Checklist
Shopify Launch Checklist: Everything to Check Before You Go Live
Work through this list before you remove your store password. It covers settings, payments, content, SEO and tracking.
In short
Before launching a Shopify store, check that payments, shipping and taxes are set up and tested with real orders, products and collections are complete, policy pages are published, the domain and email are connected, SEO titles and descriptions are written, analytics and pixels are tracking, and the store works well on mobile.
The checklist
Tick each item off before launch.
- Store name, contact email and sender email set
- Custom domain connected and set as primary
- Payment gateways set up and a real test order refunded
- Cash on delivery rules set, if offered
- Shipping zones, rates and free-shipping thresholds checked
- Taxes (GST or VAT) configured
- Products complete: titles, descriptions, prices, variants, images, SKUs and stock
- Collections created with introductions
- Navigation menus and footer links checked
- Policy pages published: privacy, refund, shipping, terms
- Contact page with email, phone or WhatsApp
- Order confirmation and shipping emails customised
- SEO titles and meta descriptions for key pages
- Image alt text added
- Favicon and social sharing image set
- Google Analytics 4 and Search Console connected
- Meta pixel and other ads tracking tested
- Cookie consent configured for UK/EU visitors
- Store tested on mobile and desktop
- Page speed checked on key templates
- Staff accounts and permissions set
- Store password removed
Mistakes this checklist helps you catch
Testing only the happy path
Test what happens when things go wrong as well. Try a failed payment, a discount that should not apply, a pincode you do not serve, a sold-out variant and a refund. These are the moments that create support tickets in your first week.
Forgetting the emails
Order confirmation, shipping and refund notifications are part of the customer experience. Send yourself each one and check the logo, sender address, links and policy wording.
Launching with tracking unverified
Do not assume a connected pixel is working. Place a test order and confirm that the purchase event arrives once, with the right value, in each tool you use.
Replacing an old site without redirects
If this launch replaces an existing website, map old URLs to new ones before you switch the domain. Use the migration checklist alongside this one.
Choosing a bad launch time
Avoid launching just before a weekend, holiday or major campaign. Pick a time when your team can watch orders, answer customers and fix issues quickly.
In your first week after launch
- Review every order for payment, tax and shipping accuracy
- Submit your sitemap in Search Console and watch for crawl errors
- Check mobile sessions and add-to-cart rates in your analytics
- Read every customer question for signs of unclear information
FAQ
What should I check before launching a Shopify store?
Payments with a real test order, shipping and taxes, complete product data, policy pages, domain, notification emails, SEO basics, analytics and a full mobile test.
Do I need to place a test order?
Yes. Place a real order with your live payment gateway, check the confirmation email, then refund it. It’s the only way to confirm the full checkout works.
When should I remove the store password?
Only after every item on the checklist is done and you’ve tested the store on mobile and desktop.
Want us to launch it for you?
Our store setup service covers every item on this list, tested before go-live.