Shopify Design & Development Agency

Depending on the project, the discovery and scoping session will delve into the project's objectives, target audience, and desired functionalities. At the same time, we will aim to outline the site's structure, navigation, and content requirements along with an analysis of competitor websites and industry trends to ensure the site stands out and meets current standards. By the end of the session, both parties will have a clear understanding of the project scope, timeline, and deliverables, laying the foundation for a successful website development process.

Once the discovery phase has been completed we will document a full plan so that both parties know exactly what they are getting, when it will happen and at what cost. This will be documented in detail and signed off by both parties before we proceed with the design and development phases. The document will act as our go-to guide on how the project should progress throughout its life span. In the document, we will detail individual milestones and sprints so that we can deliver progress for you quicker and more accurately. Doing things in smaller chunks will allow us to keep in close communication regarding all phases of the project.

During the design phase, the creative vision starts to take shape. Our designer(s) translate your requirements and brand guidelines into visual concepts, typically beginning with wireframes to outline the site's layout and functionality.

These wireframes evolve into high-fidelity mockups that showcase the site's aesthetic elements, including colour schemes, typography, imagery, and interactive elements.

Throughout this phase, designers collaborate closely with the client, incorporating feedback and making revisions to ensure the design aligns perfectly with the client's vision and goals. The result is a polished design that not only looks visually appealing but also enhances user experience and effectively communicates the client's message to the target audience.

During the development phase, the focus shifts from design to implementation. Our development team begin by transforming the approved design mockups into a functional website using coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

The development team will take care and consideration when they start and get to work on responsive layouts. These layouts will adapt seamlessly to various devices and screen sizes, ensuring a consistent user experience across platforms.

Throughout the development process, rigorous testing is conducted to identify and address any bugs or issues, ensuring the site performs optimally before launch. Collaboration between developers, designers, and stakeholders remains crucial to ensure the final product meets all requirements and exceeds expectations.

The website is complete and so undergoes final testing and quality assurance checks to ensure it meets all requirements and functions as intended. Once the site is deemed ready for launch, it is handed over to the client along with any necessary documentation, such as user manuals or training materials.

In addition, your account manager will guide you on how to manage and update the website, including plenty of instructions on how to use your content management system or platform if applicable. This will come in various formats such as written, audio and video content.

Throughout this phase, clear communication between ourselves and the client is essential to address any last-minute concerns or questions and ensure a smooth transition.

Finally, the website is officially launched and made accessible to the public, marking the full completion of the project.

Once launched we offer comprehensive maintenance and growth packages to ensure its continued success and relevance. Our maintenance packages include regular updates to software, plugins, and security patches to keep the website running smoothly and safeguard against potential threats.

In Addition, we provide ongoing technical support to address any issues or concerns that may arise, ensuring you have peace of mind knowing your website is in capable hands.

Our growth packages focus on expanding the website's reach and effectiveness, offering services such as performance monitoring. By continuously optimising and enhancing your website, we help you achieve your long-term goals and stay ahead of the competition. Our customisable packages are designed to adapt to the unique needs and priorities of each client, providing a tailored approach to maximising your online presence and success. If nobody has been in touch regarding your maintenance and growth offering then please speak to us today using this link.

The cost of upgrading to Shopify Plus may seem significant compared to other Shopify plans. Whether it’s the right choice for you depends on your current business position and future growth plans.

For businesses looking to scale globally, Shopify Plus offers exceptional value. It eliminates many of the challenges of running an eCommerce store, providing a low-maintenance, self-serve, and highly reliable platform. This allows you to focus on the areas of your business that matter most, with the confidence that your online operations are in good hands.

Before making the move, consider whether you need the additional support and exclusive features that Shopify Plus provides. As a general guideline, if your annual turnover exceeds £1 million and continues to grow, Shopify Plus is well worth considering. We’d be happy to provide a demo and discuss how it can support your journey to retail success.

The cost of migrating to Shopify depends on several factors, including the size of your store, the complexity of the data transfer, the design and the complexity of functionality.

Before moving to Shopify we should first of all look at the right fit, by discussing your current website and see how it fits into a Shopify plan.

One of the biggest tasks of migrating a website to Shopify is data migration. This particular task can be done manually, depending on the size of your current store. However, we recommend a professional like ourselves to analyse the current setup, understand the data format and plan a way to automate the migration of data into your new store on Shopify. Data Migrations can cost between £100 - £10,000+ depending on the complexity. In the past we have migrated eCommerce websites from the following platforms;

• Migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify
• Migrate from Drupal Commerce to Shopify
• Migrate from Visualsoft to Shopify
• Migrate from Magento to Shopify
• Migrate from Magento 2 to Shopify
• Migrate from Big Commerce to Shopify

Ready to migrate? Get in touch

Absolutely! This is one of the main features of Shopify, and it comes in every Shopify Plan. Sell in multi-currency, add multi-language support, set up international domains and Search Engine Optimisation and have Shopify deal with all of your Taxes, Duties, Shipping and Localised Payments. Shopify Internationalisation is at the best it has ever been.

Shopify has a wide range of support, of course including coming to us regarding any support from design, functionality and technical support if you are on a monthly support retainer with us.

Shopify's community and forum is huge, and there are so many answers to questions. With their 24/7 support across Live Chat, Email and Phone, you can be sure to get support quickly when you need it.

Some of the most important links when it comes to getting Support with Shopify are;

• The Shopify Help Center
• The Shopify Community Forum
• The Shopify Academy
• Shopify Experts and Partners
• Shopify Status Page

Shopify has several types of fees that you should be aware of when running an online store. These fees depend on the subscription plan, transaction fees, payment processing, and additional features you choose. Here's a breakdown:

You need to choose a Shopify plan to run your store. Monthly fees are:

• Basic Shopify – $39/month
• Shopify (Standard Plan) – $105/month
• Advanced Shopify – $399/month
• Shopify Plus (Enterprise-Level) – Starting at $2,300/month

You can save up to 25% if you pay annually instead of monthly.

2. Transaction Fees (If Not Using Shopify Payments)

If you use an external payment provider (like PayPal, Stripe, or Klarna), Shopify charges a transaction fee on each sale:

• Basic Shopify – 2.0% per transaction
• Shopify – 1.0% per transaction
• Advanced Shopify – 0.5% per transaction
• Shopify Plus – 0.15% per transaction

These fees are waived if you use Shopify Payments (Shopify’s built-in payment processor).

3. Payment Processing Fees (For Shopify Payments)

If you use Shopify Payments, you won’t pay transaction fees, but you’ll still pay credit card processing fees:

For Online Payments:

• Basic Shopify – 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
• Shopify – 2.6% + 30¢ per transaction
• Advanced Shopify – 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction
• Shopify Plus – Custom pricing (usually lower rates)

For In-Person Payments (Shopify POS):

• Basic Shopify – 2.7% per transaction
• Shopify – 2.5% per transaction
• Advanced Shopify – 2.4% per transaction

These fees vary depending on your country.

4. Shopify App & Theme Costs

• Apps: Many essential Shopify apps (for SEO, marketing, analytics, etc.) charge monthly fees ranging from £5 - £200/month.
• Themes: Free themes are available, but premium themes cost £150 - $400.

5. Shopify POS (Point of Sale) Fees

If you sell in person (retail or pop-up shop), Shopify has POS plans:

• Shopify POS Lite – Free with all plans
• Shopify POS Pro – $89/month per location

6. Other Potential Costs

• Domain Name – £15 - £20/year (if not purchased externally).
• Shipping Fees – Vary based on courier rates.
• Taxes & Duties – Shopify has automated tax calculations, but duty handling may require additional costs (for international sales).
• Custom Development – Hiring a Shopify Expert can cost £500 - £10,000+, depending on your needs.

Total Estimated Monthly Cost (Example Scenarios)

• Small Business (DIY, Basic Shopify, Shopify Payments, no paid apps): £39 - £100/month
• Growing Business (Shopify plan, some paid apps, marketing tools): £150 - £500/month
• Enterprise Store (Advanced Shopify/Shopify Plus, custom features, paid marketing tools): £500 - £5,000+/month

The key difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus is in their features, scalability, and pricing. Shopify Plus is designed for high-growth, enterprise-level businesses that need advanced features, customisation, and dedicated support.

Shopify: Starts at $39/month (Basic) and goes up to $399/month (Advanced).

Shopify Plus: Starts at $2,300/month (custom pricing based on revenue).

For more information on feature comparison, please see their Shopify upgrade landing page here.

Who Should Use Shopify vs. Shopify Plus?

Use Shopify If:

• You're a small to medium business.
• You don't need advanced customisation.
• You're happy with Shopify’s standard checkout and automation.
• Your sales are under £1M annually.

Use Shopify Plus If:

• You run a large-scale or high-volume store.
• You need advanced customisation (checkout, automation, B2B features).
• You process thousands of transactions daily and need better API access.
• You want a dedicated account manager and priority support.
• You sell internationally and need multi-store capabilities.

If you're just starting or running a growing eCommerce business, Shopify's standard plans should be enough. However, if you're scaling quickly and need more control, automation, and international features, Shopify Plus is worth considering.

Of course, Shopify handles tax and VAT calculations, but how it works depends on your business location, the regions you sell to, and whether you need automated tax collection.

Shopify can automatically calculate sales tax and VAT in most regions, including:

• US – Shopify calculates state & local sales tax.
• EU & UK – VAT is automatically applied, including digital goods VAT (for software, e-books, etc.).
• Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, etc. – Local tax calculations available.

Shopify Tax (for US Sellers)

• Shopify has a feature called Shopify Tax for US merchants.
• It provides real-time tax rate updates based on the latest tax laws.
• Free for businesses under $100,000 in annual US sales, but a fee applies for higher revenue.

VAT Handling for UK & EU

• Shopify supports VAT-inclusive pricing (e.g., prices include 20% VAT for the UK).
• Handles EU One-Stop Shop (OSS) VAT reporting for cross-border sales.
• Allows you to add a VAT number and set up tax exemptions for B2B customers.

If you are selling to the EU from outside (e.g., US to EU), Shopify can apply the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme to simplify VAT collection.

Custom Tax Rules

If automatic taxes don’t fit your needs, Shopify lets you:

• Manually set tax rates (for countries with unique tax laws).
• Apply tax overrides (e.g., no tax on certain products like children's clothing in the UK).
• Use third-party tax apps like Avalara or TaxJar for advanced tax management.