Free Resource

The Ultimate Store
Launch Checklist

40 critical checkpoints to ensure your Shopify store is 100% ready to start making sales.

✅ How to Use This Checklist

Go through each item before launching your store. Items marked CRITICAL must be completed. Print this out and check off each item as you complete it!

Your Progress: 0/40 Completed
1

Store Foundation

  • Custom domain connected Critical
    Use a .com domain that matches your brand name (avoid random domains like "bestdeals4u").
  • SSL certificate active (HTTPS) Critical
    Secure padlock icon must appear in browser. Shopify enables this automatically.
  • Favicon uploaded
    Small icon that appears in browser tabs. Use your logo or a simple brand mark.
  • Homepage meta title & description set Important
    Optimize for SEO. Include your main keyword and brand name.
  • Password removed (store is live)
    Go to Online Store > Preferences and disable the password page.
2

Branding & Design

  • Professional logo in header Critical
    Use a clean, simple logo. Canva or Looka can help you create one for free.
  • Consistent color scheme applied
    2-3 brand colors used consistently across all pages.
  • Mobile-responsive design tested Critical
    80%+ of traffic is mobile. Test every page on a phone before launching.
  • Hero banner/image is high quality
    No blurry or pixelated images. Minimum 1920px wide for desktop.
  • No placeholder or "Lorem ipsum" text anywhere
    Review every page for unfinished content.
3

Product Pages

  • High-quality product images (5+ per product) Critical
    Include white background, lifestyle, and close-up shots. Remove supplier watermarks.
  • Compelling product titles
    Benefit-focused titles, not generic names from supplier.
  • Benefit-driven product descriptions Important
    Focus on "what's in it for the customer," not just features.
  • GIFs or videos in product descriptions
    Show the product in action. Converts much better than static images.
  • Product reviews imported (with photos) Critical
    Use apps like Loox or Judge.me. Aim for 10+ reviews per product.
  • Variants (size/color) configured correctly
    Ensure all variants have correct prices and images.
  • Inventory set to "Continue selling when out of stock"
    For dropshipping, you don't want to track inventory manually.
💡 Pro Tip from DropScale Academy

The #1 reason stores fail is weak product pages. In our full course, we provide done-for-you product page templates that convert at 3-5%+ – that's 2-3x the industry average!

4

Trust & Legal Pages

  • About Us page created Important
    Tell your brand story. Makes you look legitimate and builds trust.
  • Contact Us page with email & form Critical
    Required for payment processor approval. Include a real email address.
  • Shipping Policy page Critical
    Be transparent about shipping times. Underpromise and overdeliver.
  • Refund/Return Policy page Critical
    Required by law and by payment processors. Be clear and fair.
  • Privacy Policy page Critical
    Use Shopify's free policy generator in Settings > Legal.
  • Terms of Service page Critical
    Protects you legally. Use Shopify's generator.
  • Trust badges displayed on product/cart pages
    Secure checkout, money-back guarantee, free shipping icons.
5

Checkout & Payments

  • Shopify Payments or Stripe connected Critical
    You can't make money without a payment processor!
  • PayPal connected (optional but recommended)
    Some customers prefer PayPal. Can increase conversion by 5-10%.
  • Shop Pay / Apple Pay / Google Pay enabled Important
    Express checkout options drastically improve mobile conversion.
  • Test order placed successfully
    Go through the entire checkout flow yourself. Use Shopify Bogus Gateway.
  • Shipping rates configured correctly
    Free shipping is best. If charging, ensure rates are reasonable.
  • Tax settings configured
    Set up automatic tax calculation based on shipping address.
6

Email & Automations

  • Abandoned cart email sequence set up Critical
    Recover 5-15% of lost sales. Use Klaviyo or Shopify Email.
  • Order confirmation email customized
    Brand your transactional emails. Include logo and brand colors.
  • Shipping notification email enabled
    Customers want to know when their order ships.
  • Welcome email for new subscribers Recommended
    Offer a discount code to incentivize first purchase.
7

Analytics & Tracking

  • Meta Pixel installed Critical
    Required for Facebook/Instagram ads. Install via Shopify integration.
  • TikTok Pixel installed Important
    Essential if running TikTok ads.
  • Google Analytics 4 connected Recommended
    Track visitor behavior and traffic sources.
  • Conversion events firing correctly
    Use Meta Events Manager to verify PageView, AddToCart, and Purchase events.
8

Final Pre-Launch Checks

  • All links working (no 404 errors)
    Click every link in your navigation and footer.
  • Page speed is acceptable (under 3 seconds)
    Test with Google PageSpeed Insights. Compress images if slow.
  • Announcement bar set up (optional)
    Great for promoting free shipping or a discount code.
  • Social media links in footer
    Link to your TikTok, Instagram, etc. Builds brand credibility.

🎉 Congrats! You're Ready to Launch!

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