As tempting as it is to jump straight in and start making changes, now is the time to use the old adage of a stitch in time saves nine. In the Zen Cart world this means:
Start in a test location
You don’t know now as much as you will know so it makes sense not to start your Zen Cart discovery in your desired ‘live store’ location. For example, you have a domain bobspetstore.com and you intend to launch your online store in the root of this domain so use a subfolder for your first install. (You may wish to update the .htaccess file on your test folder to prevent search engines from indexing your test store pages.)
Install with Demo Products Option
Select the option to install the demo products in your test location. It really is the best way to learn about the configuration options in Admin, how the in-built payment, shipping and tax modules impact order totals and the difference between sales, specials and discounts, for example.
Learn how to Backup (and Restore) your Online Store
Now is the time to perfect your backup routine – BEFORE you really need it. Make sure you know how to backup your database as well as backing up the Zen Cart template files. Then, blow it all away and practice your restore routine. Make notes and set up a backup frequency that suits your online store – hourly, daily, weekly or monthly.
Learn about the Zen Cart Override System
This is a biggie! Spend some time really understanding the template system in Zen Cart while you have the opportunity. Think of the CSS overrides as well as the template (php) overrides. When you have a d’oh moment and realise that you should have been making changes in an override file, make the time to go back and implement your changes correctly. You really will thank yourself when it comes to upgrade time.
Start your Zen Cart Notebook
You don’t need anything fancy but you do need something. Your notebook will serve as a change diary as well as ‘everything’ Zen Cart. Start a notebook and make notes of what you change, the add-ons you install, the little tweak someone suggested you try, and so on. Have your notebook open whenever you are working with Zen Cart and you’ll be thankful you do. Jot down information that you will need to refer to – like hex numbers (#c3c3c3) for the colors you are using – and ideas that you have so that you can go back to them. You get the picture – it really will become your Zen friend.
Functionality first, then looks
Resist the temptation and try not to be distracted by visual customisations until AFTER you have completed the functional customisation of your online store. A working store can still make you money while you enhance the look and feel of your store. The same can’t be said for a great looking store without payment modules installed, for example.
Good luck 
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