When I decided to sell my handmade candles online, I hired the cheapest Shopify developer I could find. Three months later, my store was slow, half the product pages looked broken on phones, and the developer stopped answering my emails. I had to pay someone else to fix it all.
That experience taught me that hiring the right Shopify store development service matters just as much as having great products. If you’re about to hire someone to build your store, here are the mistakes I made (and saw others make) so you can avoid them.
1. Choosing Based on Price Alone
A low price looks great at first. But cheap builds often skip important steps like mobile testing, speed checks, and clean setup. You end up paying twice: once for the build and again for the fixes.
Example: Developer A quotes $500 with no details. Developer B quotes more but lists the theme setup, product uploads, mobile testing, and payment setup. Developer B is likely the better value.
2. Not Checking Their Past Work
Always ask to see real Shopify stores the team has built. Then visit those stores yourself.
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Do the pages load quickly?
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Does the store look good on your phone?
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Is it easy to find a product and check out?
If they can’t show you any live stores, that’s a warning sign.
3. Skipping a Clear Project Plan
Many problems start because nobody wrote down what was included. Before you sign anything, ask for a written plan that covers:
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The number of pages and products to set up
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Design and theme work
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Payment and shipping setup
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How many rounds of changes you get
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The launch date
Example: You assume product photos will be edited and uploaded. The developer assumes you’ll do it. A written plan avoids this mix-up.
4. Ignoring Mobile Shoppers
A large share of online shopping now happens on phones. If your store is hard to use on a small screen, shoppers leave. Ask how the team tests the store on different phones and tablets before launch.
5. Forgetting About Speed and SEO
A beautiful store doesn’t help if nobody finds it or it takes forever to load. Ask the developer:
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How they keep pages fast (for example, by compressing images)
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Whether they set up page titles, meta descriptions, and clean URLs
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Whether they connect tools like Google Search Console
6. Adding Too Many Apps
Shopify apps are handy, but each one can slow your store down and add a monthly fee. A good developer will suggest only the apps you truly need.
Example: Instead of installing three separate apps for reviews, pop-ups, and upsells, ask if one tool or a built-in feature can handle the job.
7. Not Asking Who Owns the Store
Make sure the Shopify account, domain, and design files are in your name. Some shops set everything up under their own accounts, which makes it hard to leave later.
8. No Plan for Support After Launch
Things break, apps update, and you’ll want changes as your business grows. Ask what happens after launch:
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Is there a support period?
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How fast do they reply to problems?
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What do updates cost?
9. Poor Communication From the Start
If a developer is slow to reply or vague before you hire them, it rarely gets better later. Pay attention to how quickly and clearly they answer your first questions.
Quick Hiring Checklist
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Viewed at least three live Shopify stores they built
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Got a written quote and project plan
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Confirmed mobile testing and speed checks
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Asked about basic SEO setup
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Confirmed the store and domain are in my name
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Agreed on support after launch
Quick FAQs
What does a Shopify store development service include?
It usually covers store design, theme setup, product pages, payment and shipping settings, and launch. Some teams also help with domain and hosting setup.
Can I build a Shopify store myself?
Yes, for a simple store. A professional service helps when you want a custom look, many products, or a store built to convert visitors into buyers.
How long does it take to build a Shopify store?
It depends on the size of the store and how many changes you need. Ask for a timeline in writing before work starts.
Final Thoughts
The right Shopify store development service will give you a fast, mobile-friendly store that you fully own and that’s built to sell, so take the time to avoid these common mistakes before you hire. If you’re in New York and want a custom Shopify store built for sales, Top New York Web Design offers end-to-end Shopify design and development. Visit them at 212-20 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428, call (917) 730-2010, or request a quote online today.
