How to Start an Online Store (Step by Step)
Starting an online store is more approachable than most people expect. In short: decide what you are selling, pick a platform, add your products, connect payments and shipping, then test one full order before you go live. The hard part is not the technology. It is making clear decisions and doing them in the right order.
This guide walks through that order for a Penrith small business. It builds on our pillar guide, e-commerce for Penrith businesses, and pairs well with WordPress vs Shopify when you are choosing where to build.
Step 1: Get clear on what you are selling
Before you touch a platform, write down exactly what you sell, who buys it, and how it reaches them. A store selling three handmade products to local customers is a very different build to one shipping hundreds of lines nationwide. Knowing your range, your rough order volume, and whether you ship or offer local pickup will shape every decision after this.
The store is the easy part. The clarity about what you sell and to whom is what makes it actually work.
Step 2: Choose your platform
Your platform is the engine of the store. The two most common choices for Australian small business are Shopify and WooCommerce.
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | All-in-one, fast to launch | Plugin on a WordPress site |
| Best for | Beginners who want it handled | People who want full control |
| Monthly cost | Fixed plan fee | Hosting plus optional extensions |
| Maintenance | Shopify handles it | You manage updates and hosting |
If you want the simplest path, Shopify is hard to beat. If you already run a WordPress website or want to own every part of the setup, WooCommerce is a strong fit. We cover the trade-offs in detail in WordPress vs Shopify.
Step 3: Sort the business basics
Selling online in Australia comes with a few obligations. You generally need an ABN, and you must register for GST once your turnover reaches the threshold. You will also want a business bank account and a clear returns and refund policy that meets Australian Consumer Law. None of this is hard, but it is much easier to set up before your first sale than to fix after it.
Step 4: Add your products properly
This is where many stores quietly lose sales. Each product needs:
- Clear photos on a clean background, with a few angles and a sense of scale.
- A description that sells, focused on what the product does for the buyer, not just specs.
- Honest details on size, materials, delivery time and stock.
- A sensible price that covers your costs, fees and shipping.
Treat each product page as a small sales pitch. Our guide to product page optimisation goes deep on turning browsers into buyers.
Step 5: Connect payments and shipping
A store cannot take money until you connect a payment gateway. Shopify Payments, Stripe and PayPal are common choices in Australia and let customers pay by card without leaving your site. Set up your shipping next: decide your rates, your zones, and whether you offer free shipping over a certain amount or local pickup for Penrith customers. Getting shipping setup right early saves a lot of pain later.
Step 6: Test a real order, then launch
Before you tell a single customer, place a full test order yourself. Add to cart, check out, pay, and confirm you receive the order notification and the customer gets a clear confirmation. Walk through it on your phone too, since most people will shop that way. Fix anything that feels clunky. A smooth checkout is the difference between a sale and an abandoned cart, which we cover in how to reduce abandoned carts.
Step 7: Get your first visitors
A live store with no traffic makes no sales. Start simple: tell your existing customers and network, set up your Google Business Profile, and make sure the store is findable in search. From there you can layer in content, local SEO and paid ads as you grow.
The bottom line
Starting an online store comes down to clear decisions made in order: what you sell, where you build it, the business basics, strong product pages, working payments and shipping, a tested checkout, and a plan to get visitors. Take it one step at a time and you will be taking orders sooner than you think.
Want a store built right the first time? See our e-commerce service, or tell us what you want to sell and we will come back within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an online store?
Decide what you will sell, choose a platform like Shopify or WooCommerce, set up products with good photos and clear descriptions, connect a payment gateway and shipping, then test a full order before you launch.
How much does it cost to start an online store?
A simple store can start from a few hundred dollars a year for a platform plan and domain. Costs rise with custom design, apps and stock. Most small Australian stores launch well for under a few thousand dollars.
Do I need a business to sell online in Australia?
Yes. You generally need an ABN to sell goods, and you must register for GST once your turnover reaches the threshold. Check your obligations with the ATO or your accountant before you launch.
What is the easiest platform to start an online store?
Shopify is the easiest all-in-one option for most beginners. WooCommerce gives you more control if you already run a WordPress site. The right choice depends on your products and how much you want to manage.