Starting an online store in the UK has never been easier — thanks to Shopify. Whether you’re an entrepreneur in London, a student in Manchester, or a creative seller from Birmingham, Shopify lets you create your own eCommerce business without any coding skills.
This in-depth UK-focused guide from Shopify Designs Guru will walk you through every step — from setting up your Shopify store, choosing products, configuring VAT and payments, to marketing and SEO.
By the end, you’ll be ready to launch your own online business and start selling to UK and global customers.
🧩 1. What Is Shopify and Why It’s Perfect for UK Sellers
Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform that helps businesses build online stores, process payments, and manage orders — all in one place.
For UK sellers, Shopify offers:
- Support for GBP currency
- Integration with UK payment gateways
- Easy setup for VAT and taxes
- Royal Mail and DPD shipping integrations
- Reliable hosting and 24/7 support
Whether you want to sell physical products, digital downloads, or dropship items, Shopify is the easiest and most reliable way to get started.
🧭 2. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Start a Shopify Store in the UK
Let’s break down the process into actionable steps.
🪄 Step 1: Sign Up for Shopify UK
Visit Shopify.com or use our exclusive referral link to start your free Shopify trial.
- Enter your email address and store name.
- Choose your password.
- Shopify will create your dashboard in seconds.
💡 Pro Tip: Pick a store name that’s short, memorable, and available as a .co.uk domain.
🎨 Step 2: Choose a Shopify Theme
Shopify has over 100+ professional themes.
For UK audiences, consider:
- Dawn Theme (free and minimalist)
- Sense Theme (great for beauty or wellness)
- Craft Theme (ideal for handmade products)
Each theme is mobile responsive, SEO-friendly, and customisable through Shopify’s drag-and-drop editor.
🛍️ Step 3: Add Your Products
In your Shopify admin:
- Go to Products → Add product
- Add product title, description, price, and images
- Set inventory and shipping weight
- Add variants (e.g., size or colour options)
Use UK-based keywords in your product titles and descriptions — for example:
“Handmade Jewellery UK” or “Eco-Friendly Candles London”.
💳 Step 4: Set Up UK Payment Gateways
Shopify supports multiple UK-friendly payment methods including:
- Shopify Payments (accepts GBP)
- PayPal UK
- Klarna (Buy Now, Pay Later)
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
- Credit & Debit Cards
💡 Shopify Payments is the easiest option because it integrates directly into your dashboard and handles refunds, taxes, and chargebacks automatically.
🚚 Step 5: Configure UK Shipping Settings
Under Settings → Shipping and Delivery, set your shipping options.
Recommended UK couriers:
- Royal Mail (official integration)
- Evri (Hermes)
- DPD
- UPS UK
You can offer Free Shipping, Flat Rate, or Real-Time Carrier Rates.
💡 Pro Tip: Offer free delivery on orders above £50 to encourage larger basket sizes.
🧾 Step 6: Set Up VAT and UK Taxes
Shopify simplifies UK tax compliance.
- Go to Settings → Taxes
- Select United Kingdom (GB)
- Shopify will auto-calculate VAT rates (20%)
- Enable “Include taxes in prices” if your product prices already include VAT
💼 If your revenue exceeds £90,000 annually, you must register for VAT with HMRC.
🌐 Step 7: Connect a Custom Domain
You can buy a .co.uk domain directly in Shopify or connect one from GoDaddy or Namecheap.
Example:
www.yourstorename.co.uk
Having a .co.uk domain helps improve local SEO rankings and builds trust with UK customers.
🧠 Step 8: Optimise Your Shopify Store for SEO (UK Strategy)
To rank higher in Google UK, apply these SEO techniques:
🏷️ On-Page SEO
- Add UK-specific keywords in product titles
- Use meta descriptions like “Buy handmade candles in the UK”
- Optimise image ALT text
- Write unique product descriptions
🔧 Technical SEO
- Submit your sitemap in Google Search Console (UK property)
- Use an SSL certificate (Shopify provides one free)
- Improve page speed
📰 Content SEO
- Start a blog on your store (e.g., “How to Choose Eco Products in the UK”)
- Target local SEO by mentioning UK regions
- Add internal links between your guides and product pages
📱 Step 9: Install Essential Shopify Apps
Here are some recommended apps for UK stores:
| App Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Klaviyo | Email marketing automation |
| Tidio | Live chat and chatbot |
| Judge.me | Product reviews |
| DSers | Dropshipping automation |
| Plug in SEO | SEO analysis |
| ReConvert | Post-purchase upsells |
Most of these offer free plans, perfect for new UK entrepreneurs.
💼 Step 10: Launch and Promote Your Store
After final testing, click “Launch Store” in Shopify.
Now focus on marketing:
- Run Facebook Ads targeting UK interests
- Use Google Ads (location: United Kingdom)
- Collaborate with UK influencers
- Share posts on TikTok Shop UK
- Send email campaigns via Klaviyo
💡 Pro Tip: Use Shopify Analytics to track visitor behaviour, sales, and marketing ROI.
💷 Shopify Pricing Plans in the UK (2025)
| Plan | Price (GBP) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | £5/month | Social media sellers |
| Basic | £25/month | New entrepreneurs |
| Shopify | £65/month | Growing small businesses |
| Advanced | £344/month | Large or scaling brands |
| Plus | Custom | Enterprise-level brands |
Start with a free Shopify trial to explore features before upgrading.
👉 Start Free Trial – Shopify UK
🚀 Tips to Succeed as a Shopify Store Owner in the UK
- Focus on niche markets (UK handmade, vegan, eco-friendly)
- Build trust with UK shipping transparency
- Offer Buy Now Pay Later via Klarna
- Write local content like “Best Fitness Gear in London”
- Build backlinks from UK directories and blogs
🧮 Shopify Taxes, Legal & Business Setup (UK Overview)
When starting a Shopify store in the UK:
- Register your business as a sole trader or limited company with Companies House.
- Apply for VAT registration once your turnover exceeds the HMRC threshold.
- Set up a business bank account.
- Use Shopify Accounting Apps like QuickBooks UK or Xero.
🌍 Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Wix (UK Comparison)
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce | Wix eCommerce |
|————–|————–|——————|
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hosting Included | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| VAT Setup | ✅ Easy | ⚙️ Manual | ⚙️ Basic |
| UK Payments | ✅ Shopify Payments | ✅ Stripe | ✅ Wix Payments |
| Support | 24/7 | Community | Chat Support |
Shopify clearly leads in simplicity and UK compatibility.
🧾 10+ FAQs (People Also Ask – UK Intent)
1. Is Shopify available in the UK?
Yes, Shopify fully supports UK users with GBP currency, UK tax settings, and integrations with local couriers and banks.
2. How much does Shopify cost per month in the UK?
Shopify Basic starts at £25/month, Standard at £65/month, and Advanced at £344/month.
3. Do I need a business licence to sell on Shopify UK?
No, you can start as a sole trader. Register your business if you plan to scale.
4. Does Shopify handle UK VAT automatically?
Yes, Shopify can include or exclude VAT and calculate it automatically during checkout.
5. What’s the best payment gateway for Shopify UK?
Shopify Payments, PayPal UK, and Klarna are the most commonly used gateways.
6. Can I use Shopify for dropshipping in the UK?
Yes, use DSers or Syncee to connect to UK suppliers or AliExpress.
7. Does Shopify work with Royal Mail?
Yes, you can print shipping labels and track orders via Royal Mail integrations.
8. How long does it take to set up a Shopify store?
You can set up a basic store in 1–2 hours; a fully branded one in 1–2 days.
9. Can I sell internationally from the UK on Shopify?
Yes, Shopify supports multi-currency and international shipping zones.
10. What are the best UK products to sell on Shopify?
Popular categories include fashion, home décor, health & beauty, and eco-friendly products.
11. Does Shopify offer a free trial in the UK?
Yes, you can start a free Shopify trial and explore all features risk-free → Click Here.
🏁 Conclusion
Starting a Shopify store in the UK is one of the fastest ways to launch an online business in 2025.
With a user-friendly interface, integrated UK payments, and full VAT support, Shopify helps you focus on what matters most — building your brand and selling products.
💡 Don’t wait — start your free trial today and join thousands of successful UK Shopify entrepreneurs.
👉 Start Your Shopify UK Store (Free Trial)