Tired of wasting weeks—if not months—setting up a Shopify store?
The endless hours spent picking the right theme, curating products, and battling technical glitches can be a huge drain to you.
What if you could skip all that and jump straight into making sales?
Buying a prebuilt Shopify store makes this possible—and it's a shortcut that smart entrepreneurs are already using to fast-track their success.
But here's the catch:
Not all prebuilt stores are created equal.
One wrong move, and you could end up with a store that's more headache than high-profit.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what to look for, the pros and cons, and how to avoid the common pitfalls.
Let’s dive in!
Why Buy a Prebuilt Shopify Store?
Quick Answer: Buying a prebuilt Shopify store can be a quick and efficient way to jumpstart your e-commerce business. However, it's important to evaluate factors like store quality, niche, and growth potential. Whether you're seeking a store for dropshipping or other business models, understanding what makes the "best prebuilt Shopify stores" will help you make an informed decision.
Buying a prebuilt Shopify store offers you several advantages, including saving time on store setup, design, and initial product selection.
The BEST part about these stores is that they're typically ready to launch, with preconfigured themes and sometimes even products already added.
But while this option can be appealing, you need to carefully assess the quality and legitimacy of a pre-built store before acquiring it.
That being said, here are the key benefits of buying a prebuilt Shopify store:
Launch instantly: A prebuilt Shopify store comes fully designed and ready to go, allowing you to skip the setup and start selling right away.
Proven framework: You’ll also benefit from an optimized, ready-made structure, including seamless checkout and a mobile-friendly design that’s built to convert.
Enjoy instant traffic potential: Many prebuilt stores come with SEO-friendly features or even existing traffic, so you can start generating sales almost immediately.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Premade Shopify Store
Before purchasing a prebuilt Shopify store, we strongly advise you to conduct due diligence.
This will help ensure you make an informed investment and ensure you invest in a store that fits your specific business goals.
Here are some key factors to help you choose wisely:
1. Check the store niche
When buying a prebuilt Shopify store, the first thing you need to do is assess the niche it serves.
Is it on an upward trajectory? Does it have a proven customer base?
A niche store can be advantageous if it caters to a specific, profitable audience.
Using tools like Google Trends and SEMrush can help you conduct market trend research and gain helpful insight into the demand for the store’s products.
2. Store design/quality
As we mentioned earlier, NOT all prebuilt Shopify stores are created equal. Ideally, you want to ensure you end up with a high-quality store.
The ideal store should have most (if not all) of these key features:
Professional design: A polished, well-designed store builds trust and enhances customer experience, increasing conversion rates.
Fast loading times: Quick-loading pages reduce bounce rates, improve SEO rankings, and keep customers engaged longer.
Mobile-friendly: A store that’s fully optimized for mobile devices is crucial for customer retention.
SEO-optimized: Check whether the store uses best practices for SEO, such as keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions, alt text for images, and structured data.
Smooth checkout: Ensure the store has a seamless checkout process and clear calls-to-action (CTAs).
Look for stores that incorporate modern design practices, such as clean navigation, attractive product pages, and easy-to-read content.
3. Traffic and marketing strategies
Many prebuilt Shopify stores are sold with traffic-generating strategies already in place.
The most popular strategies include organic SEO, paid advertising campaigns, or a growing social media presence.
However, some stores may not have any substantial traffic, requiring you to build an audience from scratch.
If traffic is included, ask for analytics data to help you evaluate performance and user engagement.
Specifically, focus on Google Analytics and Shopify’s Analytics Dashboard data.
These will provide you with key metrics that can help you assess the potential of your store.
4. Are Prebuilt Shopify Stores Legit?
One commonly asked question when buying a prebuilt Shopify store is…
Are prebuilt Shopify stores legit?
The short answer is YES, but it’s important to carefully vet the seller and the store’s history.
Always be cautious of any offers that seem too good to be true or stores that lack transparent information.
Even better, you follow these simple steps to verify the legitimacy of a store you’re interested in buying:
Step 1. Check the seller’s reputation: Look for reviews or testimonials about the store seller from previous buyers.
Step 2. Ask for proof of earnings: Request the seller to provide you with proof of sales or other performance metrics to validate the store's success.
Step 3. Inspect the store’s history: You should also confirm that the store you’re buying has been operating for a reasonable amount of time. Check for any red flags such as negative reviews or a history of bans from Shopify.
Best Places to Buy Prebuilt Shopify Stores
When it comes to buying a prebuilt Shopify store, several platforms offer you verified stores with detailed information about traffic, sales, and store setup.
In other words, these marketplaces provide you with a trusted environment for both buyers and sellers.
The top platforms include:
1. Exchange by Shopify
Exchange by Shopify is the official marketplace for buying and selling 100% legit Shopify stores. It provides you with detailed listings with transparent metrics, including revenue, traffic data, and niche.
2. Flippa
Flippa is another well-known platform where you can buy a legit prebuilt Shopify store. Flippa allows you to filter for prebuilt Shopify stores in your desired niche, giving you access to both high-quality options and those with room for improvement.
3. Empire Flippers
If you’re looking for more high-end Shopify stores, Empire Flippers is a good platform to consider.
It offers you a curated marketplace that only lists vetted, profitable e-commerce businesses.
This platform provides you (the buyer) with in-depth due diligence reports and has a reputation for high-quality listings.
Other top platforms to consider include:
Ecommerceify
Adsellr
Ecomency
DropshipForSale
Dropbuild
Dropship IO
DropCommerce
Best Prebuilt Shopify Stores for Dropshipping
Dropshipping is one of the most popular business models for Shopify store owners. Buying a prebuilt Shopify store with a dropshipping setup can save you time and effort.
Keeping these aspects in mind will help you get the best prebuilt store:
1. Automated dropshipping stores
Some prebuilt Shopify stores come with integrated dropshipping suppliers, such as Oberlo or Spocket. This makes it easier to start selling products without needing to manage inventory.
2. Winning products preloaded
The best prebuilt dropshipping stores often include products that are trending, have high profit margins, or are from suppliers with a good reputation. Ensure the store is equipped with reliable suppliers to avoid fulfillment issues.
3. Integrated marketing tools
Look for prebuilt Shopify stores that come with pre-configured marketing tools, such as email automation, Instagram integrations, and Facebook ads. These marketing tools will help you generate traffic and convert visitors into buyers.
Costs of Buying a Prebuilt Shopify Store
The cost of buying a prebuilt Shopify store can vary widely depending on the store’s niche, traffic, and revenue history.
Generally, prices range from a few hundred dollars for a basic store to several thousand dollars for more established stores with strong sales records.
Some of the key factors influencing the price include:
Store revenue and profit: Stores with consistent revenue and profit are typically more expensive.
Traffic levels: Prebuilt stores with higher traffic and SEO rankings will command higher prices.
Store design and branding: Premium designs and well-branded stores tend to be priced higher due to their enhanced value.
Risks of Buying a Prebuilt Shopify Store
While there are significant benefits to buying a prebuilt Shopify store, it's important to be aware of the risks involved. These include:
Seller fraud: Some sellers may misrepresent the store's earnings or traffic data.
Market saturation: Depending on the niche, you may find that the market is already saturated, making it harder to stand out.
Hidden costs: You may need to invest further in marketing or redesigning the store to match your branding.
How to mitigate these risks:
Thorough Vetting: Always ask for proof of traffic, sales, and other key metrics.
Perform due diligence: Take the time to inspect the online store's back-end, including product sourcing, apps, and integrations.
Use a trusted marketplace: Buying from a reputable platform like Exchange by Shopify or Flippa reduces the likelihood of scams.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you buy a premade Shopify store?
Yes, you can buy a premade Shopify store. Platforms like Exchange by Shopify, Flippa, and Empire Flippers allow you to buy fully operational stores that are already designed, set up with products, and ready for launch. These stores can be in various niches, and many come with existing traffic and revenue. However, it’s important to thoroughly vet the store for legitimacy, traffic, and performance before purchasing.
Is it worth buying a prebuilt dropshipping store?
Buying a prebuilt dropshipping store can be worth it if the store has a proven track record of sales, organic traffic, and reliable suppliers. It saves you time on setting up your store and sourcing products. However, success depends on the quality of the online store’s design, the profitability of the products, and the overall marketing strategy. If the store’s metrics look solid, it can provide you with a quicker route to profitability, but you must be ready to invest in scaling and optimizing the business.
How much does it cost to have a Shopify store built?
The cost of having a Shopify store built varies greatly depending on the complexity and level of customization required. For a basic store, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $2,000 for design and development. For more advanced, custom-built stores, including branding, product integration, and extensive app configurations, the price can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more. If you're buying a prebuilt store, prices typically start around $500 and can go up to several thousand dollars, depending on factors like revenue, traffic, and niche.
Conclusion
Buying a prebuilt Shopify store can be a smart move if you’re looking to fast-track your e-commerce journey. Key factors to consider when choosing a prebuilt store include niche, store quality, traffic, and seller legitimacy.
Whether you’re interested in buying a prebuilt Shopify store for dropshipping or other business models, thorough research and careful selection are key to ensuring you make a profitable investment.
Thinking about buying a prebuilt Shopify store? Let us help you navigate the entire process—from navigating the acquisition process and handling all the details to helping you scale your new business eventually leading to a strong exit with a high ROI.
Book a free consultation call today, and let’s chat about how we can support your next big e-commerce move!
