Selling Internationally with Shopify: Step-by-Step Setup
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Selling Internationally with Shopify: Step-by-Step Setup
If you’re running a Shopify store and not selling internationally, you’re leaving serious money on the table.
With over 2.14 billion global digital buyers, expanding beyond your local market is a powerful way to grow your brand. The good news? Shopify makes international selling easier than ever—if you set it up the right way.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to set up your Shopify store to sell globally—from currencies and languages to domains and taxes.
🌍 Why Sell Internationally with Shopify?
Shopify gives you the tools to:
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Accept multiple currencies
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Offer region-specific pricing
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Translate your store into multiple languages
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Use custom domains per country
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Handle taxes and duties with ease
All of this adds up to a localized shopping experience that builds trust and boosts conversion rates worldwide.
🛠 Step-by-Step: How to Sell Internationally on Shopify
✅ Step 1: Enable International Markets
Go to:
Shopify Admin → Settings → Markets
Use Shopify Markets to:
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Define regions you want to sell in (e.g., Europe, US, Asia)
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Set local currencies, domains, and languages
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Customize shipping, pricing, and duties per region
Shopify Markets is your control center for global selling.
🌐 Step 2: Use a Multi-Currency Setup
To accept payments in local currency:
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Use Shopify Payments (supports over 130 currencies)
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Enable “Local Currency” per market
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Let customers shop and pay in their native currency
This reduces cart abandonment and builds trust with international customers.
🏳️ Step 3: Add Multiple Languages
Go to:
Settings → Languages
You can:
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Translate your entire store (manually or via apps like Translate & Adapt)
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Auto-detect visitor location and language
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Show different languages on subfolders (e.g.,
/fr,/de)
Offering localized content improves both SEO and user experience.
🌐 Step 4: Set Up Country-Specific Domains or Subfolders
Options include:
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Subfolders (e.g.,
yourstore.com/uk) -
Subdomains (e.g.,
uk.yourstore.com) -
Custom domains (e.g.,
yourstore.co.uk)
Use Shopify Markets’ domain mapping to automatically direct users to the right experience based on IP or browser language.
This also improves your global SEO rankings.
💸 Step 5: Set International Pricing & Duties
Shopify lets you:
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Adjust product prices by country
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Add pricing rules (e.g., markups for overseas markets)
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Include or exclude taxes/duties during checkout
You can also integrate with Shopify Markets Pro or third-party tax apps to automate this process.
🚚 Step 6: Define International Shipping Rates
Set country-specific rates:
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Use Shopify Shipping or third-party apps
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Offer flat rate, real-time carrier rates, or free shipping
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Clearly communicate delivery times and policies
Transparent shipping options = fewer cart abandonments.
📦 Step 7: Handle International Returns
Make your return policy crystal clear:
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Specify who pays for return shipping
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Use localized return centers if possible
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Automate return workflows using apps like Returnly or Loop
🔒 Step 8: Make Sure You’re Compliant
Depending on where you sell, you may need to:
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Register for VAT or GST
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Display prices inclusive of tax
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Handle GDPR or country-specific data laws
Consider using Shopify Markets Pro or consult a tax advisor for compliance.
🧩 Recommended Apps for International Selling
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Shopify Translate & Adapt – For multi-language support
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Geolocation – Auto-redirect users to the correct market
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Matrixify – Bulk product updates for different markets
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Avalara – Global tax compliance
🚀 Ready to Go Global?
Selling internationally with Shopify is no longer a complex developer project—it’s a smart strategic move you can start today.
But getting the setup right (without breaking SEO, UX, or your checkout flow) takes experience.
At RootSyntax, we help Shopify stores:
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Launch international versions
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Localize content and pricing
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Automate currency and tax workflows
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Scale global operations smoothly
✅ Want to take your Shopify store global the right way?
👉 Contact RootSyntax for international Shopify setup and localization support.