The online store launch checklist: 20 checks before you open
The days before launch are when small mistakes are cheapest to fix. A wrong shipping rate, a placeholder paragraph or a checkout that has never been tested can cost you your first customers. Work through these 20 checks in order and tick each one off.
Products
- Every product is complete. Each has a name, a price, clear photos and a description. Delete any sample products that came with your template.
- Photos are consistent. Same lighting and background across products, plus at least one image that shows size.
- Options are set up. If an item comes in sizes or colors, each version has its own price where needed, its own SKU and its own stock count.
- Stock counts are real. Turn on stock tracking for limited items and set a low stock alert so you hear about it before you run out.
- Categories make sense. Group products so a visitor can find a kind of item in one click.
On Payly, the steps are in Add a product.
Pages and policies
- Your own words on every page. The About, Contact, Privacy policy and Terms pages in a new Payly store start with example text. Replace all of it.
- A returns and refunds policy. State how long customers have, who pays return shipping and how refunds are made. If you are unsure what to include, ask an accountant or a legal adviser. This list is general information, not legal advice.
- A way to reach you. A contact page with a form or an email address, and a promise of how fast you reply.
Shipping and tax
- Shipping zones cover every place you ship. Anywhere you leave out will show "this store does not ship to your location" at checkout.
- Rates cover your real costs. Pack and weigh a typical order, then price it with your carrier. Payly offers flat rate, free shipping (optionally above a minimum order) and local pickup, and does not look up live carrier rates.
- Tax rates match your obligations. Enter the rates you are required to collect. Rules vary by place, so check with your state tax agency or an accountant. Payly does not file or remit tax. See Set up sales tax.
- Currency and language are right. Choose your store currency before you add prices. Payly does not convert prices if you change it later.
Payments and the test order
- A payment account is connected. PayPal, Stripe or both.
- Test mode is on. It lets you place practice orders with no real money moving.
- Place a test order as a customer would. Use a phone. Add to cart, choose shipping, pay, and read the confirmation page.
- Check the order and the emails. Confirm the order appears in your dashboard and the customer email reads well. Payly shows test orders separately from real ones with its Test data switch.
- Turn test mode off, last. While test mode is on, nobody can pay you for real. Check this switch right before you share your address.
The full routine is in Take test payments with test mode.
Domain and search basics
- Your address is ready. A free workers.dev address works from day one. If you want your own, connect a domain; on Payly that is free, and you pay only the registrar for the name. See Connect a custom domain.
- Every page has a title and description. Write a clear browser title and a search description of roughly 120 to 160 characters, so Google has good text to show under your link.
- The sitemap is submitted. Submit your store's sitemap to Google Search Console so it can find your pages. Payly publishes the sitemap for you; see Help customers find your store on Google.
The last look
Open the published store on a phone and a laptop. Click every menu link. Read each page out loud, which is the fastest way to catch typos. Then ask one person who has never seen the store to buy something while you watch silently. Where they hesitate is where your store needs work.
Payly also tracks your setup steps (first page, hosting, publishing, domain and payments) in a Getting set up card on the dashboard Overview tab, and its own launch checklist covers the same ground inside the product.
Do not wait for perfect. A store with six well-photographed products and clear policies beats one that is still being polished. You can add products and improve pages any day after launch.
Questions
How long does a launch take?
Most of the time goes into photos and descriptions. The technical checks above take an afternoon for a small store.
Do I need to repeat the test order after changes?
Yes, after any change to shipping, tax or payments. A quick test order takes a few minutes and protects real customers from surprises.
Can I test without risking real money?
Yes. Test mode uses practice accounts at the payment processors, so no money moves. To try it on Payly, create a free account.
General information only. Tax and legal rules vary by place, so check with your tax agency or an accountant.
