Updated June 2026
How to set up a website to sell things
Short answer
To set up a website to sell things in 2026, use Shopify ($39/mo) for physical products, Squarespace Commerce ($27/mo) for under 50 SKUs with strong design needs, or WooCommerce on WordPress for full control. All three handle payments, taxes, and shipping out of the box. Plan to spend 15–30 hours setting up product pages, photography, and checkout before you launch — product photos are the single biggest conversion driver.
Key facts
- Shopify: best for 50+ SKUs, physical products, or dropshipping
- Squarespace Commerce: best design quality, capped at smaller catalogs
- WooCommerce: free plugin, ~$200/year in hosting + plugins, infinite flexibility
- Stripe & PayPal both take ~2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Product photos drive ~70% of e-commerce conversion lift
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your platform
Shopify (physical goods, scale), Squarespace (design-first small catalog), or WooCommerce (custom).
- 2
Set up payments
Connect Stripe + PayPal. Both are 2.9% + 30¢. Apple Pay/Google Pay convert 20% better on mobile.
- 3
Photograph products
Phone on a tripod + window light beats most pro setups. 3–5 photos per product minimum.
- 4
Write product descriptions
Lead with the buyer's problem, not the product's features. Use real measurements, materials, lead times.
- 5
Configure shipping & tax
Use real-time carrier rates (USPS/UPS). Enable automatic sales tax via Shopify Tax or TaxJar.
- 6
Test the full checkout
Buy your own product end-to-end. Most launches break at the address-validation or shipping-rate step.
Need a store built fast?
We set up Shopify and Squarespace Commerce stores for a flat fee — products, payments, shipping, taxes, all done.
Get a free audit →Frequently asked
What's the cheapest way to sell online?
Stripe Payment Links or a Square Online free store — both let you take orders without a full e-commerce platform. Good for under 10 SKUs.
Shopify vs Squarespace for selling?
Shopify wins for 50+ products, real shipping, or anything you'll scale. Squarespace wins when design matters more than catalog size.
Do I need an LLC to sell on a website?
No. You can sell as a sole proprietor. An LLC adds liability protection but isn't a launch requirement.
How do I get my first sales?
Email your existing list and audience first. Paid ads to a brand-new store with no proof rarely work. Aim for 5 organic sales before spending on ads.