Ask about their Shopify experience, relevant portfolio, development process, timeline, pricing, revision policy, integrations, testing, ownership of code and post-launch support. You should also clarify who will manage the project, what information the agency needs from you and what is excluded from the scope. Asking these questions upfront helps prevent misunderstandings later.
Pramendra YadavEnlightened
What questions should I ask a Shopify development agency before hiring them?
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Before hiring a Shopify agency, ask questions that reveal its experience, development process, technical capabilities, pricing, communication, and post-launch support. Request specific examples and written answers so you can compare proposals consistently.
1. Experience and portfolio
Have you developed Shopify stores in my industry?
Can you show me three to five live Shopify stores you have built?
What was your exact role in each project?
Have you worked with brands of my size, budget, and business model?
Can I speak with one or two previous clients?
Do you have experience with Shopify Plus, if my project requires it?
2. Project scope and development process
What exactly is included in your proposal?
Will you use an existing theme, customize one, or build a custom theme?
What are the main stages of your development process?
Who will handle UI/UX design, development, content, and testing?
What information and materials do you need from me?
How will you handle changes or additional features during development?
What is the estimated timeline, and what could delay the launch?
3. Technical capabilities
Do you develop custom Shopify apps, integrations, or theme features?
Have you worked with Shopify APIs, Liquid, and Shopify Functions?
Can you integrate my payment gateway, shipping providers, ERP, CRM, or other systems?
How will you optimize the store for mobile devices and page speed?
Will the store follow accessibility and SEO best practices?
How will you handle product variants, filters, search, and large catalogs?
Will the store be easy for my team to manage without coding?
4. Pricing and contracts
What is the total project cost, and what does it include?
Are there additional charges for apps, licenses, integrations, or third-party services?
What is your payment schedule?
How do you price change requests and work outside the agreed scope?
Are there recurring fees for maintenance or support?
What happens if the project is delayed or the scope changes?
Who owns the code, design files, content, and custom functionality after payment?
5. Communication and project management
Who will be my main point of contact?
How often will you provide progress updates?
Which project management and communication tools do you use?
How will I review designs and test development milestones?
How quickly do you usually respond to questions or issues?
Will the people who pitch the project also work on it?
6. Testing, launch, and support
What testing will you perform before launch?
Will you test checkout, payments, shipping, taxes, forms, and integrations?
How will you handle redirects, metadata, and SEO during a redesign or migration?
Will you help connect the domain and configure analytics?
Do you provide staff training and documentation?
How long is the post-launch bug-fix period?
What support options are available after launch, and what do they cost?
7. Business results and ongoing improvement
How will you measure whether the project meets its goals?
Can you explain how you approach conversion rate optimization (CRO)?
Do you provide analytics setup, reporting, or experimentation support?
Can you help improve the store after launch based on customer behavior?
What performance or business outcomes can you demonstrate from relevant past projects?
The 10 essential questions
If you have limited time, prioritize these:
Hiring tip: Ask agencies to answer the same core questions in writing and provide evidence where possible—live examples, references, a detailed scope, a milestone plan, and a clear support agreement. This makes proposals easier to compare without relying only on presentations or promises.