# First steps for a new store

Getting started

A fresh GrandNode installation works out of the box, but it is not yet *your* store: it is called “Your store name”, it sells in US dollars, and payment and shipping still need your decisions. Work through this checklist in order before you invite customers. Each step names the screen and links to the documentation that covers it in depth.

### 1\. Store name, URL and company details

1. Go to **Configuration → Stores** and click your store.
2. On **Store info** set **Store name** (shown in page titles and emails) and check **URL of the store** — it must be the public address customers use, including `https://`. The installer took it from the address you used to open the wizard, which is often `localhost`.
3. Set **Default language**, **Default currency**, **Default country** and **Default warehouse** if you want this store to differ from the installation defaults.
4. Fill in the company fields (name, address, VAT, phone, email) — they appear on invoices.
5. On **Domains** add every host name the store answers to and mark the primary one.
6. Press **Save**.

![Store edit page with Store info, Domains and House bank tabs; fields Store name, Shortcut, URL of the store and defaults](https://grandnode.com/Plugins/Theme.GrandNodeCom/Content/kb/getting-started/store-edit.webp)

**Configuration → Stores**, the store edit page.

### 2\. Currency

Under **Configuration → Currencies** publish the currencies you sell in and unpublish the rest. US Dollar is the primary store currency after installation and Euro is also published. If your prices are in another currency, make it primary *before* entering products — product prices are stored in the primary currency.

### 3\. Languages

English is installed. Add more under **Configuration → Languages**, and import a translation file for each language, or translate texts yourself. Every product, category and page can then be translated.

### 4\. Email account

Order confirmations, password recovery and all notifications are sent through an email account. The installer creates a placeholder (`test@mail.com` on `smtp.mail.com`) that will not work. Replace it under **Configuration → Email Accounts** with your SMTP server and send a test email.

### 5\. Tax

Under **Configuration → Tax** choose a tax provider on **Tax providers** (fixed rate, or by country/state/zip), set the rates per tax category, and on **Tax settings** decide whether prices include tax and how tax is displayed. The installer creates tax categories such as Home & Living, Electronics & Software, Downloadable Products, Sports & Outdoor and Apparel; rename or add your own.

### 6\. Shipping

Under **Configuration → Shipping** enable a provider on **Shipping providers** — fixed rate, by weight, or shipping points for pickup — and configure its rates. The methods Ground, Next Day Air and 2nd Day Air exist already; rename them on **Shipping methods**. Add your **Warehouses** and **Delivery dates**, and use **Shipping restrictions** to hide methods for certain countries.

### 7\. Payment

Under **Configuration → Payment → Payment methods** activate and configure at least one method — Cash on delivery for testing, Stripe Checkout or BrainTree for card payments. Enter the provider's live keys only when you go live. **Payment restrictions** hides methods for chosen countries or shipping methods.

### 8\. Theme and logo

1. Go to **Settings → General**, tab **Store information**.
2. Upload your **Logo**.
3. Under **Default store theme** choose Default theme, Modern or Nordic Editorial.
4. Set **Default store time zone**, and switch on **Store closed** while you prepare the store — administrators can still browse it.
5. Press **Save**.

![Settings General, Store information tab, with time zone, Store closed, logo upload and the Default store theme picker](https://grandnode.com/Plugins/Theme.GrandNodeCom/Content/kb/getting-started/settings-general-theme.webp)

The theme picker shows a preview of each installed theme.

### 9\. Legal and information pages

Under **Content → Landing pages** review the pages the installer created — about us, shipping and returns, privacy notice, conditions of use — and replace the sample text with your own.

### 10\. Your first category and product

1. **Catalog → Categories** → **Add new**: give the category a name and publish it.
2. **Catalog → Products** → **Add new**: enter the name, short description, price, SKU, stock, tax category and at least one picture; assign it to the category and publish it.
3. Open the storefront and find the product in the category menu.

The [Catalog](https://grandnode.com/docs-catalog) documentation covers product types, attributes, specifications, inventory and prices in detail.

### 11\. Place a test order

Register a customer account on the storefront, buy your product with a test payment method and follow the order in **Sales → Orders**: check the emails that arrived, the tax, the shipping cost and the invoice. See [Sales](https://grandnode.com/docs-sales).

### Tips and common mistakes

- Change the primary currency before adding products, not after.
- A wrong **URL of the store** breaks links in emails and redirects after payment.
- If you installed sample data, remove or unpublish the demo products, vendor and discounts before going live.

### Related

- [Configuration](https://grandnode.com/docs-configuration)
- [Catalog](https://grandnode.com/docs-catalog)
- [Sales](https://grandnode.com/docs-sales)

- [Web page](https://grandnode.com/getting-started-first-steps)