Who it’s for · Online stores and product brands
An AI business advisor for online store owners
Test your product, work out what each order really costs, choose your platform and payments, and grow sales without burning cash on ads.
- Then from $19 a month
- Cancel before it ends and pay nothing
- Sign up with Google or email
Questions founders like you ask Wren
Wren answers with your business, where you’re based and your numbers in mind, and ends each answer with a next step you can add to your plan.
“What does each order really cost me?”
“Which platform and payment options should I use?”
“When should I start paid ads?”
Your first 12 weeks
A typical starting plan. Yours is built from your answers in setup, so the steps, order and providers change with your stage, location, time and budget.
Week 1
Prove people will pay Strategy
Validate with a pre-order page or a small batch before buying inventory.
Week 1
Write a one-page plan Strategy
Fill in a Lean Canvas: customer, problem, offer, channels, revenue, costs and your unfair advantage.
Week 1
Check your name and protect your brand Legal & setup
Search the trademark register and company register for conflicts before you print anything.
Week 1
Choose a structure and register the business Legal & setup
Choose between sole proprietorship (simplest) and a limited company (protects personal assets and is what investors expect).
Week 2
Register for taxes Legal & setup
Register with your tax authority for a business tax ID.
Week 2
Open a business bank account Money
Keep every business payment out of your personal account from day one.
Week 2
Create your brand basics Brand & web
Pick a logo, two colours and two fonts, and write them on one page so everything stays consistent.
Week 3
Set up bookkeeping Money
Connect your bank feed to accounting software so transactions sync automatically.
Week 3
Get contracts and policies in place Legal & setup
Publish terms of sale, returns, shipping and privacy policies.
Week 3
Get the right insurance Legal & setup
Product liability, especially if you make or import products.
Week 3
Choose where you’ll work Space
Working from home is fine early on. Use a virtual office for a professional registered address and mail handling.
Week 3
Launch your website Brand & web
Build on Shopify with great product photos, clear shipping costs and reviews.
Week 3
Protect your privacy and safety Legal & setup
Use a business address instead of your home address on your website, invoices and listings: a virtual office, mailbox service or coworking address.
Week 4
Set up how you get paid Money
Use Shopify Payments or Stripe, plus PayPal and Apple Pay / Google Pay. More payment options lift conversion.
Week 4
Equipment, fit-out and suppliers Operations
Choose fulfilment: ship it yourself at first, then hand it to a fulfilment company (a 3PL) once you pass about 100 orders a month.
Week 4
Claim startup credits and perks Money
Before paying for email, accounting, website, booking or marketing tools, check a deals marketplace for a discount or free months.
Week 5
Pick 3 numbers to track every week Strategy
Track conversion rate, average order value and cost to acquire a customer.
Week 5
Pick two social channels and a posting rhythm Socials
TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest work best for products. Lead with video.
Week 6
Plan your launch Getting customers
Send product to 20 micro-creators before launch.
Week 6
Find a mentor and a peer group Programs
Book a free session with a business mentor or advice centre near you.
Week 7
Land your first 10 customers Getting customers
Send product to 30 micro-influencers in exchange for honest content.
Week 8
Start an email list Getting customers
Collect emails from your website, checkout and events.
Week 10
Work out what it costs to win a customer Getting customers
Add up last month’s marketing and sales spend (ads, tools, freelancers, events, and a fair value for your own time) and divide by new customers won.
Week 10
Review your pricing Strategy
Look at what your first customers paid and who hesitated.
Week 11
Collect reviews and testimonials Getting customers
Ask happy customers within 48 hours of a great moment, with a direct link.
Week 12
Set up customer support Hiring & team
Use a shared inbox or chat widget and reply within one business day.
Numbers to watch
- Track conversion rate, average order value and cost to acquire a customer.
- Add up last month’s marketing and sales spend (ads, tools, freelancers, events, and a fair value for your own time) and divide by new customers won.
- Track the share of customers who order again within 90 days, and revenue from returning customers.
- Customer value over time: average order value × orders per year × gross margin × years a customer keeps buying.
Log your main number (orders) in each weekly check-in, and Wren tells you what it means and what to do next.
Providers Wren may suggest
For each step, Wren picks the three best fits for your business and location from a directory of 300+ providers. Some that often come up, depending on where you’re based:
- ShopifyWebsites & domains
- EtsyWebsites & domains
- Shopify POSPayments & POS
- FaireEquipment & sourcing
- KlaviyoMarketing & sales tools
- OmnisendMarketing & sales tools
- GorgiasCustomer support
- SCOREAccelerators, incubators & mentoring
- MicroMentorAccelerators, incubators & mentoring
- America’s SBDCAccelerators, incubators & mentoring
- NamecheapWebsites & domains
- ZenBusinessCompany formation
Listings aren’t endorsements. Providers can’t pay to be recommended.
Questions
When should an online store start paid ads?
Once you know which customers buy again and what they’re worth. Wren helps you compare what it costs to win a customer with what they spend over time, aiming for at least 3 times.
How do I work out my real cost per order?
Add the product, packaging, shipping, duties, payment fees and any returns. Wren helps you build that number for your best sellers and check your margin before you scale.
How does the free trial work?
Answer the setup questions, choose Starter or Pro and add your card. Nothing is charged for 14 days. We email you 3 days before your trial ends, and you can cancel any time before then in one click so you’re never charged.
Other businesses Wren helps
Every plan is built for the kind of business you run.
- Software founders
- Consultants and agencies
- Tutors and education businesses
- Cafés and coffee shops
- Restaurants and food businesses
- Shops and retail stores
- Salons, beauty and wellness
- Fitness, yoga and dance studios
- Trades and home services
- Childcare and nurseries
- Coaches and course creators
- Makers and handmade brands
- Photographers, events and creatives
- Other local services
Start your plan this week
- Then from $19 a month
- Cancel before it ends and pay nothing
- Sign up with Google or email