Getting Started
From zero to a running Telegram shop in 5 minutes.
Prerequisites
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| LNbits 1.4.0+ | Runtime for the extension |
| Inventory extension | Your product catalog |
| Telegram bot token | From @BotFather |
Step by step
1. Create your bot
Open @BotFather in Telegram → /newbot → pick a name and username → copy the token.
2. Set up products
Install the Inventory extension in LNbits. Create an inventory and add products with:
- Name, price, description
- At least one image
- Stock quantity
- Tags (these become your shop categories)
TIP
The shop currency is automatically synced from your Inventory settings. Set your prices in the Inventory extension and the shop will match.
3. Create the shop
In the Telegram Shopping extension, click Create Shop:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Your shop name (shown to customers) |
| Bot token | The token from BotFather |
| Wallet | Which LNbits wallet receives payments |
The shop automatically detects your Inventory and syncs the currency from it. Everything else has sensible defaults.
4. Go live
Toggle the shop on. That's it. The bot:
- Fetches your product catalog
- Registers
/startand/admincommands with Telegram - Sets up a secure webhook (or starts polling)
- Creates default marketing campaigns (disabled)
5. Test it
Open your bot in Telegram → send /start → tap Open Shop to launch the Customer Mini App.
The Customer Mini App is where shopping happens: browsing, cart, checkout, orders, returns, credits, and messaging. The Admin Mini App lets you manage orders, messages, and returns directly from Telegram — send /admin or tap the Admin menu button.
Development vs production
| Mode | Use when |
|---|---|
| Polling | Local development — no public URL needed |
| Webhook | Production — lower latency, Telegram pushes updates to you |
TIP
Use polling + FakeWallet for testing without real Lightning.
What's next
- Shop Configuration — checkout modes, shipping, tax, returns
- Customer Mini App — the embedded web storefront
- Admin Mini App — manage orders, messages, and returns from Telegram
- Marketing Campaigns — automated and manual customer engagement