How to Build an Ecommerce Website using Shopify?

Imagine you are sipping coffee at 10 AM, and a notification pings, “You just made a sale.”

Not in a physical store. Not on a marketplace.

But on your own ecommerce store website, powered by Shopify.

Sounds like a dream? It’s not. It’s what thousands of creators, founders, and side-hustlers are doing every day, using websites that use Shopify to sell everything from handmade candles to AI-powered gadgets.

But here’s the real question:

• How do you go from idea to income?
• How do you build an e-commerce store that actually converts, not just looks pretty?
• And how to start a Shopify store without drowning in tech headaches?

This blog is your answer.

I will guide you through how to build an ecommerce website using Shopify, share the exact steps to set up your Shopify store, explain how to find the best Shopify themes, and even reveal how to check what Shopify theme a website is using or detect Shopify apps on a website like a pro.

It’s not just another tutorial. It’s a launchpad.

By the time you reach the end, you won’t just know how to start a Shopify store; you will be ready to run one.

Let’s get your Shopify journey started.

Step 1: Sign Up and Choose a Shopify Plan

Go to Shopify.com and click “Start free trial”.

Enter your email, password, and e-commerce store name.

Then you need to answer a few onboarding questions so Shopify can build a custom dashboard for your e-commerce store business type.

Shopify Pricing is as follows:

You can also get started for just $1/month for the first 3 months on any standard plan, perfect for testing the waters without a big upfront investment.

Step 2: Choose and Customize Your Shopify Theme

This step is where your e-commerce store brand comes alive.

To do this, you need to:

• Navigate to Online Store → Themes
• Click Explore Free Shopify Themes or browse the Shopify Theme Store
• Preview and install your best Shopify theme of choice

Recently, Shopify launched its Summer Edition 2025, introducing 10+ free Shopify Horizon themes designed to build your Shopify store’s design and performance.

You can use the built-in customizer (drag-and-drop editor) to change:

• Colors, fonts, logos, banners
• Header/footer layout
• Homepage sections

When looking for e-commerce store design ideas, you can check out Shopify website examples or browse top Shopify stores for inspiration. You can also identify the Shopify theme used by others through browser inspection tools or by using “how to see what Shopify theme a website is using” tools online.

Tip: Do you want to explore what other e-commerce stores use? You can use tools to detect Shopify apps on a website or find the Shopify theme name.

Step 3: Add Products and Organize with Collections

When building an ecommerce website using Shopify, your products are the heart of your Shopify store. Clear product details, high-quality images, and transparent pricing are what help users feel confident enough to click “Buy Now.”

To make it easier for your customers to make a purchase decision, focus on:

• Descriptive product titles
• Well-written, benefit-driven descriptions
• Clean, high-resolution images
• Accurate pricing and inventory

To add your products to Shopify:

1. Go to your Shopify admin and click on Products → Add product
2. Enter the product name, description, and price
3. Upload product images (ideally 2048 x 2048 pixels for best display)
4. Add SKUs, stock quantity, and shipping details
5. Set product status to Active and hit Save

Repeat this process for each product, and then organize them into Collections like “New Arrivals”, “Best Sellers”, or “On Sale” to make browsing easier.

This simple yet essential step is the backbone of all successful Shopify websites.

Step 4: Set Up Store Navigation

Proper navigation = higher conversions.

Go to Online Store → Navigation

Edit Main menu (e.g., Home, Shop, About, Contact)

Customize the Footer menu with legal pages and social links

Use dropdowns or mega-menus to copy the UX of successful Shopify websites.

Step 5: Configure Store Settings

Head to Settings (bottom left of admin panel) and configure:

• Store address, time zone, and currency
• Language preferences (supports multilingual setup)
• Check-out preferences and customer accounts
• Email notifications and templates

It is essential for anyone learning how to build an ecommerce website using Shopify to properly configure this section before launch.

Step 6: Set Up Payment Gateways

To enable transactions:

• Go to Settings → Payments
• Use Shopify Payments for zero transaction fees
• Add PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay, UPI, Cash on Delivery, etc.

Ensure each method is tested before launching your Shopify store.

You can also explore more Shopify payment gateways for your Shopify store.

Step 7: Shipping, Delivery & Tax Configuration

This step helps you avoid future headaches.

To set up:

• Go to Settings → Shipping and Delivery
• Create shipping zones (e.g., Domestic, International)
• Add rates (free, flat, weight-based)
• Configure tax settings under Settings → Taxes

This is important for a smooth customer experience, especially for websites that use Shopify for global selling.

Step 8: Connect Your Domain

To look professional:

• Go to Settings → Domains
• Buy a domain directly or connect an existing one
• Use Shopify’s SSL certificate (auto-enabled) for secure checkout

Step 9: Install Must-Have Shopify Apps

You can increase your Shopify store’s functionality with the best Shopify apps that will help to increase performance, engagement, and sales:

If you want to see what Shopify apps your competitor is using? You can use tools like “what Shopify apps is this website using” or “detect Shopify apps on a website” to help you analyze successful Shopify websites and discover the tech stack behind top Shopify stores.

Step 10: Add Legal Pages

Essential for compliance and trust.

Pages to create:

• Refund Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Shipping Policy

Shopify offers default templates, which you can access under Settings → Policies.

Step 11: Optimize for Mobile and SEO

• Use mobile-friendly best Shopify themes (all free Shopify horizon themes are responsive)
• Add meta titles, descriptions, and image alt text
• Use fast-loading images and lightweight code

If you want your e-commerce store to look like those examples of Shopify stores ranking on Google? You need to focus on on-page SEO from day one.

Step 12: Test Your Store

Before launching, you need to:

• Place a test order (enable test mode in Payments)
• Browse the Shopify store on multiple devices
• Check the loading Shopify store speed using tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights

Step 13: Launch Your Shopify Store

To go live, you need to:

• Remove password (Online Store → Preferences → Disable Password)
• Announce on social media, email list, and Google
• Submit sitemap to Google Search Console

Trends in Ecommerce Website Development

You can follow the given smart trends below to keep your Shopify store fresh, modern, and ready for what’s next.

1. Hyper-Personalization at Scale

AI-powered personalization is no longer optional. Smart algorithms now analyze browsing behavior, purchase history, and even real-time activity to deliver custom product recommendations, dynamic pricing, and custom landing pages that will boost conversion and retention.

2. Visual Commerce & AR Try-On

Consumers want to see products in action. Augmented Reality (AR) try-ons and 3D product previews, especially for fashion, furniture, and jewelry, help shoppers visualize how items will look or fit, leading to fewer returns and more confident purchases.

3. Sustainable and Ethical Ecommerce

Today’s customers care about who they buy from. Highlighting eco-friendly packaging, carbon-neutral shipping, and ethical sourcing builds trust and appeals to conscious shoppers. Even small steps toward sustainability can increase your brand reputation.

4. One-Click Checkout & Passwordless Login

Speed and simplicity are key. Integrating features like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, and passkeys eliminates friction at checkout, reduces cart abandonment, and increases mobile UX, all critical for modern ecommerce store performance.

You can also check out the best magic checkout tools for Shopify.

5. Video Shopping & Livestream Commerce

Short-form video content and live product demos are reshaping the shopping experience. Adding reels, tutorials, or livestream events lets customers engage with your ecommerce store brand in real time, increasing both product visibility and conversions.

6. Subscription-Based Models

Predictable revenue meets customer convenience. Shopify subscription apps make it easy to offer subscriptions for repeat-purchase items, think skincare, pet food, or supplements, along with flexible delivery and billing options.

7. Multi-Currency & Language Expansion

Shopify Markets allows you to offer localized experiences with region-specific currencies, tax settings, and translations, opening new markets and improving trust for international customers.

8. Zero-Party Data Collection

With data privacy becoming a concern, e-commerce store brands are shifting to zero-party data, info customers willingly provide via quizzes, preference forms, and interactive surveys. This creates personalized experiences without invading privacy.

Case Studies: Real Shopify Stores Built by ControlF5

Here are real examples of how ControlF5 has helped e-commerce store brands go from idea to launch, and from average to high-performing.

1. Aayraa Jewels: From Vision to Launch

We built Aayraa Jewels’ Shopify store from the ground up, focusing on elegant Shopify store design, mobile responsiveness, and a smooth customer journey.

The result? A premium Shopify jewelry store experience with clear product displays and faster loading times.

You can read the full story behind Aayraa Jewels’ custom Shopify store build.

2. Promunch: Redesigning for Results

Promunch came to us with an outdated e-commerce store that lacked conversions. We reimagined their Shopify site with a user-first layout, performance optimizations, and strategic upsell features. The revamped Shopify store saw a significant lift in engagement and conversions.

You can explore the detailed case study on how we revamped Promunch’s Shopify store for a better user experience and higher conversions.

How ControlF5 Helps You Build an Ecommerce Website Using Shopify

If you are unsure where to start or want to make sure your e-commerce store is set up the right way, we are here to help.

At ControlF5, we are a trusted Shopify agency that helps e-commerce store businesses build fast, user-friendly, and high-converting ecommerce stores. Whether you need a custom Shopify theme, help figuring out the best Shopify apps to use, or just want to see what your competitors are doing, our Shopify experts are ready to guide you.

Let’s talk about your goals, ideas, and questions, no pressure, no jargon.

You can book a free consultation call with our Shopify experts to explore the best setup for your Shopify store and get expert answers to anything on your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How to set up a Shopify store?

Answer: To build an ecommerce website on Shopify, simply sign up, choose a free Shopify horizon theme, and start adding your products. You can customize your Shopify store’s design, set up payments and shipping, and launch it, all without any coding skills.

Question: How much does it cost to build a Shopify ecommerce website?

Answer: Shopify plans start at $29/month, but costs can increase depending on the Shopify theme you choose, the premium Shopify apps you install, and whether you hire a developer or Shopify agency for advanced customization. There’s also a $1/month trial offer for the first 3 months.

Question: Can I use Shopify for ecommerce?

Answer: Absolutely! Shopify is one of the most popular platforms made specifically for ecommerce businesses. It powers over 4 million online e-commerce stores globally and supports everything from product sales and marketing to payments and shipping.

Question: Can I build my website on Shopify?

Answer: Yes, Shopify is designed to be beginner-friendly. You can build and launch a fully functional ecommerce store with no prior experience, thanks to its drag-and-drop builder, customizable best Shopify themes, and extensive Shopify app store.