The Ultimate Shopify Launch Checklist

This comprehensive shopify launch checklist covers every step you need to complete for a successful, professional Shopify store. Use it as your go-to reference — bookmark it and work through it systematically.

How to Use This Checklist

Work through each section in order. Some steps depend on previous steps being complete. Don’t skip sections — even if you think you’ve covered something, a quick review often surfaces missed details that can impact your store’s performance.

Mark each item complete as you go. If something isn’t applicable to your store type, note it as N/A so you revisit it intentionally rather than accidentally overlooking it.

Section 1 — Store Foundation

• ☐ Choose and configure your Shopify plan (Settings → Plan)
• ☐ Set store name, currency, timezone, and units (Settings → General)
• ☐ Add your business address and contact details
• ☐ Connect a custom domain (Online Store → Domains)
• ☐ Set up SSL certificate (auto-enabled with custom domain in Shopify)
• ☐ Choose and configure your theme (Online Store → Themes)
• ☐ Upload logo and favicon (Theme Editor → Header)
• ☐ Set brand colors and typography in Theme Editor

Section 2 — Products and Inventory

• ☐ Add all products with accurate titles, descriptions, and images
• ☐ Set correct pricing (compare-at price for sale items)
• ☐ Configure product variants (sizes, colors, etc.)
• ☐ Add product weight for shipping calculations
• ☐ Set SKU and barcode for inventory tracking
• ☐ Configure inventory tracking per product
• ☐ Organize products into collections
• ☐ Set product SEO title and meta description
• ☐ Add alt text to all product images

Section 3 — Payments

• ☐ Enable Shopify Payments (or alternative gateway)
• ☐ Add backup payment methods (PayPal, etc.)
• ☐ Set payout schedule
• ☐ Enable accelerated checkouts (Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• ☐ Configure BNPL if relevant (Afterpay, Klarna, etc.)
• ☐ Test payments with Shopify’s test mode

Section 4 — Shipping

• ☐ Configure shipping zones for all markets you serve
• ☐ Set shipping rates (flat rate, calculated, or free)
• ☐ Set up free shipping threshold (recommended)
• ☐ Configure packaging dimensions and weights
• ☐ Set up shipping profiles if needed (for products with different rates)
• ☐ Enable local pickup/delivery if applicable

Section 5 — Taxes

• ☐ Review automatic tax settings (Settings → Taxes)
• ☐ Set up overrides for specific products/regions if needed
• ☐ Configure tax registration numbers (VAT, GST, etc.)
• ☐ Verify tax-inclusive/exclusive settings match your target market

Section 6 — Legal Pages

• ☐ Create Privacy Policy page (use Shopify’s generator in Settings → Policies)
• ☐ Create Terms of Service
• ☐ Create Refund/Return Policy
• ☐ Create Shipping Policy
• ☐ Add policy links to footer navigation
• ☐ Add cookie consent banner (if selling to EU/UK customers)

Section 7 — Marketing and SEO

• ☐ Connect Google Search Console
• ☐ Set up Google Analytics 4
• ☐ Install Facebook Pixel / Meta Pixel
• ☐ Write SEO title and meta description for homepage
• ☐ Submit sitemap to Google (via Search Console)
• ☐ Create at least 2-3 blog posts for content marketing
• ☐ Set up email capture (newsletter popup or embedded form)
• ☐ Configure abandoned cart email (Shopify Email or Klaviyo)
• ☐ Set up welcome email for new subscribers

Section 8 — Store Design and UX

• ☐ Test full purchase flow as a customer (place a test order)
• ☐ Test on mobile (both iOS Safari and Android Chrome)
• ☐ Check all navigation links work correctly
• ☐ Verify search functionality works
• ☐ Add product reviews app and import/create initial reviews
• ☐ Add trust badges to product pages and checkout
• ☐ Create and link social media profiles

Section 9 — Customer Experience

• ☐ Set up customer accounts (optional but recommended)
• ☐ Configure order confirmation email
• ☐ Configure shipping notification email
• ☐ Set up a contact page with form
• ☐ Add FAQ page (reduces support queries)
• ☐ Set up live chat or at minimum a visible email/contact method

Section 10 — Final Pre-Launch Checks

• ☐ Remove password protection (Settings → Online Store → Preferences)
• ☐ Test checkout with real payment (then refund yourself)
• ☐ Check all product pages display correctly
• ☐ Verify all discount codes work if applicable
• ☐ Confirm order notification emails are going to the right address
• ☐ Announce launch on social media
• ☐ Tell friends, family, and network to visit and provide feedback

Post-Launch Checklist (First 30 Days)

• ☐ Monitor Shopify analytics daily for the first week
• ☐ Review any support emails or messages quickly
• ☐ Check Google Search Console for crawl errors
• ☐ Start building backlinks (directories, social media, content)
• ☐ Review first customer feedback and make quick UX improvements
• ☐ Plan first promotional campaign (discount code, email to list)

Summary

A properly configured Shopify store gives you the best possible foundation for growth. Work through this checklist methodically — don’t rush. Each section builds on the previous one. Once you’ve completed everything, you’ll have a professional, fully-functional Shopify store ready to generate sales.