All Episodes

September 29, 2025 11 mins

Thinking about starting an online store but worried about Shopify’s monthly costs? 

The Shopify Starter plan offers e-commerce capabilities for just $7 per month, but does it deliver enough value to build a successful business?

I’ve spent four years working with various e-commerce options, from third-party marketplaces to online stores, and three months testing every aspect of the Shopify Starter plan, including setting up Instagram shops, managing product listings, and analyzing customer data. 

In this episode, I'm sharing everything I've learned to help you decide if the Shopify Starter plan is the best option for your business. We'll cover:

  • the Shopify Starter plan's features, benefits, and limitations,
  • social media integration tips, 
  • analytics insights from my store so far, and 
  • when to adopt the Starter plan versus the Basic plan. 

My own business is in the Print-on-Demand space, but the findings I've shared here can be applied to almost any business model that involves selling products online.

Key takeaway: The Starter plan serves as an effective testing ground and social commerce platform, but understanding its strategic role in your business growth timeline is essential for success. Listen in for all the deets!

Do you love this kind of practical, experience-based content? Then subscribe for more content on content creation, social media strategy, and eCommerce.

Video Links
As I mentioned in the video, other creators have already covered the benefits and drawbacks of Shopify (in general) as a platform for Print-on-Demand (specifically) versus third-party marketplaces such as Merch by Amazon and TeePublic. So in this video, I focused more on what I could contribute based on my individual experience with the Shopify Starter versus the Basic Plan.

For the "Pro" Shopify view, see Meg Heckman, "Shopify + Printify is the Only POD Setup I Trust." For a more favourable view of third-party platforms, see Greg Gotfried, "Shopify Print on Demand vs. Other Platforms."

Also, be sure to check out my online Store.😉 If you're seeing this episode, use the code MYTOGBLOG4 for a $4 Discount on your first or next order, in celebration of Season 4. Offer is good until October 10th! One use per customer.

Disclaimer: Note that this episode is for information and entertainment purposes. It is not intended to replace the need for one's own due diligence when considering any business model or decision. 

Thanks for listening! Do you have a comment or question about a topic or episode? I'd love to hear that. Feel free to contact me via Instagram or the Contact Us page, and check out our merch for content creators.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.