If you’re living in Spain and want to start selling online with Shopify, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through every step I followed to set up my Shopify store legally and practically in Spain. I’ll break down the business setup, how I picked a niche, set up payments, complied with Spanish laws, and launched my store.
Whether you’re a Spanish resident or based elsewhere in the EU but selling into Spain, this will cover everything you need to know.
Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure in Spain
The first step was to decide how to legally run my Shopify store. Since I live in Spain, I had two options: register as a freelancer (autónomo) or create a limited company (Sociedad Limitada, or SL).
Here’s the breakdown of both:
| Option | Ideal For | Cost | Tax Obligations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autónomo | Solo entrepreneurs | Low | Income tax + IVA | Fast setup, lower admin |
| SL (Sociedad Limitada) | Growing business or teams | Higher | Corporate tax + IVA | Better for scaling |
I went with Autónomo because I was just getting started. It’s easier to manage and doesn’t require share capital like an SL.
How I Registered as an Autónomo:
- Got a DNI/NIE number if you’re not Spanish
- Registered with the Agencia Tributaria for tax obligations
- Signed up for Social Security (Seguridad Social) to pay monthly autónomo fees
- Chose epígrafes (activity codes) for ecommerce
- Applied for a VAT number (IVA) if needed
Tip: You don’t always need a Spanish business if you’re already registered in another EU country. Shopify lets you sell cross-border with the right VAT setup.
Step 2: Sign Up for Shopify and Choose a Plan
Once I had my business sorted, I went to shopify.com/es and signed up. Shopify now fully supports Spanish language, EUR currency, and even has localised payment gateways.
Shopify Plans I Compared:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Features | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | €24/month | Storefront, checkout, reports | Beginners |
| Grow | €69/month | Lower transaction fees | Growing stores |
| Advanced | €289/month | Advanced reporting | High-volume sellers |
I started with the Basic plan. You can always upgrade later.
Setting up my store was simple. I picked a theme, added products, and set up collections. Shopify themes are mobile-friendly, which is key in Spain, since over half of online purchases happen via mobile.
Step 3: Localise Your Store for the Spanish Market
Spanish customers expect certain things from an online store—language, currency, and trust signals.
Here’s what I did to localise my Shopify store:
Language
- I used the Translate & Adapt app (Shopify’s native tool) to translate everything to Spanish.
- Shopify also lets you edit all page content in Spanish directly.
Currency
- I set my store currency to EUR, the standard in Spain.
- I made sure all invoices and checkout totals reflected VAT properly.
Trust Elements
- I added a reseñas (reviews) widget
- Showed shipping times in Spanish
- Included badges like “Pago Seguro” and “Devoluciones Gratis” to build trust
⚠️ Note: Spanish shoppers are skeptical of unknown brands. Your store needs to feel local and trustworthy from the first click.
Step 4: Set Up Payments for Spain
Shopify Payments works in Spain, so I used it to accept all major credit and debit cards without needing to use Stripe or another third party.
Payment Methods I Enabled:
- Credit/Debit Cards (via Shopify Payments)
- PayPal
- Bizum (via MONEI, a Spanish payment gateway)
- Klarna – for split payments, which is increasingly popular in Spain
I noticed that younger shoppers prefer Bizum or PayPal, while older demographics still use cards.
Step 5: Handle Shipping and Fulfilment
Shipping in Spain is relatively straightforward, and Shopify integrates with several local carriers.
Carriers I Integrated:
| Carrier | Type | Integration Tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correos | National | Packlink PRO | Budget-friendly, slower |
| SEUR | Express | Outvio | Fast, reliable |
| MRW | Express | Manual/CSV | Used often by Spanish stores |
| DHL | International | Shopify Shipping | Great for EU-wide delivery |
I used Packlink PRO because it lets me compare carriers and automate shipping labels directly in Shopify.
If you’re doing dropshipping, I’d recommend:
- DSers (AliExpress integration)
- Spocket (EU-based suppliers for fast delivery in Spain)
Step 6: Configure Legal Pages and Comply with Spanish Laws
Spain is strict with ecommerce regulations, especially around consumer rights and data protection (GDPR).
Here’s what I had to set up to stay compliant:
Legal Requirements:
- ✅ Cookie Banner (I used GDPR Legal Cookie)
- ✅ Terms and Conditions
- ✅ Privacy Policy (in line with GDPR)
- ✅ Return Policy with 14-day cancellation window
- ✅ Invoice with VAT breakdown
Shopify makes it easy to add legal pages through its admin panel. I also consulted a Spanish legal template provider to make sure the language was correct.
Step 7: Add Products and Configure VAT
Once the store was ready, I started adding products. I focused on a niche: sustainable home decor, which is growing fast in Spain.
For each product, I made sure to:
- Include a Spanish title and description
- Upload high-quality images
- Add IVA to the price (Shopify lets you include VAT in pricing for EU stores)
Tip: Use HS codes for your products if you’re importing or dropshipping. It helps avoid customs issues.
Step 8: Launch Your Store and Market It in Spain
I set my store live after a few test orders. But launching is only half the game—the real challenge is getting traffic.
My Marketing Stack:
- Google Shopping Ads – Best for targeting product searches
- Instagram + TikTok Ads – Short videos perform well in Spain
- Influencer Campaigns – Partnered with Spanish micro-influencers for shoutouts
- WhatsApp Broadcasts – Set up using Shopify apps like Tobi or Recart
- SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) – Focused on Spanish keywords
I also listed my store on local directories and Facebook Marketplace Spain to gain early traction.
Step 9: Track Your Metrics and Improve
After launching, I checked key metrics weekly:
| Metric | Why It Matters | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion Rate | Are people buying? | Shopify Analytics |
| Bounce Rate | Are visitors leaving too fast? | Google Analytics |
| Sales by Region | Targeted offers | Shopify Reports |
| Abandoned Carts | Recover lost sales | Shopify + Email App |
I used Klaviyo to send abandoned cart emails and Lucky Orange to watch visitor behaviour.
Bonus: My Lessons Learned
Here are a few key takeaways I’ve learned from running a Shopify store in Spain:
- Spanish consumers want fast shipping, easy returns, and localised experiences.
- Having your site fully in Spanish—front to back—boosts trust and conversion.
- Bizum is growing fast. Add it early if you’re targeting locals.
- Avoid long delivery times. EU-based fulfilment is a game changer.
- Influencers are cheaper in Spain than in the US and convert well with local audiences.
Ready to Start Your Shopify Store in Spain?
If you follow the steps above, you’ll be up and running in no time.
Starting a Shopify store in Spain isn’t hard—but it does take the right setup. From getting your legal structure sorted to offering local payment methods, these small details make all the difference.
Make sure your store looks and feels Spanish. That means language, currency, delivery times, and payment options. That’s what builds trust.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—just localise it properly.
