Shopify development agency

For ecommerce brands that need a Shopify store built, customized or moved from another platform, with a written scope agreed before work starts.

Get a written Shopify scope Explore Shopify development in India

Custom Shopify theme development and storefront templates
Product, collection and payment setup with app integrations
Store migration planning with URL redirects where possible

Quick answer

The best Shopify development agency for a store is one that agrees a written scope, shows relevant work samples and explains its support terms. Pugmarks Media provides Shopify development: theme customization, product and payment setup, app integrations and platform migration, with scope defined in writing before any build begins.

01Overview

What is shopify development?

Shopify development is the work of building, customizing and extending an online store on the Shopify platform, which hosts the store, handles checkout and provides the admin where you manage products and orders. A Shopify development agency does this work for brands that want a store tailored to their catalog without running servers themselves.

Shopify itself supplies the core: hosting, security updates, a payment checkout and a theme system. Development covers what sits on top. That means theme code, page templates, product and collection structure, app connections and data imports.

Here is a concrete example. A brand selling skincare has 120 products, three product types and customers in two countries. A developer adapts a theme so each product page shows ingredients and usage steps, sets up collections by skin concern, connects a shipping tool and an email platform, and configures currencies and taxes for both markets.

Choosing the best Shopify development agency for a project like this is less about a label and more about fit. Look for a written scope, relevant work samples and clear support terms. You can review examples on our web design and development portfolio.

Shopify development differs from building on WooCommerce or a custom framework. Shopify is hosted and more standardized, so setup is usually faster. Custom builds allow more freedom but need more ongoing maintenance. See our WooCommerce development page for that comparison.

02Fit

Who shopify development is for

Founders launching a first online store

You have a catalog but no store. You get a Shopify build with theme, product pages, payments and shipping configured against a written scope.

Brands outgrowing WooCommerce or another platform

Hosting, plugin upkeep or checkout limits slow your team down. You get a migration plan covering products, customers, orders and URL redirects where possible.

Established stores with a dated theme

Your store runs on a stock template that no longer fits your range. You get custom templates for home, collection, product and cart pages.

Operations teams doing manual data entry

Orders, stock and email are copied between tools by hand. You get Shopify connected to payment, shipping, inventory and email tools.

Brands selling in several markets

You need more than one currency, language or tax setup. You get store configuration for those markets, scoped before the build starts.

Retailers adding online to a physical shop

You sell in person and want the same catalog online. You get product and collection structure, data import and checkout setup.

03Scope

What's included

Custom theme developmentWe build or adapt Shopify theme templates for home, collection, product and cart pages. Suited to brands whose stock theme no longer fits their product range.
Product and collection setupWe structure the catalog, build product pages and import product data. Useful for stores with large catalogs or variants that are hard to manage by hand.
Payments and shipping configurationWe set up checkout payments, shipping rules, tax settings and currencies as listed in the written scope. Built for first-time store owners and stores adding new markets.
App and integration setupWe connect the third-party apps agreed in scope, such as email, shipping and payment tools. Helps teams avoid manual data entry between systems.
Platform migration planningWe plan the move of products, customers and orders from another platform, with URL redirects where possible. Designed for brands leaving WooCommerce or similar platforms.
Testing and quality checksWe test checkout, mobile layouts and forms before launch, and agree the plan with you first. Gives store owners a clear pre-launch checklist to review.

04Process

How our shopify development works

6 steps. You always know what's next.

The same path for every engagement.

12-5 days (estimate)
Hold discovery call and audit
We review your goals, catalog size, current platform and any existing store. You share access to your accounts and product data. You receive a short audit of what exists and what needs building.
2About 1 week (estimate)
Agree a written scope
We list the templates, features, apps, integrations and migration work to build, then agree the plan with you before any changes go live. You review and approve the document.
31-2 weeks (estimate)
Set up the store foundation
We configure the Shopify account structure, currencies, shipping zones and tax settings as written in the scope. You confirm business details and shipping rules. You receive a working store shell.
41-2 weeks (estimate)
Build or customize the theme
We build or adapt templates for home, collection, product and cart pages to match your brand. You provide brand assets and give feedback on staged designs. You receive a preview store to review.
52-3 weeks (estimate)
Load products and connect apps
We structure collections, import product data and connect payment, shipping and email tools listed in scope. For migrations, we map URL redirects where possible. You supply product files and app logins.
61-2 weeks (estimate)
Test, launch and hand over
We check checkout, mobile layouts and forms, fix issues, then publish with your approval. You receive a launch checklist and admin walkthrough. Timings depend on site size and how quickly we get account access.

05Deliverables

What you get

Shopify development deliverables, with what each one is, how often it recurs and when it typically starts (timings are estimates)
Deliverable	What it is	Cadence	Starts in
Discovery call and audit	Review of goals, catalog size, current platform and existing store	One-time	Days 2-5 (estimate)
Written scope	Document listing templates, features, apps, integrations and migration work	One-time	About week 1 (estimate)
Store foundation	Account structure, currencies, shipping zones and tax settings	One-time	Weeks 1-3 (estimate)
Custom theme templates	Home, collection, product and cart templates built or adapted	One-time	After scope approval
Product and collection setup	Catalog structure, product pages and imported product data	One-time	After scope approval
Payments and shipping setup	Checkout payments, shipping rules and tax as listed in the scope	One-time	After store foundation
App integrations	Connections to apps and services named in the scope	One-time	After scope approval
Migration plan	Products, customers, orders and URL redirects where possible	One-time	After the audit
Launch checks	Review of pages, checkout and redirects before changes go live	One-time	Before launch
Progress report	Written summary of work completed and next steps	Monthly	After the first month of work

06Compare

Shopify development: in-house team, agency or Pugmarks Media

Swipe to compare →

Comparison of in-house, typical agency and Pugmarks Media options for Shopify development, based on general practice and our stated process.
Criteria	In-house	Typical agency	Pugmarks
Time to start	Depends on hiring and onboarding	Depends on current workload and sales process	Starts with a discovery call and site audit
Specialization	Depends on the developers you hire	Often a mix of platforms	Web development team with Shopify, WooCommerce and WordPress services
Scope	Set internally, can shift without a document	Varies by agency	Written scope agreed before any changes go live
Reporting	Internal updates, format set by your team	Varies by contract	Monthly reporting
Cost model	Salaries, tools and management time	Project fee or retainer	Depends on scope; see pricing page
Risk and flexibility	Key-person risk; easy to redirect priorities	Limited by contract terms and team capacity	Changes handled by updating the written scope

07Cost

What does shopify development cost?

Shopify development cost depends on scope: the number of templates and custom features, how many products and markets the store covers, the apps and integrations involved, and whether data must be migrated from another platform. Competition in your category can also affect how much design and conversion work is worthwhile. Shopify projects are priced per project, and a written scope sets the figure. See our pricing page or contact us for a quote.

Package prices are published so you can compare before you call.

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11Years in business

08Proof

Results for clients like you

Only results our clients have approved for publication. No made-up logos or numbers.

Dental · Houston, TX · Example+118%Calls from the Google listing per month

Three-dentist general practice, Houston

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Still have a question?

Ask us directly. We reply with honest next steps, even if that means we're not the right fit.

Ask our team

How do I choose a Shopify development agency?

Choose an agency that agrees a written scope, shows relevant work samples and explains its support terms before you sign. Check the web design and development portfolio for stores similar to yours, and read client reviews. Be cautious of anyone who quotes without asking about your catalog, platform and integrations.

How long does it take to build a Shopify store?

A typical Shopify build takes several weeks, though the timeline depends on catalog size, number of custom templates and migration needs. Our process starts with a 2-5 day discovery and audit (estimate), then about a week for scope, then setup and build. Access to your accounts and product data affects speed.

How much does Shopify development cost?

Cost depends on scope: templates, custom features, number of products and markets, apps and integrations, and whether data is migrated. We price per project and set the figure in a written scope. See the pricing page or contact us to discuss your store.

Can you migrate my store from WooCommerce to Shopify?

Yes, we plan migrations from WooCommerce and other platforms covering products, customers, orders and URL redirects where possible. The migration plan is part of the written scope, so you know what moves before work begins. If you want to stay on WordPress, see our WooCommerce development service.

Is Shopify or WooCommerce better for my online store?

Neither is better in every case. Shopify suits teams that want hosted infrastructure, built-in checkout and less maintenance. WooCommerce suits stores that need deep control inside WordPress and accept managing hosting and plugins. We offer both, so we can recommend based on your catalog, team and budget.

Do you work with Shopify clients outside India?

Yes, our team works remotely with ecommerce brands in India, the US, the UK, Europe and Australia. Work runs through calls, shared accounts and monthly reporting. For local context, see our Shopify development agency in India page.

What happens before you change anything on my store?

We hold a discovery call and site audit, then agree a strategy and written scope with you before any changes go live. The first set of work follows that plan. Results are not guaranteed, but you will always know what is being built and why.

Get in touch

Talk to our team about your Shopify store

Start with a discovery call and a site audit, then agree a written scope before any changes go live. Share your catalog, current platform and goals, and we will explain what the build involves.

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