Apply through OpenAI's rolling chatgpt.com/merchants application process to enable ChatGPT product discovery and agent checkout for a storefront outside the auto-eligible Shopify and Etsy seller pool

Steps

1. Confirm whether your storefront is already auto-eligible (current Shopify and Etsy sellers are onboarded without a separate application) before starting a manual application
2. If not auto-eligible, submit an application through the chatgpt.com/merchants portal, since OpenAI onboards additional merchants on a rolling basis rather than opening general self-service access immediately
3. Prepare your product data pipeline (ACP-compatible Product Feed, accurate inventory/pricing) in advance so it's ready once the application is approved, since data quality has been a documented bottleneck in OpenAI's own rollout
4. Track that OpenAI has been shifting away from a standalone in-chat Instant Checkout experience toward better discovery paired with merchant-owned checkout for many flows -- confirm which checkout model applies to your onboarding tier at application time
5. Budget for iteration: OpenAI has publicly acknowledged struggles with product-data accuracy, multi-item carts, and loyalty-membership connections during merchant onboarding
6. Watch for the self-service merchant portal OpenAI has said it intends to launch, which may change or simplify this application process