The internet is full of opportunities to earn extra cash or even a full-time income, and one of the best tools to make your business idea a success is Shopify. Using Shopify’s streamlined e-commerce platform, anyone — even those without coding skills — can set up their online store and start selling to customers.
Creating a Shopify store lets you market virtually any product or service, from clothing to online courses. The platform includes pre-designed templates and payment processing tools, making it super easy to showcase your goods and accept customer payments.
Discover how to make money on Shopify in this handy guide.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is the world’s largest e-commerce community platform, powering millions of online stores. Collectively, its entrepreneurs generate $444 billion in revenues, serving users in over 200 countries.
Virtually anyone can create an online storefront using Shopify. The platform includes thousands of templates users can customize to fit their brand. You can add features or functionality to your store with Shopify’s selection of over 8,000 apps.
If you’re interested in exploring the world of e-commerce and think you have a savvy business idea, choose a Shopify plan and start building your online store. You can have it up and running in just a few hours. Thousands of profitable businesses, including big names like Allbirds, Kylie, and Crate & Barrel, rely on Shopify to power their online sales.
Shopify store examples
Many solo entrepreneurs find success with Shopify. Here are some examples.
Prairie Sage Soap Co.
Prairie Sage Soap Co. started as a hobby for a woman who enjoyed the creative process of making soap. She turned it into a full-time business in 2008 on Shopify after losing her husband to leukemia. Nearly 20 years later, Prairie Sage Soap Co. continues to thrive.
Nonna Live
Nonna Live took off when a young Italian woman reconnected with her grandmother during the pandemic. She bonded with her grandmother, learning to cook authentic Italian dishes from scratch. Using Shopify, the two launched an online cooking website that teaches viewers ‘old world’ Italian cooking techniques.
Pretty Presets & Actions
Pretty Presets & Actions uses Shopify to sell pre-designed Lightroom and Photoshop overlays to customers who want to professionalize their photos. Customers can pay for their product and then immediately download it for use. The site also includes how-to guides and courses.
Comprehensive ways to make money on Shopify
Shopify provides all the tools you need to start selling online — but what should you offer customers? Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Set up an e-commerce store
If you already have a physical storefront or items you can start selling immediately, setting up an online Shopify outlet is a no-brainer. Through your e-commerce store, you can reach a wider audience or sell to local customers who don’t have time to visit a physical storefront.
Choose your Shopify plan and template, upload pictures and product descriptions, and complete the payment processing details. Once your site is live, you can start marketing to new and existing customers.
Make money with Shopify dropshipping
Entrepreneurs seeking to minimize costs might try dropshipping — when you sell products you find through wholesalers on sites like AliExpress. When a customer purchases a product, you place an order with the wholesaler, who ships it directly to your customer.
Dropshippers earn a margin on every product they sell, forming the backbone of their profit. Very little upfront investment is required since you don’t have to buy or hold inventory.
Become a Shopify expert
Business owners who don’t have the time or know-how to build their e-commerce site turn to Shopify experts for help. If you’re tech-savvy, you can cultivate your Shopify site development skills and offer services to clients. Shopify has a Partner program that lets experts set up a profile and market their services directly through the Shopify platform.
Provide freelance writing services for Shopify sites
Budding wordsmiths can offer their services to business owners who need help crafting copy for their landing pages, product descriptions, and blogs. Start by creating your own Shopify site and listing your freelance writing services as your products. You can include examples of prior work to demonstrate your skills.
Create and sell online courses
If you have a special skill, consider teaching it through online courses on your Shopify site. You can pre-record your classes for on-demand purchases or hold live webinars with students. Some examples of marketable skills include foreign language classes, crafting courses, and cooking workshops.
Offer print-on-demand customized merchandise
Wondering how to make money on Shopify with no money? Try print on demand. There are several print-on-demand sites where you can upload your designs on various types of merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, towels, and mugs.
The beauty of this model is that you don’t have to invest in inventory. Whenever a customer purchases a product, the order goes directly to the printer, who creates your product and ships it to the buyer. You earn a profit on every item you sell.
Turn creativity into cash with handmade goods
Do you have a crafting hobby you could turn into a business? Maybe you’re a knitter who enjoys making baby blankets or have a penchant for candlemaking. Whatever your expertise, consider selling your hand-crafted goods on Shopify. You’ll earn some extra money — and have fun doing it, too!
Sell thrifted or vintage goods
Nostalgia is a big business, and many consumers won’t pass up the opportunity to buy a unique item that reminds them of their childhood or past decades. To capitalize on this opportunity, explore local garage sales, thrift shops, and estate sales for bargain prices on retro items. Then, resell them for a profit on your Shopify site.
Earn extra money as a Shopify affiliate
Shopify offers an affiliate program where partners earn a commission every time someone clicks on their link and signs up for a Shopify e-commerce plan. If you already have a blog or a robust social media following, you can earn extra cash by utilizing it to promote Shopify.
Sell art and creative digital products
You don’t have to have a physical product to make money on Shopify. Many entrepreneurs create digital items customers can download from their Shopify stores for a fee.
For instance, you might sell photos or graphic designs you created. You can also use Shopify to market e-books, tutorials, and other valuable digital items.
Offer personalized services directly through Shopify
Many service-oriented businesses use Shopify to promote their offerings online. Define your services, then individualize them as products through the Shopify platform.
For instance, if you’re a wedding photographer, you could package your services and allow customers to book you for their ceremony. Other service examples include bookkeeping, website development, online marketing, and personal fitness.
Maximizing Shopify Revenue Streams
Do you want even more ideas for how to make money on Shopify? Consider these options to make your Shopify store a rousing success.
Become an online tutor: offer courses through Shopify
If you want to know how to make money on your Shopify store without investment, look no further than online tutoring. You can offer your expertise on different subjects to students seeking to learn.
For instance, if you’re an algebra teacher, you could supplement your income by providing algebra tutoring online to teens who need additional support. You won’t need to purchase products; just set up shop and use your computer to interact with students.
Monetize blogs and content on Shopify
Most Shopify templates come with a blog page you can use to create content relevant to your online store. While you can use your blog to promote your products and services, you can also monetize it through ads and affiliate marketing. Any time someone comes across one of your blog pages, you’ll earn a small commission if they click on a link or view an ad.
Create subscription boxes for recurring revenue
Subscription boxes are great for building a solid income with predictable revenue. Every time someone signs up for your subscription, you’ll earn monthly revenue until they discontinue. To start, find a product people use regularly and market it to customers. For instance, you might sell pet toys or soap and send your clients a new box every month.
Become a reseller on Shopify: a lucrative model
One person’s castoffs are another’s gold mine. Make money by reselling items you don’t need on your Shopify store. As your business grows, you can find inexpensive products at thrift stores, garage sales, or discount retailers and resell them for a profit.
Tips for making money on Shopify
When opening your Shopify store, don’t expect an immediate influx of website traffic. After all, search engines need time to index your site, and it takes time to build a following.
Use these tips for how to set up and make money on Shopify.
1. Take the time to write thorough product descriptions
You’ll have difficulty ranking on search engines if you don’t write clear product descriptions that include keywords your audience uses to find your items. Use Ahrefs or Semrush to identify keywords that apply to your product and insert them into your product descriptions. To minimize returns, make sure your clients know precisely what they’ll receive if they buy from you.
2. Offer exceptional customer service
Clients want to know you care about their shopping experience. Ensure your Shopify site is easy to navigate and provides a streamlined checkout process.
Consider integrating a customer chatbot so clients can easily reach out if they have questions. You should also outline your return policy so customers understand their options if they’re unsatisfied with their purchase.
3. Promote your Shopify site through other marketing channels
Most entrepreneurs promote their Shopify sites through other marketing channels, including social media, email, pay-per-click (PPC) ads, and physical storefronts. The more people know of your site, the quicker you’ll start seeing traffic and earning sales.
Email marketing is a fantastic way to increase brand familiarity with clients and boost revenues. Constant Contact offers a comprehensive email marketing platform for new and established e-commerce companies. To round out your marketing toolbox, you can add other tools, including SMS and social media marketing.
4. Partner with influencers or other businesses
Influencers are people on social media with sizeable audiences. They partner with brands to promote goods and services that align with their follower’s interests.
You can find influencers and ask them to post about your products or services, paying them a fee or commission for every sale they bring in. If influencer marketing doesn’t fit your business model, you can collaborate with non-competitors and refer to each other’s products to increase sales.
Is Shopify a good way to make money?
How easy is it to make money on Shopify in 2024? The answer: It depends.
It’s certainly possible to earn a decent supplemental income or even build a successful business on Shopify. The results you will see depend on the value you provide customers and the effort you put into your business.
To maximize your earnings, do thorough research before starting a Shopify store. Investigate different business ideas and evaluate your potential competition. Generally, it’s easier to find a niche and work on building a solid customer base. As your business grows, you can expand to include new products or services.
Promoting your Shopify store is vital to its success. An effective e-commerce marketing strategy focusing on your target audience will make it easier to attract customers.
Addressing the legal side: business licenses and online sales
Before you start selling products online, you should review the legal requirements for businesses in your city, state, and country. Some locations require you to acquire a business license before marketing your products. Speak with a knowledgeable business attorney who can explain your legal obligations and advise you on regulations and laws that apply to your online store.
How to make money on Shopify: just get started
As you embark on your Shopify journey, familiarize yourself with how to utilize the platform to create a sustainable income stream. You may even turn your store into a full-time business as it grows!
Remember that promotion is key; if no one knows your site exists, you won’t see the sales you’re hoping for. To learn more about online commerce, check out How to Get Sales on Shopify in 9 Easy Steps.
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