How to Set Up an Online Store: 11 Easy Steps (2025)

Nearly 80% of Americans shop online, making e-commerce one of the most accessible ways to build income today, per Capital One Shopping. Whether you're exploring selling products online for the first time or scaling an existing side hustle, choosing the right platform is the critical first step. From beginner-friendly builders to enterprise-grade solutions, the options below cover every budget and skill level. Ready to get started?

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Summary Table

How to Set Up an Online Store: 11 Easy Steps (2025)

Below you'll find detailed information about each aspect, including important details and considerations.

1. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most straightforward ways to set up an online store without technical expertise. It handles everything from product listings and payment processing to shipping integrations, making it a reliable all-in-one solution for first-time store owners. Plans start at $25/month (Basic) with a 3-day free trial.

Key features:

• 100+ customizable storefront themes
• Built-in payment processor (Shopify Payments) with no extra transaction fees
• App marketplace with 8,000+ integrations for marketing, inventory, and fulfillment

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that converts an existing WordPress site into a fully functional e-commerce store — ideal for bloggers or content creators ready to start selling. It gives you complete control over design and data, though you'll need to manage your own hosting (typically $5–$25/month) and handle security separately.

What you get:

• Free core plugin; paid extensions range $29–$299/year
• Supports physical products, digital downloads, and subscriptions
• No transaction fees beyond your payment gateway

3. Squarespace

Squarespace lets you launch a visually polished online shop quickly using its drag-and-drop builder — a strong choice if branding and aesthetics matter as much as functionality. Commerce plans start at $28/month (Basic Commerce) with 0% transaction fees, making it competitive for small to mid-sized product catalogs.

Notable perks:

• Award-winning design templates built for product showcasing
• Built-in inventory, abandoned cart recovery, and email marketing tools
• Best for: Creatives, boutique brands, and service-based sellers

4. Square Online

Square Online lets you launch a product or service storefront quickly, making it a practical choice for brick-and-mortar businesses expanding to e-commerce or sellers starting from scratch. The free plan lets you test the platform before committing, and it integrates directly with Square's point-of-sale system so your in-store and online inventory stay synced automatically.

Key features:

• Free plan available (2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
• Built-in inventory sync with Square POS
• Paid plans start at $29/month for a custom domain

5. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is built for merchants who need serious scalability when setting up an online store — it handles large product catalogs, multi-channel selling, and high order volumes without requiring third-party apps for core features. Unlike Shopify, there are no additional transaction fees, which keeps costs predictable as revenue grows.

Key features:

• Plans start at $39/month (Standard plan)
• Sell on Amazon, eBay, and social channels natively
• No transaction fees on any plan
• Best for: Mid-to-large stores with high sales volume

6. Wix

Wix gives beginners a low-barrier entry point into building a web store, using a drag-and-drop editor that requires zero coding. Its AI-powered site builder can generate a basic store layout in minutes, which works well for creators, freelancers, and small retailers launching their first digital shop. If you're also exploring alternative selling sites, Wix pairs well as a branded home base.

Key features:

• E-commerce plans start at $17/month
• 700+ designer templates with full drag-and-drop control
• Built-in tools for bookings, digital products, and subscriptions

7. Magento

Magento is built for merchants who need full control over their online store's architecture, design, and functionality. It's an open-source platform best suited to mid-size and enterprise businesses that require complex product catalogs, multi-store management, or custom checkout workflows. The free Community Edition handles the software cost, but expect to budget for hosting, development, and extensions.

Key details:

• Open-source (free) Community Edition; Adobe Commerce (paid) for enterprise needs
• Supports thousands of SKUs, multiple currencies, and tax rules out of the box
• Requires developer experience — not beginner-friendly

8. OpenCart

OpenCart gives you a lightweight, open-source foundation for launching a product-based store without monthly platform fees. It's a practical option when setting up an e-commerce site on a tight budget, particularly for small shops selling a focused range of physical or digital goods. The admin panel is straightforward, and over 13,000 extensions let you add features like subscriptions, loyalty points, or dropshipping.

What to know:

• Free to download; pay only for hosting (~$5–$15/month) and optional paid extensions
• Built-in multi-currency and multi-language support
• Active community forum for troubleshooting

9. GoDaddy Online Store Builder

GoDaddy's store builder is designed for speed — most merchants can go from signup to a live storefront in under an hour, making it one of the fastest paths to launching a basic online shop. It handles hosting, SSL, and payments in one bundled plan, removing the need to manage separate services. It suits beginners and local businesses more than high-volume sellers with complex inventory needs.

Pricing snapshot:

• Commerce plans start around $14.99–$20.99/month (billed annually)
• 0% transaction fees on most plans
• Syncs inventory with marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy

10. Marketplaces

Online marketplaces offer one of the fastest ways to launch an e-commerce presence without building a standalone store from scratch. Platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon Handmade give sellers instant access to millions of buyers, built-in payment processing, and existing trust — making them ideal for beginners testing products before investing in a dedicated storefront.

Key considerations:

• No upfront store-building costs, but transaction and listing fees apply
• Limited branding control compared to self-hosted stores
• Best for: Sellers validating product ideas before committing to a custom platform

11. eBay

eBay offers one of the fastest ways to launch an online store without building a website from scratch. You can list products immediately and reach over 130 million active buyers worldwide, making it ideal for sellers who want sales before investing in a standalone storefront. eBay works especially well for used goods, collectibles, and niche items.

Key details:

• No monthly fee for basic selling; final value fees range 3–15% per sale
• Optional eBay Store subscription from $7.95/month unlocks lower fees and more free listings
• Built-in buyer trust and payment processing via eBay-managed payments

Final Words

Whether you need a beginner-friendly builder, a scalable platform, or budget-conscious tools for funding your small business, these 11 options have you covered — pick the one that matches your goals and start selling today.