Shopify recently exceeded $1 billion in revenue for the first time in one quarter. Founded in 2004, Shopify is now a leading e-commerce company that powers over half a million businesses in 175 countries. It has continued to expand quickly since then. But what is Shopify?
And how are small businesses generating an average of $17,000 per year on this platform? Here are ten things you should know about Shopify if you run an online business.
1. What Is Shopify?
Shopify is an eCommerce platform enabling businesses to create online stores. This software is designed with ease of use so busy business owners can manage their inventory, process payments, and track orders without hassle.
Shopify offers users a platform they can build on quickly, with a simple checkout process and a wide range of features. Businesses of all sizes use it, from small businesses to enterprise companies. Shopify is the perfect platform for entrepreneurs who want to start small and scale up as their business grows.
What Is a Shopify Store?
A Shopify store is an online store that users create using the Shopify platform. These stores are easy to set up and use, offering a wide range of features that help users create a successful online store.
2. Features Available
It offers users several features to expand the functionality of their online store. Some of the most popular are:
A Customizable Platform
The platform provides users with a customizable platform. This means that you can change the look and feel of your shop to match your brand identity. As your business grows, you can also add features and functionality to your shop.
An Easy-to-Use Checkout Process
Shopify’s checkout process is designed for customer ease, making it quick and straightforward to finish a purchase. This means you won’t have to set up complicated payment gateways to start accepting orders.
Product Management and Order
The product management tool makes it easy for you to track your inventory, process orders, and manage your product listings. Shopify’s order management system makes it easy to follow and manage your orders.
Payments
Shopify Payments is a payment gateway that enables businesses to accept credit card payments. You can use it to get multiple types of payments on your store.
Shipping and POS
Shopify Shipping is a shipping software that enables businesses to automate their shipping process. Shopify POS is a point-of-sale system that allows companies to sell in person.
Easy Coupons and Refunds
The platform makes it easy to offer coupons and refunds to your customers. This helps you keep your customers happy and coming back for more. You won’t have to worry about manually processing these transactions.
3. What Is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a business model in which businesses sell products without carrying inventory. When a customer orders a product from a dropshipping store, the store owner purchases the product from a supplier and has it shipped directly to the customer. Dropshipping allows businesses to start selling products without having to invest in inventory.
Shopify dropshipping is a type of dropshipping that uses the Shopify platform to run its store. Shopify dropshipping stores have the same features as a regular Shopify store, plus some additional features specifically for dropshipping.
These features include Oberlo, an app that allows you to find products to sell, and AliExpress Shipping, which provides automated shipping to customers.
4. Why Use Shopify?
Shopify is a popular platform for businesses of all sizes because it is easy to use and provides a wide range of features. Shopify is a good choice for businesses that either do not want to invest in inventory or want to start selling quickly. Shopify stores can be set up and running in a matter of minutes.
Want a scalable platform? Shopify is a scalable platform that can grow with your business. A fantastic benefit to using Shopify is that it’s effortless to take your business from a hobby to a full-time job.
Many first-time entrepreneurs who use Shopify to build their stores have day jobs and then work on their stores in the evenings and weekends. They start slow, making a few sales here and there. But as their store grows, they eventually quit their day job and work on their store full-time.
How Much Does Shopify Cost?
The cost of Shopify depends on the plan that you choose. The basic Shopify plan starts at $29 per month. There is also a monthly fee for using Shopify Payments.
5. What Is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is a premium version of Shopify best suited for high-growth businesses.
Shopify Plus offers the same features as regular Shopify, plus some additional features that specifically serve the needs of high-growth businesses. These features include advanced security, a dedicated account manager, and unlimited employees.
Shopify Plus is a good choice for businesses snowballing and needing a scalable platform. These businesses need advanced features that are not available on regular Shopify.
6. How to Sell on Shopify
Selling on Shopify is easy and can be done in a few simple steps. The first step is choosing which Shopify plan is right for your business. There are three plans available.
Next, you’ll follow the instructions to set up your Shopify store. This includes choosing a domain name, adding products, and choosing a theme.
Once your store is set up, you can start selling products to customers. You can accept payments using Shopify Payments or a third-party payment processor.
Promote your store using Shopify’s marketing tools to drive traffic to your website. Make sure t use Shopify’s built-in analytics to track your progress and see how your business is doing.
7. How to Buy on Shopify
Are you wondering how your customers will find you? There are two ways to buy products on Shopify. The first is through your online store.
Users can buy products from Shopify stores that look like their own websites. Shopify stores accept payments using Shopify Payments or a third-party payment processor.
You can also have your products listed in the Shopify marketplace, a collection of stores selling products on Shopify.
To buy products on Shopify, you must create an account and add a payment method. You can then start shopping for products on Shopify stores and marketplaces.
8. How to Pay on Shopify
Shopify stores and marketplaces accept payments using Shopify Payments or a third-party payment processor. Third-party payment processors allow you to accept credit cards in your store. Some popular third-party payment processors include PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net.
To accept payments on your Shopify store, you must choose a payment gateway and add a payment method. You can then start accepting payments from customers.
What Are Shopify Payments?
Shopify Payments is a payment gateway that allows you to accept credit cards in your store. Shopify Payments is available in the following countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
9. How to Ship on Shopify
Shopify offers two shipping methods: Flat rate and real-time shipping. Flat-rate shipping charges a fixed price for shipping, while real-time shipping calculates shipping rates based on the weight and dimensions of your products.
Once you’ve chosen a shipping method, you will need to set up your shipping rates. This can be done in the Shipping section of your Shopify admin.
Once you’ve set up your shipping rates, you can print shipping labels from your Shopify admin. Shipping labels can be printed for all major carriers, including USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Once you’ve printed your shipping labels, you can ship your products to customers.
10. Shopify Customer Support
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support. You can contact Shopify’s customer support team by phone, email, or live chat. Shopify also has a knowledge base where you can find answers to common questions.
If you need help with your Shopify store, there are also a lot of third-party resources available, such as Shopify Experts and Shopify Forums.
Is Shopify the Best eCommerce Platform?
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms. Shopify is easy to use, has many features, and offers 24/7 customer support. Overall, Shopify is an excellent platform for those looking to start an online store.
With a customizable platform, payment processing, shipping, and customer support included, you have everything available to get started. However, Shopify is not the only eCommerce platform available. Some other popular eCommerce platforms include WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce.
It’s essential to compare different eCommerce platforms before deciding which suits you. Consider your needs and budget when choosing an eCommerce platform.
Shopify is an excellent choice for those looking for an all-in-one solution.
Anyone Can Sell on Shopify
This should answer your question, “What is Shopify?” Now, you know how to start an eCommerce store.
Whether you’re looking to start a small business or side hustle, Shopify provides you with everything you need to get started. All you need is an idea, and Shopify will take care of the rest.
Do you need content for your Shopify store? Contact us for high-quality Shopify content that will help you rank in Google and convert more visitors into customers.
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