Run your own eCommerce platform with PrestaShop
Creating an online store is a great way to generate side income or start your own business. PrestaShop is a free and open-source eCommerce platform that allows you to easily create your own store.
To use PrestaShop, you’ll need web hosting, which will provide the server infrastructure and software you need to power your online store. In this guide, we’ll explain how to set up your eCommerce store with PrestaShop, and provide important information to get you started.
Running Your Own Ecommerce Platform with PrestaShop: Getting Ready
Before you start building your online retail empire, you should buy hosting.we used Custodian (opens in a new tab) For this how-to guide, industry-leading hosts offer affordable yet powerful hosting solutions. A powerful hosting subscription is a great idea if you plan to create a large online store.
Once your hosting plan is in place, install the PrestaShop software on your hosting server. If you’re using Hostinger, you have access to a simple, user-friendly auto-installer that installs PrestaShop (and many other scripts) with a single mouse click.
You’ll find the auto-installer tool in Hostinger’s hPanel control panel. Click it, search for PrestaShop, and follow the prompts to install it. You can manage your installation and easily access PrestaShop Dashboard from the auto-installer.
If you need more help, Hostinger has published a comprehensive PrestaShop Installation and Setup Guide (opens in a new tab).
Step 1: Choose a theme
First, you should choose a theme for your store. You can start from scratch and design your own website from scratch, but we recommend you start with a theme from the PrestaShop Addons Marketplace. Here you’ll find over 2000 designs carefully categorized according to their primary use. Sell fashion items? Check out the fashion and footwear templates. You can also filter by theme language, included features, layout, and customer ratings.
All PrestaShop Marketplace templates are available by paying a one-time license fee. However, if you’re on a tight budget, there are free template options elsewhere on the web.
Step 2: Add and customize pages
For the next step, from the main dashboard go to the Pages menu under the Design tab. Here you can add and customize the pages you need. The default PrestaShop theme includes some pre-added pages such as about and legal, but you may need to add others.
To customize your page, select the edit button and follow the prompts.
Step 3: Secure Your Store
Next is security. Since you’ll be handling sensitive personal data and customer payment information, maintaining a high level of security is critical.We recommend checking your hosting security settings to make sure they are clean and adding a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate (opens in a new tab) to your store. This is done through your hosting account and not through PrestaShop itself.
Step 4: Configure payment methods
Before you start accepting payments, you should configure at least one payment gateway. Bank transfer and check payments are the only default methods, you have to install modules for other gateways like Stripe and Amazon Pay.
Head to the modules directory to install these, then configure them through the payment menu.
Step 5: Add Products
Your online store should start to integrate, so it’s time to add your products. Go to the Products menu under the Catalog tab. This is where you add new products and manage existing listings. Your inventory and pricing information is clearly laid out, and you can unlist items with just a click of the mouse.
Selecting the “Add New Product” button will reveal a set of useful tools to help you create a new product listing. You can configure everything from pricing and shipping options to SEO settings and your general information.
Under the International > Localization menu you’ll find a Currency tab where you can add other currencies if needed. Selling in U.S. dollars is usually an acceptable method, but adding local currencies such as Euros, Australian dollars, or Canadian dollars can help you reach more international customers.
To add a new currency, select Add New Currency, select the currency you want, and click Save. There is a useful option for adding live exchange rates, which requires installing an additional module.
Step 7: Test, Test, Test!
At this point, your store should be almost ready to launch. However, you must test it rigorously to ensure there are no bugs or glitches that could affect the customer experience.
Take the time to hit your website using different devices with different web browsers. It’s usually a good idea to have a friend or family member get tested as well. Sometimes an extra pair of eyes can reveal things you might have missed.
summarize
Anyone can use PrestaShop to create an online store. It’s simple to set up and use, and you only need to pay a few dollars per month to get started. In this how-to, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to create a store, so get started today!
Check out our guide Best PrestaShop Hosting (opens in a new tab) If you are still looking for a host, please send us PrestaShop Website Builder Review (opens in a new tab) Read on to learn more about this versatile platform.
Read more in this series: