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Shopify store launch checklist: what to check before you go live

By the Shoply Apps team · 20 October 2026 · 10 min read

A Shopify store launch checklist is the list of settings, products, pages and tests you confirm before you remove the store password and let real customers in. Most launch problems are small, like a product saved without a weight or a payment method never tested. This guide walks through each area in the order most stores set things up, with one line on why each item matters.

Which store settings should you check before launching a Shopify store?

Start with the basics in your Shopify admin settings, because they appear on invoices, emails and checkout.

How do you set up your domain before launch?

Connect a custom domain, set it as your primary domain, and check that other addresses redirect to it. A custom domain is your own web address (like yourstore.com) instead of the default myshopify.com address.

• Connect or buy a domain in the Domains section of your settings.
• Set the primary domain, the one shoppers and Google should see.
• Test the redirects: type the www and non-www versions and your myshopify.com address into a browser and confirm each lands on your primary domain.

DNS changes (the records pointing your domain to Shopify) can take a while, so do this a few days early.

What should every product have before you go live?

Every product should have a clear title, a real description, good photos, a correct price and cost, and the data shipping and search engines need.

• Title: what the product is, in words shoppers search for.
• Description: answers the questions a shopper would ask in a shop. See how to write product descriptions that sell.
• Photos: several clear images per product, in a consistent style. Our product photography guide covers this on a small budget.
• Price: double-check for typos and $0 prices.
• Compare-at price: the crossed-out "was" price. Leave it blank unless it is higher than the price; if it is equal or lower, the "sale" makes no sense.
• Cost per item: what one unit costs you, so Shopify can show margin. Without it you can't spot products you're selling below cost.
• SKU: your own stock code.
• Barcode (GTIN): the manufacturer's barcode number, if the product has one; shopping channels may ask for it.
• Weight: needed for calculated shipping rates.
• Inventory tracking: turn it on for stock you hold, so you don't sell what you don't have. See out of stock and oversold.
• Variants: each size or colour has its own price, cost, SKU, stock and image.
• Product type and category: help with filters, collections and shopping channels.
• SEO title and description: what appears in Google results. Use our product page SEO checklist.

Checking this by hand across a whole catalog is slow. Shoply: Item Scan & Analytics, our app on the Shopify App Store, scans every product in one go for missing costs, images, descriptions, barcodes, product types, SEO fields and more. Read what it does and why we built it.

How long does it take to prepare 30 products for launch?

Plan for a few days of focused work for 30 products, not an afternoon. Here is an example estimate; your own times will vary with how much content your supplier provides.

Total time = Minutes per product × Number of products ÷ 60
50 × 30 ÷ 60 = 25 hours

At about 5 focused hours a day, that is roughly five working days. If time is short, launch with fewer, fully finished products rather than many half-finished ones.

Are your collections and navigation ready?

Shoppers should be able to find any product in two or three clicks. A collection is a group of products, such as "Mugs".

• Collections: every product sits in at least one sensible collection.
• Main menu: short, with your key collections; no links to empty pages.
• Footer menu: policies, contact, about and FAQ.
• Search: search for a few products by name and by a common misspelling to see what comes up.

How do you check payments before launch?

Set up your payment provider, run test orders, and confirm your payout details. Shopify offers ways to place test orders, such as a test mode or a test gateway, so you can check checkout without charging a real card; see Shopify's help center for the current steps for your provider.

• Provider set up and verified, with the payment methods you want to offer.
• Test orders placed successfully in test mode.
• Payout details: bank account and business information complete, so money can reach you.

What shipping and tax settings do you need?

You need shipping zones and rates for every place you sell to, and tax settings that match your obligations. A shipping zone is a group of countries or regions that share the same rates.

• Zones and rates: every country you sell to has a rate; see our shipping settings guide.
• Free shipping threshold, if you offer one, set at a level your margin can carry. See how to set a free shipping threshold.
• Taxes: register your business and collect sales tax or VAT as your country requires. Rules vary, so ask a local accountant before you launch.

What should you check in checkout and notifications?

Decide how customers check out and make sure the emails they receive look like your brand.

• Customer accounts: choose whether accounts are optional; guest checkout removes a step for first-time buyers.
• Order confirmation and shipping emails: add your logo and colours, and send yourself a test.
• Abandoned checkout email: turn it on so shoppers who leave checkout get a reminder. See abandoned cart recovery.

Which policies and legal pages does a new store need?

At minimum, publish refund, privacy, terms of service, shipping and contact information, and link them in your footer. Shopify can generate policy templates, but treat them as a starting point: read and adapt them to how you actually work.

• Refund policy: time limits, condition of items, who pays return shipping.
• Privacy policy: what data you collect and why.
• Terms of service: the rules of buying from you.
• Shipping policy: where you ship, how long it takes, what it costs.
• Contact page: an email address at least.
• Cookie consent: required in some regions; check the rules where your customers are.

How do you check speed and mobile before launch?

Open your store on a real phone, not just a desktop preview, and fix anything slow or hard to tap.

• Real phone test: browse, search, add to cart and reach checkout.
• Compress images: large files slow pages down. See our product image size guide.
• Remove unused apps: leftover app code can slow your theme.

What analytics and marketing should be ready at launch?

Get search engines able to find you, make sure you can measure visits and sales, and give visitors a way to stay in touch.

• Google Search Console: verify your domain and submit your sitemap (Shopify creates one at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). See Shopify SEO for beginners.
• Analytics: check Shopify's reports work and connect any extra analytics you plan to use.
• Email signup: a signup form in the footer or a popup. Our email marketing guide explains what to send.
• Social links: only to accounts you actually use.

Why should you place real test orders before launch?

A real order with a real card is the only way to check the whole journey, from product page to payout.

1. Remove test mode and buy a cheap product with your own card.
2. Check the confirmation email, the order in your admin, the tax and the shipping charge.
3. Fulfil it and check the shipping email.
4. Refund or cancel it, and check the refund email.

Note that payment fees on a refunded test order may not be returned; check your provider's terms.

When should you remove the password? Your Shopify store launch checklist summary

Remove the password only when every must-have item below is done. New Shopify stores are password protected by default; you turn the password off in your online store preferences, usually after choosing a plan.

What should you do on launch day and in the first week?

On launch day, watch closely and fix fast; in the first week, learn from real visitors.

Launch day

• Visit the store logged out, on phone and desktop.
• Check your inbox and orders every few hours.

First week after launch

• Fulfil every order quickly and answer every message.
• Look at which products get views but no sales; check their photos, price and description.
• Plan a monthly check of your products with our catalog health checklist.

FAQ

How long does it take to launch a Shopify store?

It depends mostly on how many products you have and how much content you must write. In our example, preparing 30 products takes about 25 hours, plus time for settings, policies and test orders, so plan for one to two weeks of part-time work.

Can I launch a Shopify store without a custom domain?

Yes, your store works on its myshopify.com address, but a custom domain looks more trustworthy and is easier to remember. Connect it a few days before launch so DNS changes have time to update.

How do I place a test order on Shopify?

Use a test mode or test payment gateway so you can check out without charging a real card; see Shopify's help center for the current steps for your payment provider. Then place one real order with your own card and refund it.

Do I need all my policies before launching?

Yes, publish refund, privacy, terms of service and shipping policies plus contact details before launch. Shopify can generate templates, but review them and adapt them to your business, and ask a professional about legal questions.