How to Set Up a Telegram Store: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Why Sell on Telegram?#

If you're looking for a new sales channel with massive reach and zero platform fees, Telegram is where you need to be. With 950 million monthly active users and growing, Telegram has evolved far beyond a messaging app — it's now a full-fledged commerce platform.

Here's why smart sellers are moving to Telegram:

90%+ message open rate — compared to 20% for email marketing
0% platform fees — unlike Etsy (6.5%), Amazon (15%), or Shopify (2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
No algorithm throttling — every message you send gets delivered
Built-in audience — sell directly in group chats where your customers already hang out
Zero login friction — customers don't need to create new accounts

In this guide, we'll walk you through setting up your own Telegram storefront using Tiny Shops — a platform that lets you create a fully functional Mini App store inside Telegram in about 5 minutes, no coding required.

What You'll Need#

Before we start, make sure you have:

A Telegram account — you probably already have one
A product or service to sell — physical goods, digital products, services — anything works
5-10 minutes of free time — that's really all it takes

That's it. No coding skills. No web hosting. No credit card required to start.

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot via @BotFather#

Every Telegram store runs through a bot. Don't worry — you don't need to write any code. The bot is simply the "container" for your storefront.

How to create your bot:#

Open Telegram and search for @BotFather (make sure it has a blue verified checkmark)
Send the command /newbot
Choose a display name for your bot (e.g., "My Awesome Store")
Choose a username for your bot — it must end in bot (e.g., my_awesome_store_bot)
BotFather will reply with your bot token — a long string like 123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz

Important: Keep your bot token private! Anyone with this token can control your bot.

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Tip: You can customize your bot later by sending /mybots to BotFather. You can set a profile picture, description, and more.

Step 2: Set Up Your Store on Tiny Shops#

Now that you have a bot, let's turn it into a storefront.

Go to tiny-shops.com and click "Create Your Store"
You'll see the setup wizard with three simple fields:

Store ID (Your URL slug)#

Choose a short, memorable ID for your store. This will be part of your store's URL. Use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only.

Examples: my-bakery, tech-gadgets, handmade-jewelry

Store Display Name#

This is what customers will see as your store name. It can include spaces and special characters.

Examples: "Anna's Bakery", "TechHub Store", "Handmade by Maria"

Bot Token#

Paste the token you got from BotFather in Step 1.

Click "Verify Token" — the system will confirm your bot is valid and show you the bot's name.

Step 3: Configure a Notification Group#

Stay on top of every order with real-time Telegram notifications. This step is optional but highly recommended.

Why set up notifications?#

Get instant alerts when someone places an order
See order details directly in your Telegram group
React quickly to customer purchases
Never miss a sale

How to set it up:#

Create a new Telegram group (or use an existing one)
Add your bot to the group as a member
Send any message in the group
Go back to the setup wizard and click "Refresh Groups"
Select your group from the dropdown

That's it! You'll now receive order notifications directly in your Telegram group.

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Tip: Create a dedicated group for notifications so they don't get lost in regular conversations.

Step 4: Create Your Admin Account#

Your admin account gives you access to the dashboard — your command center for managing products, orders, analytics, and settings.

Enter your email address (used for login)
Choose a username (3-50 characters)
Set a secure password (at least 8 characters with letters and numbers)
Confirm your password

Once complete, you'll get a success message with a link to your dashboard.

Step 5: Add Products#

Now the fun part — adding your products! Tiny Shops gives you two ways to do this:

Option A: Add Products Manually#

From your dashboard:

Navigate to Products section
Click "Add Product"
Fill in the details:
- Product name — clear, descriptive title
- Price — in your selected currency
- Description — highlight key features and benefits
- Images — upload high-quality product photos
- Category — organize your catalog
- Stock — set available quantity (optional)

Option B: Sync from Google Sheets#

For stores with many products, Google Sheets sync is a game-changer:

Create a Google Spreadsheet with columns: Name, Price, Description, Image URL, Category, Stock
In your dashboard, go to Settings → Google Sheets
Paste your spreadsheet URL
Map the columns to product fields
Enable auto-sync — your store updates automatically when you edit the spreadsheet

This is perfect for stores with large catalogs or if you already manage inventory in spreadsheets.

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Pro tip: Use Google Sheets sync if you have more than 10 products. It saves hours of manual work and keeps everything in sync.

Step 6: Customize Your Storefront#

Make your store look and feel uniquely yours. From the dashboard settings:

Theme & Appearance#

Choose from light or dark themes
Customize accent colors to match your brand
Your store automatically works as a Telegram Mini App — with native look and feel

Currency Settings#

Select from 100+ supported currencies
Prices display in the currency your customers expect
Support for multiple currency formats

Language Settings#

Choose store language (English, Russian, and more)
All customer-facing text adapts to your selection
Supports bilingual stores

Step 7: Set Up Payments#

Accept payments seamlessly with built-in payment integration.

Supported Payment Methods:#

Google Pay — one-tap payments for Android users
Apple Pay — one-tap payments for iPhone users
Telegram Payments — native payment processing via Telegram's payment providers

How to configure payments:#

In your dashboard, go to Settings → Payments
Connect your preferred payment provider
Enter your merchant credentials
Test with a small transaction

Tiny Shops handles all the payment processing — you just receive the money.

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Important: Tiny Shops charges 0% platform commission on transactions. You only pay the standard payment processor fees (typically 2-3%).

Your store is ready! Here's how to get your first customers:

Get Your Store Links#

After setup, you'll have several ways to share your store:

Direct bot link — t.me/your_bot_username — customers tap "Start" and see your store
Mini App link — share in any Telegram chat, and the store opens right inside the conversation
Group attachment — add your bot to group chats so members can browse and buy inline

Launch Checklist#

✅ At least 3-5 products added with images and descriptions
✅ Prices set correctly in your chosen currency
✅ Payment method configured and tested
✅ Notification group set up
✅ Bot profile picture and description customized via BotFather

Post in your Telegram channels and groups — your existing audience is your first customer base
Share the bot link on social media — Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, wherever your audience is
Add to your website or bio links — if you have an existing web presence
Send to friends and family — word of mouth is powerful

Bonus: Growth Tips for Your Telegram Store#

Set Up a Cashback System#

Tiny Shops includes a built-in tiered cashback system:

Bronze (default) — basic cashback percentage
Silver — higher cashback for repeat customers
Gold — maximum rewards for your best customers

Cashback is proven to increase repeat purchases by up to 40%. Customers love earning rewards, and it costs you less than traditional advertising.

Launch a Referral Program#

Turn your customers into ambassadors:

Each customer gets a unique referral code
When someone buys using their code, both the referrer and new customer benefit
Track referrals and payouts from your dashboard

Leverage Group Chat Commerce#

One of Telegram's unique advantages — sell directly in group chats:

Add your bot to relevant community groups
Members can browse your catalog without leaving the conversation
The buying experience happens right inside the chat

This is incredibly powerful for niche communities (fitness groups, hobby clubs, local communities).

Create limited-time offers to drive urgency:

Set percentage or fixed discounts
Limit usage count or expiration date
Track which promos perform best

Run Contests and Giveaways#

Tiny Shops has built-in contest functionality:

Create giveaways with custom prizes
Set entry conditions (share, tag friends, etc.)
Automatic winner selection
Native Telegram notifications ensure maximum participation

Frequently Asked Questions#

How much does Tiny Shops cost?#

Tiny Shops offers a free plan with up to 30 products, Google Sheets sync, Google & Apple Pay, group chat commerce, referral program, promo codes, and priority support. For unlimited products, upgrade to the Pro plan.

Do I need coding skills?#

No. Tiny Shops is completely no-code. If you can fill out a form and upload images, you can run a store.

What payment methods do customers have?#

Customers can pay with Google Pay, Apple Pay, and through Telegram's built-in payment providers. All payments are secure and processed through established providers.

Can I sell digital products?#

Yes! Tiny Shops supports both physical and digital products. After payment, you can deliver digital goods through Telegram messages or links.

How do I handle shipping?#

For physical products, you manage shipping yourself. Order notifications include customer contact details (via Telegram), so you can coordinate delivery directly. Many sellers use local courier services or postal delivery.

Can I have multiple stores?#

Yes, you can create multiple stores with different bots. Each store operates independently with its own products, settings, and dashboard access.

Is there a limit on orders?#

No. Both free and paid plans support unlimited orders. There are no transaction limits or hidden caps.

What currencies are supported?#

Tiny Shops supports 100+ currencies. You can set your store's primary currency in the dashboard settings.

Conclusion#

Setting up a Telegram store has never been easier. With Tiny Shops, you can go from zero to a fully operational storefront in under 10 minutes — complete with product catalog, payment processing, cashback system, and real-time notifications.

Telegram's 950 million users, 90%+ message open rates, and zero platform fees make it one of the most compelling sales channels available today. And unlike marketplaces that charge 6-15% commission, Tiny Shops takes 0% platform commission.

Ready to start? Create your free store now and start selling on Telegram today.