How to Sell on Shopify in Australia
Shopify doesn't charge a marketplace commission - you keep your margin. What you pay is a monthly plan fee (from around $59 AUD on the Basic plan) plus payment processing at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Shopify Payments. There's no built-in audience - you drive your own traffic. It's the right choice for resellers building a recognisable brand with repeat customers, not for one-off selling.
Getting Started as an Australian Seller
Choose your Shopify plan
Start with Basic ($59 AUD/month approximately). It includes everything you need to start. The main difference between plans is payment processing rates and staff accounts - most solo resellers stay on Basic until they're turning over $10,000+/month.
Choose and customise a theme
Free themes like Dawn are clean and well-optimised. Paid themes from the Shopify Theme Store run $250-400 AUD and often convert better. Customise colours, fonts, and layout to reflect your brand. Don't overcomplicate it - simple stores often convert better than complex ones.
Set up Shopify Payments
Enable Shopify Payments for Australian sellers - it's included in all plans and gives you the best processing rates. You'll need your ABN if you have one, bank details, and ID. Using a third-party payment gateway instead adds a 0.5-2% surcharge on top of processing fees.
Add your products
Write unique product descriptions for SEO - don't copy supplier descriptions. Add clear photos from multiple angles. Use collections to group products logically (by category, brand, or size). Fill in all variant options (size, colour) accurately.
Configure shipping
Set up carrier-calculated rates using Australia Post, Aramex, or CouriersPlease via a Shopify shipping app. Or use flat-rate shipping zones. Be specific about processing times (e.g., 'ships within 2 business days') - vague shipping information reduces conversions.
Drive traffic
This is what most new Shopify sellers underestimate. Organic SEO takes months. Start with Instagram/TikTok for fashion, or Google Shopping for anything with clear search demand. Email list building from day one - it's your most reliable long-term traffic source.
Fees Breakdown
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction via Shopify Payments. Monthly plans from $39 USD ($59 AUD approx). No additional transaction fee when using Shopify Payments.
| Fee Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Seller Commission | No marketplace commission. You keep the margin, but you pay for the plan and payment processing. |
| Payment Processing | 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments, Basic plan). Lower rates on higher plans. |
| Listing Fee | Unlimited products included |
| Store / Subscription | Basic: ~$59 AUD/month; Shopify: ~$159 AUD/month; Advanced: ~$599 AUD/month |
What You Actually Receive (AUD)
| Sale Price | Platform Fee | Payment Fee | You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50.00 | $0.00 | $1.75 | $48.25Shopify Payments processing only (Basic plan) |
| $100.00 | $0.00 | $3.20 | $96.80Shopify Payments processing only (Basic plan) |
| $200.00 | $0.00 | $6.10 | $193.90Monthly plan cost (~$59/month) not reflected here |
| $500.00 | $0.00 | $14.80 | $485.20Monthly plan cost (~$59/month) not reflected here |
Additional 0.5–2% transaction fee if not using Shopify Payments. ~120,000–157,000 active Shopify stores in Australia.
Best Categories
Shopify works for any category where you're building a brand and repeat customers. Fashion resellers with a distinctive niche (e.g., vintage sportswear, 90s streetwear) benefit most. Sellers with a consistent aesthetic and product range who want to be discoverable via Google Search and Instagram should consider Shopify as a complement to marketplace channels.
Shipping in Australia
Integrates with Australia Post, Sendle (now closed), Aramex, CouriersPlease, and Shippit. Carrier-calculated shipping at checkout. Full control over packaging and postage rates.
- Shopify integrates with Australia Post's eParcel system via apps like Shippit or EasyShip. Carrier-calculated rates at checkout prevent you from under-charging.
- Offer a flat rate and free shipping threshold together - e.g., flat $9.95 postage, free for orders over $100. The free shipping threshold increases average order value.
- Australia Post's Parcel Post is the standard for most clothing and small items. Aramex is often cheaper for heavier items over 3kg.
- Print labels directly from your Shopify admin or connected shipping app. Batch label printing saves time significantly if you're dispatching more than 5 orders at once.
- Build your packaging into your brand. Custom poly mailers or tissue paper with a branded sticker costs very little but dramatically improves the unboxing experience and repeat purchase rate.
Tips for Australian Sellers
SEO is your most valuable long-term investment on Shopify. Write keyword-rich product titles and descriptions. Add alt text to images. Create collection pages that target category-level searches.
Email is underrated. Capture emails from day one with a 10% off first order popup. A list of 500 buyers who know your brand is worth more than 5,000 social media followers.
Start narrow. Selling 'all vintage clothing' is harder to market than 'vintage 90s band tees and music merch'. A clear niche converts better and builds stronger word of mouth.
Don't neglect the thank you page and post-purchase emails. A review request 7 days after delivery is easy to set up and generates social proof quickly.
Use Google Shopping. For products with clear search intent ('Nike Air Max 90 size 10 AU'), Google Shopping ads convert well and can be profitable from day one.
Cross-sell from your marketplace channels to your Shopify store. Include a card in every package with your store URL and a discount code for repeat buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Shopify cost in Australia?
The Basic plan is approximately $59 AUD/month (Shopify bills in USD at $39 USD/month - the AUD equivalent fluctuates with the exchange rate). The Shopify plan is around $159 AUD/month and the Advanced plan around $599 AUD/month. There are no per-transaction fees when using Shopify Payments. A 14-day free trial is available.
Do I need an ABN to use Shopify in Australia?
You don't need an ABN to create a Shopify store, but if you're generating regular income from selling, the ATO considers it a business activity. An ABN is required to register for GST (if your turnover exceeds $75,000/year), claim GST credits on business expenses, and operate professionally. Most serious resellers should register a sole trader ABN - it's free and takes 15 minutes.
How does Shopify compare to selling on eBay or Depop?
Shopify requires you to drive your own traffic - there's no built-in buyer marketplace. eBay and Depop bring ready buyers to your listings. The advantage of Shopify is no commission fees (just payment processing), full brand control, customer data ownership, and the ability to build repeat business. Most successful resellers use both - marketplace channels for discovery, Shopify for direct/repeat customers.
Can I use Shopify alongside eBay or Depop?
Yes, and most volume sellers do. Shopfront helps you manage inventory across Shopify and your marketplace channels simultaneously - when an item sells on eBay, it marks as sold on your Shopify store too. This prevents double-selling and makes cross-channel selling manageable.
What payment methods can Australian Shopify sellers offer?
Shopify Payments (built-in) accepts Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Apple/Google Pay. You can also add Afterpay, PayPal, and Zip (buy now pay later) as supplementary payment methods. BNPL options like Afterpay meaningfully increase average order value for clothing and fashion.
Reach More Buyers by Crosslisting
List once on Shopify and automatically crosslist to other platforms. When something sells, Shopfront marks it as sold everywhere to prevent double-selling.
Start Crosslisting Free