Hiring guide
How to hire a Shopify developer
Last reviewed , published by Gjethe
The short answer
To hire a Shopify developer, be clear whether you need theme customisation, a custom theme, app integrations or a migration; look for live Shopify stores in their portfolio; ask how they handle performance, SEO, product data and apps; check they work in your Shopify account with collaborator access; and compare written scopes.
Shopify makes it easy to start a store, but building one that's fast, converts well and is easy to manage takes experience. Shopify development ranges from small theme tweaks to custom themes, headless builds and integrations with ERP or fulfilment systems. Knowing which you need helps you find the right developer.
Types of Shopify work
| Work | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Theme set-up and customisation | Configuring and adapting an existing theme |
| Custom theme | A theme designed and coded for your brand |
| App integrations | Reviews, subscriptions, search, shipping and more |
| Custom apps and functions | Bespoke features using Shopify's APIs |
| Migration | Moving products, customers and orders from another platform |
| Headless | A custom front end connected to Shopify |
What to look for
- Live Shopify stores you can browse
- Fast mobile performance on those stores
- Experience with your kind of catalogue
- Familiarity with Shopify's theme architecture and Liquid
- A thoughtful approach to apps and their costs
- SEO and redirect handling for migrations
Questions to ask
| Question | Why |
|---|---|
| Will you work through collaborator access? | Keeps the store in your account |
| Which apps will you add, and what do they cost? | Apps add monthly fees and can slow the store |
| How do you test checkout? | Checkout problems lose sales silently |
| How will you handle redirects? | Protects search rankings in migrations |
| Can our team edit content afterwards? | Avoids paying for every small change |
Apps: helpful and risky
Shopify's app ecosystem is powerful, but each app adds cost and often scripts that slow pages. Stores frequently end up with apps nobody remembers installing. A good developer recommends apps carefully, uses built-in features where possible and removes leftover code when apps are uninstalled.
Ask for a list of planned apps with their monthly cost before work begins.
Red flags
Avoid developers who ask for your owner login instead of collaborator access, who can't show live stores, or who propose a long list of apps without explaining why. Be cautious about migrations without a redirect plan.
Quotes that don't mention product data, payment settings or analytics may be leaving out important work.
Think beyond launch
Stores need ongoing work: new products, seasonal campaigns, app updates and conversion improvements. Choose a developer or agency that can support you after launch, or train your team to handle routine tasks.
Accurate analytics and conversion tracking from day one also make every later decision easier.
Ask about performance and conversion
A beautiful store that loads slowly or has a confusing checkout loses sales. Ask candidates how they measure speed, how they keep app scripts under control and how they've improved conversion for past clients.
Developers who think about the shopping experience, not just code, usually build stores that sell better.
Shopify skills to look for
| Skill | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Online Store 2.0 themes and sections | Lets your team edit pages without code |
| Liquid templating | Needed for custom theme work |
| App ecosystem knowledge | Avoids unnecessary or slow apps |
| Shopify APIs and functions | Enables custom features and integrations |
| Analytics and tracking | Accurate data for marketing decisions |
| Migration experience | Protects data and SEO when moving platforms |
Planning ongoing work
After launch, stores need new collections, campaigns, product updates and improvements. Agree how small changes will be handled (by your team, through a maintenance plan or per request) so the store keeps improving.
Regular conversion reviews often find quick wins in product pages and checkout.
Testing before launch
Ask how the developer tests a store before launch: placing real test orders with each payment method, checking taxes and shipping for each market, testing discount codes, verifying emails and checking pages on real phones.
A launch checklist shared with you is a good sign of a careful developer.
Data and analytics
Accurate tracking of sales, conversions and marketing sources is essential for growing a store. Ask how the developer sets up analytics, consent and ad platform tracking, and how they verify that numbers match real orders.
Wrong data leads to wrong marketing decisions, which can cost more than the build itself.
Freelancer or agency for Shopify
A freelance Shopify developer can be great for theme changes and small features. An agency is better when you also need design, migration, marketing and ongoing support, or when the store is business-critical.
Either way, check live stores, references and how they handle collaborator access and ownership.
Who should own what
Your store, payment accounts, domain, apps and theme files should all be in your company's name. Developers work through collaborator access, which you can remove any time.
This protects you if the relationship ends and makes it easy to bring in new help.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Shopify Partner?
Not necessarily, but experience with Shopify themes, apps and APIs is essential. Check their live work.
Should I use a theme or a custom design?
A well-chosen theme customised for your brand suits most stores. Custom themes make sense for distinctive brands or special requirements.
How do developers access my store?
Through collaborator access, which you approve and can remove at any time.
Can a developer migrate my store to Shopify?
Yes. Ask how they'll move products, customers and orders, and how they'll redirect old URLs.
Is Shopify Plus necessary?
Only for high-volume brands or advanced needs. Most stores run well on standard plans.
How do I keep the store fast?
Limit apps, optimise images and use a well-coded theme. Ask developers how they measure performance.
Can I edit the store after launch?
Yes. A good developer sets up sections and templates so you can update content yourself.
What about headless Shopify?
It can offer more flexibility and speed, but costs more to build and maintain. It's worth it for some brands, not most.
Can a Shopify developer help with marketing?
Some offer email, ads and SEO too, which helps because the same team understands the store's data and structure.
How do I keep apps from slowing my store?
Review installed apps regularly, remove unused ones and check that leftover code is cleaned up.
Can you set up multiple currencies?
Yes, using Shopify Markets for currencies, languages and local pricing where needed.
How do I hand over a store safely when changing developer?
Remove the old collaborator access, keep the theme backed up and ask for documentation of custom code and apps.
Can a developer build custom Shopify features?
Yes, through theme code, Shopify Functions and custom apps, when standard apps don't fit.
Related services
Shopify Development
Custom Shopify themes, apps, migrations and Shopify Plus.
Shopify App Development
Public and custom Shopify apps built on Shopify's APIs.
E-commerce Development
Online stores on Shopify, WooCommerce or a headless stack.
E-commerce Operations
Listings, catalogue, orders, returns and store admin for Shopify and WooCommerce.
Conversion Rate Optimization
Research and A/B tests that lift conversions.
Talk it through with us.
Tell us what you need. You get an honest assessment, a clear plan and a written quote. The first consultation is always free.
- What happens next
- 1You tell us what you need
- 2We aim to reply within 24 hours with questions
- 3You get a written quote for your project