Before you start taking orders, you need to sort out 3 Shopify settings: shipping, taxes, and checkout.
These settings control what customers pay at checkout and how Shopify handles their orders.
How to set up Shopify shipping
Go to:
Shopify admin → Settings → Shipping and delivery
Under Shipping, select the shipping profile you want to edit.
You can create shipping zones based on where you deliver. For example, if you sell from India, you might create separate zones for domestic and international orders.
Add a shipping rate
Open a shipping zone and click Add rate.
You can create a flat shipping rate such as:
Standard shipping: ₹80
Express shipping: ₹150
Free shipping: Orders over ₹1,000
Choose the option that matches how you actually charge customers.
If you use a third-party shipping service, you may also be able to connect calculated shipping rates through an available carrier or app.
Check your shipping rates
Create a test order and enter different addresses during checkout.
Check whether Shopify applies the correct shipping rate for each location. A wrong shipping zone can create some very awkward customer conversations.
How to set up Shopify taxes
Go to:
Shopify admin → Settings → Taxes and duties
Select your store’s location and configure the tax settings that apply to your business.
Your tax requirements depend on where your business is located, where you sell, and the products you sell.
For example, an Indian Shopify store may need to deal with GST, while a store selling to customers in other countries can have different tax requirements.
Shopify can calculate taxes based on the settings you enter, but you’re responsible for making sure your tax setup follows the rules that apply to your business.
If you’re unsure about your GST or other tax obligations, talk to a tax professional before launching.
Check whether tax is included in your prices
Shopify lets you control how taxes are handled in your product prices.
For example:
Product price: ₹1,000
GST: ₹180
Customer pays: ₹1,180
Or you may sell products at a tax-inclusive price, depending on your business and local requirements.
Set this carefully because it affects the price customers see throughout your store.
How to set up Shopify checkout
Your checkout is where customers enter their information, choose shipping, and pay for their order.
Go to:
Shopify admin → Settings → Checkout
Here you’ll find settings for customer accounts, contact information, checkout preferences, and other parts of the checkout process.
Choose what customers enter
Shopify lets you control which information customers provide during checkout.
You’ll typically need information such as:
- Email or phone number
- Shipping address
- Billing address
- Delivery details
Keep the checkout focused. Every extra field gives customers another reason to pause before completing an order.
Set up customer accounts
Under the customer account settings, you can choose whether customers can create accounts or check out as guests.
For most stores, I’d keep guest checkout available. Someone buying a ₹500 product shouldn’t have to create a small digital biography first.
Set up payment methods
Go to:
Settings → Payments
Choose the payment provider available for your business and complete the setup.
Depending on your country, you may have options such as Shopify Payments, PayPal, or local payment providers.
Once payments are connected, place a test order and check the complete checkout process.
Test everything before you launch
Run through checkout yourself with a real product in your cart.
Check the product price, tax amount, shipping charge, discount codes, payment method, and order confirmation.
Then try another shipping address. It’s much cheaper to find a checkout problem yourself than to discover it through your first customer.
