Getting Started with Squarespace Ecommerce
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:
- Set up your first Squarespace ecommerce store
- Add and organise products using Squarespace's product management tools
- Configure essential store settings including payment and shipping
- Launch your store and start taking orders
Introduction
Starting an online store can feel overwhelming, but Squarespace makes it straightforward. This chapter walks you through creating your first ecommerce site on Squarespace, from initial setup to your first sale. You'll learn the basics of adding products, setting up payments, and configuring your store settings. By the end, you'll have a working online store ready to serve customers.
Lessons
Setting Up Your Squarespace Store
First, you'll need a Squarespace account and an ecommerce plan. The Personal plan won't work for selling products – you need at least the Business plan to start selling.
Once you're logged in, choose an ecommerce template. Squarespace offers templates designed specifically for online stores, with product pages and shopping cart functionality built in. Pick one that matches your product type and style preferences.
Your template comes with demo products already added. These help you see how everything works, but you'll replace them with your own products later.
Adding Your First Products
Head to the Commerce section in your site editor. Click Products, then Add Product. You'll need several key pieces of information for each product:
Product name and description – keep descriptions clear and focused on benefits to customers. High-quality images are crucial – upload multiple angles and use Squarespace's image editing tools to ensure they look professional.
Set your pricing, including any sale prices or discounts. If you're selling physical products, you'll need to configure shipping settings. Digital products skip the shipping step entirely.
Add product variants if you sell items in different sizes, colours, or styles. This keeps your product catalogue tidy and makes checkout easier for customers.
Configuring Store Settings
Your store needs proper configuration before you can start selling. Start with Commerce Settings in your site editor.
Set up your payment methods first. Squarespace integrates with Stripe and PayPal, and you can enable both to give customers options. You'll need to create accounts with these payment processors if you don't already have them.
Configure your shipping settings next. You can set flat rates, calculated shipping based on weight, or free shipping over certain amounts. Consider your product types and customer expectations when setting these up.
Add your business information including return policies, terms of service, and privacy policy. These aren't just legal requirements – they build customer trust and reduce support queries.
Testing and Launching
Before going live, test your store thoroughly. Place test orders to ensure the checkout process works smoothly. Check that confirmation emails are sending properly and that your payment processing is working.
Review your product pages from a customer's perspective. Are descriptions clear? Are images loading properly? Is pricing displayed correctly?
Once everything works properly, you're ready to launch. Remove any demo products, double-check your live payment settings, and start promoting your store.
Practice
Create a test product in your Squarespace store. Include a product name, description, price, and at least one image. Configure a simple shipping option and walk through the checkout process as a customer would experience it.
FAQs
Do I need the most expensive plan to sell on Squarespace?
No, you can start selling with the Business plan. The Commerce plans offer additional features like abandoned cart recovery and advanced shipping options, but aren't required for basic selling.
Can I sell both physical and digital products?
Yes, Squarespace handles both product types. Digital products are delivered automatically after purchase, while physical products integrate with your shipping settings.
What happens if I need to refund a customer?
You can process refunds directly through your Squarespace dashboard. The refund goes back to the customer's original payment method.
How do I know when I receive an order?
Squarespace sends email notifications for new orders. You can also check your Commerce dashboard regularly or set up additional notification methods.
Jargon Buster
Commerce Plan: Squarespace's ecommerce-specific plans that include advanced selling features
Product Variants: Different versions of the same product (sizes, colours, styles)
Stripe: A payment processing service that handles credit card transactions
Abandoned Cart Recovery: Automated emails sent to customers who add items to their cart but don't complete the purchase
SSL Certificate: Security feature that encrypts customer data during checkout (included with all Squarespace plans)
Wrap-up
You now have the foundation for running a Squarespace ecommerce store. You've learned how to set up your store, add products, configure essential settings, and launch your site. The next step is to start adding your actual products and refining your store based on customer feedback. Remember that ecommerce is an ongoing process – you'll continue to optimise and improve your store as you gain experience and learn what works best for your customers.
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