Why the agency matters, not just the platform
Shopify takes care of the server, security and checkout, so two Shopify stores can look the same from the outside. The difference lies in what you can’t see: how the catalogue was migrated, how it connects to the ERP, how the redirects were done and how easy it is to change things later.
At Webimpacto we are a Shopify Partner and we also work with PrestaShop, Adobe Commerce, VTEX and WooCommerce. This is the checklist we would use if we had to hire another agency.
Eight criteria for choosing
Not all of them weigh the same in every project, but if an agency fails on several, that is a warning sign.
- Official Shopify partner: check it in Shopify’s partner directory, not just the logo on their website.
- Comparable projects: stores of your size, in your sector or with the same complexity (several markets, B2B, physical stores).
- Measurable results: before-and-after figures for sales, conversion, repeat purchase or costs, with the client’s name.
- Migration experience: a 301 redirect plan, migration of customers and orders, and a rollback plan if something fails.
- Integrations: ERP, warehouse, CRM, invoicing and marketplaces. Ask them to explain how they solved it in another project.
- In-house team that speaks your language: who designs, who develops and who your contact will be, with name and role.
- Post-launch plan: support, ongoing development and, if you need it, growth (SEO, paid, CRO, retention).
- Clear ownership: the theme, custom code and accounts (Shopify, analytics, pixels) must be in the brand’s name.
Questions to ask in the first meeting
The answers say more than the pitch deck. An experienced agency answers with examples; if the answers are generic, ask for a specific case.
- Which of your projects is most like ours, and what turned out differently from the plan?
- How will you migrate our URLs and what do you do in the weeks after launch?
- Which features do you solve with apps and which with custom development, and why?
- Who maintains the ERP integration when something changes on either side?
- What would you need from our team, and how many hours a week?
How to compare quotes
The price of a Shopify store depends mainly on three things: the design (adapted or custom theme), the integrations and the data migration. Two quotes with very different figures usually have different scopes.
Ask each proposal to break down design, development, integrations, migration, training and support separately, and compare line by line. Also add up what you will pay every month: the Shopify plan, apps and maintenance. The useful comparison is the total cost over three years, not the starting figure.
What we have seen in our projects
At Footdistrict, after migrating from Adobe Commerce, revenue grew by 14% and returning customers by 28%. At Misako, the annual maintenance cost fell by 80% and opening a new market went from about 30 days to 3 or 4. You can see these and other projects in our case studies.
If you are comparing agencies for a migration or a move to Shopify Plus, we will tell you how we would approach your case, with scope and timelines in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an agency is an official Shopify partner?
Look it up in Shopify’s partner directory. It lists verified agencies, their services and, in many cases, client reviews.
Do I need a Shopify Plus agency or will a Shopify agency do?
If you will use Plus (B2B, several stores, custom checkout), look for an agency that has launched Plus projects and can show them to you. For standard plans, any partner with experience in your sector may be enough.
How long does it take to launch a Shopify store?
It depends on the design, integrations and migration. Ask each agency for a phased timeline and compare them on the same scope.
We’ll tell you what we would do in your case, no strings attached. A real person from the team replies.
Head of technology at Webimpacto. He leads the development teams that build, migrate and maintain shops on Shopify, PrestaShop, Adobe Commerce, VTEX and WooCommerce.