If you’ve been thinking about selling online, today you’re going to find out ways you can earn that you didn’t know about through a popular eCommerce platform, Shopify.
But before anything else, let me tell you why selling online matters.
Believe it or not, 85% of global consumers shop online, and even 53% of Americans shop on social media at least once per week.
And Shopify?
As of January 2025, Shopify was one of the biggest names in the US eCommerce software market, used by roughly 30% of websites.
But it’s not just about starting an online store anymore (though that’s definitely one way to go); there are a few more creative ways to earn through this platform that you might not have thought about.
So here are 7 ways to make money on Shopify in 2026.
1. Start an Online Store
Let’s start with the well-known option or one that you know is coming: the classic way of running your own online store.
Shopify already powers millions of merchants across 175 countries. And when compared to how easy it is to start an online store on other platforms, Shopify makes things much smoother.
On top of that, you don’t need to be a tech genius to get started. That’s pretty good.
Here’s what you can sell:
- Physical products: Think clothing, gadgets, home decor, or beauty products
- Digital products: eBooks, planners, templates (and many more products you can sell!).
- Print-on-demand items: Custom t-shirts, mugs, and more (no inventory needed!)
- Resale items: Used or secondhand goods
You can start selling anything that complies with Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy. So yes, there are also some items you can’t sell on the platform.
The best part is you don’t have to pay to try the platform, as they come up with a 3-day free trial + 3 months of Shopify for just $1, so there’s no risk.
2. Social Media Selling
This is called social selling, a way to connect with potential customers and build real relationships with them through social media platforms. If that’s too much, yes, it basically means selling your goods on social media.
To give you a better idea, here’s how Meta makes everything sync seamlessly with Shopify:
And it works well. The numbers even say that 78% of businesses that use social selling outperform those that don’t. Something to think about, right?
However, social selling isn’t just about posting product photos – it’s about building relationships and trust with your audience.
Shopify makes it super easy to connect with:
- Instagram and Facebook Shops
- TikTok Shopping
- Pinterest Catalogs
- YouTube Shopping
The best part here is that you can manage everything from one dashboard, and this allows you to directly sell your products from those social media apps, so your customers can purchase your products right as they discover them.
Yes, within Facebook and Instagram. You get the idea.
3. Dropshipping
Let’s talk about dropshipping, one of my favorite options I can recommend for beginners. Think of it as running a store without ever touching the products. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not!
Here’s how it works: You list products on your store, and when someone buys something, your supplier handles the shipping directly to your customer’s doorstep. You never have to deal with inventory or packaging.
Shopify makes this super easy with apps like (suppliers) Oberlo, Spocket, and DSers. But there is just one thing to remember: while the entry barrier is low, you’ll need to focus on marketing to make more sales.
And now you’re probably wondering why wouldn’t everyone just go the dropshipping method if it’s so easy, and there are two main reasons for that.
One is that you don’t have control over the quality of the product, and the other one is that your supplier likely has other clients they’re selling to, whether it’s the same or similar products, and that also means more competition.
What I’m saying here is that it may be hard to sell a product, and that’s why you need good marketing.
4. Digital Products
If you’re good at designing, writing, or teaching, there are countless ways to turn your knowledge into digital products that people love to buy.
We call them “digital products” because they’re a type of product you can only sell digitally, and you create them once and can sell them infinitely.
No shipping, no inventory management, your skills can become a valuable source of income with minimal upfront investment.
Popular digital products include:
- Online courses
- eBooks
- Digital art
- Templates and printables
- Music or sound effects
and the list goes on and on.
Shopify makes it easy to upload and sell digital products, and you can also set up automated delivery so customers get instant access after purchase.
If your digital products fit your target audience and you’re prepared for good marketing, digital products can bring you some good money, and this is a great side hustle I recommend to anyone.
5. Shopify Partner Program
The Shopify Partner Program is free to join and perfect for web designers, developers, or anyone with technical skills who can handle the behind-the-scenes for businesses that want to sell online with Shopify.
You can earn by:
- Creating and selling themes
- Developing apps
- Offering design services
- Building stores for clients
Getting started as a Shopify Partner might look easy, but building a successful partnership requires gaining skills, building trust, and offering quality services.
6. Affiliate Marketing
If you’re good at marketing, love sharing useful resources, and have a loyal audience, the Shopify Affiliate Program might be your thing.
It’s pretty straightforward: you promote Shopify, and when someone signs up through your special affiliate link, you earn a commission.
This works especially well if you:
- Have a blog or website
- Run a YouTube channel
- Have a strong social media presence
- Write about eCommerce or entrepreneurship
- Have experience using Shopify and understand its features well
The commission rates for Shopify’s affiliate program are quite impressive, but the payout depends on the merchant’s location.
However, this isn’t just about sharing links everywhere on the internet; that’s never going to work, and there are also some requirements you need to meet before applying.
Well, if you get approved, how will you earn?
One key strategy is to create detailed tutorials, comparison articles, or case studies that showcase how Shopify can solve specific business problems.
This helps potential merchants understand the platform’s value before they commit.
It’s also important to note that success in affiliate marketing takes time and consistent effort.
The genuine relationships you build with your audience and providing real value rather than just promoting for quick commissions make all the difference here.
7. Shopify Collabs
This is most likely the influencer’s or creator’s route. If you’re not going to sell ever on Shopify and don’t even have a product, but create content, Shopify Collabs connects you with brands looking for authentic promoters.
Whether you’re an Instagram influencer, TikTok creator, or YouTube personality, you can earn by promoting products you actually love.
And that’s not all. You can give your followers special discount codes and links, and you might even get free products to try out and create content with.
The best part is that you can choose brands that align with your values and audience interests. It’s not just the selling part; it’s about creating genuine connections, more like becoming an affiliate but with more perks.
Final Words
So there you have it – 7 ways to make money with Shopify!
What’s really cool is that you don’t have to stick to just one. You could try a few different things based on what you’re good at and what you enjoy.
For example, you might want to start selling other people’s products through dropshipping while you learn about making your own digital products.
The most important thing here is that you just need to take that first step. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect right away.
There are countless ways to learn online, and Shopify Academy is also a great option to try.
Just pick whatever feels right to you and give it a try.
