Before You Start#
You need four things. None of them are complicated.
A Telegram account. If you're reading this, you probably have one.
Something to sell. Physical products, digital downloads, services, subscriptions — whatever. Even a rough list with names and prices works. You can polish descriptions later.
An idea of your audience. Are you selling to an existing Telegram group? A channel? Starting from scratch? This shapes how you share your store.
10 minutes. That's how long this takes.
The 5 Steps#
1. Create a Telegram Bot#
Your store needs a bot to live in. Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, and send /newbot. Follow the prompts — pick a display name and a username ending in bot. You'll get a token. Copy it.
For detailed BotFather customization (profile photo, description, commands menu), see our full bot creation guide.
2. Connect Your Store#
Go to tiny-shops.com and create your account. Paste the bot token from step 1. Enter a store name. That's it — your Mini App is generated automatically.
3. Add Products#
Two options:
- Manual entry — good for under 50 products. Add name, price, description, and photos from the dashboard.
- Google Sheets sync — better for larger catalogs. Connect a spreadsheet and products pull in automatically.
Start with your best 5-10 products. You can add the rest later.
4. Set Up Payments#
In your dashboard, go to Settings → Payments. Connect a provider — Stripe works internationally, or choose a regional option. Customers pay with Google Pay, Apple Pay, or bank cards, all inside Telegram.
For detailed payment setup (including Telegram Stars, checkout fields, tips, and testing), see our complete payment guide.
5. Share Your Store#
Your store link is t.me/your_bot_username. Share it in:
- Your Telegram groups and channels (pin it)
- Social media bios
- Your website
- Direct messages to existing customers
What Happens Next#
When someone buys:
- You get a notification (in Telegram or your dashboard)
- Payment processes automatically
- You fulfill the order (ship it, send the digital file, etc.)
- Mark as complete in the dashboard
No manual invoicing. No chasing payments.
Things to Set Up in Week One#
Once your store is live, add these when you have time:
- Cashback program — rewards repeat purchases automatically. How to set it up →
- Product categories — makes browsing easier
- Store description and logo — builds trust in your bot profile
FAQ#
Do I need coding skills?#
No. Everything is form-based — fill in fields, upload images, click save.
What can I sell?#
Physical goods, digital products, services, subscriptions. All supported.
How much does it cost?#
Tiny Shops has a free plan (up to 30 products). You only pay standard payment processor fees (~2-3%) on each transaction.
Can I try it before going live?#
Yes. Create a test product, configure a test payment token, and place a real order through your bot to verify the flow.
