Guide
How to start selling online for free
8 steps · about 2 hours from idea to first order
You don’t need a big budget, a developer or a monthly plan to start selling online. If you have something to sell and a phone to take photos, you can have a working shop — with a cart, checkout and order emails — this afternoon. This guide walks you through it step by step, using the free Owlvix online store builder.
Before you start
- A few products you can describe and photograph — five to ten is plenty to begin.
- Your prices, including what delivery costs you.
- An email address to sign in and receive orders.
- Optional: a free Stripe account if you want card payments.
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1Decide what you’ll sell and what it costs
Start with a few products you already sell well. Work out each price so it covers what the product costs you, packing and your time — and decide whether delivery is extra or built into the price.
Tip: round prices (say 24 instead of 23.70) feel easier, and a “free delivery over 50” offer nudges people to add one more item.
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2Take clear product photos
Use daylight from a window, a plain background and the same angle for every product. Square photos look tidiest in a shop grid. Add a second or third photo for details, the back or the product in use.
Tip: shoot a little wider than you need and crop to a square. The builder shrinks photos for you, so your shop stays fast on phones.
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3Build your shop
Open the free online store builder, pick a ready shop (clothing, bakery, beauty, handmade, coffee, flowers, pets or jewellery) and change the words, photos and prices. Add sizes or colours, sale prices, categories and how many you have in stock.
Tip: write one short line on each card (what it is, what makes it good) and put the longer details on the product’s own page — sizes, care, what’s in the box.
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4Choose how customers pay
Switch on checkout, then choose cash on delivery, bank transfer, card payments through your own Stripe account — or all three. Card money goes straight to your Stripe account.
Tip: offering two ways to pay — card and cash on delivery, for example — usually gets more orders than one. Test card payments in Stripe’s test mode before going live.
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5Set delivery, pick-up and tax
Add a delivery fee, free delivery over an amount, or different prices by country. Offer pick-up if customers can collect. If you charge tax, add your rate and say whether your prices already include it.
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6Publish your shop and share the link
Publish to get your shop’s web address. Put it in your Instagram and TikTok bio, your WhatsApp status and your Google Business profile, and print the QR code for your counter, flyers and parcels.
Tip: send the link to ten friends or regular customers first and ask for honest feedback. Fix anything confusing before you share it widely.
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7Handle your first orders
Every order is emailed to you and listed in the Orders tab. Mark orders as paid and sent — add a tracking number and the customer gets an “on its way” email. Refunds are one click too.
Tip: reply to every order the same day, even just to say thank you. Fast, friendly replies are why small shops win against big ones.
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8Bring customers back
Make a discount code for your first customers, sell gift cards, and let buyers review what they bought — stars show on your shop by themselves. The sales view shows what sells best and what’s running low.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too many products at once. Start with your best sellers; add more when orders come in.
- Hidden costs at checkout. Show your delivery price early (in your announcement or FAQ) so nobody is surprised.
- Dark or busy photos. One clear photo beats five unclear ones.
- No way to ask a question. Add your WhatsApp number or email so customers can ask before they buy.
Want a bigger store built for you — with your own domain, stock syncing or a mobile app? Talk to us about a custom online store.
More free guides
- How to make a website for your small business
- How to make a QR code menu for your restaurant
- How to make a wedding website with RSVPs
- How to make a portfolio website that wins clients
- How to write a CV that gets interviews
- How to make a link in bio page
- How to make a coming soon page and build a waitlist
- How to build a sales funnel
- How to make an email newsletter
- How to make an Android app without coding
Good to know
Selling online, explained
Can I sell online without a website?
Yes. A shop made with the free online store builder is your website: it has your products, a cart and checkout. Publish it free on sites.owlvix.com, or download it and put it on your own domain.
How much does it cost to sell online?
Building and publishing your shop is free. Cash on delivery and bank transfer cost nothing. For card payments, Stripe charges its normal fee on each payment; the money goes straight to your own Stripe account.
How do I take card payments?
Switch on card payments in the shop’s settings and connect your Stripe account (or open a free one). Customers pay on Stripe’s secure page — you never handle card numbers.
Do I need to register a business to sell online?
It depends on your country and how much you sell. Many places let you start small as a sole trader; check your local rules for registering, tax and selling to customers in other countries.
Can I sell digital products like e-books or courses?
Yes. Set a product’s type to “Digital download” and upload the file. Buyers download it from their order page once they’ve paid. You can also sell gift cards.
How will customers find my shop?
Mostly through you at first: share the link on social media, WhatsApp and your Google Business profile, and print the QR code. Reviews, discount codes for returning customers and good photos help people buy once they arrive.
More free tools: see all free tools.