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Shopify Store Launch Checklist

The exact checklist we run before we put a client's Shopify store live — setup, products, design, apps, payments, SEO, QA, and launch day, in order.

45 checkpoints 8 stages Download the PDF ↓

ABOUT THIS CHECKLIST

Launching a Shopify store is less about one big moment and more about a hundred small things being right — a payment method that actually captures, a redirect that fires, a meta title that isn't missing. This is the checklist our team works through before every store we launch, distilled into steps you can follow yourself. Preview it below, or download the branded PDF to tick items off as you go.

The full checklist

Tick items off as you go — or grab the branded PDF below to work through it offline.

01Foundations & store setup

Choose the right Shopify plan for your order volume and card rates
Connect your custom domain and force HTTPS + www→non-www redirect
Set store currency, units, time zone, and default weight
Configure customer accounts (optional vs. required at checkout)
Set up staff accounts with correct permissions
Install your theme and remove the default demo content

02Products, collections & content

Upload products with clean titles, descriptions, and all variants
Add high-quality images (and video where it helps) with descriptive alt text
Set pricing, compare-at pricing, SKUs, and inventory tracking
Build collections and a navigation/mega-menu that matches how customers shop
Write key pages: About, Contact, FAQ, and policy pages
Add size guides, ingredient/spec info, or other category-specific detail

03Design, UX & mobile

Apply brand colours, fonts, logo, and favicon consistently
Set up the cart drawer with a free-shipping progress bar and upsell block
Add trust badges, reviews, and clear shipping/returns messaging
Configure the announcement bar and email-capture popup
Test the full journey on real mobile devices, not just desktop preview
Confirm sticky add-to-cart and fast-loading product galleries on mobile

04Apps, marketing & retention

Install a reviews app with an automated review-request flow
Set up email/SMS (welcome, abandoned cart, post-purchase, win-back)
Configure loyalty, bundles, or subscriptions if they fit your catalogue
Connect your WhatsApp channel for support and order updates
Add post-purchase upsells on the thank-you page

05Payments, shipping & tax

Enable and test your payment gateway plus Shop Pay / Apple Pay / Google Pay
Place a real test order and confirm the money lands and refunds work
Set shipping zones, rates, and any free-shipping threshold
Configure tax settings for the regions you sell to
Confirm order confirmation and shipping notification emails send correctly

06SEO & analytics

Set unique page titles and meta descriptions on key pages
Check clean URL structure, headings, and image alt text
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console
Install and verify GA4 and any advertising pixels (Meta, TikTok)
Confirm structured data (product, breadcrumb, FAQ) is present

07Pre-launch QA

Test checkout end-to-end on desktop and mobile, in every browser
Click every navigation link and CTA — no dead ends or 404s
Proofread all copy, prices, and policy pages
Verify forms deliver to the right inbox and autoresponders fire
Run a speed check and fix anything obviously slow
Remove the storefront password and any "staging" noindex tags

08Launch day & the first 48 hours

Go live during a lower-traffic window, not peak
Place one more real order the moment you launch
Watch analytics, error logs, and payment captures closely
Have someone ready to answer support and WhatsApp quickly
Announce to your email list and social channels
Keep a short punch-list of fixes for the first week

• FREE CHECKLIST PDF

Shopify Store Launch Checklist

A clean, branded PDF of all 45 checkpoints — print it, share it with your team, and tick items off as you launch.

Foundations & store setup
Products, collections & content
Design, UX & mobile
Apps, marketing & retention
Payments, shipping & tax
SEO & analytics
Pre-launch QA
Launch day & the first 48 hours

Frequently Asked
Questions

Common questions about this checklist.

Is this checklist only for new stores?

It is built for a first launch, but most of it applies to a relaunch or redesign too. If you are moving from another platform, pair it with our Shopify Migration Checklist.

Do I need a developer to use it?

No — it is written so a store owner can follow it. That said, some steps (payment testing, structured data, speed) are where a partner earns their keep. We handle all of it in our Shopify development work.

Can you just launch the store for me?

Yes. We design, build, and launch Shopify stores end-to-end — or audit a store you have already built. Get in touch or grab a free store audit.

Shopify Store Launch Checklist

The full checklist

01Foundations & store setup

02Products, collections & content

03Design, UX & mobile

04Apps, marketing & retention

05Payments, shipping & tax

06SEO & analytics

07Pre-launch QA

08Launch day & the first 48 hours

Shopify Store Launch Checklist

Here’s your checklist!

Frequently Asked
Questions

Your Trusted Growth Partner
For Startups And Enterprises

Shopify Store Launch Checklist

The full checklist

01Foundations & store setup

02Products, collections & content

03Design, UX & mobile

04Apps, marketing & retention

05Payments, shipping & tax

06SEO & analytics

07Pre-launch QA

08Launch day & the first 48 hours

Shopify Store Launch Checklist

Here’s your checklist!

Frequently AskedQuestions

Your Trusted Growth PartnerFor Startups And Enterprises

Frequently Asked
Questions

Your Trusted Growth Partner
For Startups And Enterprises