Shopify FAQ

Shopify FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions from Pro Shopify Stores

How do I logon to my Shopify Store?

You can find the login page for your Shopify Store here, if you have more than one store click the links that says "Have multiple stores?" and enter the store you wish to login into. If you're looking to login as an affiliate then there is a separate login page for affiliates. To start posting on the Shopify forums visit the following page and sign in with your store account or register a new account if you don't have a store yet. It should be noted that once you have started a free trial, then you can use your account to sign in to the other sections of Shopify.

How can you contact Shopify customer service?

There are many ways to get in touch with Shopify customer service representatives. The easiest and most direct method is to call directly to the support line, if you're in the US the number is 1-855-816-33857. Customers in the UK can call 0800-808-5233 and in Australia the number is 03-8400-4750. You can also choose to chat with or email a CS representative online.

How many products can a Shopify store have?

Shopify stores are unlimited! You can host as many items as you'd like, unlike other shopping platforms which use tier systems based on how many listings you have. Shopify's tiers are based on how much you're selling. If you're selling a large amount per month it makes sense to upgrade your account because you'll save on transaction fees.

How many stores can you have on one account?

Under Shopify's structure you can have unlimited stores under your main account. However, each store will be charged its own separate fee. For example, let's say you have one account with three separate stores. If they were all on the basic plan that would be $29 a month for each store or $87 a month.This is why it is important to have a clear idea of what type of store and products you want to sell before launching a Shopify store.

How does Shopify payments work?

Shopify payments works in similar fashion to other payment processors like PayPal, Payoneer, and Stripe. Shopify payments enables small sellers to accept third-party credit card payments without directly applying as a merchant and dealing with that process. Instead the customer pays with their credit card and the transaction goes through Shopify's payment system. The seller is then reimbursed minus Shopify's fees. Shopify charges a small percentage of the order, plus 30 cents per transaction. When compared to PayPal or merchant accounts Shopify payments is very reasonable.

How long does Shopify wait to payout to sellers?

Shopify payments generally pays out within 2-4 days. Meaning from the day the person places an order to the time that it is deposited will be within this range. The exception to this is if there is a holiday or non-banking day it could take longer. One factor that plays a part in how long it takes to deposit is what country you live in, the USA has the shortest turn around while Hong Kong and Singapore have the longest. The rest is in the middle at about 3 days from transaction to direct deposit.

How much does Shopify cost?

How much Shopify costs will vary depending on how large your business is going to be. Most new sellers will start with the Basic Plan which is $29 monthly. There is also a 2.9% fee on orders and $0.30 charge per transaction. As your business grows you may find that it is better to change to the Shopify or Advanced Shopify plans. They are pricier per month but you save on transaction fees. The Shopify Pricing Calculator is a great little tool which will help you decide which plan is right for your business.

What training is available for Shopify sellers?

Shopify themselves provides plenty of training and guidance. One of the best resources they offer is the Shopify blog which has many tutorials in addition to success stories and general e-commerce news. They also provide in-depth training guides on topics like Facebook Ads and  Google Shopping. The Shopify platform thrives when sellers thrive so they are always looking for ways to help sellers make their stores more profitable. If you're looking for help outside of Shopify there are plenty of online courses and training programs available. Many are focused on drop shipping but they are more comprehensive ones as well.

What are Shopify themes and how to choose the right one?

Shopify themes are the foundation on which you can build your store. While themes are generally flexible you'll want to pick one that matches your design and functionality needs. When choosing a theme it is good idea to note what features you want. What kind of experience are you trying to build for your customer? What do you want the design to convey about your brand? How do you want to feature your products? What is your budget for a theme? You'll want a clear answers to these questions before you start choosing a theme. Try experimenting with the default Shopify theme for a bit, see what things you like and what things you wish it could do better. Make a note of those features and design elements when choosing your theme. Also, if going with a paid theme remember that you can should always preview the theme before you purchase it.

What are Shopify apps and which ones do you need?

Shopify apps are designed to add specific  functionality to your Shopify theme. For example, let's say you want to integrate your store with an email autoresponder. That functionality isn't built in to any of the Shopify themes. However, you can add that functionality easily with an app. The look and feel of the integration will vary depending on what theme your using but the functionality will be the same (note: in some instances a theme may not be compatible with a certain app). Shopify has a large community of developers creating both free and paid apps. Many things can be accomplished using only free apps but there are times when you'll have to bite the bullet and get a paid app. Some of the more essential free apps are:

• SmartrMail for Shopify. This app allows you to integrate your newsletter, autoresponder, and other notifications with your Shopify store. You can add new customers to an autoresponder automatically and send them monthly or weekly newsletters. You can also segment your list based on buying habits and email open rates. SmartrMail is the highest rated autoresponder service especially for Shopify sellers. It is free for lists smaller than 1,000 people.


• Shopify Product Reviews. Created by Shopify themselves this app creates allows shoppers to review the products on your site. It is similar to the product reviews found on Amazon which is great way to add credibility and social proof to your products.


• Shopify Digital Downloads. Allows you to easily upload and instantly deliver digital products. You can also deliver updates to software or ebooks automatically.


• Aftership. This nice little app will help your customers stay updated about the whereabouts of their package. It works with USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Customers are always concerned about lost or stolen packages so anything you can do to ease those fears is a good thing.


• Shopify Google Shopping. Google Shopping allows you to sync your Shopify store with Google Merchant Center, simply and easily using a direct, automatic API feed to keep your listings up to date.


• Oberlo. If you are planning on drop shipping this app is a must have. It will help you search for profitable products and easily import them into your store. When a product sells it will be fulfilled by Oberlo. You just worry about selling.


• Bulk Discounts. Everyone loves discounts and coupons and this app allows you to create these for your customers and it automatically applies them at check out.


• Free Shipping Bar. Increase conversions with Free Shipping offers. Progressively reminds the customer how much they need to buy to qualify for free shipping.

Can you buy an already established Shopify store?

Yes! Buying or selling an established store is possible. Shopify has even created a section to let people do this more easily. It is called exchangemarketplace.com there you can buy or sell established Shopify businesses. You can also buy a starter store which is not a proven business but may have great potential. This can be a great way to skip the design process and get right to selling. However, some of the price tags are a bit hefty so doing thorough research is a must. There are many things you should look at before making a purchase including the monthly income of the store, the traffic (and how they get that traffic), costs of goods, whether any inventory will be included, will an email list be included. All of these should be verified before completing any transaction. Shopify has created a very in-depth article on how the exchange marketplace works.

What is a Shopify blog and do you need one?

A Shopify blog is a place where you can post articles, news, or stories related to your store. The main purpose of a Shopify blog is to promote your brand and drive traffic. Getting organic search engine traffic is hard work but well worth it. Setting up a blog on Shopify is easy but there is no need to do so. It all depends on your strategy for getting traffic and what products you're selling. Some niches just don't really lend themselves to writing in-depth blog post while others seem like a natural fit. Time is another factor, will you have enough time to update and promote your blog so it will drive traffic? Or perhaps you'd rather find paid sources of traffic and send them directly to your product? If you are unsure whether you could use a blog why not try it out for a while and see what results you get but remember that you must promote your blog to get any results. Just writing a blog post generally won't bring in much traffic, especially if you are in a competitive niche. Try sharing your post on social media, commenting on other blogs, and video marketing.