How to Set Up Your Instagram Shop (A 2026 Guide)
Imagine running a small business in 2026 and not selling your products online. That’s so wrong, it’s almost illegal. Social commerce, which is selling on social media, is probably the best thing you can do for your business this year, and an Instagram Shop is a good place to start.
According to data from Statista, as of 2024, Instagram boasts a staggering 1.4 billion users worldwide, and a huge chunk of these users likely shop on the platform daily. Clearly, Instagram is no longer just a platform for sharing holiday images. It’s become a legit sales channel for businesses of all kinds.
The best part? You don’t need a massive budget or marketing team to get started.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps for setting up your shop on Instagram so that you can start making sales.
Read on.
What Is an Instagram Shop?
In simple terms, an Instagram Shop is a digital front that’s attached to your Instagram profile. It’s like having your very own e-commerce store, but without the cost and technical hassles associated with building one from scratch.
The beautiful thing about Instagram Shopping is that it’s not separate from your account. You can tag products directly in your posts, Reels, and Stories. When someone lands on your page and sees that cute coffee mug in your video, they simply tap the tag and are automatically directed to the product.
To give you some perspective on why this is a big deal: 79% of people have bought something from an Instagram Shop after seeing a video reel of the product. This means that once you've got your Instagram Shop all set up and running, you'll be meeting customers exactly where they're already looking.
Why You Should Set Up an Instagram Shop in 2026
Now that you know WHAT, the next question is WHY. Why bother with Instagram Shopping when you already have a running business that's likely doing well? It boils down to two important things.
Frictionless Shopping: Instagram Shopping makes it easy for people to see something, like it, and buy it immediately, right there on your page, without having to visit your website or a third-party e-commerce platform. That lack of friction is a good reason to make the jump.
Built-In Reach: You might be thinking that people will only see your products when they visit your profile, but that's not true. Your product will show up in the Explore tab and Reels, thanks to Instagram's algorithm driving them to the right buyers. This built-in reach is another good reason to set up your Instagram Shop in 2026.
These two reasons make setting up an Instagram Shop a real win for small businesses, creators, and DTC brands. No massive team or big budget. Just set up, upload your products, and let the algorithm get them in front of the right buyers.
Having said that, it's important to make a small warning. While Instagram is perfect for getting your products in front of billions of shoppers, try not to overdo things.
Social media can be very addictive, and Instagram has actually come under a lot of fire lately, with users filing Instagram lawsuit cases claiming that it was intentionally designed to be that way.
Case files reviewed by TorHoerman Law reveal a possible connection between these platforms and mental health issues, especially with young people.
The message? Don't make your Instagram Shop your second home. Checking your notifications every second and worrying about the competition will not make you sell faster.
Just do your job and let the platform do its part.
Setting Up Your Instagram Shop
Now, we've gotten to the part you've been waiting for. How to actually set your Instagram Shop up. It involves the following 5 simple steps.
Convert to a Business or Creator Account
You cannot set up an Instagram Shop with your regular account, so first thing, you need to convert to a business or creator account. It’s simple enough. Here’s how:
Go to your profile settings
Click on "Account"
Select "Switch to Professional Account"
If you intend to sell products directly, choose “Business.” If you’re an influencer or content creator who sells items occasionally, choose the “Creator “ account.
Set Up Commerce Manager
Meta Commerce Manager is basically the control center of your Instagram Shop. It's where you manage everything — your product catalog, orders, and more.
Here’s how to set it up:
Head to “Commerce Manager”.
Click "Get Started," and then click on "Create a Shop."
If you use Shopify, BigCommerce, or any of the other e-commerce platforms listed there, select it. Otherwise, choose "I don't use these platforms," and Instagram will create a catalog for you.
You'll also be required to link your Instagram Business account and your Facebook Page.
Enable Instagram Shopping
Once you’ve gotten the Commerce Manager all set up, it’s time to send your account for review. Instagram has to go through everything to ensure that you meet all its requirements, especially in what you plan to sell. Basically, you can’t sell tobacco/vaping items, weapons, adult goods, or anything under Instagram’s prohibited content list.
Upload Your Product Catalog
Now you're set to start selling. But first, you have to upload your product catalog.
You have two options here:
Manual Upload: Go back to your Meta Commerce Manager, navigate to Catalog, select "Add Products", and start adding your items. Be sure to include price, description, and images.
Connect an E-commerce Platform: If you already sell on a platform like Shopify or WooCommerce, simply sync it with Commerce Manager. Instagram will automatically pull the needed details and populate your shop.
Create Shoppable Instagram Content
Now your shop is live. The next thing is to start tagging products to your posts and Reels. When people see these posts, they’ll see a small shopping bag icon on the post, which they can click to see the product in detail.
Reels, in particular, can be a goldmine for you. As of 2023, users watch more than 200 billion Reels daily. This is directly from Facebook, so you can trust the data. Bottom line? Don’t just tag your products in static posts. Create Reels that show your product in action, tag them, and watch your engagement spike.
Start Selling on Instagram in 2026
As you can see, setting up an Instagram Shop isn’t difficult. What’s more? The effort and time you’ll put into doing it will pay off in engagement and sales.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started today and set up Instagram Shopping for your business by following the steps discussed in this guide. Your business will thank you for it.
