Shopify Store Setup: What You Actually Need Before Launch

Plenty of "Shopify launch checklists" online are 40 items long and half of them don't matter yet. Here's what actually needs to be sorted before you go live.

Non-negotiable before launch

• Payment gateway tested end-to-end — not just configured. Place a real test order.
• Shipping rates that match reality — flat rate, weight-based, or free-over-X, whichever you've chosen, tested against your actual product weights.
• Policy pages — refund, shipping, privacy, terms. Required for most payment providers to even approve you.
• Product images at consistent quality — mismatched image sizes and quality is the fastest way to look unfinished.
• Mobile checkout tested on an actual phone, not just your laptop's responsive view.

Can wait until after launch

• A fully-stocked blog
• Every possible app integration
• A perfect "About" page
• Multi-currency support (unless you're launching international from day one)

The one thing most people skip

A domain that's actually pointed and propagated before launch day. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours. If you're launching on a deadline — a product drop, an ad campaign start date — get the domain sorted a week out, not the night before.

Launching a store and want a second pair of eyes before you go live? Get a quote — most store setups ship in 2–10 days depending on scope.