This Shopify store setup checklist gives you 35 steps in six phases: store details and domain; markets, taxes and shipping; payments, checkout and policies; theme and pages; products and collections; and apps, tracking and launch. Work through them in order, because later steps, such as shipping rates and test orders, depend on earlier settings.
Each phase has a table with the step, where to find it in the Shopify admin and what to check. Copy the rows into a spreadsheet, add an owner and a date, and you have a launch plan.
Where a step deserves its own guide, such as choosing a theme, picking apps or on-page SEO, this checklist gives the short version and links to the full guide.
Key takeaways
- Set your store currency, country and time zone before the first order; Shopify warns about the risk of changing currency after orders exist.
- Shopify Payments is available only in listed countries; stores elsewhere, including Pakistan, use third-party providers and manual methods such as cash on delivery.
- Selling in several currencies with full functionality requires Shopify Payments, so check availability before you plan multi-currency pricing.
- Shopify can generate policy templates in English, but you’re responsible for what they say and for following them.
- Place test orders for every payment method and shipping zone before you switch off private mode and launch.
What does a Shopify store setup checklist cover?
It covers every setting a customer touches, from the currency they see to the email they get after ordering, plus the tracking you need from day one. The six phases below follow the order that avoids rework: settings first, then design and products, then testing.
| Phase | Steps | Main admin areas | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Store details and domain | 1 to 6 | Settings > General, Settings > Domains | Covered here |
| 2. Markets, taxes and shipping | 7 to 12 | Markets, Settings > Taxes and duties, Settings > Shipping and delivery | Covered here |
| 3. Payments, checkout and policies | 13 to 21 | Settings > Payments, Checkout, Notifications, Policies | Shopify payments, COD and shipping in Pakistan |
| 4. Theme and pages | 22 to 26 | Online Store > Themes, Content > Menus | Choosing a Shopify theme |
| 5. Products and collections | 27 to 30 | Products, Collections | The Shopify SEO checklist |
| 6. Apps, tracking and launch | 31 to 35 | Settings > Apps, Customer events, Online Store > Preferences | A lean app stack for new stores |
Still deciding on a platform? Our comparison of Shopify and WooCommerce covers costs, control and maintenance before you commit.
Phase 1: Store details and domain (steps 1 to 6)
Store details feed your invoices, tax calculations, shipping origin and order emails, so set them once and correctly. The currency matters most: Shopify asks you to confirm that you understand the risk if you change it after your first order.
| # | Step | Where | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a plan for your first year | Settings > Plan | Compare Basic, Grow and Advanced on Shopify’s pricing page; features such as reporting and staff accounts differ by plan |
| 2 | Enter store name, legal business name and address | Settings > General | The address matches your business registration and return address |
| 3 | Set store currency, time zone and units | Settings > General | Currency is the one you report in; units match how you weigh parcels |
| 4 | Set an order ID prefix | Settings > General > Order ID format | A prefix such as TZ- helps staff and couriers recognize your orders |
| 5 | Add staff with limited permissions and turn on two-step authentication | Settings > Users | Each person has their own login; nobody shares the owner account |
| 6 | Connect your domain and make it primary | Settings > Domains | The custom domain is primary and the myshopify.com address redirects to it |
Buy the domain through Shopify or connect one you already own. For a .pk address, register it through PKNIC, the official .pk registry, or one of its registrars, then connect it in Settings > Domains using the DNS records Shopify gives you.
Phase 2: Markets, taxes and shipping (steps 7 to 12)
Decide where you sell before you set taxes and shipping, because both depend on your markets. Start with the countries you can deliver to reliably; you can add markets later.
| # | Step | Where | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Choose the countries or regions you sell to | Markets | Each market lists only places you can actually deliver to |
| 8 | Set currency and pricing per market | Markets > the market’s pricing settings | Prices round sensibly, and your payment provider supports each currency |
| 9 | Set up taxes where you’re registered | Settings > Taxes and duties | Registration numbers entered; prices shown with or without tax as local buyers expect |
| 10 | Create shipping zones and rates | Settings > Shipping and delivery | Every market has at least one rate; add a free-shipping threshold if you offer one |
| 11 | Add local delivery or pickup if you have a location | Settings > Shipping and delivery | Delivery areas and pickup instructions are clear |
| 12 | Enter product weights and a default package | Products; Settings > Shipping and delivery | Carrier-calculated and weight-based rates need real weights to work |
On taxes, Shopify can calculate and charge tax at checkout, but Shopify’s UK tax guide is clear that you can’t use Shopify to file or remit taxes, and that checking the rates is your responsibility. Register first, then add your registration in Shopify, and confirm the setup with your accountant.
Multi-currency and country-specific setup
Shopify converts prices automatically at current exchange rates, but its currency conversion guide says only stores using Shopify Payments can use all multi-currency features. If Shopify Payments isn’t available to you, check what your provider supports before promising local-currency prices.
| Selling from | Shopify Payments | Settings to prioritize |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Not available | Third-party provider, cash on delivery, courier rates, order confirmation before dispatch |
| United Kingdom | Available | VAT registration in Taxes and duties, cookie banner, returns policy for UK buyers |
| United Arab Emirates | Available | Currencies for each market, tax registration if required, delivery rates for the areas you serve |
| United States, Canada, Australia | Available | Tax registrations by state, province or country, carrier-calculated rates |
Phase 3: Payments, checkout and policies (steps 13 to 21)
Payments decide whether you can take money at all, so confirm availability early. Shopify’s list of Shopify Payments countries includes the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and the UAE but not Pakistan; stores in unlisted countries use a third-party payment provider.
| # | Step | Where | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Activate Shopify Payments or a third-party provider | Settings > Payments | Payouts reach your business bank account; card and wallet options show at checkout |
| 14 | Add manual methods such as cash on delivery or bank transfer | Settings > Payments > Payment providers | Additional details and payment instructions are written in plain language |
| 15 | Set the checkout contact method and form fields | Settings > Checkout | You collect a phone number if couriers need one; optional fields are hidden |
| 16 | Choose how customers sign in to accounts | Settings > Customer accounts | Customers can see orders and request returns without calling you |
| 17 | Brand your order and shipping notifications | Settings > Notifications | Logo, colors and sender email set; test emails reviewed |
| 18 | Turn on an abandoned checkout message | Shopify Messaging automations | The message sends and links back to the customer’s checkout |
| 19 | Publish return, privacy, terms and shipping policies | Settings > Policies | Policies match what you actually do, and they’re linked in the footer |
| 20 | Set return rules and self-serve returns | Settings > Policies (return rules) | Return window and eligible items match your written policy |
| 21 | Review customer privacy and the cookie banner | Settings > Customer privacy | The banner shows to UK and EU visitors if you sell there |
Shopify lists cash on delivery among its manual payment methods. Activate it under Settings > Payments, add details shown next to the option at checkout, and write payment instructions, which appear on the order confirmation page.
Pakistan note
Shopify Payments isn’t available in Pakistan, so Pakistani stores combine a third-party payment provider with cash on delivery. Check the providers offered under Settings > Payments for your store’s country, and plan how you’ll confirm COD orders before dispatch. Our guide to starting a Shopify store in Pakistan covers payments, couriers and COD in detail.
For policies, Shopify can generate templates for several policy types, in English only, and new stores have automated privacy settings on by default. Shopify’s store policies guide reminds you that you’re responsible for following what you publish, so edit each template to match your real delivery times, return window and refund method.
Checkout form options worth changing
Under Settings > Checkout, each form option can be required, optional or hidden. Shorter forms are easier to complete on a phone, but couriers need certain details, so set them deliberately:
- Customer contact method: let buyers use a phone number or email if many of your customers prefer phone and WhatsApp.
- Shipping address phone number: make it required if your courier calls before delivery, which is common for cash on delivery.
- Company name: hide it unless you sell to businesses.
- Address line 2 (apartment, unit, etc.): keep it optional; in cities where addresses use sectors, blocks or plot numbers, buyers often need the extra line.
Phase 4: Theme and pages (steps 22 to 26)
Pick a theme that fits your catalog size and product type, then keep the design simple for launch. You can add sections later; removing them from a live store is harder.
| # | Step | Where | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Choose and install a theme | Online Store > Themes | The theme supports the filters, product media and layouts your catalog needs |
| 23 | Set logo, colors, fonts and favicon | Theme editor > Theme settings | Text contrast is readable; one or two font families at most |
| 24 | Build the homepage with few, purposeful sections | Theme editor | A clear hero, top collections, proof such as reviews, and delivery or payment reassurance |
| 25 | Set the main menu and footer menu | Content > Menus | Top collections are one click away; policies and contact are in the footer |
| 26 | Create About, Contact, FAQ and Shipping pages | Online Store > Pages | Contact page shows email, phone or WhatsApp and business hours |
Free, paid and custom themes each suit a different stage, and our comparison of free, paid and custom Shopify themes weighs them up. If no theme fits your products, a custom Shopify theme is the alternative. Whatever you pick, preview every page on a phone before launch.
Phase 5: Products and collections (steps 27 to 30)
Load your best sellers first and get them right, rather than importing the whole catalog with supplier text. Every product page is a sales page and a search result.
| # | Step | Where | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Add products with unique descriptions, photos and alt text | Products > Add product | Square images around 2048 x 2048 px, named before upload; price, SKU and weight filled in |
| 28 | Set variants and inventory tracking | Product > Variants; Settings > Locations | Stock counts are correct at each location; overselling is off unless you pre-sell |
| 29 | Organize products into collections | Products > Collections | Manual collections for curated ranges, automated ones for rules such as type or tag |
| 30 | Write titles and meta descriptions for products and collections | Search engine listing on each item | Short, descriptive URL handles set before launch |
Handles are hard to change without redirects once pages are indexed, so settle them now. The Shopify SEO checklist covers titles by template, collection copy, duplicate URLs and structured data.
Phase 6: Apps, tracking and launch (steps 31 to 35)
Install tracking before your first visitor, not after, and test the whole buying journey before you switch the store on. This phase is where most launch-day problems are caught.
| # | Step | Where | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Install only the apps you need at launch | Shopify App Store; Settings > Apps | Each app does a job Shopify and your theme can’t |
| 32 | Connect Google Analytics 4, Search Console and Merchant Center | Google & YouTube app; Search Console | GA4 records purchases; sitemap.xml is submitted once the store is public |
| 33 | Connect Meta and any other ad pixels | Facebook & Instagram app; Settings > Customer events | Each pixel fires once per event, with no duplicates pasted into theme code |
| 34 | Place test orders and check speed on a phone | Checkout; web performance reports | Every payment method, shipping zone, email and discount tested; pages load quickly on mobile data |
| 35 | Turn off private mode and launch | Online Store > Preferences > Store access | The password page is gone and a real order goes through |
Shopify’s guide to placing test orders offers three routes: Shopify Payments test mode, Shopify’s test payment gateway, or a real order you cancel and refund. Customers can’t place live orders while your payment provider is in test mode, so switch it back before launch.
For step 31, our guide to the best Shopify apps for new stores explains which jobs Shopify’s own free apps already handle. If the speed check in step 34 fails, work through the 12 Shopify speed fixes before you launch.
Your launch-day test script
- Order one product as a new customer on a phone, using each payment method, including cash on delivery if you offer it.
- Order to an address in each shipping zone and check the rate, delivery estimate and taxes shown.
- Apply a discount code and a free-shipping threshold, and confirm the totals.
- Check the order confirmation email, then fulfill the order and check the shipping confirmation.
- Cancel the test orders and switch every payment provider out of test mode.
Tracking to check in your first week
- Search Console: your sitemap can’t be read while the store is in private mode, so submit
sitemap.xmlunder Indexing > Sitemaps on launch day. - GA4: after your first real order, confirm the purchase and its value appear in GA4 and match the order in Shopify.
- Merchant Center: once the Google & YouTube app syncs your products, review any products Google flags and fix missing details, such as shipping costs or identifiers.
- Shopify Analytics: check sessions, conversion rate and top landing pages in Analytics > Reports each week.
How TechZone can help
TechZone sets up and launches Shopify stores for brands in Pakistan and abroad, including the UK, the UAE, the USA, Canada and Australia. We work through this checklist with you, configure payments, COD, taxes, shipping and tracking for your markets, and build the theme and product pages. Our Shopify development services include setup, custom themes and migrations, and our portfolio includes Shopify stores such as Radiance MD by DSK and Handmade Studio. For stores that are already live, Shopify SEO and speed optimization is often the next step. Book a free 30-minute consultation to plan your launch; scope and cost are agreed in writing first.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up a Shopify store?
Setting up a Shopify store can take a few days for a small catalog on a ready-made theme, or several weeks when you need custom design, many products, international markets or integrations with couriers and payment providers. Product content usually takes the longest. Plan the settings, product photos and descriptions in parallel, and leave time for test orders before launch.
Can I set up a Shopify store for free?
Shopify offers a free trial so you can build and configure a store before paying, but you need a paid plan to launch and take real orders. Trial terms and plan prices change, so check Shopify’s pricing page for current offers in your country. Free themes and Shopify’s own free apps keep launch costs down.
Do I need a business registration to open a Shopify store?
Shopify itself doesn’t require a registered company for every store, but payment providers usually verify your identity and business before paying out, and tax registration depends on where and how much you sell. Requirements vary by country, so check your payment provider’s onboarding rules and ask a local accountant about registration before launch.
What should I do right after launching a Shopify store?
After launching a Shopify store, submit the sitemap in Google Search Console, confirm GA4 records real purchases, and ask your first customers for reviews. Watch the first orders closely for shipping, payment or email problems. Then start on traffic: search engine optimization for collections and products, email capture, and a small test budget for ads.
Can I change my Shopify theme after launch?
You can change a Shopify theme after launch without losing products, orders or customers, because those live in the Shopify admin, not the theme. Theme-specific content, section settings and some app blocks need to be rebuilt in the new theme. Install the new theme unpublished, customize and test it, then publish it when it’s ready.
