How to Hire a Shopify Developer: 10 Questions to Ask

How to Hire a Shopify Developer: 10 Questions to Ask

ShopifyHiringShopify App Development
Farhan Sadik•2026-10-28
Scroll

What kind of Shopify developer you actually need, the questions to ask before hiring, red flags to watch for, and how to protect your store and your code.

"Shopify developer" can mean very different jobs. Before you hire, it helps to know which kind of help you need and how to tell a strong developer from one who will leave you with a broken theme. Here is the guide we wish every store owner had read before their first hire.

First, which kind of Shopify developer do you need?

  • Theme developer: changes how your store looks and works on the storefront. Works in Liquid, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
  • App and integration developer: builds custom Shopify apps, connects Shopify to other systems and automates back-office work using Shopify's APIs and webhooks.
  • Automation specialist: sets up Shopify Flow and tools like Zapier, Make or n8n for simpler workflows.

Many problems need more than one of these. Be clear about which part you need help with.

10 questions to ask before hiring

  1. Can you show me Shopify work similar to mine? Ask for live stores, apps or case studies, not only screenshots.
  2. Which Shopify APIs and tools have you used? For app work, listen for the Admin API, webhooks and Shopify Functions.
  3. How will you access my store? A professional will request collaborator or staff access, never ask for your owner password.
  4. Will you work on a copy of my theme or a development store first? Changes should never be tested on your live store.
  5. Who owns the code? You should own everything you pay for and have access to the repository.
  6. How will you handle Shopify API updates? Shopify releases new API versions regularly, and older ones stop being supported, so custom apps need maintenance.
  7. How will this affect my store's speed? Good developers think about performance before adding scripts.
  8. How do you communicate progress? Expect a regular update, a shared task board and one point of contact.
  9. What happens after launch? Ask about bug fixes, support and a maintenance plan.
  10. Can we start with a small, fixed-scope task? A small paid milestone is the safest way to test a new developer.

Red flags

  • Asking for your owner login or password
  • Editing your live theme directly with no backup
  • No written scope, only "it will be done soon"
  • Refusing to give you the code or repository access
  • Recommending a new app for every problem without asking how your business works

Freelancer, agency or in-house?

A freelancer can be great for small theme changes. For custom apps, integrations and ongoing work, an agency gives you more than one developer, code reviews and continuity if someone leaves. Hiring in-house makes sense once you have enough work for a full-time person.

Work with our Shopify team

Our team builds custom Shopify apps, admin dashboards and store automation, including the Boomerang Magic admin suite. Book a free 30-minute call to talk through your project, or reach us through Solidy.io if you are an international business.