The problems on launch day are rarely big ones. They're small things nobody checked: a test product still live, no shipping rate for one state, a contact form sending enquiries to someone who left months ago. Each is easy to fix. They're just easy to miss when you're excited to go live.
This is the list we run through before every Shopify launch. Print it, tick it off, and launch with confidence.
Store settings
- Store name, contact email and sender email are correct.
- Currency and time zone are set properly.
- Business address and GST details are entered.
- Order number format is set (for example #HT1001).
- Staff accounts exist with the right permissions.
Domain
- Your custom domain is connected and set as primary.
- The www and non-www versions both lead to the primary domain.
- SSL is active (the padlock shows in the browser).
- The storefront password is removed at launch.
Products and collections
- Test and sample products are deleted or hidden.
- Prices, compare-at prices and variants are double-checked.
- Inventory quantities and tracking are set.
- Product weights are entered so shipping calculates correctly.
- Every product sits in the right collections.
- Product images share the same size and ratio.
Payments and checkout
- Your payment gateway is connected and live.
- Cash on delivery is switched on or off, as you intended.
- You've placed a real test order and refunded it.
- Checkout has your logo and colours.
- Taxes are configured correctly.
Shipping
- Shipping zones and rates cover every region you sell to.
- Free shipping thresholds actually work.
- Delivery times are stated on product or cart pages.
Policies and trust pages
- Privacy, terms, refund and shipping policies are published.
- The contact page has your email, phone and address.
- Policy links sit in the footer.
- An About page tells your brand's story.
Emails
- Order confirmation, shipping and delivery emails are branded and tested.
- Order notifications go to the right people on your team.
SEO basics
- Homepage, collections and top products have their own meta titles and descriptions.
- The homepage has a clear main heading (H1).
- Images have alt text.
- If you're replacing an old site, 301 redirects are ready. Our migration guide explains how.
- Google Search Console is verified and your sitemap is submitted.
Tracking
- Google Analytics 4 is connected and purchase tracking is tested.
- Meta Pixel and any other ad pixels are connected if you'll run ads.
Speed and mobile
- Apps you don't need have been removed.
- Homepage, a collection and a product page have been tested in PageSpeed Insights.
- You've gone through the whole purchase on a real phone.
The last check
- Click every menu link, button and footer link. Yes, every one.
The first two weeks after launch
Launch isn't the finish line. For the first couple of weeks, keep a close eye on orders, abandoned checkouts, what people type into your site search and any errors in Search Console. Fix small issues quickly while they're small. Then start planning your first SEO content and campaigns. Our Shopify SEO checklist is a good next step.
Two things people ask
Should I wait until everything is perfect? No. Launch once the essentials are right: products, checkout, shipping, policies and tracking. Design polish can carry on after you're live.
How do I test an order without paying? Use your gateway's test mode if it has one, or place a small real order and refund it.
Launching soon and want a second pair of eyes? Our Shopify packages include setup, testing and launch support. Talk to us.