Getting Started with MerchantFlow

Getting Started with MerchantFlow

MerchantFlow is an e-commerce analytics and profitability platform that helps Shopify and WooCommerce merchants track revenue, expenses, and marketing performance in one dashboard. This guide walks you through choosing the right onboarding path based on your account type and workspace needs.

What Are the MerchantFlow Onboarding Paths?

MerchantFlow supports several setup paths. The right one depends on how you signed up and what kind of workspace you are creating.

How to Set Up a Merchant Workspace

Use this path if you are connecting your own Shopify or WooCommerce business.

1. Create Account or install through the Shopify App Store
2. Choose Demo or Real Data on /onboarding/choice
3. If you continue with real data, work through the seven guided steps: commerce -> marketing -> fulfillment -> balance -> funding -> payment -> email-summary (WooCommerce stores enter REST credentials on a woocommerce sub-step of commerce)
4. After the "You're All Set!" screen, finish the two follow-up steps: tax, then north-star
5. Review your data and connection health in the dashboard

You must verify your email address before the commerce and marketing steps will let you connect anything. See Create Account.

How to Start with a Demo Workspace

Use this path if you want to explore MerchantFlow before connecting live systems.

• Start from Demo Mode
• You get sample dashboard data immediately
• You can switch to real data later from the demo banner, setup guide, or onboarding links

How to Install MerchantFlow as a Shopify Embedded App

Use this path if you install MerchantFlow from the Shopify App Store.

• Shopify creates the embedded app session
• Your store connection is created during install
• The commerce step is skipped automatically, so onboarding starts at marketing and runs six steps instead of seven
• Billing is handled through Shopify approval instead of Stripe checkout
• MerchantFlow 2FA and the email-verification gate do not apply inside the embed
• Additional Google and ad integrations can still be connected from onboarding or Settings > Integrations

Start with Shopify App Store and Shopify Billing.

How to Set Up an Agency Workspace

Agency tenants follow a different path:

• Signup has an Agency account type toggle next to Brand
• Agency signups skip /onboarding/choice entirely and go straight to the six-step agency flow: agency/profile -> agency/branding -> agency/tour -> agency/billing -> agency/invite -> agency/complete
• Merchant storefront data lives on client workspaces, not on the agency workspace itself
• Finishing agency onboarding requires an active agency subscription, and lands you on /dashboard/portfolio

Start with Agency Workflows.

Referral partners (creators, coaches, 3PLs, and agencies who refer rather than manage) sign up separately at /signup/partner and follow a short partner/profile -> partner/coupon -> partner/complete flow.

Core Setup Guides

• Create Account - Direct signup, social signup, invites, verification, and 2FA
• Connect Integrations - Commerce, Google, ad, and fulfillment setup
• First Sync - What to expect after onboarding completes
• Setup Guide - Revisit guided setup tasks inside the dashboard
• Google Shopping - Merchant Center and Shopping-specific setup

Where to Go Next

• Dashboard Overview - Learn the current merchant and agency navigation
• FAQ - Quick answers for common product and billing questions
• Troubleshooting - Start here when setup succeeded but data still looks wrong

Frequently Asked Questions

Which onboarding path should I choose?

If you run a single Shopify or WooCommerce store, use the Merchant workspace path. If you manage multiple brands or client stores, use the Agency path. If you are unsure, start with Demo Mode to explore the platform risk-free.

Can I switch from demo mode to live data later?

Yes. You can transition from demo mode to a live workspace at any time by clicking the Connect Real Data button in the demo banner, visiting the Setup Guide, or navigating directly to /onboarding/commerce.

Does MerchantFlow work with both Shopify and WooCommerce?

Yes. MerchantFlow supports both Shopify and WooCommerce as primary commerce platforms. Each merchant workspace connects to one platform at a time.

How long does the initial setup take?

The onboarding screen advertises a 5-minute guided setup. The first data sync then runs automatically once setup finishes -- the onboarding completion screen describes it as "Initial sync in progress - this may take a few minutes", and larger stores take longer.

Support

If you are unsure which path applies to your workspace, contact [email protected].

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Last updated: August 29, 2026