fair for a customer in Johannesburg but far too low for a remote delivery in the Northern Cape.
Decide whether you'll use flat rates, zone-based rates or live courier rates, and test your checkout with a few different postal codes. See how to set up shipping rates on Shopify in South Africa.
5. Choose and customise a theme
Start with a fast, well-supported theme rather than the flashiest one you can find. You can always add custom sections later. Read how to choose a Shopify theme for what to check.
6. Add your products properly
Every product needs:
- Clear photos on a clean background, plus at least one lifestyle shot
- A title that says exactly what it is
- A description that answers the questions customers would otherwise email you about
- Accurate weight, so your shipping rates are calculated correctly
- Variants (size, colour) set up as variants, not separate products
7. Add your legal pages
At minimum you need a returns policy, shipping policy, terms of service and privacy policy. Under POPIA, your privacy policy matters. Our POPIA checklist for Shopify stores covers the basics.
8. Test everything, then launch
Place a real test order from start to finish: add to cart, check the shipping rate, pay, and confirm you received the order email. Then refund it. It's the only way to know your store actually works.
The bottom line
A Shopify store can be live in a weekend, but a store that's ready to sell takes a little more care: local payments, accurate shipping and clear product pages. Get those right and you're ahead of most new stores.
Stuck on any of these steps? Ask us for free advice. We'll point you in the right direction.