Books and Resources to Start Strong
Before you invest in equipment, invest time in understanding the Shopify store business model. These books will teach you product sourcing, dropshipping logistics, inventory management, and the realistic challenges you’ll face when scaling an online retail operation.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
This book teaches you how to validate your business idea before spending money on unnecessary inventory or tools. For Shopify store owners, this means testing products and suppliers with minimal upfront investment, measuring what actually sells, and pivoting quickly when something doesn’t work. You’ll avoid the trap of buying equipment or stock based on assumptions rather than customer data.
Shop The Lean Startup on Amazon →
The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Directly relevant to bootstrapping a Shopify store on a tight budget, this book shows you how to launch with minimal capital and equipment. It emphasizes learning through doing rather than over-preparing, which applies well to testing your store before upgrading your tech stack or buying premium tools.
Shop The $100 Startup on Amazon →
Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
This book covers 19 different channels for getting customers to your store—email, content marketing, paid ads, partnerships, and more. Since your success depends on driving traffic and converting visitors, understanding which channels work for your niche is critical before you buy expensive marketing tools.
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Running a Shopify store means managing cash flow carefully—balancing supplier payments, platform fees, and marketing spend. This book teaches you how to structure finances so you always know your actual profit, not just revenue, which prevents the common trap of growing sales while losing money.
Equipment You Need
Most Shopify store owners don’t need physical inventory or warehousing equipment—you’re a middleman connecting suppliers to customers. Your equipment focuses on the digital side: processing orders, managing finances, communicating with suppliers, and marketing your products.
Computer and Workspace
- Laptop or desktop computer: You’ll spend 4-8 hours daily managing your store, so a reliable machine with at least 8GB RAM and solid processing power is essential. You don’t need a gaming laptop, but avoid the cheapest options that slow down when you have multiple browser tabs open.
- Monitor: A second monitor dramatically improves productivity when managing orders, supplier communication, and analytics simultaneously.
- Ergonomic chair: Back pain from poor posture will cost you more in lost productivity than a quality chair costs upfront.
- Desk: A stable desk with enough surface area for your computer setup and notebook space for planning.
Shop ergonomic chairs on Amazon →
Internet and Communication
- Reliable broadband: You need consistent, fast internet—ideally 50+ Mbps. Dropouts cost you customer support responses and order processing time.
- Backup mobile hotspot: A second internet source (from a different provider) protects you if your main connection fails during peak sales hours.
- Phone line or VOIP service: Some suppliers and customers prefer calling. A basic VOIP service like Google Voice or Skype is inexpensive backup.
Software and Digital Tools
- Shopify subscription: Basic plan ($39/month) works for most new stores; you scale up as you grow.
- Email marketing platform: Klaviyo (free tier) or Mailchimp lets you build customer lists and run repeat purchase campaigns.
- Accounting software: Wave (free) or QuickBooks tracks income and expenses, essential for taxes and profit tracking.
- Order management or inventory tools: Start simple with Shopify’s built-in system; upgrade to Oberlo or Printful only when you have consistent volume.
- Analytics and tracking: Google Analytics (free) shows you where traffic comes from and which products convert.
Payment Processing
- Business bank account: Separate your personal and business finances from day one—non-negotiable for accounting and legal protection.
- Payment processor: Shopify Payments or Stripe handles credit cards. Start with Shopify Payments (built in, 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction).
Shipping and Fulfillment
- Shipping scale: If you’re doing any fulfillment yourself initially (bundling, repackaging), a digital scale ($15-30) helps you calculate accurate shipping costs.
- Packing materials: Boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and tissue paper create a professional unboxing experience and protect products during transit.
- Label printer: A thermal printer ($150-250) saves time if you’re printing 20+ shipping labels daily; otherwise, regular inkjet works.
Shop shipping scales on Amazon →
Shop thermal label printers on Amazon →
Product Photography and Content
- Smartphone camera: Modern smartphone cameras (iPhone 12+, Samsung Galaxy S20+) produce professional-quality product photos. You don’t need a DSLR.
- Lighting kit: Proper lighting is more important than expensive camera equipment. A basic ring light ($20-50) or softbox kit ($40-80) eliminates shadows and makes products look appealing.
- Photo editing software: Canva (free or $13/month) handles basic edits and resizing for social media.
What to Buy First vs Later
Prioritize based on what directly impacts sales and operations. Don’t buy equipment that looks professional but doesn’t generate revenue.
- First (Month 1-2): Reliable computer, stable internet, Shopify subscription, business bank account, email marketing platform, and smartphone lighting kit. Total: roughly $500-1,000 depending on your computer choice.
- Second (Month 3-4): Accounting software (many are free), Google Analytics setup, product photography backdrop, and basic packing supplies once you start receiving orders.
- Later (Month 6+): Thermal label printer (only if you’re shipping 50+ orders per week), second monitor, upgraded email tools, paid analytics platforms, and marketing software. Only buy these when cash flow supports them and you’ve validated the ROI.
- Never buy: Expensive photography equipment you won’t master, paid tools with free alternatives that serve the same purpose, or inventory before you’ve tested what actually sells.
New vs Used Equipment
Save money on some items, but not on things that directly affect your business reliability. A used office chair for $50 is sensible. A used computer from an unknown source that crashes during peak sales? Not worth it.
Buy new: Computer or laptop (warranties and reliability matter), internet equipment, shipping scale, lighting kit, and label printer. These are relatively inexpensive and their performance directly impacts your daily operations. A broken computer during the holiday season can cost you thousands in lost sales.
Buy used or refurbished: Office furniture (desk, chair, monitor), packing materials (many suppliers sell overstocked boxes cheaply), and optional items like a second monitor. Check Facebook Marketplace or local office furniture liquidators in your area.
Don’t buy: Used software licenses (they often transfer to the original owner, and you’ll lose access), used payment processing equipment, or second-hand networking equipment unless you truly understand tech.
Where to Buy
- Amazon: Fastest for most equipment—computer peripherals, lighting, scales, office furniture, packing supplies. Prime shipping helps when you need something quickly.
- Best Buy: Computers, monitors, and tech hardware with return policies and local pickup options.
- B&H Photo Video: Better selection and prices on cameras, lighting, and photography equipment if you upgrade beyond smartphone photography.
- Local office furniture stores or Facebook Marketplace: Desks and chairs, often negotiable and available same-day.
- Shopify App Store: Software and integrations built for Shopify—vetted by the platform.
- Uline or Grainger: Wholesale packing supplies in bulk once you know your shipping volume.
- USPS, UPS, FedEx direct: Shipping boxes at cost when you have an account; often cheaper than retail packaging.