Before hiring: You should already know what you sell, where you ship, how customers pay and which content exists. A developer cannot efficiently resolve an unfinished business model through theme customization.
Phase the work into four milestones
Structure
Navigation, collections, product types, required pages, markets, currencies and integrations.
Navigation, collections, product types, required pages, markets, currencies and integrations.
Design
Theme choice, page layouts, brand application, reusable sections and mobile behavior.
Theme choice, page layouts, brand application, reusable sections and mobile behavior.
Build and migration
Theme configuration, products, content, apps, analytics and redirects.
Theme configuration, products, content, apps, analytics and redirects.
QA and handoff
Checkout tests, device checks, performance review, permissions, documentation and training.
Checkout tests, device checks, performance review, permissions, documentation and training.
What belongs in the scope
| Area | Decisions to document |
|---|---|
| Catalog | Product count, variants, collections, subscriptions, bundles and data source |
| Design | Theme, custom sections, page templates, existing brand files and accessibility |
| Commerce | Payments, taxes, shipping rules, returns and markets |
| Apps | Reviews, email, search, subscriptions, translation and ongoing fees |
| Tracking | Analytics, pixels, consent, conversion events and account ownership |
| Handoff | Training, documentation, support period and editable source/theme access |
Copy this project scope
PROJECT: Shopify store setup and launch
BUSINESS:
- Products and customer: [summary]
- Target launch date: [date]
- Countries, currencies and languages: [details]
- Existing store or migration source: [details]
CATALOG:
- Product count: [number]
- Average variants per product: [number]
- Collections: [list]
- Content/assets ready: [yes/no and gaps]
PAGES AND TEMPLATES:
- Home
- Collection
- Product
- About
- Contact
- FAQ
- Shipping and returns
- Legal/policy pages supplied by me
FUNCTIONS:
- Payments: [providers]
- Shipping: [rules]
- Reviews: [app/preference]
- Email: [platform]
- Analytics and pixels: [list]
- Other integrations: [list]
DELIVERABLES:
- Theme setup and documented customizations
- Mobile and desktop QA
- Test order and transactional-email check
- Redirect plan if migrating
- Admin handoff and recorded training
- [7/14/30]-day post-launch support window
PLEASE QUOTE SEPARATELY:
1. Store structure and design
2. Build and content migration
3. App/integration setup
4. Launch QA and handoff
5. Optional ongoing support
Selection questions for a Shopify specialist
- Which stores in your portfolio match this catalog and functionality?
- What will use native theme features versus custom code?
- Which recurring app costs does your proposal introduce?
- How will redirects, analytics and test orders be verified?
- Who owns the theme, accounts, code and configuration at handoff?
Account safety: Keep the store, domain, payment provider and analytics accounts in your business's name. Grant collaborator access rather than transferring permanent ownership or sharing passwords.
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