MAKING MONEY ONLINE TRAINING ACADEMY · COURSE 02

Shopify Business Training

From first product idea to a responsible store launch: 8 in-depth modules, 41 narrated lessons, practical worksheets, pricing examples, a 90-day plan, and a 20-question final assessment.

Read it, listen to it, practice it, and build at your own pace.

Welcome to the Shopify Course

This is an educational, beginner-friendly course—not a get-rich-quick claim. You will learn store planning, product selection, design, pricing, checkout, shipping, customer care, free marketing, launch testing and business improvement. Each of the eight modules includes five detailed lessons and a narrated slide for every lesson.

Before spending money: Shopify subscriptions, fees, features, menus, policies and country eligibility can change. Verify details in the official Shopify Help Center. This course is not legal, financial, tax or certification advice, and no sales or earnings are guaranteed.

Quick course navigation

Listen to lessons Read modules Worksheets Pricing examples Launch checklist Final test

Complete Narrated Training Slideshow

Choose a module or move slide by slide. Press Play / Read Aloud to listen. Narration moves to the next slide automatically. Pause, resume, stop or step through the slides yourself.

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Eight Complete Written Training Modules

Do the action at the end of each lesson. These lessons explain what to do, why it matters, how to think through the business decision, and how to avoid common mistakes.

MODULE 01

Shopify Foundations & Business Models

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 1.1 — Understand the platform

Shopify is software for building and operating an online store. Unlike a marketplace that gathers many sellers in one search experience, your store needs its own visitors. The platform provides themes, product catalogs, checkout, order records, and integrations; it does not promise traffic or sales.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Illustration: A seller considering reusable water bottles should compare customer needs, genuine product differentiation, supplier unit pricing, breakage and delivery time before ordering inventory.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Sketch a customer journey: discovery, product page, cart, checkout, confirmation, fulfillment, support.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 1.2 — Choose a practical business model

Physical inventory gives quality and shipping control but ties up cash. Print-on-demand reduces upfront stock but shifts production to a supplier. Dropshipping relies on third-party fulfillment and can introduce long delivery times and quality risks. Digital files avoid postage but still require original rights, customer support and delivery tools.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Pick one model and write its benefits, costs, failure points, and returns process.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 1.3 — Validate a specific customer problem

Define a narrow buyer group before collecting products. Interview prospective customers, study publicly available reviews, compare competing offers and identify evidence of demand. Avoid treating competitor popularity or a viral trend as proof of future sales.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Write a one-sentence audience, problem, solution, and reason to trust you.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 1.4 — Make a lean startup budget

List fixed costs such as subscriptions and domain renewal, variable costs such as materials, payment fees and shipping, and one-time setup purchases. Preserve cash for refunds and unexpected bills. Do not buy paid apps merely because the app store recommends them.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Prepare a three-month budget and choose a maximum amount you can afford to lose.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 1.5 — Select a measurable goal

A realistic first goal is a complete, reliable store and a handful of qualified conversations, not instant passive income. Track conversion, average order value, margin, returns and actual cash in the bank.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Write a 30-day launch goal with a metric, deadline and action owner.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Module completion checkpoint: Explain the module to another beginner in your own words, identify one risk, and finish the five written student assignments. Go back to any lesson you cannot explain confidently.

MODULE 02

Store Setup, Plans & Branding

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 2.1 — Create your account safely

Use an email address you control, a unique password and multi-factor authentication. Record your legal business details accurately. Read current trial, plan and billing information before entering payment details because fees and features change.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Record the required legal information privately; never paste bank credentials into class worksheets.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 2.2 — Choose a store name and domain

Choose a short, readable brand name that does not impersonate another company. Search for trademark conflicts and relevant domain availability. A custom domain can help branding, but you can begin planning without buying several domains.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Brainstorm five names and compare clarity, memorability and legal risk.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 2.3 — Set store basics

In Shopify admin review business details, store currency, contact details, measurement units, time zone, customer notifications and markets. The available menus depend on plan, country and product type.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Write a settings audit list before you turn on payments.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 2.4 — Build trust and policies

Give buyers an accessible contact method, delivery expectations, shipping costs, cancellation conditions, return/refund process and privacy information. Templates are starting points, not individualized legal advice. Match every public promise with what you can actually do.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Draft plain-language shipping, returns, privacy and contact statements.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 2.5 — Plan a clean brand

Select one primary color, one secondary color, a legible font and a consistent photo style. A memorable store design is usually simpler than a crowded page full of banners, popups and promises.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Create a brand sheet with two colors, fonts, voice and example product photography.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

MODULE 03

Theme, Navigation & Store Design

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 3.1 — Pick a mobile-friendly theme

Preview free and paid themes on phone and desktop before buying. Prioritize accessible text, clear navigation, fast loading and product media. A costly theme is not necessary to validate a new product idea.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Preview three theme demos and identify any awkward mobile behavior.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 3.2 — Design a useful homepage

State what you sell, who it is for, and why it matters within the first screen. Feature a few specific collections, credible proof where available, shipping expectations and a visible contact option.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Write a homepage headline, short supporting sentence and one honest call to action.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 3.3 — Organize categories

A collection groups related items so shoppers can browse without guessing product names. Build navigation from customer language rather than internal inventory codes. Limit the top menu to clear destinations.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Draw a site map: Home, Shop, Collections, About, Contact, Policies.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 3.4 — Create accessible product pages

Use descriptive headings, alt text for meaningful images, readable contrast, predictable buttons, and no misleading urgency. Make variant choices and price clear before customers click Add to cart.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Check the same product page on desktop and a narrow phone screen.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 3.5 — Improve site performance

Use properly sized images, avoid unnecessary animation, remove unused apps, and inspect page load on a cellular connection. Design improvements should make purchasing easier, not simply look impressive.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: List three sources of clutter to remove from a sample storefront.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

MODULE 04

Products, Photos & Inventory

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 4.1 — Choose a manageable first catalog

Start with a few products you can describe, price, and support well. For every item confirm supplier reliability, quality, compliance, available stock and realistic delivery promises.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Build a starter catalog of three products with a target customer for each.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 4.2 — Write helpful product titles

Put the product name and important distinguishing feature near the beginning. Avoid keyword stuffing and unsupported superlatives. Titles should match the item customers receive.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Rewrite a vague title into a clear product name with one benefit.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 4.3 — Write complete descriptions

Explain the use case, materials or digital formats, dimensions, options, care, compatibility, what is included, and limits. Separate measured facts from opinions.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Write a 150-word description that answers five likely buyer questions.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 4.4 — Create truthful product visuals

Use sharp, consistent photos with views that show size, packaging, detail and real-world context. Do not use stolen images or deceptive AI mockups. If a digital product is shown in a lifestyle mockup, clarify what is actually delivered.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Plan five photos or previews with captions and alt-text ideas.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 4.5 — Set inventory and variants

Configure SKUs, colors, sizes, trackable inventory and locations carefully. Decide how to prevent overselling. For digital goods, use an appropriate delivery process and test file permissions and links.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Create a sample SKU and inventory/variant table.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

MODULE 05

Pricing, Payments, Taxes & Profit

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 5.1 — Calculate true unit cost

Include purchase or production, packaging, fulfillment, payment charges, returns allowance, subscription allocations, and any taxes borne by the business. Do not confuse cash received with profit.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Calculate all-in cost on a sample $40 order.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 5.2 — Set a sustainable selling price

Work backward from costs and target contribution margin rather than copying the lowest competitor. The simplest per-order contribution is net revenue minus variable costs. Fixed costs must still be covered over time.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Compare a low-price and higher-price scenario with realistic expected volume.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 5.3 — Understand payment providers

Shopify Payments is available only to eligible businesses in supported locations. Alternative providers may charge processing and additional third-party transaction fees. Review current rates in your own account and region.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: List available providers and their published fee schedules; do not enter real credentials into a course exercise.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 5.4 — Handle taxes responsibly

Sales-tax, VAT, and registration obligations depend on location, customers and product types. Software settings do not automatically make a business compliant. Consult official tax guidance or a qualified professional when needed.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Write down the jurisdictions and products that require further tax research.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 5.5 — Forecast cash flow

Estimate sales, refunds, inventory spending, platform bills, advertising, and the timing of payout deposits. A profitable order can still strain cash flow before money arrives.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Complete a simple 90-day inflow/outflow forecast.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

MODULE 06

Shipping, Orders, Returns & Service

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 6.1 — Choose fulfillment processes

Document who packs, labels and dispatches each type of order. For supplier-fulfilled products, verify stated processing times and tracking availability. For digital goods, ensure secure delivery and instructions.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Make an order-to-delivery flowchart.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 6.2 — Set realistic shipping policies

Define shipping regions, carrier options, processing times, shipping rates, free-shipping thresholds and lost-package response. Test settings for different postcodes and cart combinations before launch.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Price delivery for three sample destinations without promising a rate you cannot meet.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 6.3 — Prevent fulfillment mistakes

Use a pick list and verify item, variant, customer address and packaging before purchasing labels. Never disclose a buyer’s private details in screenshots or class exercises.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Build a packing and shipping quality-control checklist.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 6.4 — Provide excellent support

Use a dedicated contact channel; answer politely, investigate issues and document resolutions. Publish what customers should do if an order arrives damaged, late, incorrect or cannot be downloaded.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Draft friendly responses for delayed shipping and faulty merchandise.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 6.5 — Manage refunds and disputes

Apply clearly stated lawful policies and track returns, evidence and costs. Respond to payment disputes on time with accurate records; do not assume all chargebacks can be reversed.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Create a decision guide for replacement, refund, return and escalation.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

MODULE 07

Traffic, SEO, Email & Marketing

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 7.1 — Build useful search pages

Research phrases shoppers actually use. Give each product and collection its own descriptive title and content. Write natural metadata and useful image alt text. Search indexing is not instant or guaranteed.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Choose five buyer-intent phrases and map each to a page.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 7.2 — Use free marketing first

Demonstrate products in short videos, answer genuine questions in communities that permit promotion, share behind-the-scenes processes and invite feedback. Avoid repeated spam posts or fabricated reviews.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Create a seven-day social content schedule with topics and one useful takeaway per post.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 7.3 — Create helpful content

Write articles and FAQs that address sizing, compatibility, comparisons, care, use instructions and buyer objections. Link naturally to relevant products.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Outline one problem-solving article with three subheadings.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 7.4 — Practice permission-based email

Collect email addresses with appropriate consent and an honest description of what subscribers will receive. Include required unsubscribe mechanisms and follow applicable marketing law.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Draft a welcome message and simple two-email educational sequence.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 7.5 — Analyze without vanity metrics

Track sessions, add-to-cart rate, checkout initiation, completed purchases, conversion, customer acquisition cost, and refunds. A high view count alone is not proof of demand.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Create a weekly scorecard and identify one meaningful test for next week.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

MODULE 08

Launch, Improve & Scale Responsibly

Learning goal: learn the skills in this module, complete every action, and record practical decisions in your business workbook.

Lesson 8.1 — Run a prelaunch audit

Check every public page, links, product variants, images, prices, checkout availability, contact methods, tax settings, and shipping rules. Preview on mobile and desktop.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Student assignment: Complete the launch checklist before removing private-mode protection.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 8.2 — Place test orders

Follow Shopify’s documented test-order flow. Verify successful and failed payment behavior, inventory updates, shipping and tax totals, order emails and refund process. Switch off payment test mode before taking live payments.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Record a pass/fail result for each checkout test.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 8.3 — Launch cautiously

Only remove storefront password/private-mode controls after choosing any required plan and confirming payments and business details. Launching a store does not make it automatically discoverable or profitable.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Low-cost alternative: Write your plan in a free document and test the idea through conversations before buying another app, theme or subscription.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Student assignment: Write your first-week support and monitoring schedule.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 8.4 — Improve using evidence

Each week inspect support messages, product page engagement, checkout drop-off, margins and returns. Form one hypothesis, change one major variable, and compare results over a sensible time period.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Decision test: Ask: What would have to be true for this step to make sense? What evidence supports that belief? What would make me stop or change course?

Student assignment: Choose one improvement and define success before making it.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Lesson 8.5 — Make a ninety-day operating plan

Schedule weekly product quality checks, content creation, financial review, supplier communication and customer support. Expand inventory only after demand and operational reliability justify it.

How to apply this lesson

Identify which part of your business this decision affects.
Write the information you know and separate it from assumptions.
Compare at least two choices and their costs, risks and customer impact.
Make the smallest practical test before committing more money.
Record your choice and schedule a date to review what happened.

Common mistake: Opening a store with thirty unrelated products before researching who would buy them spreads attention and makes branding difficult.

Documentation habit: Keep dated notes of assumptions, prices, supplier terms and important settings, so decisions can be checked rather than remembered vaguely.

Student assignment: Draft 30-, 60-, and 90-day milestones with realistic budgets.
What to turn in to yourself: a short written decision, one supporting piece of evidence, your cost estimate, and the next action.

Worked Pricing, Profit & Break-even Examples

All dollar amounts below are illustrations only, not current Shopify fees, not promises of results, and not a substitute for research in your store and country.

Example 1: A physical product

Selling price: $40.00

Product cost: $14.00
Packaging: $1.50
Shipping paid by business: $5.50
Example processing expense: $1.50
Returns/damage allowance: $2.00

Contribution per order: $15.50 ($40 minus $24.50 variable costs), before any allocated fixed costs, taxes on business profit and owner labor not already counted.

Example 2: Break-even math

Illustrative monthly fixed business costs: $155. Contribution per order: $15.50.

Break-even volume = 10 orders to cover those illustrative fixed costs ($155 ÷ $15.50), assuming the same unit economics and no other expenses.

At 20 such orders, contribution totals $310. After $155 fixed costs, the illustrative operating remainder is $155, before any uncounted expenses and taxes.

Example 3: Digital product

A $20 original downloadable template has no postage, but may still have processing fees, platform subscriptions, development time, support, refunds and taxes. Do not call the full $20 profit.

Example 4: Discount risk

Using the physical product above: cutting price from $40 to $32 while leaving illustrative costs unchanged drops contribution from $15.50 to $7.50. The contribution falls by more than half although the price falls only 20%.

Ten Student Worksheets

Type directly in the boxes. Use the Print / Save as PDF button to print or save your notes. These fields stay on this page only; they are not submitted to the Academy server. Save your answers before closing or refreshing the tab.

Important: Do not type passwords, banking details, tax identification numbers or other sensitive information here.

WORKSHEET 1

Business Concept

Target customer Specific problem solved Product or offer Why a customer would choose it Evidence to collect

WORKSHEET 2

Research & Competitors

Buyer questions Competitor one and price Competitor two and price Differentiator Demand uncertainty

WORKSHEET 3

Startup Budget

Monthly platform and app cost Domain/one-time expenses Product or supplier costs Refund reserve Maximum affordable budget

WORKSHEET 4

Product Listing Builder

Product title Features and dimensions/formats What is included Image shot list Delivery and limitations

WORKSHEET 5

Price & Profit

Selling price Unit and packaging costs Shipping/fulfillment cost Payment and other variable charges Contribution and fixed costs

WORKSHEET 6

Store Design

Homepage promise Collections and navigation Trust and contact information Mobile usability issues Policy pages

WORKSHEET 7

Fulfillment & Service

Supplier/fulfillment owner Processing estimate Shipping regions and rates Damaged order response Refund and return process

WORKSHEET 8

Free Traffic Plan

Audience and channels 7-day content themes Search terms and pages Email permission and consent Weekly performance measures

WORKSHEET 9

Launch Test Record

Tested checkout scenarios Product, tax and shipping checks Mobile and desktop findings Payment test mode status Issues fixed and retest date

WORKSHEET 10

30/60/90-Day Plan

First 30-day goal Next 60-day improvement 90-day measurement Cash protection rule Next small experiment

Official Learning Resources

Always check the latest requirements and fee schedules directly before making decisions:

Academy note: This course is independent educational material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by Shopify. Platform features and policies can change.