Have you ever thought about running your own online store? Maybe you dream of selling your own products, offering web design, or even helping other people get started with their businesses.
Shopify gives you the tools to do all of this. You don’t need to be a tech expert or have a business degree. You just need a little motivation and a good idea!
It’s one of the most popular options out there for people who have products to sell and want an online storefront to showcase them.
What is Shopify?
As stated above, Shopify is an easy-to-use platform that helps people build their own online stores. It gives you everything you need to sell products, take payments, and manage your business all in one place.
Instead of selling only on big marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy, Shopify lets you build a store that is completely your own. You have full control, and you get to keep more of your earnings since you’re not paying marketplace fees.
You can still link your Shopify store to other places if you want to keep using sites like eBay or Etsy. Shopify simply gives you more control and more freedom.
Five Ways to Earn Money With Shopify
A lot of people think Shopify is only for selling products, but there are actually many ways to earn with it. Here are five that work for beginners as well as more experienced users:
- Start your own store. Sell physical products, digital goods, printables, or even services.
- Design stores for other people. If you’re good with layouts and visuals, you can offer Shopify setup services on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
- Share your affiliate link. When someone signs up through your Shopify affiliate link, you earn a commission. This works well if you have a blog, YouTube channel, or social media following and are able to reach many people.
- Become a Shopify partner. Partners help bring in new users and get a share of the money those users spend on the platform.
- Design and sell themes or apps. If you’re creative and tech-savvy, you can build themes and tools for other Shopify store owners.
This makes Shopify more than just a selling tool. It can become a full income stream if you’re consistent and willing to learn.
Real People Are Making Real Money
I like sharing success stories when I can find them to show what’s possible. Here are a few Shopify success stories I found online:
Therese Waechter, the owner of Otto’s Grotto, an online sticker shop based in Indiana, shares how applying “vibe coding” and AI tools helped her more than double her business revenue in 2024.
After being laid off during the pandemic, Waechter turned her hobby of graphic design into a full-time business selling stickers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and Amazon.
Initially hesitant to invest heavily in stickers, early success led her to scale rapidly, eventually operating a wholesale division alongside retail.
Go here to read more about her success on Shopify.
Denise Woodard, founder of Partake Foods, had a hard time finding healthy snacks for her daughter who was diagnosed with severe food allergies. Frustrated by the lack of options, she decided to start her own packaged goods company.
After finally securing investment and building a Shopify store, Woodard saw her business take off!
Her website has a range of delicious snacks, which she made herself along with a product developer. The performance: over $4 million in revenues, with a tenfold revenue increase in 2020 alone!
Go here to read more about Denise Woodard’s success on Shopify.
These stories are not magic. They are results from learning a new skill, being consistent, and not giving up too early!
What Comes With Shopify?
Shopify gives users lots of tools to help run and grow a store. Depending on the plan you choose, here are some of the features you might get:
- 24/7 customer support
- Templates to design your store
- Marketing tools like SEO and email
- Hosting and site security
- Reports and analytics
- A mobile app to manage your store
- Payment systems that are easy to set up
- Help with shipping and taxes
You can pick a plan that fits your goals, and you don’t have to pay a fortune.
The basic plan starts around $9 per month, which is great if you want to try it without spending a lot.
Ready to Try Shopify?
If you’re curious, Shopify offers a 14-day free trial. That’s two weeks to explore the tools, learn how the platform works, and see if it feels like something you could do.
You don’t have to be perfect or have everything figured out. The key is just to start and keep learning as you go. The best part is that you’re building something that could grow with you.
Good luck if you give it a try!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 14 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.