Since I launched the In my Shopify Starter mini-course , I realized that very few people are aware of the existence of this low-cost Shopify plan ($7/month only).

On second thought, it's normal: it's not exactly hidden by Shopify, but it's clearly not being promoted either! 😅

And yet… for many entrepreneurs, this would be the ideal starting point: no need to invest hundreds of dollars just to test an idea, validate a product or start selling your creations online.

But before you jump in, take the time to read this article, because it's not necessarily suitable for everyone.

I will answer the questions:

• How much does it cost? Really ?

• What is a “pogne”?

• And most importantly: is it suitable for your business ?

Shopify Starter: how much does it really cost?

The Starter Plan This is the smallest plan offered by Shopify. It starts with a 3-day free trial, perfect for creating your account, adding your first product, and getting acquainted with the platform without pressure or commitment.

Then, you can take advantage of the promotion at 3 months for $1/month , to give you time to really test the platform and see if it's right for you. After that, the price goes up to $7 CAD per month (and yes, it is) Really $7, not a trap).

The only thing to keep in mind is that the transaction fees Shopify Payments fees are slightly higher than on the larger plans (5% instead of 2.8% on the Basic plan). Essentially, Shopify takes a larger cut of each sale, but for the price of the plan, this makes sense and remains advantageous for smaller volumes.

So, if you don't sell much or you just want to test a concept, it's a really reasonable cost!

The advantages of Shopify Starter

This is where it gets interesting. Despite its tiny price, the Starter plan gives access to several tools normally reserved for "real" Shopify plans.

You have access to Shopify Email lets you send email marketing campaigns directly from your dashboard. No need for complicated integrations with external tools, and you'll likely save money because equivalent solutions typically range from $30 to $200/month with third-party services!

You also have Shopify Forms to create pop-ups and capture email addresses, and Shopify Inbox which allows you to chat directly with your customers or send them automated messages.

In terms of customer experience, you benefit from Optimized shopping cart and checkout process from Shopify. This is one of the platform's greatest strengths and a big boost to your conversion rate. Customers can pay with Shop Pay , which even allows them to pay in several installments without you having to go through another service.

You can also sell via the Shop channel (Shopify's "marketplace" style application), the POS (if you want to sell in person), or use the Buy Button , a small piece of code that you can insert on any web page where you can integrate HTML (blog, showcase site, etc.) to allow direct purchase.

And even if you don't have a complete "shop", each product has its own sales page with a link you can share on social media. You can also connect your store to Facebook and Instagram , to allow your followers to buy directly from your posts.

In short, it's minimalist, but quite powerful.

The disadvantages of Shopify Starter

Obviously, at that price, you can't do everything!

The Starter plan comes with There's only one theme , and it's very limited in its customization options. You won't be able to modify the layout as you wish, nor create additional pages for your site. It's designed to be simple and quick, not to offer a "complete" online store experience.

You also do not have the option to Creating collections or product categories is difficult , so if you sell multiple items, the organization quickly becomes limited. This plan is designed for selling a few featured products, not a large catalog.

Also, for now there are no compatible apps for managing cookies, so complying with Law 25 if you use cookies other than those "strictly necessary for the operation of the site" isn't possible at the moment (but I'm pestering Shopify's customer support about this, so they'll at least activate the native cookie bar! 😅 Who knows, if I'm persistent enough annoying (There might be an update…)

So, you have to see the Starter package for what it is: an ultra-accessible entry point into the world of e-commerce, which avoids headaches and allows you to start selling online very gradually, with a low financial risk.

Verdict: Shopify Starter, who is it for?

This package is the perfect “starter pack” for:

• The artists or craftsmen who have some creations to sell and want a simple, efficient and economical way to collect payments online and in person without any hassle.

• Self-employed workers who mainly sell services, but would like to offer some complementary products (ebook, template, gift card, etc.) without building a large store.

• Startups who want to test the market reaction before investing in a complete site: you validate your product with a real shopping cart, a smooth customer experience and secure payment.

• Companies that sell via social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest…) and who want a pro payment link to share, without going through DMs or Interac e-Transfers.

• Entrepreneurs who already have a website on WordPress, Squarespace or other platforms, and who simply want to add the Shopify shopping cart to take advantage of its e-commerce marketing tools.

If you recognize yourself in one of these categories, honestly, that's probably your best starting point!

And if you want to change your plan?

The great thing about Shopify is that You're never stuck . If your business grows, you can move to the plan. Shopify Basic (or another) in just a few clicks.

On an annual basis, Shopify Basic costs $37 CAD/month (or $49/month if you prefer to pay monthly). So if you want to build a real, complete store, this is the logical next step to consider.

What you are going to lose

Your Starter theme customizations won't be transferable, because that theme isn't available on other plans. But to be honest, you might have spent 20 minutes tweaking it. 😆

What you will be able to keep

Good news: you won't lose your products! You'll be able to keep all your listings, your basic settings (taxes, shipping, etc.), your automated messages, and most of your settings. Basically, you keep that's what really matters .

In short

Shopify Starter is Shopify's "fast and efficient" plan. You can start selling online today without going into debt, getting bogged down in technical details, or locking yourself into a complex system.

And if you discover that you really like the platform (which often happens, because it's really well done!), you can always upgrade later.

A little bonus for those of you who have read this far: use the promo code STARTER20 at the checkout to obtain 20% off my 3 Shopify Starter workshops ! 😉