Shopify Sign Up: A Strategic Guide (And How to Get the $1/€1 Offer)

If you are looking to sign up for Shopify, you have probably realized there are a thousand guides telling you which buttons to click. But frankly, clicking buttons is the easy part.

In my experience helping dozens of clients launch their stores (and setting up more of my own than I care to count), I’ve learned that the signup process is deceptive. It looks simple on the surface, but the decisions you make in those first 5 minutes impact how much "noise" Shopify throws at you later.

Here is how to navigate the Shopify sign up process correctly, secure the best trial offer, and avoid the common traps that catch beginners off guard.

Before You Click: The Golden Rule of Timing

Before we even get to the link, I need to share a piece of advice I give everyone: Do not sign up until you are actually ready to work.

There is a common mistake I see all the time: people sign up just to "take a look around." The problem? The trial clock starts ticking the second you enter your email. It doesn’t pause while you figure out your logo or wait for the weekend.

I’ve learned the hard way that it’s best to wait until you have a blocked-out afternoon or a free weekend. Maximize that free trial time for building, not just browsing.

How to Sign Up for Shopify (The Smart Way)

Once you are ready to commit, follow these steps to ensure you get the cleanest dashboard and the best deal.

Step 1: Access the Exclusive Offer

Standard trials vary, but currently, the smartest move is to lock in the "Pay 1€ (or $1) per month for 3 months" offer. This gives you roughly 90 days of runway for the price of a coffee.

• Click here to activate the 1€/month offer: Sign up for Shopify

One thing I really love about the current setup—and this has improved significantly over the years—is the lack of friction. In most regions, Shopify doesn’t force you to enter payment details upfront just to start the trial. You can get in, mess around, and build without pulling out your credit card immediately.

Step 2: The Onboarding Quiz (And How to "Hack" It)

Once you enter your email, Shopify will launch a questionnaire asking about your revenue, sales channels, and experience level.

Most people rush through this, but your answers actually matter. They dictate how Shopify configures your initial checklist.

Here is my personal trick: Be honest about your business type, but when asked who is building the store, I always recommend selecting "I’m building it myself" (or similar wording depending on the current A/B test).

Why? If you indicate you are hiring a pro or just exploring, Shopify tends to flood your inbox with partner suggestions or different "help" emails. By saying you are doing it yourself, you tend to get a cleaner, more direct path to the tools you need. It gives you control and fewer distractions.

Step 3: The Dashboard in Under 2 Minutes

After the quiz, you will be dropped into the admin panel. The first time I did this, I was genuinely surprised by how fast it was. In less than 2 minutes, you effectively "have a store."

But be careful: That speed is great UX, but it can be misleading. You see the dashboard, and you feel like you’re done. You aren't.

Many beginners see the sidebar menu—Products, Analytics, Marketing, Discounts—and freeze. The reality is that nothing is set up yet. Your payments, shipping, and legal policies are all blank. Don't let the speed of the signup fool you into thinking the setup is finished.

I’m Signed Up... Now What?

This is where the real challenge starts. You have clarity on the signup, but now you need to focus.

Since the dashboard can be overwhelming, I recommend ignoring 90% of the menu for the first hour. Focus only on these three things:

1. Add one product: Just to see how the data fields work.
2. Pick a Theme: Don't customize it yet, just select one.
3. Settings: Go to the bottom left 'Settings' gear. This is the engine room (Shipping, Payments) that actually makes the store function.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 1€/$1 offer apply to all plans? Usually, this offer applies to the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans. It rarely applies to Shopify Plus (Enterprise). For 99% of new merchants, the Basic plan is more than enough to start.

Do I need a business domain before signing up? No. Shopify gives you a temporary yourstore.myshopify.com domain. You can buy a custom domain (like .com) later directly through Shopify or connect one you already own.

Can I cancel if I change my mind? Yes. If you haven't added a credit card, the store will just freeze when the trial ends. If you have added a card, you can cancel in the 'Settings > Plan' section instantly.