Hi! I am brand new to Shopify and trying to set up my shop. When I try to enter the name it is saying I have to add a phone number. I don’t have a business number, nor do I want a business number. All my business will be online, no customer should ever have a contact number for me, only email. How can I finish setting up my shop without a phone number?
Topic summary
Core Issue:
New Shopify users are concerned about being required to provide a phone number and business address during store setup, particularly those running online-only businesses using print-on-demand (POD) or dropshipping models.
Key Clarifications from Shopify Staff:
- Phone numbers and addresses entered in Settings > Store Details are not automatically displayed to customers on the storefront
- This information is shared with third-party apps, dropshipping providers, shipping label services, and may appear on banking statements
- A physical address is required as a return address for shipped items, even for POD/dropshipping stores
Recommended Solutions:
- Purchase a PO box to avoid using a home address
- Obtain a separate business phone number (multiple apps within Shopify admin offer local/toll-free numbers for a small fee)
- One user successfully resolved concerns by getting dedicated business contact information
Ongoing Questions:
- Whether dropshippers handle returns independently (eliminating the need for merchant addresses)
- How to remove placeholder contact information (like “12345”) from storefronts
- Specific requirements for UK-based stores using US-based POD providers
8 Likes
I agree, this requirement is troubling considering it would be made public.
2 Likes
Same here, I’m wondering if you’ve managed to solve this problem?
1 Like
I am also wondering about this, have you found a work around?
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Hi there, @svalkyrie23 . Thanks for your question! Though you’re being asked to provide a phone number, your phone number should not be made visible to your customers unless you choose to add it as a visible piece of contact information on your storefront! If you like, you can provide us a screenshot of where you’re being asked to provide your number so we can provide a bit more clarity around why it’s being requested!
Hello!
I cant take a screenshot due to personal details published, but it’s under Settings > Store Details > Under Profile it has Store Phone & Business Address. I actually don’t want either of those displayed due to personal information (as I don’t have a physical shop)
1 Like
Hi, @svalkyrie23 .
Thank you for reaching out! You do still need to fill in this information as we need a store address because that will also be the return address if you ship something and it has to get returned. I would recommend purchasing a PO box so that your home address isn’t shared as the return address.
Please let me know if you have any further questions!
Hello,
What about phone number? Is this published as well?
1 Like
Hi @svalkyrie23
Yes, your phone number would also be made available to any services with access to your business (third party apps, dropshipping providers, etc), shipping label providers (if using Shopify Shipping through your admin), and it may surface in banking statements also. Anywhere where someone or another business or service provider may need to contact you.
Thank you, I erred on the safe side and got new business phone and address.
Hi @svalkyrie23 .
That was a great idea. Best of luck with your business!
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Hiya, so I’m in the same position and need a bit more clarification. If I was a print on demand apparel store and dont want my personal address and phone number shown on their statements, is there anyway around this? Also, I’m based in the UK but want my printing provider to be in the US with most of my customer base in the US, do I need to do any extras for this? Sorry, I’m very new to all of this with the small business 
1 Like
I’m also setting up the payment methods on my new shop and it requires my business phone number and it says it will show on customers bank statements etc. I only have a personal number and do POD too. Anyway not to show our number?
2 Likes
Hello I am also a newbie… So to be clear. I do not have a physical store. I will only use dropshipping and print on demand companies. So the phone number we, shopify owners, provide in that section will only be made available to the dropshipping, print on demand companies, etc that we have chosen to have our store linked to? If that’s correct isthere a way to remove the number from my store front? It just says 12345… under contact us. My store was built for me around Thanksgiving and I don’t recall if it by default or I did it when messing around with settings. Physical address as well. I put my city, state and zip code but 1234… for address. Help clarify please. Much Obliged!
Hello I am also a newbie… So to be clear. I do not have a physical store. I will only use dropshipping and print on demand companies. So the phone number we, shopify owners, provide in that section will only be made available to the dropshipping, print on demand companies, etc that we have chosen to have our store linked to? If that’s correct is there a way to remove the number from my store front? It just says 12345… under contact. Help clarify please. Much Obliged!
So I thought when we don’t have a physical store or product, that the dropshipper we choose would handle the returns and refunds on our behalf? So we would not need a business address or phone number in this case…right? Or am I mistaken?
I just discovered today that there are 3 different apps within the shopify admin that can provide a business phone number local or toll free for a small fee. SN, why do my post say I’m a tourist lol.