Shopify Store Set Up

How Long Does It Take To Create A Shopify Store?

Last modified: December 23, 2025

Wondering how long does it take to create a Shopify store? You’re not alone!

Building your Shopify store is a long process, for most people who are doing it alone for the first time. However, the actual length of time it takes can depend on the website, your brand, and your skill level.

Want to speed things up? You can hire a developer to help you with building your Shopify store, but this can also be very costly and time-consuming. Some developers have a long waiting list and development times.

So, assuming that you’re someone who is developing a standard eCommerce website and have average skills, how long will it take for you to set up Shopify store and own your own online store? Here are some thoughts on this.

Key Takeaways

Basic Shopify store setup takes 1-3 days, with an additional day for adding main pages.

Creating a Shopify store involves selecting a theme, designing a basic layout, and optimizing for SEO and mobile responsiveness.

Setting up payment, shipping, and other elements in Shopify may take a few days, including time for troubleshooting.

How Long for Basic Design?

The basic design of your website should take between one and three days. The vast majority of the design can be handled by the theme that you buy or download from the Theme Store. This will give you a basic design and then adding the main pages should take another day.

Be sure that you proofread all your content and think about SEO before you start building your website. You can adjust it later, but you’ll get better results this way. You should ensure that you keep your website’s speed fast as well. The slower the website, the less conversions you will have. At the same time, you need to have a website that’s mobile friendly.

There are specific themes that are more suited for certain industries, so also bare this in mind when buying themes.

How Long to Add Functions?

Most store owners want to add functions to their store. You can do this manually by adding the code yourself, but this can be temperamental and in addition, time consuming. There are some great apps that can add functionality to your website. Depending on the functionality you want to add, you can expect to spend about a day or two on this process.

Some of the most important functions that you should be adding are email marketing, SEO and push notifications. You should also look at your niche and see if there is any other functions that you need for your business.

How Long to Add Products?

No eCommerce store is complete without adding products. With a Shopify account it is easy to add, edit or remove products. The time it takes per product depends on your readiness to add products. If you have product descriptions ready, the process can be complete in about 5-10 minutes. If you’re writing each one out manually, then you can spend 30 minutes per product.

Alternatively, you could be dropshipping and using Oberlo from the Shopify app store to import the products for you. This can mean that your products are live on your store within half a day.

How Long for Additional Settings

You’ve also got other settings, like payment settings, Shopify shipping to setup and other elements. This can take a couple of days to do as well. And you should be prepared for some time to fix issues with the website, this could be as little as an hour or as long as a day.

Recommended: 15 Best Shopify Themes in 2026

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FAQs

Can I migrate my existing website to Shopify?

Yes, you can migrate your existing website to Shopify. Shopify offers tools and services to help transfer your data, including products and customer information.
What are the costs involved in setting up a Shopify store?

Initial costs for a Shopify store include subscription fees, theme purchases, and potential developer fees. Ongoing expenses include marketing, app subscriptions, and transaction fees.
Can I customize my Shopify store without coding skills?

Yes, Shopify’s user-friendly interface allows customization without coding. Themes can be modified using a drag-and-drop editor, and apps add extra functionality.

Store Configurations and Setup Time

Creating a Shopify store involves configuring various store settings, which can impact the overall time required for setup. One crucial aspect is determining how you want to start a Done-for-You store or build it from scratch. Additionally, you’ll need to decide whether to get a free Shopify Account during the initial stages or upgrade to a paid plan later on.

Customizing your store’s preferences, such as the name generator for creating a unique brand identity and change the store’s default currency to match your target market, can add extra time to the setup process. Familiarizing yourself with Shopify key terms and understanding the platform’s intricacies is also essential for efficient store creation.

Furthermore, the ability to pause your store temporarily during the setup phase can provide flexibility, allowing you to make necessary adjustments without disrupting live operations. Striking the right balance between these configurations and your specific business requirements can significantly impact the overall time investment required to launch a fully functional Shopify store.

Conclusion: How Long Does It Take To Create A Shopify Store?

It can take as little as 3-4 days to complete a basic online store with all the content and products done. For some people it will take longer. The reason there is a 3-day trial for Shopify customers on their basic plans is because this is how long Shopify reckons you need to build a fully-functional website. So, while that isn’t an exact answer, it does tell you that you could be spending up to 3 days before your website is finished.

However, once built, you should always be perfecting your website. Making it attract more traffic and improving conversion rates. You should never stop looking at your website.

Written by:

Lindsey Perry

I have 5+ years of experience with Shopify and 15+ years of experiences on other eCommerce platforms. My theme reviews are designed to help store owners find the best theme for them.