A realistic Shopify setup checklist
The order you do things in decides how much you repeat. Teams that start with the theme spend the last week fixing product data; teams that start with the data spend the last week on the theme, which is far more pleasant.
This is the sequence we use, with the reason each step sits where it does.
The sequence that avoids rework#
- Decide what an order must contain to be correct. One page, written down.
- Get the product data right: options, variants, SKUs, images, stock.
- Set up payments and confirm the provider onboarding timeline.
- Configure tax and shipping for your first market only.
- Pick and install a theme close to what you need.
- Customise in sections and app blocks, not scattered edits.
- Add apps you can name a reason for, one at a time.
- Test one real order end to end, including a refund.
- Set up analytics and the reports you will actually read.
- Write down who owns the store after launch.
Why product data comes before the theme#
Your variant structure decides what the product page can do. Choosing a theme first means picking a layout for a catalogue you have not defined, and the mismatch shows up as customisation you did not want to buy.
Export your catalogue to a spreadsheet and look at it as a table before importing. The inconsistencies are visible there in minutes.
Launch narrow#
| Do at launch | Leave for month two |
|---|---|
| One market | Additional countries and currencies |
| One payment method that works | Wallets and buy-now-pay-later |
| A clean catalogue | Bundles, subscriptions, pre-orders |
| Basic transactional emails | Full lifecycle marketing |
| One shipping rule | Rate tables per region |
The test that catches most launch problems#
Place a real order with a real card, then refund it. That single loop touches payment, order creation, stock, email, and your accounting export. If it works cleanly, most of the store works.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a straightforward setup take?
Two to four weeks for a small catalogue on a standard theme, and most of that is product data rather than configuration.
Should I import products before choosing a theme?
Yes. The variant structure decides what the product page has to do.
What is most often forgotten?
Testing a refund, and deciding who maintains the store after launch.
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