Launching a Shopify store without a checklist is how stores go live with broken checkout flows, missing meta descriptions, and product pages that look unfinished. We’ve seen it dozens of times at OneOnic. This checklist covers every step you need to complete before your store is truly ready for customers.
Phase 1: Theme Setup (Before You Add Products)
- Choose and install your theme — we recommend Granivio for its speed, mobile layout, and conversion-focused design
- Set your brand colours in the theme editor (primary, secondary, background, text)
- Upload your logo in both standard and mobile-appropriate sizes
- Configure your navigation menu — keep it to 5–6 top-level items maximum
- Set up your footer: links, contact info, social icons, payment icons
- Enable and configure the announcement bar if running a launch offer
- Set up your homepage sections: hero, featured collections, best sellers, about snippet, reviews placeholder
- Choose and apply consistent fonts — two maximum: one for headings, one for body text
- Test the theme on mobile using Chrome DevTools and on a real device
Phase 2: Products and Collections
- Add all products with unique titles (not manufacturer titles)
- Write original product descriptions — minimum 100 words per product, benefit-focused
- Upload high-quality images — minimum 2 images per product, consistent background and lighting
- Set up product variants (size, colour) with visual swatches if your theme supports it
- Organise products into collections with clear names and collection descriptions
- Add compare-at prices for any products on sale to show the discount clearly
- Set up inventory tracking for all products
- Configure product tags for filtering and search
Phase 3: Payments, Shipping, and Legal
- Connect your payment gateway (Razorpay, PayU, or Cashfree for India)
- Enable UPI as a payment option if selling in India — it reduces cart abandonment significantly
- Set up COD (cash on delivery) if your margins and fulfilment allow it
- Configure shipping zones and rates — be specific about delivery timelines
- Add your return and refund policy page (Shopify has a template you can customise)
- Add your privacy policy and terms of service pages
- Add a shipping policy page with estimated delivery times
- Set up tax rates appropriate for your region
Phase 4: SEO and Analytics
- Set a unique meta title and description for your homepage
- Add meta titles and descriptions to every product and collection page
- Add alt text to all product images
- Submit your sitemap (yourstore.com/sitemap.xml) to Google Search Console
- Install Google Analytics 4 via Shopify’s native integration
- Set up Google Merchant Center if you plan to run Shopping ads
- Add Facebook Pixel if you plan to run Meta ads
The Fix: Try Granivio Free on Shopify
Every item on this checklist is easier to complete when you start with the right theme. Granivio provides the structure you need — section-based editing, mobile-first layout, clean SEO markup, and product page formats that work out of the box. It’s the theme we configure first on every new store build at OneOnic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to launch a Shopify store from scratch?
A basic store with up to 50 products, properly set up, takes most first-timers 1–2 weeks working part-time. Working with an agency like OneOnic, a launch-ready store can be delivered in 5–7 business days. The most time-consuming step is usually product photography and writing unique descriptions.
Do I need to remove the “Powered by Shopify” text?
It’s optional but recommended for a professional look. You can remove it in the theme’s footer settings or via a small code edit in the theme.liquid file. Granivio makes this easy to manage through the theme editor without touching code.
What’s the most commonly missed step before a Shopify launch?
Testing the complete checkout flow with a real test order. Shopify lets you place test orders using a Bogus Gateway. Always complete a full purchase — add to cart, checkout, payment, confirmation email — before going live. Many stores launch with a broken confirmation email or an unconfigured shipping rate that surprises customers at checkout.
Need Expert Help Building Your Shopify Store?
OneOnic has built 100+ Shopify stores across India for furniture, fashion, home decor, tiles, candles, and more. We handle design, development, SEO, and growth.
