SHOP PAGE: LESSON THREE

Jul 21

setting up your shop backend

Designing your shop page is just one part of getting ready to sell — now it’s time to make sure all your backend settings are in place. This ensures that when readers go to purchase your books, the entire process is smooth, secure, and ready to go.

We’ll cover everything you need to check off:

Payment processors
Shipping options
Taxes
Checkout settings

By the end of this lesson, your store will be fully functional and ready to start making sales!

STEP 1: Set Up Your Payment Processors

Squarespace lets you connect Stripe, PayPal, and Square (for physical point of sale if needed).

Navigate to Commerce > Payments in your Squarespace dashboard.
Choose your payment method(s) — I recommend at least Stripe or PayPal to give customers options.
Follow the prompts to connect your accounts.

  
    Tip: If you don’t already have a Stripe or PayPal account, you’ll be prompted to create one during setup.

STEP 2: Configure Shipping Options

If you’re selling physical products like signed paperbacks or merch, you’ll need to set up your shipping options.

Go to Commerce > Shipping.
Add a shipping option:
- Flat Rate Shipping: One consistent price per order.
- Weight-Based Shipping: If you have varying product weights.
- Carrier-Calculated: Pulls live rates from carriers like USPS or FedEx (Stripe required).
Define shipping regions, rates, and any special handling fees.

  
    Tip: If you’re only selling digital downloads (maybe you write taboo or are charging for novellas and other short stories...) you can skip the shipping setup entirely!

STEP 3: Set Up Taxes (If Applicable)

Depending on where you live, you may be required to charge sales tax.

Head to Commerce > Taxes.
Add the regions where you’re required to collect tax.
Squarespace offers automatic tax calculation through TaxJar (available in select countries) or you can set manual rates.

If you’re not sure if you need to collect taxes, consult your accountant or local tax regulations.

STEP 4: Customize Your Checkout Settings

Go to Commerce > Checkout.
Add custom fields if you need extra information from buyers (like personalization requests or shipping instructions).
You can also:
- Add a custom thank you message.
- Enable Express Checkout options for faster purchasing.

ACTION STEPS

Connect at least one payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, or both).
Set up shipping if selling physical products.
Configure tax settings if required.
Customize your checkout experience.

A Quick Note

Squarespace frequently updates its features and interface, so things may look slightly different than discussed here. For the most up-to-date instructions, you can always visit the official Squarespace Commerce Help Page.

What’s Next?

Once your backend is set up, you’re ready for Lesson 4 of the Shop Page Module, WHERE WE’LL DISCUSS PREVIEWING, PUBLISHING, AND MAINTAINING YOUR SHOP!