The right way to Make Cash on Shopify (18 Ideas for 2026)

TL;DR: The Prime 10 Methods to Make Cash on Shopify (Editor’s Picks)

Are you in search of new methods to increase your income? If that’s true, on this weblog, we’ll share actionable tips about how one can earn cash on Shopify.

Yearly, hundreds of eCommerce shops are launched globally. Due to the rising reputation of on-line procuring, Shopify has emerged as a market chief within the international eCommerce business.

Shopify owns 32% of the eCommerce platform market, making it among the many high 5 eCommerce platforms on the earth. Manufacturers like Allbirds, Gymshark, and Kylie Cosmetics rake in over $200 million in yearly income by way of their Shopify eCommerce shops.

However establishing an eCommerce retailer is among the some ways to earn cash on Shopify. In case you have particular abilities like images, social media advertising, or copywriting, there are many different methods so that you can monetize your abilities to earn cash with Shopify.

Over time, Shopify has grown so huge that it now has a ton of alternatives for brand spanking new entrepreneurs to earn cash on-line. In the event you’ve been in search of new enterprise concepts to earn cash on-line with Shopify, we’ve all of the solutions for you.

On this submit, we’ll cowl the best way to earn cash on Shopify in one of many following methods:

Begin a Shopify eCommerce Retailer

Fingers down, launching an internet retailer with Shopify is the #1 option to earn cash. And it’s simpler than you assume. It’s not a fluke that Shopify tripled the variety of shops that have been launched on its platform throughout the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Shopify makes it very easy for first-time entrepreneurs to create an internet site and launch their brand-new eCommerce outlet. The platform has all the precise instruments in place that will help you:

• Listing new merchandise
• Add pictures to a gallery
• Optimize your product pages for search
• Add distributors
• Monitor stock

Shopify’s ease of use in constructing a brand new eCommerce web site is what has enabled greater than 1 million companies to make use of Shopify as their selection of eCommerce platform throughout 175 nations. And in case you profit from the precise set of plugins obtainable within the Shopify App Retailer, you may goal the precise consumers and generate extra leads in your on-line enterprise.

Nevertheless, it does value some cash to construct and preserve a Shopify retailer on-line. Right here are some things that you’d want to contemplate by way of funding:

• Shopify month-to-month subscription charge
• Area title and internet hosting
• Web site design
• Merchandise
• Advertising and promoting
• Transaction charges

However in case you preserve checking all the precise packing containers and develop your Shopify retailer worthwhile, you could be among the many high 100 Shopify companies that earn greater than $1 million in gross sales income yearly.

Professional-tip: To develop your Shopify enterprise, you will have a dependable option to have interaction web site guests and convert them into consumers. Use OptinMonster. Make use of the most effective Shopify apps to enhance your lead technology, improve social proof, begin e mail advertising, and do much more.

Purchase an Current Shopify Retailer

In the event you don’t need to undergo the trouble of beginning a Shopify retailer from the bottom up, that’s completely nice. You’ll be able to all the time purchase an current Shopify retailer and make earnings from it. There are fairly a couple of web sites on the Web that permit consumers join with the precise Shopify house owners who need to unload their on-line shops.

Research estimate that there are between 12–24 million eCommerce shops globally, a lot of them in Shopify. If you could find the precise sellers desirous to promote their Shopify shops, you may select from all kinds of on-line shops on the platform.

Till 2022, Shopify had its personal Change Market that facilitated eCommerce retailer shopping for and promoting. Sadly, they closed down {the marketplace} after 5 years of operations.

You’ll be able to nonetheless use Third occasion web sites like Flippa or Empire Flippers that bridge the hole between Shopify retailer house owners with consumers who need to begin a Shopify enterprise.

These Third occasion web sites have numerous web site flippers who concentrate on constructing an internet site, making it worthwhile, advertising it, and promoting it at the next margin. In case you have previous experience in constructing small enterprise web sites, rating them on search outcomes, or shopping for and promoting companies, you can too take into account doing web site flipping as a Shopify enterprise.

A phrase of recommendation: At all times do the due diligence to validate the next info earlier than shopping for a working Shopify retailer:

• The shop’s market worth
• Causes for promoting
• Monetization channels
• Non-compete clauses
• Different authorized standings

We advocate you additionally totally evaluate their CRM knowledge, ongoing advertising campaigns, and integrations and request a switch of possession throughout the gross sales negotiation.

Construct a Shopify Dropshipping Enterprise

In recent times, dropshipping has emerged as one of many best methods for aspiring entrepreneurs to earn cash on-line. In contrast to different types of eCommerce ventures, dropshipping doesn’t require you to purchase, retailer, and even ship merchandise your self.

In Shopify, dropshippers solely characterize 7.77% of the enterprise panorama. This implies the vast majority of consumers want to personal the stock administration and ship the merchandise instantly from a bodily location that they management as an alternative of counting on intermediary distributors.

In different phrases, it’s not as aggressive to turn into a dropshipper in Shopify as opening an eCommerce retailer. You’ll be able to run a profitable dropshipping enterprise on Shopify sitting at residence, out of your laptop computer, with out ever seeing or touching the merchandise you’re promoting.

You simply should construct a sturdy Shopify retailer, market your merchandise properly, and develop dependable logistics with the producers. Isn’t that neat?

There are a lot of different benefits of beginning a dropshipping enterprise, be it on Shopify or WordPress:

• You don’t should make a hefty funding upfront since dropshipping doesn’t require you to deal with stock, storage, or cargo.
• You don’t should pay a producer or a vendor something till you promote the merchandise.
• You’ll be able to scale your corporation by increasing your partnerships with new producers with out stressing over funding, stock, and logistics.

You’ll be able to mint cash on Shopify in case you are good at sustaining your retailer’s on-line presence, facilitating order putting and on-line transactions, and outsourcing the product stock and dealing with to Third-party distributors or producers.

Develop into a Shopify Affiliate Marketer

Many eCommerce companies use internet online affiliate marketing to market their platforms, and merchandise, to new audiences. In return for spreading the phrase, the entrepreneurs obtain a payout for each sale they permit by way of their affiliate community.

Shopify has an associates program for aspiring entrepreneurs, educators, content material creators, and social media influencers. Associates can unfold the phrase about Shopify shops and earn cash in return. It’s free to affix the internet online affiliate marketing program, however Shopify does have particular standards for who qualifies as an affiliate marketer.

For example, listed here are among the stipulations that you should meet to qualify as a Shopify affiliate marketer:

• You need to run your personal energetic weblog or affiliate web site
• You need to have constructed an viewers related to Shopify companies
• You need to create authentic content material like programs, blogs, movies, or guides
• You need to have expertise in commerce, entrepreneurship, or Shopify.

This system is actually a commission-based program so that you can monetize your viewers and assist Shopify develop its empire. There’s no restrict to how a lot fee you may earn by way of this system, or the utmost variety of Shopify retailers you may seek advice from.

Formally, Shopify doesn’t reveal how a lot it pays for every referral. Going by the testimonials of Shopify associates in our community, we all know that Shopify pays about $150 for every certified referral. Which means for each one that indicators up for a paid plan on Shopify by way of your affiliate monitoring code, you’ll earn a hard and fast fee of $150.

Professional-tip: Wish to get began with internet online affiliate marketing? Listed here are some extra sources that will help you delve deeper into the world of internet online affiliate marketing:

Be a Shopify Knowledgeable

Do you’ve gotten expertise constructing or rising eCommerce shops previously? Or possibly you’ve gotten prior expertise associated to Shopify. In the event you possess related abilities in rising companies on-line, you may actually monetize your experience to earn cash with Shopify.

Till not too long ago, Shopify had an Consultants Market the place you could find skilled professionals, companies, and freelancers who supply companies which can be sought-after by Shopify retailers. In October 2023, Shopify introduced the rebranding of Consultants Market to Shopify Companions.

The companies that you could find (or promote) beneath the Shopify Companions Listing embrace, however are usually not restricted to:

• Advertising and gross sales companies
• Providers associated to serving to retailers arrange their shops
• Web site growth and troubleshooting
• Copywriting
• Person expertise (UX) design and branding

In the event you can supply any of these companies, you may apply to Shopify Companions Listing as a service supplier.

In case you’re questioning, Shopify is changing the Consultants Market with the companions portal for an excellent motive. With the brand new enhancements in its specialists market, Shopify now makes it simpler for Third occasion specialists to:

• Be extra discoverable to Shopify retailers in search of particular experience.
• Hold 100% of the revenue. Shopify received’t take a ten% lower prefer it did for Consultants Market.
• Join with Shopify retailer house owners by way of a lead kind within the Companions web page listing.
• Talk and bill shoppers exterior the Shopify ecosystem.

Begin a Style Model

Shopify is a profitable place for individuals curious about creating their very own on-line style model. Many of the eCommerce manufacturers which can be most worthwhile within the Shopify platform are style, clothes, or equipment manufacturers. Manufacturers like Allbirds, Bombas, and Kith make upwards of $100 million in yearly income by way of their fashion-related Shopify shops.

Shopify has a world presence, a baked-in advertisements community to market your merchandise, its home-grown success community, and lots of different alternatives that will help you develop your corporation.

You’ll be able to make the most of print-on-demand dropshipping manufacturers like Trendsi, Printful, and CJdropshipping to outsource the manufacturing, design, and delivery of the merchandise to simplify your corporation progress.

To be honest, these do incur further prices. Count on to pay from $0.50 to $5.00 per click on for every Shopify advert that you simply publish. Equally, Printiful or CJdropshipping include their very own set of prices.

However these investments are definitely worth the cash till you grasp the talents of being worthwhile on Shopify and discover cost-effective options to develop your corporation.

Organising athlete put on and style model equipment has additionally gained traction in Shopify in recent times. In the event you can associate with the precise vendor and relentlessly market your merchandise to the precise viewers, you may construct a worthwhile style model on Shopify both by yourself or with the assistance of Third occasion dropshipping distributors.

Provide Product Images Providers to Shopify Companies

Product images is among the most in-demand companies within the eCommerce business, and never simply restricted to Shopify companies. And its rising demand is justified, on condition that 83% of on-line consumers take into account product pictures to be an essential issue of their buy determination.

Between managing their vendor relationship to discovering new avenues to market their merchandise, most Shopify retailers have a busy schedule. Nearly all of retailer house owners don’t have sufficient time or the required abilities required to take images of their merchandise, a vital side in making their merchandise engaging to consumers.

Even when they’re dropshippers with sufficient time on their palms, eCommerce retailer house owners aren’t actually curious about taking product images themselves after they know that the tip consequence isn’t going to be nearly as good as that from skilled photographers.

If you’re an skilled photographer, you may apply to affix the Shopify Companions Listing and promote your skilled companies to Shopify retailers. On common, product photographers can cost from $100 – $300 per hour or $10-$20 per photograph.

Extra seasoned photographers can negotiate the worth up and cost as excessive as $3000 per day, relying on the consumer’s necessities and finances. Given {that a} typical Shopify retailer has a whole lot of merchandise on its web site, that’s a powerful sum of money in return in your experience.

Construct a Shopify App or Theme

In the event you thought that constructing apps, themes, or templates have been solely restricted to WordPress websites, you’ll be happy to know that Shopify additionally gives related engaging alternatives on its platform.

Given its exponential progress within the final 17 years and the ever-expanding variety of shops in its platform, Shopify has an enormous demand for builders who can construct apps or design new web site themes.

Take into account this: The common Shopify service provider has 6 apps put in on their on-line retailer. And with a whole lot of recent shops opening in Shopify yearly, there are many alternatives for app builders to search out shoppers who want technical assist in establishing new apps. Equally, the rising variety of apps on Shopify additionally means Shopify retailers will encounter a various set of technical challenges whereas rising their companies and can need to rent specialists to troubleshoot their issues.

There’s by no means been a greater time to construct apps and themes for Shopify shops. The excellent news is, Shopify has all of the instruments and useful content material in place that will help you achieve constructing cool apps.

You may get accustomed to Polaris, Shopify’s open-source design system for Third-party builders, to begin growing apps that combine with Shopify shops. Or you may be a part of Shopify’s developer neighborhood to study its APIs, SDKs, and different instruments for constructing storefronts, customized flows, and integrations.

You may make anyplace between $38 and $61 per hour as a Shopify developer. The speed will depend on many components like your expertise, the consumer’s finances, the complexity of a venture, and your negotiation abilities.

Monetize Your Social Media Following

In recent times, on-line procuring has emerged as a giant winner than in-store procuring as a result of consumers discover eCommerce extra handy, extra customized, and cost-efficient. Increasingly consumers right now want to buy on-line and get suggestions from social media earlier than making a shopping for determination. In reality, 74% of consumers depend on social media networks to make buy selections.

If you have already got a large viewers on social media websites like Fb, you may monetize that to your benefit. Shopify’s Starter plan gives you a option to share Shopify merchandise on Fb, WhatsApp, Instagram, and different social media channels for individuals to purchase.

The plan prices $20 a month and allows you to create particular hyperlinks that you may add to your social media bio to drive consumers to Shopify shops.

Provide Freelancing Providers

In the event you’re already a freelancer who’s in search of an extra supply of earnings, providing your freelancing companies to Shopify retailers generally is a nice match! Quick-growing Shopify shops are all the time looking out for professionals who might help them write product descriptions, design their net retailer, or rank in search engines like google and yahoo.

And don’t fear, you don’t should have prior Shopify expertise to match with shoppers. You’ll be able to all the time discover short- and long-term consumer tasks within the Shopify Accomplice listing when you have transferable abilities like writing, designing, growth, or search engine marketing (web optimization).

Shopify has its personal web optimization workings built-in throughout the platform to assist retailer house owners drive extra visibility to their enterprise. From bettering the person expertise to working high-intent content material advertising campaigns, there’s lots you are able to do to extend visitors to a Shopify web site and generate extra income.

Promote Print-On-Demand Merchandise

Beforehand, we mentioned how one can construct a retailer or dropshipping enterprise on Shopify by partnering with print-on-demand distributors like Printful and Trendsi. In the event you aren’t curious about working your personal Shopify retailer, you may all the time attain throughout the desk and turn into a print-on-demand vendor.

Print-on-demand merchandise are actually standard amongst Shopify shops, particularly the dropshippers. And similar to in dropshipping, you don’t actually should fill up on merchandise beforehand. Just like the title implies, it’s a must to begin manufacturing (or supplying) merchandise solely after you begin producing demand for sure merchandise.

This makes it very easy so that you can calculate the precise value of your stock and scale the product line as per the demand.

Shopify gives assist for Third occasion print-on-demand distributors to combine with the platform and be listed in its App Retailer.

In the event you’re severely contemplating constructing, or increasing, your print-on-demand enterprise within the Shopify platform, listed here are some product classes which have a rising want for Third-party suppliers:

• Mugs
• T-shirts
• Jewellery
• Equipment
• Telephone circumstances
• Wall artwork
• Water bottles
• Towels
• Books

As an apart, right here’s a tutorial on the best way to construct a print-on-demand store on-line in WordPress. Though the weblog is restricted to WordPress web sites, loads of ideas apply for inexperienced persons who need to begin a print-on-demand enterprise in Shopify as properly.

Set Up an On-line Storefront for a Native Enterprise

If you have already got a worthwhile enterprise offline, you may create a Shopify storefront for it and develop your corporation potential past the geographical limitations. That is extraordinarily helpful for companies which can be going by way of robust competitors (like grocery shops or clothes companies) or seeing a decline in demand (like handicraft outlets or bookshops).

Offline companies are struggling as a result of they will’t attain individuals from many touchpoints, supply consumers the identical stage of personalization like on-line companies, and modify their sail like an eCommerce retailer can.

With a Shopify storefront, you may increase the attain of your native companies to an even bigger geography. You need to use web optimization to rank increased in search engines like google and yahoo, use instruments like Google Enterprise Profile to make your retailer extra discoverable, or use superior geo-location focusing on instruments to drive extra footfalls to your offline retailer.

Native manufacturers like Vegan Provide, WIRTH Hats, and Caffe La Tana have expanded their attain past their geographical places by opening up their Shopify storefronts and advertising themselves to prospects globally.

Professional-tip: Individuals drop off from the web sites they’re looking on a regular basis. Use an exit intent popup in your Shopify retailer to forestall individuals from abandoning your web site and have interaction them with engaging gives to extend gross sales.

Crossrope, an internet health model, used a Sure/No marketing campaign to recapture 7.65% of visitors that was misplaced to deserted checkouts on their web site.

Promote Digital Merchandise

Trendy garments and kitchenware are usually not the one merchandise which can be worthwhile in Shopify. If you’re a prolific content material creator, you may monetize your abilities to earn regular income from Shopify. The content material you may create consists of digital merchandise akin to:

• Ebooks
• On-line programs
• AI-generated portraits
• Printables like calendars and stickers
• Unique music for obtain
• Video games

Mainly, it may be any digital product that consumers can obtain to make use of. You need to use Shopify’s Digital Downloads app to add your authentic digital product to your on-line retailer and share a hyperlink to obtain with individuals after they purchase the product.

Of late, loads of digital creators are bullish on promoting non-fungible tokens or NFTs (blockchain-based digital merchandise that may’t be replicated) on Shopify. Like different bodily merchandise, you’ve gotten the total discretion to set the price of a digital product on Shopify and promote as a lot of them as you desire to.

P. S. — Need extra concepts on what sells on Shopify? Right here’s an excellent checklist of the most effective digital merchandise that you may promote on-line, with real-world examples.

Wish to know what’s working proper now? Try the most recent Shopify monetization developments for 2026.

TikTok Store + Shopify Integration

TikTok has rapidly turn into one of the vital highly effective product discovery platforms for eCommerce, and Shopify makes it simple for retailers to promote instantly contained in the TikTok app. As a substitute of sending customers by way of a number of steps, TikTok Store permits consumers to browse, evaluate, and buy merchandise with out leaving the platform.

This creates a low-friction shopping for expertise, particularly for cell consumers preferring short-form video content material over conventional product pages. Shopify retailers can sync their product catalog with TikTok, handle stock from one dashboard, and monitor efficiency throughout each platforms.

For sellers who perceive developments, creator advertising, and short-form video, TikTok Store paired with Shopify gives a fast-moving however extremely scalable option to generate gross sales in 2026.

AI-Generated Merchandise (Digital & POD)

AI instruments have lowered the barrier to entry for creating sellable merchandise on Shopify. Even with out design or writing expertise, creators can now produce digital downloads, print-on-demand designs, and visible belongings at scale.

Widespread AI-powered product classes embrace planners, workbooks, wall artwork, templates, and branded merchandise. These merchandise work particularly properly as a result of they require little to no stock and could be refined rapidly primarily based on buyer suggestions.

That mentioned, long-term success comes from curation and differentiation. Retailers who mix AI-generated belongings with real-world insights, area of interest experience, or bundled worth are inclined to outperform these counting on generic outputs alone.

Subscription + Membership Shops

Subscription-based companies proceed to develop as a result of prospects worth comfort and ongoing entry. Shopify now helps recurring funds natively, making it simpler than ever to launch membership packages or subscription merchandise.

Retailers use this mannequin to supply curated product packing containers, premium content material libraries, on-line communities, or ongoing teaching packages. Predictable month-to-month income additionally makes it simpler to plan stock, advertising, and long-term progress.

When paired with sturdy onboarding and e mail follow-ups, subscription and membership shops can turn into one of the vital steady and worthwhile Shopify enterprise fashions in 2026.

UGC & Creator Collabs

Person-generated content material (UGC) and creator partnerships have turn into important belief alerts for web shoppers. Clients usually tend to purchase after they see actual individuals utilizing, reviewing, and recommending merchandise.

Shopify retailers can collaborate with micro-influencers, model advocates, and current prospects to create genuine content material that fuels social media, product pages, and e mail campaigns. These collaborations typically value lower than conventional promoting whereas producing increased engagement.

In 2026, manufacturers that efficiently flip prospects into promoters acquire a compounding benefit by way of referrals, repeat purchases, and long-term model loyalty.

Single-Product Shopify Funnels

Single-product shops give attention to promoting one core supply by way of a devoted touchdown web page and optimized checkout circulation. As a substitute of overwhelming guests with a number of selections, this strategy facilities your entire expertise round a single drawback and resolution.

These funnels typically carry out properly when mixed with upsells, limited-time bonuses, and e mail seize. By testing headlines, gives, and messaging, retailers can steadily enhance conversion charges with out rising visitors.

For Shopify sellers who worth simplicity and velocity, single-product funnels stay one of the vital efficient methods to generate income in 2026.

Wish to implement these methods with high-converting popups, quizzes, or countdown timers?
Attempt OptinMonster — the #1 conversion software for Shopify entrepreneurs.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions About Making Cash on Shopify

1. Can you actually earn cash with Shopify in 2026?

Sure — and extra individuals are doing it than ever. With instruments like TikTok Store, AI-generated merchandise, and native subscriptions, Shopify has turn into a go-to platform for creators, solopreneurs, and eCommerce manufacturers. Your success will depend on selecting the best monetization mannequin and constructing an viewers by way of constant advertising.

2. What’s the simplest option to begin getting cash on Shopify?

The best low-risk possibility is beginning a print-on-demand retailer or promoting a single digital product (like a information or template). You don’t want stock or upfront funding. Pair it with lead technology instruments like OptinMonster to develop an e mail checklist that converts.

3. How a lot cash can a newbie make on Shopify?

Newbie earnings fluctuate. Some sellers make a couple of hundred {dollars}/month of their first 90 days, whereas others scale to 5-figure months inside a 12 months. Success will depend on:

• Product-market match
• Visitors high quality
• Conversion technique (popups, e mail, bundles)

4. What instruments do I must earn cash on Shopify in 2026?

Listed here are important instruments for achievement:

• OptinMonster: Convert visitors into subscribers and consumers
• Klaviyo or Omnisend: E-mail advertising
• Shogun or Zipify: Construct touchdown pages and funnels
• Printify or POD companions: For on-demand success
• TikTok Channel App: Promote on TikTok Store

5. How can I drive visitors to my Shopify retailer totally free?

Begin with content material advertising, web optimization blogs, TikTok movies, Pinterest pins, and area of interest communities (like Reddit or Fb Teams). Use OptinMonster to seize that visitors earlier than it bounces and nurture leads by way of e mail.

Subsequent Steps: Making Cash with Shopify Wants Motion

Whether or not you’re a budding entrepreneur, a marketer, a developer, a photographer, or a content material creator, Shopify offers alternatives for everybody to leverage their abilities and experience to generate earnings on its platform.

In the event you loved this text, we advocate you learn by way of different sources associated to rising your corporation on Shopify:

And in case you’re severe about your Shopify retailer, rising your e mail checklist, and rising conversions, strive OptinMonster risk-free with our 14-day money-back assure.

Written by Farjad A.
Farjad is a SaaS content material strategist and web optimization lead working with OptinMonster to assist entrepreneurs develop sooner by way of data-backed content material and confirmed conversion instruments. With deep expertise in eCommerce and lead gen, he makes a speciality of turning blogs into scalable progress channels.

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