Getting ready to launch your Shopify store? 🎉
You’ve added your products and customized your theme—but if payments and shipping aren’t set up right, you’ll hit roadblocks fast.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up payment and shipping on Shopify the smart way—so your store can start accepting orders without a hitch.
Let’s keep your customers happy and your checkout process seamless.
✅ PART 1: Payment Setup – Get Paid, Fast
1. Go to Shopify Settings > Payments
This is your main control panel. From here, you can:
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Activate Shopify Payments (if available in your region)
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Connect to third-party gateways like PayPal or Stripe
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Offer manual payment methods (e.g. bank deposit, cash on delivery)
2. Set Up Shopify Payments (Recommended)
Shopify Payments is the simplest way to accept credit/debit cards and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay—without extra transaction fees (on most plans).
To activate:
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Provide business and banking info
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Enter your EIN or national ID (depends on country)
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Choose your payout schedule
💡 Why Shopify Payments?
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Seamless checkout integration
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No need to manage external gateways
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Faster payouts (as fast as 2 business days)
3. Add PayPal as a Backup
Even if you’re using Shopify Payments, it's smart to enable PayPal Express Checkout too—some customers prefer it for the extra buyer protection.
Just log in to your PayPal account and connect it through Shopify.
🛡️ Pro Tip: Use a business PayPal account to avoid limitations.
4. Enable Alternative & Manual Payments (Optional)
Depending on your market or product type, consider adding:
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Manual options: Cash on delivery, bank transfers (great for B2B or regions where cards are less common)
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Buy now, pay later (e.g. Shop Pay Installments, Klarna, Afterpay)—ideal for higher-ticket items
🧠 The more payment options you offer, the higher your checkout conversion rate.
🚚 PART 2: Shipping Setup – Deliver on Expectations
5. Set Your Shipping Origin
This tells Shopify where your products ship from and helps calculate rates.
Navigate to Settings > Shipping and Delivery → “Shipping Origin”
Make sure it reflects your real fulfillment center or warehouse.
📦 If you're dropshipping (e.g. via AliExpress or CJdropshipping), you’ll still need to configure zones manually.
6. Define Shipping Zones
Shipping zones = where you ship to + how much it costs.
Example:
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Domestic (e.g. within the US)
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International (e.g. Canada, Europe)
Within each zone, define rates:
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Flat rate: e.g. $5 shipping on all orders
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Weight-based: e.g. 0–1kg = $3, 1–3kg = $6
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Price-based: e.g. free shipping over $50
🌍 Tip: Start with a simple flat rate or free shipping for local orders. You can optimize later based on real costs.
7. Offer Free Shipping (Strategically)
Customers love free shipping—but it shouldn't destroy your margins.
Options:
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Built-in pricing: Include shipping in your product price
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Threshold-based: “Free shipping on orders over $50”
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Limited-time promos: Boost AOV with free shipping weekends
💡 Free shipping thresholds are proven to increase cart size—and reduce abandoned checkouts.
8. Use Shopify Shipping for Discounts (if available)
In some regions (like the US, Canada, and Australia), Shopify partners with carriers like:
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USPS
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UPS
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DHL Express
With Shopify Shipping, you get:
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Discounted rates (up to 88% off retail prices)
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Label printing right from your admin
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Real-time tracking for customers
📦 If you're self-fulfilling, this is a powerful built-in tool to streamline operations.
9. Automate With Shipping Profiles
If you sell products with different shipping requirements (e.g. heavy vs. light items), set up Shipping Profiles:
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Assign products to different shipping logic
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Offer local pickup or delivery for specific SKUs
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Exclude certain locations (e.g. no overseas delivery for fragile goods)
⚙️ This allows you to tailor the customer experience—and reduce shipping issues later.
10. Display Delivery Times Transparently
Modern shoppers want to know when their order will arrive.
📢 Add estimated delivery times to:
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Product pages
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Checkout pages
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Order confirmation emails
Even if it’s approximate (“2–5 business days”), it builds trust and reduces customer service tickets.
Bonus: Don’t Forget Fulfillment Apps & Rules
If you use third-party logistics (3PLs) or dropshipping apps (like DSers, CJdropshipping, or ShipBob), connect them early.
✔️ Confirm:
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Inventory syncs properly
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Shipping settings aren’t overridden
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Customer tracking is passed back to Shopify
🛠️ Most fulfillment services offer Shopify-native apps—just plug and play.
Final Thoughts
Setting up payments and shipping isn’t glamorous—but it’s what keeps your store running.
By configuring them right from the start, you’ll avoid technical hiccups, abandoned carts, and missed deliveries.
Here’s the rule of thumb: Keep it simple, clear, and fast.
And when you’re ready to drive traffic, AdsPolar can help you analyze how your competitors are advertising, which offers they’re pushing (like free shipping), and what messages are converting.
Now you’re not just building a store—you’re building a customer experience. 🧾📦🚀