Shopify Store Setup Checklist for Singapore

Short answer: set the store currency to SGD and the address format to Singapore, decide whether prices include GST before loading products, turn on Shopify Payments for cards and wallets, add PayNow through a gateway app, build shipping zones for Singapore delivery and self-collection, then pick a theme or a custom storefront. Check every app's monthly fee before installing it. The list at the end covers all of it.

Shopify prices and settings below were read from Shopify's Singapore pricing page and help centre on 18 October 2026.

Which store settings are specific to Singapore?

Set these before the first product, because changing them later touches every record.

• Store currency. SGD, under Settings, then General. Changing it after orders exist does not convert past orders.
• Store address and time zone. The registered business address, with the six-digit postal code and the unit number in the #05-01 form. Time zone Asia/Singapore, so order timestamps and reports match the day.
• Legal business name. The ACRA-registered name, which also appears on invoices and in Shopify Payments verification.
• GST display. Shopify's tax-inclusive setting is called "Include sales tax in product price and shipping rate", under Settings, then Taxes and duties. With it on, a product priced at S$109 displays S$109 and the tax is backed out at checkout. With it off, tax is added on top. Decide once. Only a GST-registered business charges GST; IRAS's threshold/gst-registration-deregistration/do-i-need-to-register-for-gst) is taxable turnover above S$1 million.
• Tax rate. If GST-registered, set the Singapore rate under the same screen and show the GST number on invoices.
• Checkout fields. Address line 2 required for unit numbers, phone number required for courier contact.
• Policies. Shopify generates templates for refund, privacy, shipping and terms pages. Replace them with your own text; the templates are not written for Singapore law.

Which payment methods can the store take?

Shopify Payments is the built-in processor. Its Singapore payment methods page lists:

• Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay.
• Accelerated checkouts: Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay, activated automatically.
• Local method: GrabPay, in early access, SGD only.

Rates from Shopify's Singapore pricing page:

The trial is 3 days free, then S$1 a month for 3 months.

Two methods Singapore buyers expect are not on Shopify Payments' list:

• PayNow. Add a gateway app. HitPay's pricing is 0.65% + S$0.30 on PayNow orders of S$100 and above and 0.9% below S$100. Stripe's Singapore rate is 1.3%. On the Basic plan, Shopify adds a 2% third-party transaction fee to orders paid through another gateway, so a S$80 PayNow order through HitPay costs about S$0.72 to HitPay plus S$1.60 to Shopify.
• Buy now, pay later. Atome is offered through gateways; HitPay lists it at 5.5%. Add it when the average order is high enough to carry the fee.

Keep Shopify Payments for cards and wallets, and run PayNow through one gateway app. Two gateways for the same method confuse the checkout.

How should shipping zones be set up?

Singapore is one zone with a few delivery types. Set them under Settings, then Shipping and delivery.

• Domestic zone. A flat rate, for example S$4 under S$80 and free above. Weight-based rates only if products vary a lot in weight.
• Self-collection. Local pickup with the address and collection hours. Costs nothing and converts well for buyers near the shop.
• Same-day or next-day. A separate rate with a cut-off time stated in the rate name, such as "Next day, order by 2pm".
• International zones. Add only the countries you will ship to, with a rate per zone. Leave the rest off so checkout rejects them.
• Couriers. Ninja Van, J&T Express, Qxpress and SingPost connect through their own apps or an aggregator. Easyship's Shopify app is free for 50 shipments a month, US$29 a month for 500 and US$69 for 2,500.
• Fulfilment location. The warehouse or shop address, so inventory and courier pickups use the same place.
• Packaging weights. Enter real package weights or courier quotes will be wrong.

Test a S$10 order and a S$200 order to each zone before launch.

Theme or custom storefront?

Both run on the same Shopify back end. The difference is the storefront code and what it does for search.

Start on a free or paid theme when the range is small and launch speed matters. Move to a custom theme when the brand needs its own design or the store depends on search traffic. cense's Shopify website design page describes a custom build, and the Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison covers when Shopify is the right platform at all.

Which apps cost money every month?

Apps are the second bill after the plan. Published prices on 18 October 2026:

• Reviews. Judge.me's app listing has a free plan and an Awesome plan at US$15 a month.
• Email. Shopify Email gives 10,000 emails a month free on every plan, then US$1 per 1,000, per Shopify's pricing page. Klaviyo's free tier covers 250 active profiles and 500 emails a month.
• Shipping. Easyship free to 50 shipments, then US$29 a month.
• PayNow and BNPL gateway. HitPay charges per transaction, no monthly fee.
• Pop-ups, upsells, bundles, loyalty, chat. Each is typically US$10 to US$50 a month. Five of them add US$50 to US$250 a month to a S$39 plan.

Rules for apps:

• Install an app only for a feature the store needs this month.
• Check the plan limits, not just "free". Most free tiers stop at a number of orders, contacts or shipments.
• Remove the app's code when you uninstall it. Leftover scripts slow the storefront.
• Review the app bill every quarter against orders.

Setup checklist

• Currency SGD, time zone Asia/Singapore, ACRA-registered name and address.
• GST decision made; tax-inclusive setting on or off before products are loaded.
• GST number on invoices if registered.
• Shopify Payments activated and verified in the business name.
• Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay confirmed on.
• PayNow added through one gateway app; third-party fee understood.
• BNPL added only if the average order carries the fee.
• Domestic flat rate, free-delivery threshold and self-collection set.
• Same-day or next-day rate with cut-off time in the name.
• International zones limited to countries you ship to.
• Courier app connected; package weights entered.
• Theme chosen or custom theme briefed; unused sections removed.
• Product pages with unique titles, descriptions and Product schema.
• Refund, shipping, privacy and terms pages rewritten for Singapore.
• Address line 2 and phone number required at checkout.
• Test orders: PayNow, card, Apple Pay, failed payment, refund, each shipping rate.
• GA4 and Search Console connected; sitemap submitted.
• Every installed app listed with its monthly fee and its limit.
• Store owner account, domain and payment account in the business's name.

What cense does

cense builds Shopify stores in Singapore with a custom theme, Shopify Payments or Stripe with PayNow, product pages built for search and AI shopping answers, and migration from WooCommerce or Wix with redirects. The store, the theme code and the data stay in the client's name. See Shopify website design.