SHOPIFY DEVELOPMENT
Shopify stores built to sell.
We design, build and improve Shopify stores for US small and mid-size businesses, from a first launch to custom themes, migrations and custom apps. Every project is scoped in writing, built on an unpublished theme, tested before launch and handed over so your team can run the store with confidence.
Custom Liquid themes on Online Store 2.0
Migrations with full 301 redirect maps
Apps, integrations and Shopify Functions
Written scope before work starts
WHO IT’S FOR
Built for stores at every stage
Most of our Shopify work falls into one of four situations. If yours is different, tell us anyway. We will say plainly whether we are the right fit.
New stores
You are launching your first Shopify store. You have products and a brand, and you want the store set up correctly from day one: catalog structure, shipping, taxes, payments and a theme that fits how you sell.
Brands moving to Shopify
You sell on WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Wix, Squarespace or a custom platform and want to move. You need products, customers and order data brought over without losing the search traffic you have built.
Stores outgrowing their theme
Your store runs on a free or lightly edited theme. Pages are slow, layouts are hard to change, and every new feature means another app and another monthly fee.
Shopify Plus brands
You run a higher-volume store on Shopify Plus and need checkout UI extensions, custom apps with Shopify Functions, deeper integrations or a headless storefront.
WHAT WE BUILD
Shopify development services
From a clean store setup to a custom headless build, each service can be scoped on its own or combined into one project.
01
Custom theme development
We build custom themes and customize existing ones in Liquid, Shopify’s template language. Every theme follows Online Store 2.0, with JSON templates and sections on most pages, so your team can add, remove and reorder content in the theme editor without calling a developer.
Custom sections and blocks designed around your products
Support for app blocks from theme app extensions, so removing an app removes its code
Clean, commented code the next developer can read
02
Store setup & configuration
We organize products, variants, collections and navigation around how your customers shop. Then we configure shipping, tax settings, payment providers, Shopify Markets for international selling and the notification emails your customers receive.
Product structure, including metafields for specs and sizing
Shipping profiles, rates and local pickup options
Shopify Payments or your chosen gateway, with accounts in your name
03
Migration to Shopify
We move products, customers and orders from WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento or another platform. What transfers depends on the source platform and the tools available, and we confirm it in your proposal before work starts.
Products, images and variants mapped to Shopify’s structure
Customer records, with a plan for account invites since passwords do not carry over
A full 301 redirect map from old URLs to new ones to protect search rankings
04
App integration & custom apps
Most stores run on a mix of apps. We choose, install and configure the right ones, connect your inventory, shipping, ERP or email tools, and build custom apps with Shopify’s APIs when no existing app does what you need.
App audit to remove apps you no longer use or pay for
Integrations with third-party systems through the Admin and Storefront APIs
Shopify Functions for custom discount, delivery, payment and validation logic
05
Checkout & conversion
Checkout is where sales are won or lost. On any plan, we configure checkout settings, branding, payment methods and shipping options, and improve the product and cart pages that lead there. On Shopify Plus, we build checkout UI extensions for the information, shipping and payment steps.
Product, cart and trust content reviewed for friction
Upsell and cross-sell placements that do not slow the page
Checkout UI extensions and advanced branding on Shopify Plus
06
Speed & Core Web Vitals
We measure your store with Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights and real-user Core Web Vitals data, then fix what slows it down: heavy apps, oversized images, render-blocking scripts and bloated theme code.
Image sizing, modern formats and lazy loading
Leftover code from uninstalled apps removed
Before and after measurements you can check yourself
07
Headless & Hydrogen
For brands that need a fully custom front end, we build headless storefronts with Hydrogen, Shopify’s React-based framework, using the Storefront API. Hydrogen storefronts can be hosted on Oxygen, Shopify’s hosting platform, which is included on paid Shopify plans.
Suited to complex catalogs and content-heavy brands
Higher build and maintenance cost than a theme, explained up front
We tell you when a standard theme will do the job for less
08
Ongoing support & maintenance
After launch, we stay on for fixes, theme updates, new sections, seasonal changes and app reviews. Support terms are agreed in writing, so you know what is covered and how requests are handled.
Bug fixes and theme updates
New pages, sections and campaign landing pages
Regular app and speed check-ins
THE AI-FIRST PART
AI does the groundwork. People sign off.
TechCognate is an AI-first agency. On Shopify projects, we use AI tools for the repetitive work that slows builds down, and a person on our team reviews everything before it reaches your store.
Product data cleanup
Spotting inconsistent titles, missing attributes, duplicate variants and messy tags across large catalogs before they are imported.
Product descriptions
Drafting descriptions from your specs and brand voice. A writer edits each one for accuracy and tone before it goes live.
Image alt text
Drafting descriptive alt text for accessibility and search, checked by a person against the actual image.
QA and testing
Generating test checklists, reviewing code and checking pages across devices. A developer confirms every issue and every fix.
AI does not make final decisions about your products, your content or your code. Every output is a draft until someone on our team checks it.
HOW WE WORK
Six steps from brief to launch
01
Discovery & audit
We review your products, current store or platform, apps, analytics and goals. You then get a written proposal with scope, price and timeline.
02
UX & design
Layouts for the home, collection, product and cart pages, designed mobile-first and reviewed with you before code is written.
03
Build
We build on an unpublished theme or a development store, so your live store keeps selling while the work happens.
04
QA across devices
We test on phones, tablets and desktops in major browsers, and place test orders to check payments, shipping, taxes and emails.
05
Launch
We publish the theme, switch on 301 redirects for migrated URLs, confirm analytics and tracking, and watch the store closely after go-live.
06
Support
Handover training, documentation and the support period agreed in your proposal, with ongoing care available after that.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Ready to sell on day one
Every Shopify build we launch includes these basics, whatever the size of the project.
Want the store to rank after launch? Our Shopify SEO services pick up where the build leaves off.
A mobile-first theme tested on phones, tablets and desktops
Google Analytics 4 connected, with Shopify’s built-in reports walked through with your team
SEO basics: page titles, meta descriptions and clean URL handles
Product structured data output through the theme
301 redirects for every changed URL on migrations
Accessibility basics: color contrast, alt text, heading order and keyboard navigation
Speed checks before launch, with the results shared with you
Handover training and written documentation for your team
PRICING
Quoted after scoping
Shopify projects vary too much for a fixed price list to be useful, so we quote each one after a scoping call. You get a written proposal with scope, price, timeline and support terms before any work starts, and nothing is added without your approval.
What affects the cost
Catalog size and how clean your product data is
A custom theme or changes to an existing theme
The number of unique page templates and custom sections
The migration source and how much data moves
Integrations and custom apps
Shopify Plus features such as checkout extensions, or a headless build
Billed separately by others
Your Shopify plan subscription
A paid theme from the Shopify Theme Store, if you choose one
App subscriptions
Payment processing and transaction fees
Domain registration
Fonts, stock photos or other licenses
These are paid directly to Shopify and other providers, in your name.
PAIR IT WITH
A store is only the start
Technical fixes, keyword research and content so the new store gets found in search.
Learn more →
Paid search and social campaigns that send ready-to-buy shoppers to your product pages.
Learn more →
Ad videos and creative for product launches, sales and always-on campaigns.
Learn more →
Logo, colors and type, so the store looks like your brand from the first visit.
Learn more →
FAQ
Shopify development questions, answered
How much does Shopify development cost?
It depends on scope. The main cost drivers are catalog size, whether you need a custom theme or changes to an existing one, the number of unique page templates, migration work, integrations and custom apps. We quote each project after a scoping call, and the proposal lists exactly what is included. Your Shopify plan, paid themes, apps and payment fees are billed separately.
How long does a Shopify project take?
It depends on scope, content readiness and how quickly feedback comes back. A store setup on an existing theme typically takes a few weeks. Custom themes, migrations and custom apps typically take longer. We give you a timeline in your proposal once we have assessed the project.
Can you migrate my store to Shopify without losing SEO?
We plan every migration to protect your rankings. Shopify uses fixed URL patterns such as /products/ and /collections/, so most old URLs change. We map each important old URL to its new address with a 301 redirect, carry over page titles and meta descriptions, and check the redirects after launch. No one can guarantee rankings during a migration, but a complete redirect plan is the most important step.
Do I need Shopify Plus?
Most small and mid-size stores do not. Standard plans cover themes, apps, checkout branding and most selling features. Shopify Plus becomes relevant when you need checkout UI extensions on the information, shipping and payment steps, custom apps that use Shopify Functions, or other high-volume features. We will tell you if your requirements call for it.
Can you work on my existing theme?
Yes. We can customize your current theme, add sections, fix bugs and improve speed. If it is a theme from the Shopify Theme Store, we keep our changes organized so future theme updates are easier to apply. If the theme is old or heavily modified, we will tell you whether a rebuild would cost less over time.
Who owns the store and the theme?
You do. The store account is in your name and you keep owner access, while we work through a collaborator or staff account. Custom theme code we write for you is handed over at the end of the project, with ownership terms confirmed in your proposal. Paid themes and apps are licensed to you by their developers.
Should I use an app or custom code?
Use an app when a well-supported one does the job, because you get updates and support without maintaining code yourself. Custom code or a custom app makes sense when apps slow down every page, cost more over time than a build, or cannot do what you need. We explain the trade-off for each case before recommending either.
Do you offer ongoing support after launch?
Yes. Every project includes a support period after launch, stated in your proposal. After that, you can keep us on for fixes, theme updates, new sections, app reviews and speed checks, or request work as you need it.
Should I choose Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify suits brands that want hosting, security and checkout handled by the platform, with a monthly plan and apps for extra features. WooCommerce runs on WordPress, gives you more control over hosting and code, and suits stores that rely heavily on content. If you are leaning toward WordPress, see our WooCommerce Development service.
Do you build headless Shopify stores?
Yes, when it makes sense. We build headless storefronts with Hydrogen and the Storefront API for brands that need a fully custom front end. Headless costs more to build and maintain than a theme, so we recommend it only when a theme cannot meet your requirements.
Tell us what you sell.
Share your store, your products and what is not working. We will reply with questions, a recommended approach and next steps for a written quote.
ALL SERVICES