MODULE 6: E-COMMERCE & SHOP
Welcome to Module 6! It is time to turn your beautiful website into a revenue-generating machine. Whether you are selling digital downloads, booking professional services, or shipping physical items, Squarespace has a robust, built-in e-commerce platform.
Just like the Blog, your Store is managed as a "Collection." Here is how to build your digital storefront and get ready for your first sale.
Step 1: Adding a Store Page
Go to your main Squarespace dashboard and click on Website (or Pages).
In the Main Navigation or Not Linked section, click the "+" (Plus Icon).
Select Store from the menu.
Squarespace will give you a few layout options. Pick one that fits your brand (you can always change the design later!), and name the page something clear, like "Shop" or "Templates."
Step 2: Choosing Your Product Type
When you open your new Store page, you will see a dashboard on the left side, very similar to the Blog dashboard.
Click the "+" icon in the top right of that menu to add a new product.
Squarespace will ask you what kind of product you are selling. This is an important choice!
Physical: For items you actually pack and ship in a box.
Digital Download: Perfect for templates, PDFs, or presets. When a customer buys this, Squarespace automatically emails them a secure download link that expires after 24 hours.
Service: Best for consultations, design packages, or custom work. It doesn't require shipping or a digital download file.
Step 3: Filling Out the Product Details
Once you select your product type, the product editor will open. This is where you make your item look irresistible!
Title & Description: Give it a clear name and use the description box to write out all the benefits.
Images: Upload high-quality mockups or photos of your product. You can upload multiple images to create a mini-gallery for the item.
Pricing & Inventory: Set your price. If it is a digital download or a service, you can toggle the inventory to "Unlimited."
Upload File (For Digital Products): If you selected Digital Download, you will see a section to upload your actual ZIP file or PDF.
Step 4: Getting Paid (Native vs. External Checkouts)
To actually launch your store, you need a way to process credit cards.
Go back to your main Squarespace dashboard and click on Commerce, then select Payments.
The Native Route: Here, you can connect directly to Stripe, PayPal, or Square. This allows customers to use the native Squarespace shopping cart.
The External Route: If you are an international seller navigating global payment restrictions, you do not have to use the native checkout! You can simply design a beautiful sales page using normal sections, and link your "Buy Now" buttons directly to a third-party global invoicing service (like EasyStaff) or an external checkout platform.
π‘ DESIGNER SECRETS FOR E-COMMERCE:
The "Custom Button" Trick: If you don't want to use the native Squarespace cart, you can still use the beautiful Store grid! In the Product settings, scroll down to Checkout, toggle on "Custom Button," and you can paste your external EasyStaff or third-party payment link right there.
Optimize Your URLs: Just like blog posts, check the URL of your product before hitting publish. Change it from a random string of letters to a clean, SEO-friendly link (e.g., /shop/website-template).
The Subscription Plan Requirement: To actually process payments through the native Squarespace checkout, your website must be on the Business Plan or higher. If you are on the basic Personal plan, you will need to upgrade before the checkout goes live!
Products loaded and priced? Amazing! Hit SAVE.
Now that your products are ready, let's make sure your store looks incredibly high-end. In the next lesson, we will cover Lesson 26: Styling the Shop Layout!
Just like the Blog, your Store is managed as a "Collection." Here is how to build your digital storefront and get ready for your first sale.
Step 1: Adding a Store Page
Go to your main Squarespace dashboard and click on Website (or Pages).
In the Main Navigation or Not Linked section, click the "+" (Plus Icon).
Select Store from the menu.
Squarespace will give you a few layout options. Pick one that fits your brand (you can always change the design later!), and name the page something clear, like "Shop" or "Templates."
Step 2: Choosing Your Product Type
When you open your new Store page, you will see a dashboard on the left side, very similar to the Blog dashboard.
Click the "+" icon in the top right of that menu to add a new product.
Squarespace will ask you what kind of product you are selling. This is an important choice!
Physical: For items you actually pack and ship in a box.
Digital Download: Perfect for templates, PDFs, or presets. When a customer buys this, Squarespace automatically emails them a secure download link that expires after 24 hours.
Service: Best for consultations, design packages, or custom work. It doesn't require shipping or a digital download file.
Step 3: Filling Out the Product Details
Once you select your product type, the product editor will open. This is where you make your item look irresistible!
Title & Description: Give it a clear name and use the description box to write out all the benefits.
Images: Upload high-quality mockups or photos of your product. You can upload multiple images to create a mini-gallery for the item.
Pricing & Inventory: Set your price. If it is a digital download or a service, you can toggle the inventory to "Unlimited."
Upload File (For Digital Products): If you selected Digital Download, you will see a section to upload your actual ZIP file or PDF.
Step 4: Getting Paid (Native vs. External Checkouts)
To actually launch your store, you need a way to process credit cards.
Go back to your main Squarespace dashboard and click on Commerce, then select Payments.
The Native Route: Here, you can connect directly to Stripe, PayPal, or Square. This allows customers to use the native Squarespace shopping cart.
The External Route: If you are an international seller navigating global payment restrictions, you do not have to use the native checkout! You can simply design a beautiful sales page using normal sections, and link your "Buy Now" buttons directly to a third-party global invoicing service (like EasyStaff) or an external checkout platform.
π‘ DESIGNER SECRETS FOR E-COMMERCE:
The "Custom Button" Trick: If you don't want to use the native Squarespace cart, you can still use the beautiful Store grid! In the Product settings, scroll down to Checkout, toggle on "Custom Button," and you can paste your external EasyStaff or third-party payment link right there.
Optimize Your URLs: Just like blog posts, check the URL of your product before hitting publish. Change it from a random string of letters to a clean, SEO-friendly link (e.g., /shop/website-template).
The Subscription Plan Requirement: To actually process payments through the native Squarespace checkout, your website must be on the Business Plan or higher. If you are on the basic Personal plan, you will need to upgrade before the checkout goes live!
Products loaded and priced? Amazing! Hit SAVE.
Now that your products are ready, let's make sure your store looks incredibly high-end. In the next lesson, we will cover Lesson 26: Styling the Shop Layout!
25. Setting Up Your Store
Now that your store page is set up, it is time to stock the shelves!
While adding a title and an image is the same for every product, Squarespace handles the delivery of physical boxes and digital files very differently behind the scenes. Here is exactly what you need to know to set up your specific type of product correctly.
Step 1: Setting Up a Digital Download
If you are selling a website template, an eBook, a preset, or a workbook, you will select Digital Download when creating your new product.
Here are the specific settings you must fill out:
The File Upload: Scroll down to the Content section of the product editor. Here, you will see a box to upload your digital file. This is the file the customer will receive after purchasing. (Note: Squarespace limits file sizes to 300MB).
Inventory is Automatic: You do not need to set a stock quantity. Squarespace automatically sets digital products to "Unlimited."
How it is Delivered: When a customer buys a digital product, Squarespace automatically generates a unique, secure email with a download link.
Step 2: Setting Up a Physical Product
If you are selling something that requires a shipping box, a label, and a trip to the post office, select Physical when creating your product.
Physical products require a few extra steps to ensure you don't accidentally sell out or undercharge for shipping:
Inventory & SKUs: You must tell Squarespace exactly how many items you have. Scroll to the Inventory tab and type in your exact stock number. As people buy the item, this number will automatically decrease until it says "Sold Out."
Adding Variants: Do you sell a t-shirt that comes in Small, Medium, and Large? Or in Blue and Red? Under the Inventory section, click Add Variants to list all your different sizes and colors. You can even set different prices or inventory numbers for each specific variant!
Weights & Dimensions: If you plan to use Advanced Shipping (where the shipping cost is calculated automatically at checkout based on the package size), you must scroll down to the Fulfillment tab and enter the exact weight and dimensions of the product.
Step 3: What about "Services"?
There is a third option: Service. Use this if you are selling a 1-on-1 consultation, a custom design package, or a spot in a workshop. Service products behave like a mix of both: you can set limited inventory (like 5 available spots), but Squarespace will not ask the customer for a shipping address at checkout!
π‘ DESIGNER SECRETS FOR PRODUCTS:
The 24-Hour Digital Link Limit: By default, the download link Squarespace emails to your digital product buyers expires after 24 hours for security reasons. If they click it on day two, they will get an error.
The "PDF Workaround" (Highly Recommended): To prevent angry emails from customers whose links expired, do not upload your actual heavy files (like a massive ZIP folder) directly to Squarespace! Instead, upload a simple, 1-page PDF Welcome Document. Inside that PDF, place a permanent, clickable link to a private Google Drive or Dropbox folder where the customer can download the real files at their own pace.
Use Video for Digital Products: People love to see what they are buying! If you are selling a digital template or a course, use the product image gallery to upload a short, silent screen-recording or GIF showing the template in action. It dramatically increases trus
While adding a title and an image is the same for every product, Squarespace handles the delivery of physical boxes and digital files very differently behind the scenes. Here is exactly what you need to know to set up your specific type of product correctly.
Step 1: Setting Up a Digital Download
If you are selling a website template, an eBook, a preset, or a workbook, you will select Digital Download when creating your new product.
Here are the specific settings you must fill out:
The File Upload: Scroll down to the Content section of the product editor. Here, you will see a box to upload your digital file. This is the file the customer will receive after purchasing. (Note: Squarespace limits file sizes to 300MB).
Inventory is Automatic: You do not need to set a stock quantity. Squarespace automatically sets digital products to "Unlimited."
How it is Delivered: When a customer buys a digital product, Squarespace automatically generates a unique, secure email with a download link.
Step 2: Setting Up a Physical Product
If you are selling something that requires a shipping box, a label, and a trip to the post office, select Physical when creating your product.
Physical products require a few extra steps to ensure you don't accidentally sell out or undercharge for shipping:
Inventory & SKUs: You must tell Squarespace exactly how many items you have. Scroll to the Inventory tab and type in your exact stock number. As people buy the item, this number will automatically decrease until it says "Sold Out."
Adding Variants: Do you sell a t-shirt that comes in Small, Medium, and Large? Or in Blue and Red? Under the Inventory section, click Add Variants to list all your different sizes and colors. You can even set different prices or inventory numbers for each specific variant!
Weights & Dimensions: If you plan to use Advanced Shipping (where the shipping cost is calculated automatically at checkout based on the package size), you must scroll down to the Fulfillment tab and enter the exact weight and dimensions of the product.
Step 3: What about "Services"?
There is a third option: Service. Use this if you are selling a 1-on-1 consultation, a custom design package, or a spot in a workshop. Service products behave like a mix of both: you can set limited inventory (like 5 available spots), but Squarespace will not ask the customer for a shipping address at checkout!
π‘ DESIGNER SECRETS FOR PRODUCTS:
The 24-Hour Digital Link Limit: By default, the download link Squarespace emails to your digital product buyers expires after 24 hours for security reasons. If they click it on day two, they will get an error.
The "PDF Workaround" (Highly Recommended): To prevent angry emails from customers whose links expired, do not upload your actual heavy files (like a massive ZIP folder) directly to Squarespace! Instead, upload a simple, 1-page PDF Welcome Document. Inside that PDF, place a permanent, clickable link to a private Google Drive or Dropbox folder where the customer can download the real files at their own pace.
Use Video for Digital Products: People love to see what they are buying! If you are selling a digital template or a course, use the product image gallery to upload a short, silent screen-recording or GIF showing the template in action. It dramatically increases trus
26. Adding Physical vs. Digital Products
You have your products, your pricing is set, and your shop is looking beautiful. Now, it is time for the most important step: giving your customers a secure way to hand you their money!
Squarespace does not process credit cards directly. Instead, it securely connects to industry-leading payment processors. You also have the flexibility to bypass the native checkout entirely if you use external invoicing.
Here is how to get your payment systems online.
Step 1: Accessing the Payments Menu
Go to your main Squarespace dashboard.
Click on Commerce (or Selling, depending on your menu layout).
Select Payments.
Step 2: The Native Options (Stripe, PayPal & Square)
If you want customers to add items to their cart and checkout seamlessly without ever leaving your website, you will need to connect one (or both) of the native options:
Stripe: This is the absolute gold standard for online business. Connecting Stripe allows your website to securely accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay.
PayPal: Connecting a PayPal Business account gives your customers the option to pay via their PayPal balance or Venmo. (Many stores connect both Stripe and PayPal to give customers maximum choice!).
Square: This is primarily used for Point of Sale (POS). If you have a physical store and use a Square reader to swipe cards in person, you can sync your inventory here.
Step 3: Making the Connection
In the Payments menu, click Connect next to Stripe or PayPal.
A pop-up window will appear. If you already have an account with them, simply log in. If you don't, you can create a free account right there in the window.
Once connected, the money your customers pay will bypass Squarespace entirely and land directly in your Stripe or PayPal dashboard!
Step 4: The External Checkout Method (For Global Sellers)
What if you are navigating international payment restrictions, operating outside of Stripe's supported countries, or simply prefer to use a third-party global invoicing service?
You do not have to use Squarespace's native checkout!
Instead of adding products to a Squarespace "Store" page, you can build a beautiful, standard page using normal Fluid Engine sections.
Add a standard "Buy Now" button, and simply paste the URL link to your external checkout provider (like EasyStaff, Thrivecart, or Stripe Payment Links). When the customer clicks the button, they are safely redirected to your preferred global payment gateway!
π‘ DESIGNER SECRETS FOR PAYMENTS:
Check Your Currency: Before you launch, make sure your store is charging in the right currency. Go to Commerce > Store Payments > Store Currency. If you are targeting the American market, ensure this is set to USD ($), as this is the universally recognized standard for most digital global sales.
Beware of Transaction Fees: If your website is on the Squarespace Business Plan, Squarespace takes a 3% transaction fee on every sale (on top of the standard credit card fees). If you are processing a high volume of sales, it is mathematically smarter to upgrade to the Commerce Plan, which drops the Squarespace transaction fee to 0%!
Run a Test Transaction: Never launch a store without testing it first! Turn on "Test Mode" in your payment settings, or simply temporarily lower a product price to $1.00, buy it yourself with your own credit card, and make sure the money arrives in your account and the download email sends correctly.
Processors connected? Fantastic. Make sure to hit SAVE!
Now that the technical setup is done, let's talk about how to get your website found on Google. We are moving into the final stretch: Module 7: SEO & Launching. Let's start with Lesson 28: Basic SEO Settings!
Squarespace does not process credit cards directly. Instead, it securely connects to industry-leading payment processors. You also have the flexibility to bypass the native checkout entirely if you use external invoicing.
Here is how to get your payment systems online.
Step 1: Accessing the Payments Menu
Go to your main Squarespace dashboard.
Click on Commerce (or Selling, depending on your menu layout).
Select Payments.
Step 2: The Native Options (Stripe, PayPal & Square)
If you want customers to add items to their cart and checkout seamlessly without ever leaving your website, you will need to connect one (or both) of the native options:
Stripe: This is the absolute gold standard for online business. Connecting Stripe allows your website to securely accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay.
PayPal: Connecting a PayPal Business account gives your customers the option to pay via their PayPal balance or Venmo. (Many stores connect both Stripe and PayPal to give customers maximum choice!).
Square: This is primarily used for Point of Sale (POS). If you have a physical store and use a Square reader to swipe cards in person, you can sync your inventory here.
Step 3: Making the Connection
In the Payments menu, click Connect next to Stripe or PayPal.
A pop-up window will appear. If you already have an account with them, simply log in. If you don't, you can create a free account right there in the window.
Once connected, the money your customers pay will bypass Squarespace entirely and land directly in your Stripe or PayPal dashboard!
Step 4: The External Checkout Method (For Global Sellers)
What if you are navigating international payment restrictions, operating outside of Stripe's supported countries, or simply prefer to use a third-party global invoicing service?
You do not have to use Squarespace's native checkout!
Instead of adding products to a Squarespace "Store" page, you can build a beautiful, standard page using normal Fluid Engine sections.
Add a standard "Buy Now" button, and simply paste the URL link to your external checkout provider (like EasyStaff, Thrivecart, or Stripe Payment Links). When the customer clicks the button, they are safely redirected to your preferred global payment gateway!
π‘ DESIGNER SECRETS FOR PAYMENTS:
Check Your Currency: Before you launch, make sure your store is charging in the right currency. Go to Commerce > Store Payments > Store Currency. If you are targeting the American market, ensure this is set to USD ($), as this is the universally recognized standard for most digital global sales.
Beware of Transaction Fees: If your website is on the Squarespace Business Plan, Squarespace takes a 3% transaction fee on every sale (on top of the standard credit card fees). If you are processing a high volume of sales, it is mathematically smarter to upgrade to the Commerce Plan, which drops the Squarespace transaction fee to 0%!
Run a Test Transaction: Never launch a store without testing it first! Turn on "Test Mode" in your payment settings, or simply temporarily lower a product price to $1.00, buy it yourself with your own credit card, and make sure the money arrives in your account and the download email sends correctly.
Processors connected? Fantastic. Make sure to hit SAVE!
Now that the technical setup is done, let's talk about how to get your website found on Google. We are moving into the final stretch: Module 7: SEO & Launching. Let's start with Lesson 28: Basic SEO Settings!
27. Connecting Payment Processors
