Our Top Tips On Hiring a Shopify Developer and the Best Places To Find Them

A Shopify developer is a web developer who specializes in Shopify websites. 

Shopify developers will have knowledge and experience in creating bespoke Shopify websites to meet the exact needs of their clients. 

Many Shopify developers are freelance, too, meaning they work remotely, and hence have a unique understanding of client requirements from around the globe.

If you choose to work with a Shopify developer, it means you’ll be able to hand over the full process of creating your website. Your chosen developer will manage the build from scratch, implementing your branding and ideas throughout your website. 

Most developers will then hand over the finished website to you, giving you extensive training on how to manage it moving forward. Some Shopify developers also offer website management as part of their services.

Whilst Shopify comes with various easy-to-customize templates for beginners, elements such as setting up payment methods and improving the user experience can be more tricky, and will require the help of an expert.

Deciding whether to hire a Shopify developer can come down to several factors. 

Time Limitations 

If you’re limited on time and need your website turned around fast – or have an extensive catalog of products to feature – it can be beneficial to hire a Shopify developer to help you out.

You don’t always need to hire someone to build your whole website. You may find that you’re able to do the majority of the work yourself, but just need help with specific coding or features. 

Expertise

Whilst building or tweaking your website, you may come across a particular piece of code that’s out of your comfort zone and skill level. This is the perfect opportunity to hire a Shopify developer to help you out.

Many Shopify developers will charge an hourly rate, meaning you can hire them to undertake individual tasks rather than a whole build.

Budget

One of the biggest factors that impact when you hire a Shopify developer is budget. The best developers don’t come cheap and you’ll need to be willing to pay a substantial amount to work with those with the most experience. 

If your budget is tight it might be best to use a developer just for certain parts of your build or look for a beginner Shopify developer who is looking to build their portfolio – and who may be willing to work for a cheaper rate.

Speaking of budget, how much a Shopify developer costs differs greatly depending on various factors. 

On average, developers from countries such as America, England, and Australia can cost anywhere from $50 per hour rising to an hourly rate of $150 for the very best Shopify developers.

Some developers will charge by the hour, which can quickly add up if your project takes longer than expected or runs into unexpected hurdles. 

On the other hand, some choose to quote clients for the whole project which can be more beneficial when organizing your budget. 

How much your chosen Shopify developer costs can also come down to their location. For example, often developers based in the US and UK will be more expensive than those based in Asia. 

No matter what your experience level with building websites is, you don’t need to hire a Shopify developer if you don’t want to. 

The Shopify interface is designed to be accessible for beginners and experts alike, and many people choose to build their websites themselves with no external assistance.

Like many technical activities, using Shopify will get easier the more time and practice you put in and you’ll soon get the hang of how to build and update your ecommerce store.

In particular, elements such as choosing and customizing your theme, uploading new pages and products, and updating stock levels are all aspects that you can easily undertake without needing to hire a specialist Shopify developer.

There are various places you can look to find the right Shopify developer for you:

Shopify Experts

Shopify Experts is a collection of freelancers and agencies recommended by Shopify themselves. 

All of the developers featured have extensive knowledge of Shopify as a platform, with differing levels of experience, areas of expertise, and hourly rates.

You can either browse through the experts featured and request a quote from your favorites, or upload a job listing and choose your developer from those who submit a proposal. 

Upwork

Upwork is one of the most popular platforms for hiring freelancers and has a host of Shopify developers available. 

Whether you’re looking for someone to build your website from scratch, or just to help you with a specific task, there are various accredited Shopify developers on the platform. 

Upwork allows you to access reviews of individual developers from previous clients, and gives developers the chance to upload their portfolio so you can see their skills for yourself. 

You’ll also be able to see their hourly rate so you can determine whether or not they’ll be within your budget.

People Per Hour

People Per Hour is a freelance platform that uses artificial intelligence to match buyers (you) with the most appropriate freelancers for your project. 

You can post your job and set a budget and choose between inviting specific freelancers to send a proposal and allowing anyone to pitch their skills.

The platform has now made it even easier to find a freelancer. All you have to do is fill out a simple form detailing your project, and People Per Hour’s algorithms will do the rest. 

Once you’ve found your chosen Shopify developer you’ll just need to pay an agreed deposit to get started.

OnlyGrowth

OnlyGrowth has a team of Shopify developers who have extensive knowledge of the platform, and years of expertise crafting bespoke and scalable ecommerce websites. 

They currently offer two different growth packages depending on your individual needs which feature hours for development, growth, and auditing. 

Once you’ve selected your package for you, OnlyGrowth will do the rest. 

Codal

If you want to opt for a Shopify developer agency rather than freelancers then Codal is one of your best options. Based in Chicago but with offices in England and India, the award-winning agency has worked with over 160 clients and counting. 

Its team of Shopify developers have created websites for some of the biggest global brands, including Pepsi and Motorola. 

Toptal

Toptal is a matching service that will match you with the very best tech talent. Think of it as your very own Shopify developer ‘Cupid’!

The Toptal platform’s primary focus is pairing tech experts with companies and individuals in need, and is home to some of the best Shopify developers in the business.

Toptal claims that only 3% of applicants make it through its vetting process to be featured on the platform, so you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your chosen developer is highly-skilled.

Now you know where to find a Shopify developer, you need to know what exactly it is that you should be looking for.

With so many freelance developers out there, you must find one with the skills and expertise to fulfil your needs. 

When choosing your Shopify developer, focus on the following:

• Always read a developer’s reviews. This is a good chance to see how their previous clients have rated their work. Avoid anyone who has poor reviews, or none at all.
• Ask to see previous examples of their work to make sure their style matches your own.
• Don’t be nervous to ask technical questions to make sure their knowledge level is as high as they claim.
• Set out your expectations from the very beginning and make sure you’re both fully happy before beginning the project.
• Set a clear timeframe and budget for the project.

If you’ve decided you need to hire a Shopify developer, whether it’s for a whole project or just a one-off task, then taking time to find the right one is crucial. 

A Shopify developer should make your life easier, taking over the stressful and time-consuming elements of a website build to help free up your time to focus on other business-critical tasks. 

To recap, key things to consider when looking for a Shopify developer are:

• Make sure you can’t complete the task yourself without the need for any help.
• Confirm your budget and set this in stone from the very start.
• Always read reviews and ask to see examples of previous work.
• Be confident in shopping around – you don’t have to choose the first developer you come across!
• Look for a developer with specific experience in undertaking the exact task you require.

By following the tips in this article, you’ll have no trouble in finding the very best Shopify developer for your ecommerce store. Good luck!