As an official Shopify Plus partner, the Fyresite team has worked with many clients that have had less than ideal experiences with other agencies. They’ve dealt with being misled, overcharged, and downright lied to.

We’ve heard the horror stories, and we don’t want to hear more. So, we’ve put together this list of red flags to avoid when looking for your Shopify partner.

Red Flag: They’re Not an Official Shopify Partner

Shopify partner isn’t just a phrase that gets thrown around: it’s an official program offered by Shopify that shows an agency meets certain requirements within the Shopify ecosystem.

That doesn’t stop agencies from using purposefully confusing language like “Shopify agency” or “Shopify experts” to mislead clients into thinking they’re partners.

Green Flag: An Agency That is an Active Shopify Partner

Not only does an agency have to meet certain standards to become a Shopify partner, but they have to maintain them. If the agency you’re dealing with is a certified Shopify partner, it means they have earned (and kept) Shopify’s trust.

Check out the Shopify Partner Directory to make sure you’re working with a certified agency (like Fyresite!).

Red Flag: They Make Promises Without Discovery

Some agencies focus more on telling you what you want to hear, rather than what you need to hear. It can be exciting to hear that someone is able to do everything you want done, but without discovery, these promises are often empty.

Green Flag: An Agency That Verifies Before Promising

For an agency, it can be terrifying to tell a potential client that we aren’t sure if we can do something without discovery. But it’s the right choice.

Waiting until after we’ve had a chance to do discovery means that we can not only tell you if we can do the task, but details. We can talk about the most cost effective method, or solutions if the task can’t be done the way you’re thinking. That way, you can make the most informed decision.

Red Flag: They Have a “Black Box” Pricing Model

Transparency is key. If you’re being charged a lump sum, and the agency is unable or unwilling to give you a pricing breakdown, there’s a problem.

At worst, they’re trying to overcharge you by obscuring how much the work actually costs. At best, they’re not sure how much work is actually involved and are trying to price without discovery.

Either way, if they can’t tell you where the budget is going, it’s a red flag.

Green Flag: An Agency With a Detailed Scope of Work

A trustworthy agency will make sure to have a signed scope of work before starting a project. A scope is a legal document that includes important information about the project, including a line breakdown of the budget.

Red Flag: They Don’t Ask About Your Business

While there are some aspects of building a shop that are universal, knowing your business is essential to building your store. You need a store for your customers, and if your partner doesn’t understand the customers, they can’t understand your store.

If you’re talking to an agency that isn’t asking questions, then you’re not going to get a store that is going to work for your specific needs.

Green Flag: An Agency That’s Understands Your Business

A true partnership relies on understanding. That’s why a good agency will ask you questions to understand your business.

They should ask questions about your conversion rate, average order value, customer lifetime value, revenue goals, pain points, and target audience. These questions give insight into your business and the goals of your Shopify store.

Why Choosing the Right Partner Matters

Our clients have told us reasons why they first chose a partner that wasn’t right for them:

  • “They were cheaper”
  • “They were quicker”
  • “They promised us exactly what we wanted”

Choosing a partner you know isn’t the right fit hurts more than it helps. Picking the wrong partner can cost you more than just money – it can cost you lost sales, a damaged reputation, and technical debt.

By keeping an eye out for these red flags, you can protect your brand and ensure your Shopify journey is a successful one.

Fyresite, a Certified Shopify Plus Partner

Fyresite has been a Shopify Partner since 2020. Check out our Shopify Directory page to see our services and reviews from Shopify merchants.

Like what you see? Schedule a consultation with our Chief Commerce Officer to get an idea of how Fyresite can help you.