Quick Answer
No, it is not free to set up a Facebook store. While you can create a Facebook page and add products to sell for free, to actually process transactions and take payments you need to use Facebook’s paid tools like Facebook Shop or integrate a third-party ecommerce platform. There are fees associated with processing payments either way.
Setting Up a Basic Facebook Storefront
Facebook provides a couple different options for setting up an online store on their platform. The basic free option is to create a Facebook page for your business and add a Shop section where you can showcase your products. This allows people to browse your catalog and see what you offer, but does not provide any built-in tools for actually completing purchases.
To add products to your Facebook page shop:
- Go to your Facebook page
- Click “Add Shop” on the left side
- Click “Add Product”
- Upload product photos, enter product details like price and description
- Click “Add Product” when finished with each item
This will create a catalog on your page where people can browse your products. However, there is no checkout functionality. Customers will have to contact you outside of Facebook in order to actual place an order.
Paid Tools for Processing Transactions
To process transactions directly through Facebook, you need to upgrade to one of their paid tools:
Facebook Shop
Facebook Shop is their integrated tool that allows you to add a checkout to your Facebook store and process transactions directly through Facebook. With Facebook Shop, customers can complete their entire purchase without leaving Facebook.
Some key things to know about Facebook Shop:
– Costs a monthly fee plus additional transaction fees
– Lets you create product catalogs and manage inventory
– Provides a checkout flow for customers to pay right on Facebook
– Syncs product data across Facebook and Instagram
– Offers different shipping and payment options
Third-Party Platforms
Instead of using Facebook’s own tools, you can also integrate third-party ecommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce to power transactions for your Facebook store. These platforms connect with your Facebook page and add checkout and payment functionalities.
Key things to know:
– Typically charge monthly fees plus per-transaction costs
– Require setting up storefront on their platform first
– Integrate with Facebook page to sync products
– Provide pre-built checkout and payment processing flows
– Offer more customization and features for managing a full online store
So essentially, you get the storefront and catalog on your Facebook page, while the checkout and back-end management is handled on the third-party platform.
The Costs of Processing Payments
Whether you use Facebook Shop or a third-party integration, there will be costs involved with actually accepting payments for products sold through Facebook.
Here are some of the potential fees to be aware of:
– Monthly software fees – For the platform you use to process transactions. This can range from $29-$299 per month.
– Per-sale transaction fees – Typically a percentage (3-5%) plus a flat fee per transaction. This is for payment processing.
– Credit card processing fees – Charges for accepting credit card payments, like interchange fees. Around 2-3% on average.
– Service fees – For things like shipping labels or additional services. Can be a few dollars per order.
– Advertising fees – If you want to run Facebook ads to promote your products.
So in summary, while a basic Facebook shopfront is free, actually accepting payments requires using a paid tool like Facebook Shop or Shopify. These tools have recurring monthly costs plus additional fees for transactions, processing, and services associated with managing an online store. The fees typically add up to around 8-15% of each sale value.
Should You Set Up a Facebook Store?
Whether it makes sense to set up a Facebook store depends on your business goals and existing ecommerce setup. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Reach people where they already spend time – Over 2 billion people actively use Facebook each month
- Tap into an existing audience – If you have a strong Facebook following already
- Sell across multiple channels – Can integrate Facebook with your own website and other marketing channels
- Simple setup – Facebook Shop provides an easy built-in checkout option
Cons:
- Costs involved – The monthly and transaction fees add up, may not make sense for low volume sellers
- Limited control and customization – Can’t modify the checkout process or flows
- Relies heavily on ads – Organic reach is limited, expect to pay for ads to promote products
- Potentially cannibalizes your own site – Sales on Facebook means less traffic to your own ecommerce store
The Bottom Line
While you can add products and create a basic shop catalog on your Facebook page for free, accepting actual payments requires using Facebook Shop or connecting a third-party platform like Shopify. These tools charge monthly subscription fees as well as per-transaction costs for processing payments. So there is no fully free option for setting up a commerce-enabled Facebook storefront. Carefully consider the potential benefits and costs before deciding if selling directly on Facebook is the right tactic for your business. But it provides a major opportunity to tap into Facebook’s massive built-in audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I process payments directly through my Facebook page?
No, you cannot process payments directly through a standard Facebook page. To accept payments you need to use either Facebook Shop or connect a third-party ecommerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce.
Do I need a business Facebook page to sell products?
Yes, you need a Facebook business page, not a personal profile, to create a shop and sell products through Facebook. Set up a business page before adding any shop features.
Can I use Facebook Shop for free?
No, Facebook Shop requires a paid subscription plan starting at $29 per month, plus additional fees for transactions and payment processing. There is no free version of Facebook Shop.
What are Facebook Shop’s transaction fees?
Facebook Shop charges a 5% transaction fee on purchases plus 30 cents per order, on top of any payment processing fees. So for a $50 order, you would pay $2.80 in Facebook fees ($2.50 5% fee plus $0.30 flat rate).
Is there a way to sell on Facebook without any fees?
No, there is no way to set up a store on Facebook that allows you to sell and process payments with zero fees. Even third-party platforms charge monthly and per-transaction costs. Some fees are unavoidable if you want to sell on Facebook.