Explains the four essential setup steps you must complete so your account is ready to ship your orders.
Congratulations on choosing ShipStation! This article will help you quickly set up your account so you can import your orders and start shipping them immediately!
There are four essential steps to take to start shipping your orders with ShipStation:
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Connect your Store
The most common way to import orders into ShipStation is through a connected store (although this is not the only way to import orders).
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Connect a Postage Account
Add a payment method to purchase labels with ShipStation's discounted rates or connect your own carrier account (or both!).
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Set Your Label Layout
ShipStation creates 4" x 6" labels (or approximately 100mm x 150mm for our metric-using friends). Tell ShipStation if you are using a 4" x 6" thermal label printer or a standard printer that prints to an 8.5" x 11" sheet.
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Add a Ship From Location
The Ship From Location is the address where you are shipping from. This information is required by all carriers and you will not be able to create a shipping label without it. If you have more than one, no problem! Add as many as you need!
Once you have completed these four steps, you can start creating labels for your orders. This article will guide you through the setup steps on ShipStation's Onboard screen, which you will see when you log in for the first time. However, all of these options are also available in ShipStation's Settings so you can configure or modify them whenever you need.
Return to the Onboard Screen
If you navigate away from the Onboard screen before you have completed all the steps, just click the Onboard tab to return.
The first option on the Onboard screen is to connect a selling channel.
Connecting to your online store is the most common way to get orders into ShipStation so you can start shipping them. However, you can manually create orders in ShipStation without a connected store, and you can use the Rate Calculator to create a label without an order. If you do not need to connect a store at this time, skip ahead to the Set Up Your Carrier section.
To connect your store so you can import orders:
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Choose Connect a Channel.
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Select the store platform you want to connect from the list.
Type the store platform name into the search bar to filter which options you see.
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Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your store.
The specific connection steps will differ from selling channel to selling channel. For details on a specific store connection process, view our Store & Marketplace Integrations article and click on your selling channel name.
You may continue to add selling channels here or move on to the next step. You can always add more selling channels later by going to Settings > Selling Channels > Store Setup.
Once your store (or stores) is successfully connected, you can start importing your orders right away so they are ready for you when you've completed your account setup.
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Click the Import icon in the top right toolbar.
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Choose either Update All Stores, to update all stores at once, or click the import icon next to the specific store you wish to import orders from.
ShipStation will display a pop-up message to let you know when the import is complete.
The length of time to import orders will vary depending on the volume of orders from each store.
Orders ready to ship will import into the Awaiting Shipment status in your Orders tab.
ShipStation gives you immediate access to discounted rates on selected carriers, so you are not required to add your own accounts. However, you can also connect your own accounts to ShipStation so you can create labels with any carrier you prefer.
The discounted rates available in ShipStation include services from Colissimo. To create labels with this courier:
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Choose Set up carriers.
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Follow the on-screen instructions.
You'll be prompted to enter a label payment method, agree to the terms and conditions, and add funds to your ShipStation balance (this balance is used to purchase labels).
Once you have completed the setup steps, you can then connect your own carrier accounts or move on to the next step, Set Your Label Layout.
To connect one of your own carrier accounts:
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Choose Add Existing Carrier Accounts.
Or, if you have a fulfillment provider like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), choose Add a Fulfillment Provider.
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Select the carrier or provider you want to connect.
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Follow the on-screen instructions.
The specific steps required to connect will vary from carrier to carrier. For more information on a specific carrier process and requirements, view our Carrier Integrations article and choose your carrier's name.
You may continue to add carrier accounts on the Onboard screen or move on to the next step. You can always add more carriers later by going to Settings > Shipping > Carriers.
All labels created in ShipStation are 4" × 6" labels, similar to 100mm x 150mm or A5. This size is suitable for thermal label printers. If you use an inkjet or laser printer to print multiple labels on a standard A4 sheet, ShipStation adjusts the label orientation 90 degrees to print two labels horizontally.
To ensure ShipStation creates the right label for your printer, you must set your label layout for the type of printer you use.
To select a label layout:
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Choose Select a Label Layout.
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Select the format that matches the type of printer you use and choose whether to print only the labels or to print labels and packing slips together.
Choose one of the 4" x 6" options if you use a thermal label printer, like a DYMO or Zebra.
Choose one of the 8.5" x 11" options if you use an inkjet or laser printer.
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Click Save changes.
You can change your label layout at any time in
Settings > Printing > Printing Setup > Label Document Options.
Label Formats with Packing Slips
If you select a label layout that includes a packing slip, your label and packing slip will always print together when printing a label. You can still print packing slips separately, but the packing slip format is set by the label's format setting. You will not be able to set a unique packing slip format for printing individual packing slips.
To successfully calculate rates and print labels, you must add the address where your packages ship from. We call this a Ship From Location.
To add a Ship From Location on the Onboard screen:
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Choose Set Ship From Location.
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Enter a Location Name (this is how ShipStation will refer to this address in drop-down menus).
Then, fill in the fields for the Pickup Address.
If your Return Address is different than the Pickup Address, uncheck Use Pickup Address as Return address and enter the return address.
Tip
While not all carriers require a phone number for the Ship From Location, some carriers (like UPS and DHL Express) do. We recommend always entering a phone number with your Ship From Location to avoid any errors when creating your labels.
Click Save when finished.
You can now click Complete Setup and start shipping! ShipStation will take you to your Awaiting Shipment orders so you can start shipping!