Shopify Generalities

What is Shopify?

Shopify is an online 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 the sale of physical and digital products, and services, integrating a toolbox facilitating 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 have access to the platform: an online dashboard allows you to set up your Shopify store, add products, choose a theme, customize the design, manage payments and orders. Shopify hosts your store, handles technical updates and offers support to help you succeed.

How much does Shopify cost?

Shopify's pricing varies depending on the plan you choose. Here are the different plans available:

  • Shopify Basic : As the name suggests, this plan provides access to Shopify's basic features, enough to create 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 offer is suitable for growing businesses (it allows you to obtain 5 additional employee accounts to connect to the platform). The monthly rate is €105, and 1.3% and €0.25 with the Shopify payments gateway.
  • Advanced : This subscription is much more complete than the previous ones, with in particular much more detailed analyses of what is happening on your platform, 15 additional employee accounts and access to more markets if needed). The monthly rate is €384, and 1.1% and €0.25 with the Shopify payments payment gateway.
  • Shopify Plus : This is the plan for businesses that generate a large volume of sales and have more complex needs, such as selling to other businesses (B2B), having advanced omnichannel features (“Point of Sale”), shipping their products from multiple locations, or being present in a number of different markets around the world. The Shopify Plus plan costs at least $2,300 per month. You will need to contact Shopify to learn more.

Does Shopify offer a free trial?

Yes, you can use Shopify for free for 3 days, then you will have to pay €1 for the first month. This trial period allows you to test the platform, configure your store, add products, and explore the features at no cost. At the end of the trial period, you will have to choose a subscription plan to continue using your Shopify store.

Is Shopify suitable for small businesses?

Absolutely. That’s what it was originally designed for, and it’s since 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 requiring advanced technical skills. Plus, Shopify offers tools for marketing, inventory management, and customer service, helping small businesses grow and succeed online.

What types of products can I sell in Shopify?

In Shopify, you can sell just about anything imaginable:

  • Physical products : electronic devices, jewelry, clothing, accessories, furniture, decoration, bedding, makeup and care products, perfumes, toys, etc.
  • Digital products : music downloads, e-books, software, etc.
  • Services : online courses, hotel or lodge booking, 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 set up your catalog and add products on Shopify , follow this link.

Can I sell services in Shopify?

Yes, you can sell services in Shopify. Whether you offer consultations, online classes, 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 bookings.

Is Shopify secure?

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

How to contact Shopify customer support?

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

  • Live Chat : Directly from your Shopify dashboard.
  • Email : by sending a message to support.
  • Help Center : An extensive knowledge base with articles, guides, and tutorials to help you solve common issues.

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

Do not hesitate to contact our Shopify expert agency if you have a project that you would like us to study (creation or redesign of a Shopify store, optimization of the sales funnel, maintenance of the platform and implementation of new functionalities).