Getting Started with ShopIQ
How long does it take to get started?
Summary
Merchants can start using ShopIQ immediately after email OTP verification. Website creation can begin in minutes, and the time to launch depends on product readiness, catalog size, content quality, payment setup, logistics setup, custom domain configuration, and whether the merchant works independently or through an Implementation Partner.
Who this is for: This article is for merchants who want to understand the time required to create an account, build a website, add products, publish the store, and start receiving orders.
How long does it take to get started with ShopIQ?
Merchants can get started on ShopIQ within minutes. The signup process requires email OTP verification. Once the email is verified, the merchant can immediately start building an online store.
The total time required to launch depends on how prepared the merchant is and how complex the store needs to be.
What can be done immediately after signup?
After signup, a merchant can immediately access the ShopIQ dashboard, start creating a website, use AI Chat, use available AI credits, add business information, add products, create categories, upload images, edit content, create blogs, create coupons, and begin store setup.
New merchants receive 1,000 AI sign-up credits, which can be used for AI-powered tasks through Chat.
How quickly can ShopIQ create a draft website?
ShopIQ can help generate the foundation of an ecommerce website quickly using AI. The website is first created in a development environment with a temporary development URL such as:
https://project-id.dev.shopiq.app
This development website is used for building, testing, and making changes before publishing. Development servers may sleep after around 15 minutes of inactivity and wake again when the project is opened.
What affects launch time?
Launch time depends on several factors, including:
- Number of products
- Quality of product photos
- Availability of product prices
- Product descriptions and specifications
- Number of categories and collections
- Required website customizations
- Payment gateway verification
- Logistics integration setup
- Domain DNS configuration
- Compliance pages
- Merchant review and approval
- Partner implementation timeline, if applicable
Does payment gateway setup affect launch time?
Yes. ShopIQ account creation does not require GST, PAN, bank verification, or business registration. However, payment gateways are third-party services and may require their own verification before they can be activated.
Payment gateway verification may include KYC, business documents, bank account verification, GST, PAN, or other requirements depending on the provider. This process is controlled by the third-party payment gateway, not ShopIQ.
Can a merchant launch without a custom domain?
Yes. After publishing, the website receives a ShopIQ production URL such as https://project-id.shopiq.app. The merchant can use this URL while setting up a custom domain.
What is a realistic launch checklist?
Before publishing, merchants should ideally review:
- Business name and logo
- Homepage banners
- Product catalog
- Product prices
- Product images
- Categories and collections
- Product descriptions
- Payment gateway connection
- Logistics setup
- Shipping policy
- Refund policy
- Privacy policy
- Terms and conditions
- Contact details
- Domain settings, if applicable
- Test order flow
What happens after publishing?
After publishing, the website moves to ShopIQ production infrastructure and receives a production URL. Production websites remain online continuously and do not sleep due to inactivity. The merchant can continue updating products, content, blogs, banners, coupons, and other supported areas after publishing.
Important things to know
Getting started is fast, but launch readiness depends on merchant inputs and third-party verification timelines. ShopIQ can help create and manage many parts of the online store, but the merchant remains responsible for product accuracy, pricing, inventory, fulfillment, customer policies, taxes, and compliance.