Shopify questions from Los Angeles business owners
These are the questions we hear most from LA brands thinking about Shopify, or thinking about fixing the Shopify store they already have.
Cost, time and planning
What makes a Shopify project cost more or less?
Mostly scope. The number of page templates that need a custom design, how many products and variants you have, whether you're moving from another platform, and how much custom functionality you need beyond what the theme and apps already do. A store that sticks close to a good theme with a careful design pass costs far less than one with custom sections, integrations and a full migration. We price each project after we understand it, and you get the number in writing before work starts.
How long does it take to build a Shopify store?
It depends on the size of the store and how quickly content comes together. The things that slow projects down most are usually product photos, product descriptions and decisions that need more than one person to sign off. We'll give you a realistic schedule once we've seen what's involved, and tell you what we need from you to keep it on track.
Which Shopify plan do I need?
Most small and mid-sized brands start on one of Shopify's standard plans and move up as sales grow. The higher plans mainly lower card processing rates and add features like more staff accounts and more detailed reports, and Shopify Plus is built for larger brands with higher volume. Plan names and prices change, so check Shopify's pricing page for the current details. We can help you pick based on what you actually need.
Running the store
Who owns the store and the content?
You do. The Shopify account is in your name and billed to you, and we work on it as a collaborator. Your products, customer data, domain and content are yours. If you ever stop working with us, you remove our access and nothing else changes.
How many apps should I have?
As few as you can get away with. Apps are useful, but each one adds a monthly fee and often adds code to your store that can slow it down. A lot of what people install apps for can be done in the theme instead. When we take over a store, removing apps that aren't earning their place is often one of the first things we suggest.
Can I update the store myself?
Yes, for most day-to-day changes. Products, collections, pages, navigation, banners and home page sections can all be edited in the Shopify admin and theme editor without touching code. Stores are set up with that in mind, and anything that does need code is pointed out before launch.
Search, design and help
Is Shopify good for SEO?
Shopify gives you what you need: editable page titles and descriptions, clean URLs, a sitemap and redirects. What makes the difference is how you use them. Clear product and collection copy, sensible structure, fast pages and redirects from any old URLs when you switch platforms. If you're moving from another platform, read about how we handle it on Abra's migration page.
Should I use a theme or get a custom design?
Many brands do well on a good theme with a careful design pass. A custom design makes sense when your products need to be presented in a way the theme can't do well, or when looking like every other store is costing you. You can see the difference in Abra's portfolio.
Do you help after the store launches?
Yes. Plenty of our work is ongoing: new sections, seasonal changes, fixes and theme updates for stores we already know. If you'd rather keep it simple, you can just get in touch when something comes up.
Didn't see your question?
Send it over. If it's quick, we'll just answer it. If it turns into a project, we'll tell you what that would look like.
Good things to include
- Your store's address, if you have one
- What you sell and roughly how many products
- What's not working right now
- Any date you're working toward
Ask us about your store
A few lines is enough to get started. You'll hear back from a person, not a sales sequence.