Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Shopify Agency

Experience and fit

• Have you built stores like mine, in my category and at my size? Can I see them?
• Who will actually work on my project, and what is their experience?
• Can I speak to a past client?
• Which work are you proudest of, and what went wrong on a project and how did you handle it?
• Do you build custom themes, apps and integrations in-house, or subcontract them?

Process and scope

• What does your process look like from discovery to launch, and what do I need to provide?
• What exactly is included, and what would count as out of scope?
• How do you handle changes to scope, and how are they priced?
• How long will this take, and what could delay it?
• How will I see progress, and who signs off at each stage?

SEO and speed

Many agencies treat these as extras. They should be part of the build.

• How will you protect our SEO, including redirects, metadata and structured data? See our migration guide.
• What speed targets do you work to, and how do you measure them? Ask about Core Web Vitals.
• How do you decide whether to add an app or build a feature in the theme?
• How do you handle accessibility and mobile design?

Pricing and contracts

• Is the price fixed, hourly or a retainer, and what is it based on?
• What is not included, such as apps, licences, content, photography or third-party fees?
• What are the payment milestones?
• What happens if the project runs over?
• Can I leave the contract, and what happens then?

Be wary of quotes far below the others. Compare scope, not only price. A cheap quote that leaves out redirects, testing or SEO can cost much more later.

Ownership and access

• Will the store, theme code, apps and accounts be in my name?
• Do I get full access to everything, including the code and any custom apps?
• Is the work documented so another developer could pick it up?
• Are any third-party apps or tools I would be locked into?

Communication and after launch

• Who is my day-to-day contact, and how quickly do they respond?
• How do you report progress and problems?
• What support is included after launch, and for how long?
• How do you handle urgent issues, such as a broken checkout?
• Do you offer ongoing improvement or maintenance, and what does it cost?

Red flags

• Guaranteed rankings or sales.
• No portfolio, or work they will not let you look at closely.
• Pressure to sign quickly, or a quote that appears before they understand your business.
• Vague answers about who does the work.
• No mention of testing, redirects, speed or SEO.
• Reluctance to put things in writing, or to give you ownership of your own store.

If you are comparing us with other agencies, ask us these same questions. You can book a free call to do so.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a Shopify agency?

Look for relevant experience, a clear process and scope, a plan for SEO and speed, transparent pricing, full ownership for you, and proof such as past clients and live work.

How much should a Shopify agency charge?

It varies widely by scope and team. Compare what is included, and be cautious about quotes that are far below others without a clear reason.

Should I hire a Shopify agency or a freelancer?

Freelancers can suit small, well-defined work. Agencies suit larger projects that need several skills, project management and continuity. Judge either on experience, process and references.