Shopify Store Launch Checklist: 30 Things to Check Before You Go Live

Launch day is exciting, but a missed setting can cost you sales or trust. I use a checklist like this one for every client store before it goes live. Work through it in order and you will catch the problems customers would otherwise find first.

Store settings

1. Store name, contact email and sender email are correct.
2. Store currency and time zone are set before any orders arrive.
3. Business address is entered (it appears on invoices and some policies).
4. Staff accounts have the right permissions — do not share one login.
5. Your custom domain is connected and set as the primary domain.

Payments and checkout

1. A payment provider is activated and test mode is switched off.
2. Payment methods your customers actually use are enabled (cards, UPI, wallets, COD where relevant).
3. Checkout asks only for information you need — fewer fields, fewer abandoned carts.
4. Order confirmation and shipping notification emails are customised with your logo and tone.

Shipping and taxes

1. Shipping zones cover every country or region you sell to.
2. Shipping rates are clear — free shipping thresholds are shown on product and cart pages.
3. Product weights are entered if you use weight-based rates.
4. Tax settings are configured with advice from your accountant.

Legal and trust pages

1. Refund policy, privacy policy, terms of service and shipping policy are published (Shopify provides templates you should edit to match your business).
2. A contact page shows real ways to reach you.
3. An about page tells the story behind the brand.
4. Policies are linked in the footer.

Products and content

1. Every product has original, helpful descriptions — not copied supplier text.
2. Images are consistent in size and compressed.
3. Variants, prices and stock levels are correct.
4. Collections are organised the way shoppers think, not the way your warehouse thinks.

SEO basics

1. Homepage title and meta description are written in the Online Store preferences.
2. Each product and collection has a unique SEO title and description.
3. Image alt text describes each product.
4. Your sitemap is submitted in Google Search Console. (Read our Shopify SEO basics.)

Speed and apps

1. Only essential apps are installed; unused ones are removed.
2. Homepage images are sized for the web.

The final test

1. Place a real test order on your phone, go through the full checkout, receive the confirmation email, then refund it.
2. Remove the storefront password so the store is publicly visible.

Tip: Ask a friend who has never seen your store to buy something while you watch silently. Every place they hesitate is something to fix.

After launch: the first 30 days

Launching is the start, not the finish. In the first month, focus on learning:

• Watch analytics weekly: where visitors come from, which products they view, and where they leave.
• Reply to every customer message quickly — early customers become your first reviewers.
• Collect reviews after delivery with a polite follow-up email.
• Fix the small annoyances customers mention. They are usually quick wins.
• Publish helpful content (size guides, care guides, gift guides) that answers real questions.

A simple launch-day plan

1. Morning: complete the final test order and refund it.
2. Remove the password and check the live store on mobile and desktop.
3. Announce the launch to your email list, WhatsApp contacts and social media.
4. Keep your phone nearby to respond to questions and fix issues fast.
5. End of day: note what went well and what to improve.

Common launch mistakes

• Leaving test products or "Lorem ipsum" text visible.
• Forgetting to set up order notification emails, so orders are missed.
• Shipping rates that do not cover all regions, causing checkout errors.
• Using product photos with inconsistent sizes and backgrounds.
• Launching without any way for customers to contact you.