Skip to main content
Spree Commerce gives you a powerful, flexible platform to build and manage your online store - but before you can start selling, there are a few key steps to complete.  This guide walks you through the essential setup tasks, from configuring payments and taxes to adding products and launching your storefront. Whether you’re launching an MVP or just exploring Spree’s capabilities, this guide will help you get up and running quickly.

​
Getting Started

When you log into a fresh Spree Commerce instance, you’ll land on the Getting Started tab - a quick-launch checklist that helps you configure the essentials and go live faster. You’ll see four key onboarding tasks:
  • Setup payments
  • Add products
  • Set customer support email
  • Setup taxes collection
Once all tasks are completed, the checklist will disappear from view. Let’s walk through each step below.

​
Setup Payment Method

To sell anything, you’ll need to configure at least one payment method. Click Setup Payment Method to jump to Settings → Payments. At the top, you’ll see your currently enabled methods (e.g., Store Credits, added by default).  Below that is a list of available payment methods you can add, such as Stripe, Adyen or PayPal.
Only payment methods that have been installed will appear in the Available Payment Methods list. If a method you’re expecting isn’t listed, ask your developer to confirm it has been added to the codebase.
To add a method:
  1. Click Add next to your chosen method
  2. Follow the setup instructions in the form
  3. Click Create to enable it
Most payment gateways require you to have an account with the provider before setup.
To learn more about available methods and configuration, see Payments.

​
Add Products

There are three ways to populate your store’s catalog: Click the Add Products button to start adding manually, or refer to the relevant articles based on your method. Once you’ve added some products, make sure to set them as Active to publish them on the storefront. For more detailed guides on creating and managing products, see:

​
Add Customer Support Email

This small but critical step ensures customers know how to reach you. Simply enter your customer support email in the field provided, and click Save. This address will appear on your storefront and works as a contact for your customers in case they have any queries or require support.

​
Setup Taxes Collection

To charge the correct taxes at checkout, click Setup Tax Rates to be taken to Settings → Tax. From here, you can configure:
  • Tax rates (manual or through third-party services like Avalara)
  • Tax categories
For full instructions, please refer to our Tax support article.

​
Shipping Methods

Customers won’t be able to complete orders without at least one shipping method configured. To configure a shipping methods, go to Settings → Shipping and click New Shipping Method to define:
  • Shipping zones
  • Cost calculator settings
  • Estimated delivery times
  • Shipping and Tax categories
  • Tracking links
See Shipping Methods for a full breakdown of settings and examples.
By default, all Spree stores have a Digital Delivery method pre-configured. If you plan on selling digital products, be sure to assign those products the Digital shipping category.

​
Next Steps

Once you’ve completed the basic setup, you’re ready to explore more advanced features and tailor your store to your business model. Here’s some recommended reading: