What does Shopify store setup and build involve?
Shopify store setup and build covers design and theme, products, settings, marketing ready, seo basics and handover. A rushed store launch costs more later. Anthony McGrath does the work himself, with 22 years in digital marketing, for businesses in the UK, the US, Dubai and Australia.
Launch once, launch right
A rushed store launch costs more later. Wrong tax settings, slow themes, missing tracking and messy product data all have to be fixed while you are trying to sell. Setting the store up properly at the start avoids all of it.
Because I also run ads and tracking, your store launches ready for marketing: conversions tracked in GA4, Google Ads and Meta, product feeds ready for Google Shopping, and pages fast enough to make your ad spend go further.
- Best for
- Shopify and Shopify Plus stores, from new brands to established retailers
- What you get
- Design and theme, Products, Settings, Marketing ready, SEO basics, Handover
- First step
- Talk it through: a short call about your store, your products and what is holding sales back.
- Where
- The UK, the US, Dubai and Australia, working remotely across time zones
- Who does the work
- Anthony McGrath, hands-on, with 22 years in digital marketing
What's included
Everything needed to open the doors and start selling.
Design and theme
Theme chosen and customised for your brand; Homepage, product and collection pages; Mobile-first layouts; Logo, colours and fonts applied.
Products
Products, variants and photos added; Collections and navigation; Product imports from spreadsheets; Metafields for size guides and specs.
Settings
Payments, Shop Pay and wallets; Shipping zones and rates; Tax for the UK, US, UAE or Australia; Legal pages and policies.
Marketing ready
GA4, Google Ads and Meta tracking; Google and Meta product feeds; Klaviyo or Shopify Email set up; Discount codes and launch offers.
SEO basics
Titles, descriptions and headings; Clean URLs and redirects; Image alt text and schema; Sitemap submitted to Google.
Handover
A walkthrough on running your store; Written notes for your team; Support after launch; Optional monthly care.
Before and after
An example of a store built properly at launch compared with a typical rushed setup.
An example of the kind of change this work aims for, based on typical starting points. It is not a promise or a specific client result: every business starts somewhere different.
How it works
- Talk it throughA short call about your store, your products and what is holding sales back.
- Plan and priceA clear written plan: what gets built, in what order, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Build and testBuilt on a copy of your store, tested on real phones, then checked again before anything goes live.
- Launch and supportLaunched with tracking checked, then support afterwards so nothing is left half-finished.
Latest Shopify store setup news
Short, plain-English updates on what is changing and what to do about it.
Shopify development fees: avoid flat-rate quotes for SME sites
Flat fee quotes for Shopify sites often miss key costs like product variations, shipping or post-launch tasks leading to losses.
Read the updateShopify integrates AI knowledge base into Merchant Admin
Shopify embeds its AI knowledge base in Merchant Admin, easing management of store policies and FAQs for AI shopping agents.
Read the updateBefore Quitting Shopify: Open Source Commerce Options 2026
Shopify fees can weigh on small stores. Discover 10 open source e-commerce options and the true cost of switching in 2026.
Read the updateWhy UK Retail Brands Are Missing Out on AI Search
Many UK retail brands are failing to provide the data that AI shopping agents need to find them. Here is how to fix your store catalogue for AI search.
Read the updateGoogle Ads Expands Smart Bidding Exploration
Google Ads is bringing Smart Bidding Exploration to Performance Max and Shopping campaigns, helping advertisers test broader queries and uncover fresh conversions.
Read the updateTop Shopify Agencies for 2027: Support Your Growing Store
Growing Shopify stores often need expert agencies beyond freelancers. PC Tech Magazine lists the best Shopify agencies for 2027.
Read the updateQuestions
How long does it take to build a Shopify store?
Most stores launch in three to six weeks, depending on how many products you have and how custom the design is. You get a clear timeline before work starts.
Can you set up tax for different countries?
Yes. UK VAT, US sales tax, UAE VAT and Australian GST can all be set up, along with duties if you ship internationally.
Do I need lots of apps?
No. A new store needs far fewer apps than most people think. I keep it lean, which keeps it fast and keeps your monthly costs down.
Will I be able to edit the store myself?
Yes. Everything is built so you can change products, pages, banners and offers yourself, and you get a walkthrough at handover.
Platforms and tools
Ready to open your store?
Tell me what you sell and when you want to launch. You get a plan, a timeline and a fixed price.
Plan your new store