Launch checklist for a new Shopify store

Launching a store is exciting, and it’s easy to open the doors with something important missing: a payment method still in test mode, a policy page with placeholder text, or order emails that never arrive. Use this checklist in the last week before launch. Work through it on your phone as well as a computer, because that’s where most of your customers will shop.

Products

• Every product has a clear name, the right price and the correct options, such as sizes or colours.
• Stock quantities are set, so you don’t sell what you don’t have.
• Descriptions answer the obvious questions: material, size, usage, care, what’s included.
• Photos show the real product, load quickly and look right on a phone.
• Products are grouped into collections that make sense to a shopper.

Pages

• The homepage says what you sell within a few seconds.
• About and Contact pages are complete, with a way to reach you.
• Shipping, returns and refund, privacy and terms policies are published and match how you actually work.
• No placeholder text or sample products are left anywhere.

Payments

• Your payment provider has approved your account.
• Test mode is switched off.
• A real payment goes through, and you can refund it.
• Cash on delivery is set up the way you want it, including any limits by PIN code or order value. See our COD guide.

Shipping and orders

• Shipping rates at checkout match what you decided (free above a value, flat rate, COD charge).
• Your shipping partner is connected, and a test order appears in it.
• Tracking details reach the customer.
• Order confirmation emails and WhatsApp notifications arrive and look right.

Protection against fake orders

• OTP verification or similar checks are working on COD orders.
• Spam and repeat-order protection is switched on.

Tracking and search

• Analytics records visits and orders.
• The Meta Pixel is installed if you plan to run Facebook or Instagram ads.
• Page titles and descriptions are filled in for the homepage, collections and key products, and the store is added to Google Search Console. Our basic SEO guide explains what this does.

Domain and opening

• Your domain is connected and the store opens on it, with and without “www”.
• The store password page is removed.
• You’ve placed one complete order on your phone, start to finish, both prepaid and COD.

After launch

• Watch the first orders closely, from checkout to delivery.
• Reply to customer messages quickly in the first weeks.
• Note the questions customers ask, and answer them on the product pages.

How we handle it

On the stores we build, you review and approve the website first. Then we connect your domain, payments, shipping partner, Meta Pixel and analytics, test them, and transfer ownership of the store to you. If you’ve built a store yourself and want a second pair of eyes before opening, that’s what our launch support is for.

What to take from it

• Check products, pages, payments, shipping, safeguards, tracking and the domain.
• Test everything on a phone, with a real prepaid order and a COD order.
• Make sure policies match how you actually work.
• Stay close to the first orders after launch.

Store nearly ready? Tell us where you are and we’ll help you get it open.