Are you dreaming of starting your own online business but worried about upfront costs, technical skills, or the hassle of managing a website? The good news is that there are fantastic tools that make it easier than ever to launch your store and start selling, no matter your industry or level of experience. We all have to start somewhere and Virtually Solo is here to help guide you in the right direction so you can get set up for success. In this blog post, I’ll dive into four excellent platforms I’ve personally used: Printful’s Quick Stores, Shopify’s $5 Starter Plan, Printify's Pop-Up Store, and The Leap's Digital Creator Store. I’ll share how easy it is to get started with each, the costs involved, the industries they’re best suited for, and tips on how to market your store once you’re ready to launch.
Printful Quick Stores: Sell Without a Website
Cost to Start: $0
Printful is a leading print-on-demand service that allows you to sell custom-designed products like t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags without holding inventory. With Printful Quick Stores, you don’t even need a website to get started—a huge plus for beginners.
How to Get Started:
Sign up for a free Printful account.
Choose your products and upload your custom designs.
Generate your Quick Store link and start sharing it with your audience.
Best For:
Artists and designers who want to sell their work on custom merchandise.
Entrepreneurs testing product ideas without committing to inventory.
Nonprofits or influencers looking for a quick way to offer branded merchandise.
Marketing Tips:
Promote your store on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Use your email list to share your store link with your followers.
Collaborate with influencers to expand your reach.
From my own experience, I’ve found Printful Quick Stores to be incredibly intuitive. Within just a few hours, I had my store live and my first few products ready to sell. If you’re a creative looking for a low-risk way to dip your toes into e-commerce, this is a fantastic option. Even if you're not so creative you can find success. Virtually Solo can help with a design pack to get you started.
Shopify Starter Plan: Launch a Store for Just $5
Cost to Start: $5/month (after 3-day free trial)
Shopify is a powerhouse in the e-commerce world, and its $5 Starter Plan is perfect for anyone who wants to get selling fast without a full website. This plan lets you create a simple online store, share product links, and accept payments seamlessly.
How to Get Started:
Sign up for Shopify’s 3-day free trial.
Add your products, descriptions, and images.
Share your product links directly on social media or via email.
Best For:
Small business owners with a few products to sell.
Crafters and DIY enthusiasts launching their first store.
Service-based businesses offering physical goods, like branded equipment or kits.
Marketing Tips:
Take advantage of Shopify’s built-in SEO features to optimize your product listings.
Use social media ads to drive traffic to your store.
Offer special promotions, like free shipping or discounts for first-time customers.
I’ve built several stores using Shopify Starter Plan and have been impressed by how user-friendly it is. It’s also an excellent stepping stone if you eventually want to scale up to a full Shopify store. I have a print-on-demand store, a digital storefront to sell my web design services on social media, and a dropshipping store that work perfectly on this plan so I have no current plans to upgrade. That gives me a way to sell 3 different ways for only $5/mo. You won't find pricing like this anywhere else. What's nice about the Starter Plan is you get access to the Shopify App Store allowing for integrations with tons of apps to help grow your business. You also get a LinkPop page which is Shopify's link in bio product for easily sharing all of your links in one place. For just $5 a month, you can’t go wrong.
Printify: Another Website-Free Option for Print-on-Demand
Cost to Start: $0
Printify is another fantastic print-on-demand platform that offers a pop-up store option, allowing you to sell custom products without creating a full website. Printify’s network of suppliers provides a wide variety of products to customize and sell.
How to Get Started:
Create a free Printify account.
Choose your products and upload your designs.
Share your pop-up store link with your audience.
Best For:
Entrepreneurs who want an alternative to Printful.
Creatives looking to test multiple products and suppliers.
Small businesses seeking a quick and low-cost entry into e-commerce.
Marketing Tips:
Leverage social media platforms to showcase your custom products.
Offer limited-time discounts to create urgency.
Partner with micro-influencers to promote your brand and increase visibility.
In my experience, Printify is a great way to get into the print-on-demand space. It’s a great platform for experimenting with different suppliers and products while keeping costs to a minimum. Although Printful and Printify announced their merger, they will continue to operate separately for the time being and offer different products. Try them both to see which works best for you or use them as a way to offer a wider range of products. Remember, you can create a free account so there's no pressure to choose just one.
The Leap: Perfect for Digital Products and Email Marketing
Cost to Start: $0
The Leap is an all-in-one platform for selling digital products, email marketing, and even creating mini-courses. Whether you’re a coach, educator, or creative entrepreneur, The Leap has tools tailored to your needs.
How to Get Started:
Sign up for a free account.
Upload your digital products or create your mini-course.
Use the built-in email marketing tools to connect with your audience.
Best For:
Coaches and consultants offering digital guides or e-books.
Educators creating and selling mini-courses.
Bloggers and influencers monetizing their expertise.
Marketing Tips:
Leverage email marketing to nurture relationships with your audience.
Create a lead magnet, like a free guide, to grow your email list.
Use The Leap’s analytics to refine your marketing strategies over time.
I’ve seen really good results using The Leap to sell digital products and grow my email list. I'm currently using it for my design business as well as my travel blog and agency and it's one of the easiest ways to capture leads for free. Something that's unique about The Leap is the ability to create mini courses. This is huge for those who want to offer something valuable to gain trust and position themselves as an expert in a certain industry or niche. Its intuitive interface and high value features make it a go-to platform for anyone serious about building a digital-first business.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:
Printful Quick Stores: Best for creatives and nonprofits who want to sell physical products without managing a website.
Shopify Starter Plan: Ideal for small businesses and product-based entrepreneurs who need a simple e-commerce solution.
Printify: Great for entrepreneurs who want a print-on-demand store with a wide variety of products.
The Leap: Perfect for digital product creators, educators, and coaches who want an all-in-one platform.
Final Thoughts
Starting an online business doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Whether you choose Printful, Shopify, Printify, or The Leap, each platform offers unique advantages that cater to different industries and business goals. Having used all four, I can confidently say they are excellent options for anyone looking to launch an online business with minimal upfront investment.
For more tips on growing your online business, check out my other blog posts. I’ve covered everything from social media marketing to SEO strategies, so you can take your business to the next level. Ready to get started? Explore these platforms today and turn your business dreams into reality!
Comments