Starting an online store in 2026 is cheaper and faster than it has ever been, yet a large share of new shops stall within their first year. Rarely is the product to blame. The usual culprits are a slow site, a clumsy checkout, or a catalogue that never gets seen because nobody set up a product feed. This guide walks through every step, what each part actually costs, and the mistakes that quietly cost stores their sales.
The 6 steps to a store that sells
The order matters. Many founders start with a pretty theme and leave payments and shipping until the end, when those are exactly what decides whether an order is completed.
- 1. Catalogue your products: photos, prices, categories, stock. Everything downstream depends on a clean catalogue.
- 2. Pick a platform: WooCommerce or Shopify. This decision sets your cost, flexibility and upkeep for years.
- 3. Build & design: product page, cart, and a checkout that takes one or two steps, not five.
- 4. Payments: card, PayPal, instant bank transfer, cash/bank deposit.
- 5. Shipping: connect your courier and show clear delivery costs up front.
- 6. SEO & marketplaces: Google, Google Shopping and comparison feeds so buyers can find you.
WooCommerce vs Shopify
This is the question every new merchant asks, and the answer comes down to how much control you want. WooCommerce (built on WordPress) gives you full ownership of your data, a low running cost, and easy integration with payment and feed tools. Shopify is more closed but needs less technical maintenance, in exchange for a monthly subscription and a fee on sales unless you use its own payments.
| Criterion | WooCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform cost | 0 (hosting only) | from €27/mo |
| Data ownership | Full | Limited |
| Product feeds | Native & flexible | Via app/feed |
| Customisation | Very high | Moderate |
| Maintenance | Needs updates | Automatic |
For most small and mid-size shops we recommend WooCommerce: you keep the subscription money in your pocket and stay in full control. See exactly how we build it on our online store page.
What an online store costs
At Foivi AI the pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees. An online store starts from 590 euro (around €990) for a standard build with categories, cart, secure payments and core SEO. The Pro version at 990 euro (around €1,490) adds larger catalogues, search filters, discount coupons and marketplace feeds. If you only need a simple brochure site rather than a shop, that starts from 370 euro (€370, or 490 euro with a chatbot).
Beyond the build, budget 80-150 euro a year for domain and hosting. Many merchants also add an AI chatbot at 39 euro/month (€39/mo) that answers questions about stock, delivery and returns around the clock, cutting abandoned carts.
Payments & shipping: where the sale is won
The easier your checkout, the more orders get completed. Offer at least card, PayPal, instant bank transfer and a cash or deposit option. On shipping, state delivery costs clearly before checkout. Surprise shipping fees revealed at the last step are the single biggest reason a shopper abandons their cart, so put the number where they can see it early.
Product SEO & marketplace feeds
A product with no proper title or description is invisible on Google. Every page needs a unique title with the keyword people actually search, an 80-150 word description, clean photos, and structured data (schema) for price and availability. Then an XML feed pushes your products to Google Shopping and comparison engines. For the Greek market that means Skroutz and BestPrice, which often deliver 30-50% of a new store's traffic, so do not leave feeds for "later".
Common mistakes that cost sales
- Slow pages: if it takes more than 3 seconds to load, you lose nearly half of mobile visitors.
- A long, multi-step checkout: keep it to one or two screens with no forced sign-up.
- No mobile strategy: over 70% of purchases now happen on a smartphone.
- No trust signals: without a returns policy, a phone number and reviews, buyers hesitate.
- No marketing after launch: a store without social media management (from 149 euro/month, €149/mo) stays invisible.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an online store?
At Foivi AI it starts from 590 euro for a standard build and 990 euro for Pro. Add 80-150 euro a year for domain and hosting.
Should I choose WooCommerce or Shopify?
For most stores we recommend WooCommerce: lower monthly cost, full data ownership and flexible feeds. Shopify suits you if you want zero technical maintenance and don't mind the subscription.
Can my store appear on Google Shopping and comparison sites?
Yes. We build an XML feed so your products show on Google Shopping and engines like Skroutz, which can bring 30-50% of a new store's traffic.
How long does it take to launch?
A store with 30-80 products is ready in 10-20 business days, provided photos and descriptions are available.
Got products and want to sell them properly online? Foivi AI builds complete online stores with payments, shipping and marketplace feeds, and we can bundle it into a package from 1,390 euro with a website, chatbot and social media. Get in touch for a free estimate on your project, whether you're based in Greece or Australia.