Sam's Basic Web Admin Shopify Setup Checklist

Tasks for Setting Up a New Shopify Store Admin:

1. General Store Settings

   • Fill out store details: store name (correct spelling), store email, and phone number (visible to customers).

   • Set billing address to the store’s primary address.

   • Set the currency (e.g., USD or local currency).

   • Set time zone (preferably Eastern Time or local time zone).

   • Configure order number prefix (optional, usually abbreviation of store name).

   • Enable automatic fulfillment of gift cards only.

   • Manage brand assets: upload logos, set default colors, cover image, slogan, short description, social links.

2. Billing

   • Ensure credit card is listed for billing.

   • If missing, send credit card request form to client for completion.

   • Add credit card to Shopify account once received (team: Carly, Sam, or Raj).

3. Users and Permissions

   • Confirm Custom Brand Service is listed as collaborator.

   • If not, send collaboration request to client (assign task to Sam).

4. Payments

   • Verify Shopify Payments is set up; if not, send forms to collect credit card and payout account info.

   • Gather PayPal login from client and activate PayPal if available; suggest account creation if not.

   • Set payment capture to automatic at checkout.

   • Set gift cards to never expire.

5. Checkout Settings

   • Require customer contact method and set to email only.

   • Do not require customer login.

   • Show order tracking link via Shop.

   • Make shipping address phone number required.

   • Enable marketing options: SMS and email opt-in at checkout.

   • Disable tipping.

   • Enable abandoned checkout emails; set delay to 1 hour.

   • Keep checkout language set to English.

   • Save changes.

6. Customer Accounts

   • Turn on show login links.

   • Upgrade to new customer accounts.

   • Enable self-serve returns.

   • Enable store credit.

   • Set custom domain for Shopify account domain if access is available.

7. Return Rules & Policies

   • Enable and manage return rules: configure days for returns, return shipping cost rules (usually customer pays return shipping; store provides label and deducts cost), set restocking fee (usually none), designate final sale collections.

   • Create return policy document based on rules using Perplexity or existing site policies.

   • Insert and publish privacy policy template; review and customize if necessary.

   • Insert and publish terms of service template; review and customize.

   • Insert and publish shipping policy based on configured shipping rates and rules; use Perplexity to generate policy text if needed.

   • Insert contact information template.

   • Enable data sharing opt-out page.

   • Leave cookie banner off.

8. Shipping & Delivery

   • Set up domestic U.S. shipping policy: free shipping and USPS flat rates by default.

   • Contact client for international shipping preferences; if yes, set up DHL as secondary provider.

   • Confirm and configure shipping for multiple locations if applicable.

   • Enable order pickup and in-store options.

   • Enable automated delivery dates.

   • Apply order routing rules: prioritize shipping from in-store stock, minimize split shipments, fallback to virtual warehouse or dropship locations.

   • Enable split shipping if dropshipping is involved.

9. Taxes and Duties

   • Configure tax collection for store’s home region and other store locations.

   • Use Shopify tax rules.

   • Set additional international tax rules if shipping internationally.

10. Apps and Sales Channels Installation

    • Install required apps: Able Star, Shopify Google Sales Channel, Shopify Meta Sales Channel (Facebook & Instagram), Pinterest, Shopify Flow, Shopify Search & Discovery, Shopify Bundles, Shopify Forms.

    • Install additional apps as needed, e.g. Klaviyo, Frequently Bought Together, Judge.me (reviews), Swatch apps.

    • Avoid unnecessary/excessive apps.

11. Domain Setup and Email Hosting

    • Confirm domain access.

    • Purchase domain via Shopify if new site; connect existing domain if transferring.

    • Set up Google Workspace email hosting within Shopify or via GoDaddy if applicable.

12. Store Markets Setup

    • Create at least two markets: U.S. market and international market.

    • Configure market-specific tax and shipping settings.

13. Users and Ownership

    • Obtain list of users from client.

    • Transfer store ownership email to client or designated email.

    • Send collaboration request to Custom Brand Service.

    • Remove previous individual Shopify user accounts; maintain only collaborator access.

14. Collections and Navigation

    • Set up collections based on product attributes (type, tags, etc.).

    • For POS-integrated sites, ensure product syncing is working properly.

    • Create collections for top 10–15 best-selling designers/vendors.

    • Configure navigation menus:

      • Header navigation: capitalize menu items, exclude "Home" (logo links home), include New Arrivals, About, Shop by Style, Shop by Designer(s), Contact, Sale.

      • Topper navigation (optional): Size Chart, Gift Cards.

      • Footer navigation: Shipping policy, Return policy, Contact info.

      • Customer navigation (inside account/cart): Past orders, account settings, past reviews, loyalty program, sizing charts.

15. Gift Cards

    • Check existing gift card products.

    • Create new gift card products if none exist.

    • Exclude gift cards from other product collections; isolate in their own collection.

    • Confirm with 99 Minds (if client uses them) to avoid duplicate gift card products.

16. Theme and Launch Preparation

    • Password protect the unpublished theme.

    • Name theme logically and descriptively.

    • Add logical SEO description in theme preferences.

    • Use compressed, web-optimized images and files to reduce load time.

    • Label launch theme with launch date.

    • Duplicate theme before making updates.

17. Google Channels and Analytics

    • Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console accounts.

    • Link all Google accounts prior to launch.

    • Configure Shop channel (customize home page, featured collections).

    • Prepare for launch; some features will activate post-launch.

18. Social Media Channels

    • Set up Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels.

    • Re-establish auto-posting if applicable.

    • Schedule weekly manual posts plus 2–3 supplemental posts weekly.

19. Final Review

    • Review all policies for accuracy after adding site-specific info.

    • Verify all major settings (payments, shipping, taxes, users, apps) are correctly configured.

    • Confirm collections and navigation menus are in place and functioning.

    • Test checkout flow and customer account features.

    • Ensure team responsibilities and tasks (collaboration requests, billing, ownership transfer) are completed.

This detailed task list should guide a complete and professional setup of a new Shopify store admin.