How to Build a Wix Online Store from Scratch – 2025 Step-by-Step Guide

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Looking to launch your first eCommerce site in 2025? This complete guide will show you how to build a Wix online store from scratch, walking you through every essential step, from setting up your account to launching a fully functional, beautifully designed store.

Built with simplicity and flexibility in mind, Wix’s eCommerce tools make it easy for beginners to enter the online selling space without needing any coding experience.

Using Wix, you can choose from hundreds of professionally designed templates, apply custom branding, and manage your product catalog with ease.

You’ll also learn how to configure secure payment gateways, organize your collections, set up shipping and tax rules, and fine-tune your site for SEO and mobile responsiveness.

This guide is perfect for new entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone aiming to build an impressive online store. With the right tools and a clear roadmap, you’ll be ready to launch your Wix store and start selling with confidence.

What is Wix?
Why choose Wix?
Key Features of Wix
Follow these 7 Steps to Create an Online Store on Wix
Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. What is Wix?

Wix is a powerful website builder launched in 2006, created to help individuals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses design professional websites without coding skills.

It features an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, allowing users to fully customize layouts, images, and content with ease.

Offering a wide selection of modern templates, Wix caters to everything from blogs and portfolios to fully functional online stores. It also includes built-in tools for SEO, mobile responsiveness, and app integrations, making it a flexible platform for a wide range of digital needs.

From selling products through Wix eCommerce to launching branded landing pages, Wix gives you full control over design and functionality, perfect for anyone aiming to build a polished and scalable web presence.

Pros:

✔ User-Friendly Drag-and-Drop Builder: Wix offers one of the most intuitive website editors, making it perfect for beginners and non-coders.
✔ Extensive Template Library: With over 800 designer-made templates, you can easily find a layout that fits your niche and style.
✔ Built-In SEO Tools: From customizable meta tags to automatic sitemaps, Wix supports solid on-page SEO practices.
✔ App Market for Extra Features: You can expand functionality with Wix’s App Market, including tools for marketing, analytics, bookings, and more.
✔ Wix ADI for Fast Setup: The Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) tool can create a personalized website in minutes based on your answers.

Cons:

❌ Less Flexible for Complex Projects: For advanced users, Wix’s structure may feel limiting compared to platforms like Webflow or WordPress.
❌ Template Lock-In: Once selected, templates can’t be switched without rebuilding your content manually.
❌ Slower Page Load Speeds: Wix sites sometimes suffer from heavier page loads, which can impact performance and SEO.
❌ Limited eCommerce Scalability: Wix eCommerce works for small-to-medium stores but lacks advanced features for large-scale businesses.
❌ Pricing Tiers Can Add Up: Essential tools and apps often require upgrades, making premium plans more expensive over time.

2. Why choose Wix?

Wix stands out as a versatile website builder for beginners, creatives, and small business owners who want design freedom without technical complexity.

Its drag-and-drop editor, wide range of professional templates, and robust eCommerce tools make it easy to build and manage visually stunning, responsive websites.

Users gain access to built-in SEO features, marketing integrations, and an extensive app market, all within a user-friendly interface. With flexible pricing plans and scalable functionality, Wix is an excellent choice for launching websites quickly and growing them over time.

3. Key Features of Wix

When choosing a website builder like Wix, it’s essential to focus on features that simplify site creation, boost design flexibility, and improve visitor engagement. Wix offers powerful tools that enable users to build stunning, responsive websites without technical skills.

Here are the key features that make Wix a popular choice in 2025:

1. Drag-and-Drop Editor
Build and customize your website effortlessly using an intuitive visual editor with no coding required.

2. Wide Range of Templates
Access hundreds of designer-made templates tailored for businesses, portfolios, blogs, and online stores.

3. Mobile-Optimized Design
Templates automatically adapt to display perfectly on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

4. Built-In SEO Tools
Enhance your website’s search visibility with editable meta tags, URL slugs, and SEO-friendly features.

5. Extensive App Market
Add extra functionality like live chat, booking systems, marketing tools, and more from a robust app marketplace.

6. Advanced Design Options
Incorporate animations, video backgrounds, galleries, and parallax effects to create engaging user experiences.

4. Follow these 7 Steps to Create an Online Store on Wix

1. Sign Up for a Wix Account

Step 1: Visit the Wix Website
Go to Wix.com using your preferred browser.

Step 2: Click on “Get Started” or “Sign Up.”
Find the sign-up button on the homepage and click it to begin the registration process.

Step 3: Enter Your Email and Create a Password
Provide a valid email address and set a secure password for your account.

Step 4: Sign Up with Google or Facebook (Optional)
Alternatively, you can use your existing Google or Facebook account for quicker registration.

Step 5: Verify Your Email Address
Check your inbox for a confirmation email from Wix and click the verification link to activate your account.

Step 6: Set Up Your Profile
Fill in basic details like your name and website goals to help Wix recommend the best templates and features.

Step 7: Start Building Your Website
Once registered, you can begin choosing a template or using Wix’s ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) tool to create your site.

2. Choose and Customize Your Template

Step 1: Log in to Your Wix Account
Access your Wix dashboard by signing in to your account.

Step 2: Select “Create New Site”
Click the button to start building a new website.

Step 3: Choose How You Want to Build
Pick either Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) for an automated setup or Wix Editor for full design control.

Step 4: Browse Template Categories
Explore hundreds of templates organized by industry, style, and purpose, such as business, portfolio, blog, or online store.

Step 5: Preview Templates
Click on any template to see a live preview and ensure it fits your brand and goals.

Step 6: Select Your Template
Once you find a template you like, click Edit to start customizing.

Step 7: Customize Design Elements
Use the drag-and-drop editor to change text, images, colors, fonts, and layout to match your brand identity.

Step 8: Add Features and Apps
Enhance your site by integrating apps from the Wix App Market, such as contact forms, chat widgets, or booking tools.

Step 9: Optimize for Mobile
Switch to the mobile editor to adjust your site’s mobile view for a smooth user experience on smartphones and tablets.

Step 10: Save and Preview Your Site
Regularly save your progress and preview your website to check how it looks and functions before publishing.

3. Add Products and Organize Collections

Step 1: Access Your Wix Dashboard
Log in to your Wix account and open the website editor or dashboard.

Step 2: Go to the Wix Stores App
If not already installed, add the Wix Stores app from the Wix App Market to enable eCommerce features.

Step 3: Open the Product Management Section
Navigate to the Store Products tab in your dashboard.

Step 4: Add a New Product
Click + New Product and choose between Physical, Digital, or Service products.

Step 5: Enter Product Details
Fill in product name, description, price, SKU, and upload high-quality images.

Step 6: Set Inventory and Variants
Manage stock levels and add product variants like sizes, colors, or styles if needed.

Step 7: Create Collections (Categories)
Organize products by grouping them into collections such as Men’s Wear, Electronics, or Best Sellers.

Step 8: Assign Products to Collections
Link each product to one or more collections to make browsing easier for customers.

Step 9: Customize Collection Pages
Adjust layout, sorting options, and design of collection pages to enhance user experience.

Step 10: Save Changes and Preview
Save your updates and preview your product listings and collections to ensure everything displays correctly.

4. Set Up Payment Gateways

Step 1: Log in to Your Wix Account
Access your Wix dashboard and open your online store settings.

Step 2: Navigate to Payment Settings
Go to Settings > Accept Payments in your Wix dashboard.

Step 3: Choose Your Payment Methods
Select from popular options like Wix Payments, PayPal, Stripe, Square, or manual payment methods.

Step 4: Connect Your Payment Accounts
For third-party gateways like PayPal or Stripe, log in and authorize Wix to connect with your accounts.

Step 5: Set Up Wix Payments (Optional)
Activate Wix Payments for a seamless, all-in-one solution that supports multiple payment options and currencies.

Step 6: Configure Payment Preferences
Adjust settings for payment currency, accepted cards, and payment processing options.

Step 7: Enable Secure Checkout
Ensure SSL security is activated so customers can safely enter their payment details.

Step 8: Save and Test Payment Setup
Save your configurations and perform a test transaction to verify everything works smoothly.

5. Configure Shipping and Taxes

Step 1: Log in to Your Wix Account
Open your Wix dashboard and go to your online store settings.

Step 2: Go to Shipping Settings
Navigate to Settings > Shipping & Fulfillment.

Step 3: Set Up Shipping Regions
Add the countries or regions where you want to ship your products.

Step 4: Define Shipping Rates
Create shipping rules based on weight, price, or flat rates for different zones.

Step 5: Add Shipping Methods
Offer options like standard, express, or local pickup to give customers flexibility.

Step 6: Configure Tax Settings
Go to Settings > Taxes to set up tax rules based on your location and where you sell.

Step 7: Enable Automatic Tax Calculations
Use Wix’s built-in tax engine or connect with tax services for automatic calculations.

Step 8: Specify Tax Rates
Manually add tax rates if needed for specific regions or products.

Step 9: Save Your Settings
Review and save all your shipping and tax configurations.

Step 10: Test Checkout Process
Perform a test checkout to ensure shipping fees and taxes are correctly applied.

6. Design Your Store Pages and Navigation

Step 1: Open Wix Editor
Log in to your Wix account and open the website editor for your online store.

Step 2: Choose or Customize Your Store Pages
Select pre-built pages like Home, Shop, Product, About, and Contact, or create new pages tailored to your brand.

Step 3: Edit Page Layouts
Use Wix’s drag-and-drop tools to arrange text, images, and product galleries on each page.

Step 4: Add Key Elements
Include essential components like banners, featured products, testimonials, and call-to-action buttons.

Step 5: Set Up Navigation Menu
Create a clear, easy-to-use menu linking to important pages such as product categories, cart, and customer support.

Step 6: Organize Footer
Add useful links, contact info, social media icons, and newsletter sign-up in the website footer.

Step 7: Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly
Check and optimize page designs for smooth performance on mobile devices.

Step 8: Preview and Test Navigation
Preview your site to ensure menus and links work smoothly across all pages and devices.

Step 9: Save Your Work
Save changes regularly to avoid losing your design updates.

7. Preview and Launch Your Wix Store

Step 1: Preview Your Website
Use the Preview button in the Wix editor to see how your store looks and works on desktop and mobile devices.

Step 2: Test All Features
Check navigation, product pages, payment gateways, shipping, and contact forms to ensure everything functions smoothly.

Step 3: Fix Any Issues
Make any needed adjustments or fixes based on your preview and testing experience.

Step 4: Connect Your Domain
Link a custom domain to your Wix store for a professional web address, or use the free Wix subdomain.

Step 5: Select a Premium Plan
Choose a Wix premium plan that supports eCommerce and unlocks features like removing Wix ads and accepting online payments.

Step 6: Publish Your Store
Click the Publish button to make your online store live and accessible to visitors.

Step 7: Promote Your Store
Start marketing your store through SEO, social media, email campaigns, and paid ads to attract customers.

Step 8: Monitor Performance
Use Wix analytics tools to track visitor behavior, sales, and website performance for ongoing improvements.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Mobile Optimization
Failing to ensure your store looks and works well on mobile devices can cost you many potential customers.
Overcomplicating Navigation
A cluttered or confusing menu makes it hard for visitors to find products, leading to lost sales.
Using Low-Quality Images
Poor product images reduce trust and can negatively impact buying decisions.
Neglecting SEO Basics
Without a proper SEO setup, your store may struggle to attract organic traffic from search engines.
Skipping Payment and Shipping Tests
Not thoroughly testing payment gateways and shipping options can cause checkout failures and customer frustration.
Lack of Clear Call-to-Actions
Missing or unclear buttons for “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” reduce conversion rates.
Ignoring Site Speed
Slow-loading pages can drive visitors away before they explore your products.
Overloading Pages with Too Much Content
Too much text or too many elements can overwhelm visitors and detract from product focus.

Conclusion

Building your Wix online store from scratch is an exciting journey that opens doors to endless eCommerce opportunities. By following the step-by-step process, you can create a professional, user-friendly website that showcases your products beautifully and drives sales.

Paying attention to mobile optimization, clear navigation, and seamless payment setup ensures your customers enjoy a smooth shopping experience.

Leveraging Wix’s powerful features like drag-and-drop editing, customizable templates, and integrated marketing tools will help your store stand out in 2025’s competitive market. Avoiding common mistakes and continuously monitoring your site’s performance will set you up for long-term success.

Start building today and transform your online business dreams into reality with Wix’s flexible and easy-to-use platform.