How to Launch a Shopify Store in the Philippines (2026 Checklist)
The exact 60-step checklist I use to launch Shopify stores in the Philippines — from domain to payments to ads-ready tracking. Skip the months of trial and error.
Most first-time Shopify owners I meet in the Philippines spend 3 months on things that should take 3 days, and 3 days on things that should take 3 weeks. The order matters.
This is the exact checklist I work through with clients. 60 items, grouped into the seven phases that get you from idea to first sale without re-doing things later.
TL;DR
If you're at item 50 and still haven't installed the Pixel, you're going to launch blind. Don't.
Phase 1 — Foundation (items 1–8)
1. Pick a brand name that's available as `.com` AND `.ph` if possible.
2. Register a DTI Business Name (sole prop) or SEC if you want a corporation.
3. Register with BIR. You'll need this to issue receipts and open business accounts.
4. Open a separate bank account for the business. GCash for Business is a great companion.
5. Buy your domain at Namecheap or Cloudflare (avoid GoDaddy renewals).
6. Sign up for Shopify on the Basic plan ($39/mo). You don't need Plus.
7. Add a Filipino phone number, address, and timezone in Shopify Admin → Settings.
8. Decide currency: PHP if domestic only, or PHP + USD via Shopify Markets if international.
Phase 2 — Brand and Theme (items 9–15)
9. Pick a fast theme: Dawn, Sense, or Craft (all free, all fast).
10. Get a logo done — either DIY in Canva or P3,000–P8,000 from a Filipino freelancer.
11. Define a 3-color palette and 2 fonts. Document this in a 1-page brand guide.
12. Customize theme: header, footer, colors, fonts, hero section.
13. Add a favicon (Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes → Customize).
14. Set up a clean homepage: hero, featured collection, social proof, value props, CTA.
15. Add an "About" page that doesn't read like AI wrote it. Use your real story.
Phase 3 — Products and Policies (items 16–24)
16. Take or commission product photography. Plain white background + 1 lifestyle shot per SKU.
17. Write 300+ word product descriptions. Include sizing/usage/materials.
18. Set up at least 2 collections (e.g., New Arrivals, Best Sellers).
19. Configure variants properly (color/size). Don't use separate products per variant.
20. Set inventory tracking on every SKU.
21. Add Shipping Policy, Return Policy, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service. Use Shopify's free generator as a starting point, then localize for Philippines.
22. Add a Contact page with a real phone number and Messenger link.
23. Add an FAQ page with 8–12 honest questions.
24. Configure tax settings (12% VAT if VAT-registered; otherwise mark zero).
Phase 4 — Payments (items 25–30)
25. Set up Shopify Payments if available, or PayMongo / Xendit for PH.
26. Enable GCash and Maya — non-negotiable for PH consumers.
27. Enable Card Payments (Visa, MasterCard, JCB).
28. Decide on Cash on Delivery (COD): default ON for most categories under ₱5,000.
29. Test a real ₱100 transaction to confirm payouts work.
30. Add a payment-icons row near footer to build trust.
Phase 5 — Shipping (items 31–36)
31. Pick a courier stack: Lalamove (same-day Metro Manila), J&T or LBC (provincial), Shopee Xpress / Ninja Van for marketplace tie-ins.
32. Configure shipping zones: Metro Manila vs Provincial.
33. Set up shipping rates: flat (e.g., ₱120 Metro Manila) or weight-based.
34. Add a free-shipping threshold (e.g., over ₱1,500). It pays for itself in AOV.
35. Print a sample airwaybill end-to-end. Confirm your packing process can handle 30 orders/day.
36. Add expected delivery times to your Shipping Policy.
Phase 6 — Tracking and Email (items 37–44)
37. Install Meta Pixel via Shopify's native Facebook & Instagram channel.
38. Enable Conversion API (CAPI) inside the same Facebook channel — switch ON.
39. Verify your domain in Meta Business Manager.
40. Configure 8 priority web events (Aggregated Event Measurement).
41. Install Google Tag (GA4) via Shopify's native Google channel.
42. Connect Google Merchant Center → submit feed → fix any disapprovals.
43. Sign up for Klaviyo. Connect to Shopify. Set up Welcome, Abandoned Cart, Browse Abandonment, and Post-Purchase flows.
44. Add a popup with a 10% off welcome offer (Klaviyo's built-in form).
Phase 7 — Pre-launch QA + Soft Launch (items 45–55)
45. Run the full checkout from a real device (not just preview).
46. Test on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome.
47. Test with GCash, Maya, Card, and COD.
48. Make sure order confirmation emails fire and look right.
49. Test abandoned cart flow: add to cart, leave, wait, confirm email.
50. Run PageSpeed Insights on homepage + product page. Aim for mobile score 70+.
51. Run a Google Lighthouse Accessibility check. Fix obvious issues.
52. Add Google Search Console. Submit your sitemap (`/sitemap.xml`).
53. Soft launch to friends, family, and email list. Get 5–10 real orders.
54. Collect 3–5 real reviews. Add them to product pages.
55. Fix anything those first 10 customers complained about.
Phase 8 — Paid Acquisition (items 56–60)
56. Start with one Meta Advantage+ Shopping Campaign at ₱500/day.
57. Add a Google Performance Max campaign at ₱500/day for branded + bottom-funnel.
58. Run for 7 days minimum before judging. Don't pause early.
59. Once you have 50 purchases, build Lookalike audiences and start scaling.
60. Track CAC, AOV, and 30-day LTV from week 1. Adjust spend by ROAS, not by gut.
What this looks like as a timeline
That's a realistic 4-week timeline if you're working on it 4–6 hours a day. Faster if you have help.
What most people get wrong
Want this done for you?
If you'd rather skip the trial and error, my Shopify Expert service handles the entire stack — from theme setup to ads tracking to first-month optimization. Or if you want to build it yourself, the Shopify Course Philippines walks through every step in detail with PH-specific examples.
Related reading:
Written by Vince Servidad
I've spent over $26M on ads and built my own 7-figure brand from scratch. I don't just 'manage ads'—I build the growth systems that actually scale businesses profitably.
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