Setting Up Shopify: A Step by Step Beginners Guide for U.S. UK & EU Sellers

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a beginner-friendly platform that lets you build and run your own online store — no tech skills needed. You can choose a theme, add products, accept payments, manage orders, and market your store all in one place.

It works entirely online, so you can run your business from any device, and Shopify’s 24/7 support and tutorials make getting started easy.

In short: Shopify gives anyone the tools to launch and grow a professional online shop. Just follow my simple guide below to get started!

Step 1: Create Your Account

Visit Shopify.com and click Start Free Trial.
Enter your email, create a password, choose your store name, and select your country (USA, UK, or EU) for localized support.

Step 2: Customize Your Store

Choose a theme (free or premium) from the Shopify Theme Store.
Use the drag-and-drop editor to arrange pages, add your logo, and select brand colors.

Need more design flexibility?

If you want more control over the look and feel of your store beyond the standard themes, platforms like TemplateMonster UK and ShopWired UK (Shopify-style builder) offer thousands of professionally designed templates. These themes are created by independent designers and often come with extra features like built-in animations, custom layouts, or advanced product filtering.

Whether you're after a minimal, modern look or something more bold and creative, you can easily browse by style, features, or industry (e.g. fashion, home decor, digital products). Many themes also include setup instructions and ongoing updates, making them a great option if you want to take your store design a step further without hiring a developer.

These premium themes can help your store stand out, especially if you’re targeting a niche market or want to build strong branding from the start.

Step 3: Add Your Products

This is where you start building your actual shop by uploading what you’re going to sell.  Here’s what to focus on:

Upload high-quality photos: Clear, well-lit images help customers see exactly what they’re buying. Include multiple angles if possible. A plain background often works best to keep the focus on your product.

Write clear, engaging descriptions: Don’t just list features — describe how the product can be used, who it’s for, or what makes it special. Keep it easy to read and include keywords that people might search for.

Set prices and stock levels: Decide how much to charge and how much stock you have. Shopify makes it easy to manage this and update things when needed.

Organize your products into collections: Collections help your customers find what they’re looking for. You might create collections like “New Arrivals,” “Gifts Under £20,” or “Best Sellers.” It makes browsing your shop feel more curated and professional.

Step 4: Set Up Payment, Shipping & Taxes

Choose how customers can pay — like Shopify Payments, PayPal, or other local options.  Set where you ship to and how much it costs.  Turn on taxes based on your country (Shopify can work this out for you automatically in many cases).

Many UK and EU sellers also use tools like Tidio (for live chat) or Klarna (to let customers pay later) to improve the shopping experience.

Step 5: Domain & Branding

Get Your Domain Name

You can register a new domain directly through Shopify, which makes setup simple and seamless. It’s a great option if you want everything managed in one place.  Already have a domain? No problem — Shopify lets you connect it easily from most popular providers.

Prefer to use a UK-based domain platform?

Consider 123 Reg or Fasthosts — two well-known UK companies that offer:

• Affordable domain names (e.g. .co.uk, .com, .shop)
• Easy domain management tools
• Optional email hosting so you can create a professional address like [email protected]

This way, you stay in full control of your domain while keeping your online business setup local, reliable, and budget-friendly.

Step 6: Launch and Market Your Store

Before going live...

• Test your checkout process
• Remove password protection to launch publicly
• Use Shopify’s built-in SEO, blog, and marketing tools
• Boost your reach with email marketing tools like GetResponse or MailerLite 

Startup Costs & Pricing Overview

USA – $39/mo | Domain: $10–$20/yr | Apps: $5–$50/mo

UK – £39/mo | Domain: £8–£15/yr | Apps: £5–£50/mo

EU – €39/mo | Domain: €10–€20/yr | Apps: €5–€50/mo

Themes: Free or $100–$180 (same for all regions)

*Remember: You can keep things simple and affordable using free themes and essential apps to start.

Final Estimated Costs (Basic Setup)

USA: ~$60/month | ~$723/year | UK: ~£60/month | ~£732/year | EU: ~€60/month | ~€723/year

*Costs include: Shopify plan, domain, and a few paid apps (pro-rated i.e you’re only pay for the part you actually use, not the full amount).

*Other top notch platforms to explore*

✅ If you’re still deciding, here are some beginner-Friendly Shopify Alternatives (UK/EU-focused).  These platforms are ideal for beginners who want to set up a full online shop without tech skills. They include built-in tools for product listings, payments, shipping, branding, and marketing—just like Shopify.

1. ShopWired (UK)
A UK-based, all-in-one e-commerce platform with everything from product management to built-in SEO and mobile-ready themes. Ideal for UK sellers, EU shipping, digital and physical products. 

2. EKM
A UK based, all-in-one hosted e-commerce platform. Very close to Shopify in design and flow. Key Features: Full store builder, UK payment integrations, supports physical/digital products, dedicated account manager. Ideal for sellers focused on the UK or starting small.

3. Jimdo (Germany/EU)
A user-friendly website and shop builder made in Germany. Supports local payment methods, shipping tools, and product organization. Ideal for small business owners, freelancers, creatives, and personal bloggers who want a simple, no-code website—especially those in Europe looking for a GDPR-compliant alternative to Wix or Squarespace.

4. Shoplazza
Full Shopify-style e-commerce platform with HQ in Singapore, strong EU presence. Key Features: Drag-and-drop store builder, global shipping/payment integrations, easy to use, mobile responsive.

5. Jumpseller
A hosted e-commerce platform based in Portugal with Shopify-like features such as Multi-currency, multilingual stores, Stripe/PayPal integrations and 
Drag-and-drop customizer. Ideal for: EU sellers targeting local + international markets.

Conclusion

Starting your eCommerce journey doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Whether you decide to use Shopify, ShopWired, EKM or any alternative of the platforms above, each offers powerful tools to help you build, grow, and manage your store. The key is to start with the basics, keep things simple, and take advantage of the support and resources available to you.

With this guide, you’ve got everything you need to get started — from setting up your store to using the right tools for UK and EU sellers. Embrace the process, stay steady, and soon you’ll have a fully functioning online store that’s ready to make an impact.

Remember, every successful business begins with that first step. So take yours today — you've got this! 

*Please note, if you sign up to any listed and recommended 'affiliate' supplier, I will make a small commission for referring you.*