Shopify Basics

What is Shopify?

Shopify is an e-commerce platform (and physical with "Point of Sale") that allows businesses of all sizes to create, customize, and manage an online store. This Content Management System offers a complete solution for selling physical and digital products, and services, integrating a toolkit that facilitates inventory management, payment processing, marketing, and much more.

How does Shopify work?

Shopify operates on a SaaS (Software as a Service) model. You pay a monthly subscription and get access to the platform: an online dashboard allows you to configure your Shopify store, add products, choose a theme, customize the design, and manage payments and orders. Shopify hosts your store, handles technical updates, and provides support to help you succeed.

How much does Shopify cost?

Shopify prices vary depending on the plan you choose. Here are the different plans available:

• Shopify Basic: As its name suggests, this subscription provides access to Shopify's rudimentary features, sufficient for creating an online store for a small business. It costs €36 per month, and Shopify charges 1.5% and €0.25 on each transaction made if you use Shopify Payments as your payment gateway.
• Shopify: This plan is suitable for growing businesses (it notably allows for 5 additional staff accounts to access the platform). The monthly fee is €105, plus 1.3% and €0.25 with the Shopify Payments gateway.
• Advanced: This subscription is much more comprehensive than the previous ones, particularly offering much more detailed analytics of what happens on your platform, 15 additional staff accounts, and access to more markets if needed. The monthly fee is €384, plus 1.1% and €0.25 with the Shopify Payments gateway.
• Shopify Plus: This is the plan for businesses with high sales volumes and more complex needs, such as the necessity to sell to other businesses (B2B), advanced omnichannel functionalities (Point of Sale), shipping products from numerous locations, or being present in a multitude of different markets worldwide. The Shopify Plus plan costs at least €2100 per month. You need to contact Shopify for more information.

Does Shopify offer a free trial period?

Yes, it's possible to use Shopify for free for 3 days, then you'll need to pay €1 for the first month. This trial period allows you to test the platform, set up your store, add products, and explore features without cost. At the end of the trial period, you'll need to choose a subscription plan to continue using your Shopify store.

Is Shopify suitable for small businesses?

Absolutely. It was initially designed for this type of structure and then evolved to support larger businesses. Shopify is designed to be accessible and easy to use, making it ideal for small businesses. Entrepreneurs can quickly set up an online store without needing advanced technical skills. Furthermore, Shopify offers tools for marketing, inventory management, and customer service, helping small businesses grow and succeed online.

What types of products can I sell on Shopify?

On Shopify, you can sell almost anything imaginable:

• Physical products: electronic devices, jewelry, clothing, accessories, furniture, decoration, bedding, makeup and skincare products, perfumes, toys…
• Digital products: music downloads, e-books, software, etc.
• Services: online courses, hotel or gîte bookings, coaching, consultations, events, etc.
• Subscriptions: monthly boxes, exclusive content, etc.

The platform is flexible and adapts to various sales models, allowing you to easily manage different types of products. If you want to learn how to properly configure your catalog and add products to Shopify, follow this link.

Can I sell services on Shopify?

Yes, you can sell services on Shopify. Whether you offer consultations, online courses, events, or any other type of service, Shopify allows you to create specific products for your services, accept bookings, and manage online payments. There are also apps in the Shopify App Store to help you manage appointments and reservations.

Considering launching a project on Shopify?

Let's check if Shopify truly fits your model

Physical products, services, subscriptions, complex catalogs, or omnichannel sales: I can help you frame your project, choose the right Shopify architecture, and avoid decisions that become costly to correct later.

Discuss your Shopify project

Is Shopify secure?

Shopify takes security very seriously. All Shopify stores are PCI DSS Level 1 compliant, which ensures the security of customer payment data. Shopify also uses SSL encryption to secure all information exchanged between you and your customers. Furthermore, the platform is regularly updated to protect against vulnerabilities and potential threats.

How do I contact Shopify customer support?

Shopify customer support is available 24/7 to assist users. You can contact Shopify through the following channels:

• Live chat: directly from your Shopify dashboard.
• Email: by sending a message to support.
• Help Center: a vast knowledge base with articles, guides, and tutorials to help you resolve common issues.

Shopify's customer support is renowned for its responsiveness and efficiency, helping entrepreneurs manage and optimize their Shopify store.