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The Complete Shopify Store Launch Checklist (2026 Edition)

Use this Shopify launch checklist to make sure your store is fast, trustworthy, legally compliant and ready to track every sale before you spend a dollar on ads.

By Austan Group Editorial TeamPublished 3 min read
Key takeaways
  • Test checkout end-to-end with a real order.
  • Install tracking before traffic, not after.
  • Legal pages and real contact details protect conversions and ad accounts.
  • Speed and mobile layout matter more than fancy design.

Launching a Shopify store is exciting, but most problems we fix for clients come from small things missed before launch. Use this checklist to go live with confidence.

Store foundations

  • Custom domain connected and SSL active
  • Store name, logo and favicon uploaded
  • Primary market, currency and language set correctly
  • Staff accounts created with the right permissions

Products and collections

  • Clear titles that include what the product is, not just a brand name
  • High-quality images and at least one short video per hero product
  • Benefit-led descriptions with specifications and sizing
  • Inventory, variants and compare-at prices checked
  • Collections organized by how customers shop

Checkout and payments

  • Shopify Payments or another gateway approved and tested
  • Express checkouts enabled (Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay where available)
  • Taxes configured for every region you sell to
  • Shipping rates and delivery times clearly stated
  • One full test order placed and refunded

Trust and legal

  • Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, Refund Policy and Shipping Policy published
  • Contact page with email and support hours
  • About page explaining who you are
  • Reviews app installed and ready to collect feedback

Tracking and analytics

  • Google Analytics 4 connected with ecommerce events
  • Meta pixel and Conversions API set up
  • TikTok pixel and events API if you plan to advertise there
  • Google Search Console verified and sitemap submitted

Performance and SEO

  • Unused apps removed (they slow your store)
  • Images compressed and properly sized
  • Page titles and meta descriptions written for key pages
  • Mobile layout checked on a real phone

Marketing readiness

  • Email platform connected with welcome and abandoned cart flows
  • Social profiles created and linked
  • First ad creatives produced and approved
  • A launch offer that gives customers a reason to buy now
Tip: Ask a friend to buy something on their phone while you watch. You will discover more friction in five minutes than in five hours of checking settings.

This article is for general information only. See our Disclaimer.

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