Most bad Shopify hires aren't caused by a bad hourly rate. They're caused by finding out too late that the work can't be maintained, doesn't belong to you, or broke something nobody tested. This checklist covers what to check before you hire a Shopify developer, freelancer or agency. That includes us. If you're choosing an agency instead of one developer, use our guide to how to choose a Shopify agency. If you haven't decided which model fits, compare agency vs freelancer vs offshore team first.
1. Decide what kind of Shopify work you need
"Shopify developer" covers several different skill sets. Match the person to the work:
- Theme work: Liquid, Online Store 2.0 sections and blocks, CSS and JavaScript, page speed.
- App development: a Shopify app built on the official app template, the GraphQL Admin API, Polaris and App Bridge.
- Checkout and discounts: checkout UI extensions and Shopify Functions. Functions compile to WebAssembly, and Shopify recommends Rust for complex or high-volume logic.
- Integrations: webhooks, background jobs and syncing with ERP, warehouse or accounting systems.
A great theme developer isn't automatically a good app or integration developer. Ask which of these they've done recently.
2. Ask for proof you can check yourself
- Live store URLs, with a clear note of what they built on each one: the whole theme, a few sections or an app.
- App Store listings or apps you can install on a development store.
- Code: a GitHub profile or a code sample. Real commits tell you more than screenshots.
- Reviews from named clients on platforms such as Clutch or the Shopify Partner Directory.
Screenshots and logos alone prove very little. A developer who can't point to anything you can open or run is asking you to take their word for it.
3. Pay for a small test task
A few paid hours on a real, small task beats any interview. Good test tasks are:
- adding a section with merchant-editable settings to your theme
- fixing a real speed or layout issue on one template
- writing a GraphQL Admin API query that pages through products
Judge how they asked questions, how they communicated, how clean the code is, and whether they tested on mobile. Not just whether it works.
4. Ask questions with answers you can judge
| Question | A good answer includes |
|---|---|
| How will you change the theme without breaking the live store? | Work on an unpublished copy of the theme, preview links, and version control such as Shopify's GitHub integration for themes |
| Which API will the app or integration use? | The GraphQL Admin API. The REST Admin API has been legacy since October 1, 2024 (why that matters). |
| Does this need Shopify Plus? | A clear yes or no. Custom apps with Functions, and checkout extensions on the Information, Shipping and Payment steps, need Plus (what each plan can do). |
| How will you test checkout changes? | Test orders through Shopify Payments test mode or the test payment gateway, and a plan for when to do it, because live orders can't be placed while test mode is on |
| Should this be an app, and which kind? | A reasoned choice between an App Store app, a custom app and theme code (custom vs public apps) |
5. Give access safely
- Use a collaborator account, not your owner login. It doesn't count toward your staff limit, and you share your collaborator request code (Settings > Users > Security) only with the developer you hired.
- Grant only the permissions the job needs, and remove access when the work ends.
- Never share your owner password or payment details.
For permissions by type of work, the theme and app workflow and an offboarding list, follow our collaborator access, step by step checklist.
6. Make sure you own the work
- Code lives in a repository you control, or is handed over at each milestone.
- Custom apps are created in your own organization, or there's a written plan for what happens to them when you stop working together.
- The contract assigns the code and designs to you on payment, and covers confidentiality.
- Paid themes are bought from the Shopify Theme Store for your store. A Theme Store theme can only be used on one store at a time, and Shopify says those themes can't be bought anywhere else.
7. Agree on how the work runs
- one place for tasks and decisions, not scattered chat messages
- a fixed update rhythm, for example a short written update every working day
- working-hour overlap: how many hours a day, and in which time zone
- how scope changes are raised, priced and approved
- milestones with a preview link or demo, and payments tied to them
8. Plan for after launch
- a bug-fix period after launch, in writing
- documentation for anything custom: what it does, where it runs, how to change it
- who updates custom apps and integrations. Shopify releases a new API version every quarter and supports each for at least 12 months.
Red flags
- They ask for your owner login or password.
- They offer a premium Theme Store theme "cheaper" from somewhere else. Shopify says those themes can't be bought elsewhere, and an unlicensed theme can't be customized or published and can lead to account restrictions.
- They can't show work you can open or run.
- They say yes to everything without mentioning plan limits, existing apps or trade-offs.
- They plan to edit the live theme directly, with no copy or backup.
- They want to keep the code, the app or the repository in their own accounts, with no handover.
- There's no contract, or payment is due in full up front.
The checklist in short
- The developer's recent experience matches the type of work
- Proof you can check: live stores, apps or code, and named reviews
- A small paid test task, reviewed for communication and code quality
- Clear answers on theme workflow, API choice, plan requirements and testing
- A collaborator account with limited permissions and a request code
- Code, apps and themes owned by you, in writing
- An agreed update rhythm, overlap hours and change-request process
- A bug-fix period and documentation after launch
Wondering what the work should cost? Read what drives Shopify developer cost in 2026. If you'd like a Shopify developer who works this way, see how to hire a dedicated Shopify developer from our team.
