Free resources
Free Shopify checklists and templates
Three working documents for people building an online store: a launch checklist, a business plan template, and an SEO checklist. They are free to read, need no signup, and cite their sources.
Start with one of these three
Shopify launch checklist
Ten phases from business basics to the first 30 days after launch. Every step names the place in Shopify admin where you do it, so you can catch problems such as a payment method left in test mode before a customer does.
Best for: anyone about to open a new Shopify store.
Ecommerce business plan template
A fill-in guide to the ten sections of an online store plan, with a worked example for a made-up tea shop so you can see real numbers next to every prompt. It covers a one-page version for testing an idea and a full version for lenders.
Best for: founders who have a product idea but no plan yet.
Shopify SEO checklist
A step-by-step checklist that runs from Search Console and keywords to technical fixes, on-page work, product structured data, and AI search. A priority table shows what to do first if you only have a weekend.
Best for: store owners who want organic traffic and have a store to work on.
Which one should you read first?
No idea yet, or no numbers? Start with the business plan template. Ready to build? Use the launch checklist. Store already live? Go to the SEO checklist.
The three fit together. A plan tells you what to sell and how much you can spend, the launch checklist gets the store live without avoidable mistakes, and the SEO checklist helps shoppers find it afterward.
How we make these resources
Free, with no signup
You can read every resource on this page without giving us your email. Some pages contain affiliate links, and each one says so. See our affiliate disclosure.
Sources, not guesses
Claims about Shopify come from its Help Center and pricing page, and claims about search come from Google documentation. Each resource ends with a source list, and where we could not confirm something, we say so.
Dated and revisited
Shopify plans, prices, and settings change. Figures in the resources are marked with the month they were checked, and you should confirm anything that affects a purchase on the vendor's own page.
Popular guides
These guides are among the ones readers most often find through Google search on eComStart. Some are older articles that we are updating, so check dates and prices on the vendor's site before you buy.
Shopify pricing plans compared
What each Shopify plan includes, plus the fees and extra costs people miss.
What it costs to build a Shopify website
A breakdown of the costs of building a store, from the plan to apps and design.
Best Shopify themes
Free and premium themes compared, to help you pick a design that fits your products.
Must-have Shopify apps
The apps worth installing on a new store, and what each one is for.
Shopify alternatives
Other ecommerce platforms compared with Shopify, for sellers weighing their options.
Best POS systems for small business
Point-of-sale options for small shops that sell in person as well as online.
Hire a Shopify expert or do it yourself
How to decide between hiring help and building the store on your own.
Small business name ideas
More than 250 name ideas to start from when you are still choosing a brand.
Want help instead of a checklist?
If you would rather have someone else build the store, eComStart, a sub-brand of BSS Commerce, offers two services. Read the details first so you know what is included.
Shopify store setup service
A custom store set up and configured around your brand, with training and 30 days of support.
Prebuilt Shopify stores
A ready-made store customized for your niche and handed over to you as the owner.