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Frequently asked questions about the Shopify Partner Program

Discover the basics of the Shopify Partner Program and find answers to common questions about managing your account, building stores, and accessing resources.

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1.0 Program basics & marketing

1.1 How does the Shopify Partner Program work?

The Shopify Partner Program is a performance-based partner program that sets the standard in the industry. It's structured to provide Partners with clear pathways for progression through different tiers, along with defined benefits at each level. The Partner Program is an open program is designed for agencies, consultancies, and systems integrators that offer expert services to help merchants succeed on Shopify. Learn more with the Shopify Partner Program Tiering Guide.

1.2 How do I become a Shopify Partner?

To become a Shopify Partner, sign up for a Shopify Partner Account. As a Partner, you can submit apps to the Shopify App Store and themes to the Shopify Theme Store, as well as start referring clients to Shopify. You’ll earn a portion of the revenue generated from each new client from the date they sign up for a Shopify store. Shopify pays you for these referrals regularly, provided you meet the minimum balance required for each payout period.

1.3 What information can I track about my affiliated clients?

You can monitor which clients you're affiliated with, the total revenue for the current pay period generated by all your affiliated clients, and the total revenue to date from those affiliated clients.

1.4 Will I have access to promotional tools for Shopify?

Yes, visit the Client Resources section to find brochures, flyers, and materials to share with prospective and current clients. You can also use creative banners and logos for branding. Additionally, Shopify Partners receive a monthly newsletter featuring updates, marketing tips, and other valuable information. If you have suggestions for tools that would aid your sales efforts, then contact Shopify Support by logging into your Partner Account and selecting either chat or email support. When you log in, select your Partner organization name for questions related to your Partner Account.

2.0 Building & managing stores

2.1 How do I hand over a store to a client?

For guidance on transferring client transfer stores to clients, refer to the Shopify developer documentation.

2.2 Why can’t I install an app on client transfer and dev stores?

Free apps can be installed on client transfer and dev stores. However, to install paid apps, the store must be on a plan that includes a valid credit card.

You can try these free Partner-friendly apps in your store.

2.3 How do I work on a live shop without affecting it?

Option 1: Work with a dev store

  1. Create a dev store on your Dev Dashboard.
  2. Download the current theme from the Themes page in the live shop.
  3. Upload it to your dev store. You can now work on a copy of the live shop’s theme without affecting it.
  4. When you're ready to launch the updated theme, download it from your dev store and upload it as the primary theme in the live shop.

Option 2: Shopify CLI

You can use the Shopify CLI, which is a command-line interface tool that helps you build Shopify apps and themes. Shopify CLI quickly generates Shopify apps, themes, and custom storefronts. You can also use Shopify CLI to automate many common development tasks.

You can do the following with Shopify CLI:

  • Preview, test, and share changes to themes using development themes
  • Hot reload CSS and section changes, or automatically refresh a page on file change, when previewing a theme
  • Initialize a new theme using Dawn as a starting point
  • Push and publish themes from the command line
  • Work on multiple themes using environments
  • Run Theme Check on your theme

2.4 What is the best practice when you've built a store for a client using a third-party theme?

If you've built a store for a client and it includes a third-party theme, then you need to transfer the theme to the client. The best way to do this depends on whether the theme still needs code customization when you transfer the store to your client:

  • If the theme requires code customization: Purchase the theme on behalf of the client, bill them for the cost, and hand off the store to remove your payment information.
  • If the theme doesn't require customization: Leave it as a free trial. Your client won’t need to pay for the theme until they want to publish it or make code edits, which can occur after transferring ownership of the client transfer store.

2.5 When does the client have to pay for a theme under a free trial?

The merchant pays for the theme when they choose to publish it or edit its code. This can happen after you hand off the store.

2.6 Can I use a dev store to advertise my services?

Yes, while you can’t process payments through a personal dev store, you can use it as a public-facing website to promote your services and showcase your work.

2.7 How does app billing work?

For detailed information about app billing, refer to the Application Billing documentation.

3.1 What are the terms of service?

The terms of service are the legal agreement between you, as a Shopify Partner, and Shopify. These are the rules, guidelines, and conditions you agree to when you sign up as a Shopify Partner.

3.2 I am a Partner in the European Union (EU), or offer my services to merchants based in the EU. What information am I required to display for my business imprint?

All Partners based in the EU, or offering their services to merchants based in the EU, need to provide merchants with two up-to-date forms of direct and effective means of communication. The following fields need to be displayed on your app or theme listing:

  • Business name
  • Two forms of merchant contact information, such as an email address, a phone number, a contact form, or a support page
  • Geographical address (where your business is registered)

3.3 How can I change my business name or geographical address?

To change your business name or geographical address:

  1. From your Partner Dashboard, go to Settings.

  2. In the Business details section, update your business name.

  3. In the Contact information section, update your address.

  4. Click Save.

3.4 How can I update my merchant contact information?

To change your merchant contact information, you need to edit your app or theme listing:

  1. Go to your Partner Dashboard.

  2. Go to Apps or Themes.

  3. Update the merchant contact information for all of your apps and themes with active listings.

  4. Click Save.

3.5 What happens if I fail to comply?

If Shopify finds that your business imprint is not up-to-date, then Shopify reserves the right to delist your app or theme from the Shopify marketplace.

3.6 When is a Partner Account considered inactive?

To remain an active partner, your partner organization must take an action such as creating an app, logging into the partner dashboard, using a public API endpoint, submitting a lead, paying an invoice, receiving a payout, creating a store, logging into a store, or requesting collaborator access.

If you do not take any actions in your account for a 2-year period, then the account is deemed as inactive.

3.7 What happens to inactive Partner Accounts?

If no users in your partner organization take any action in your account for a 2-year period, then it will be deemed inactive. After this period, you're notified through email. If you don't respond by taking action within 60 days, then Shopify will proceed to close your account.

You can reactivate your account anytime by contacting Shopify Support. Your data will be retained unless you request its deletion, allowing for account restoration even after closure.

3.8 How do I cancel my participation in the program after signing up?

To cancel your participation in the program, contact Shopify Support by logging into your Partner Account from the Help Center, and then selecting either chat or email support. When you log in, select your Partner organization name for questions related to your Partner Account.

3.9 Is the Partner Dashboard available in multiple languages?

Yes, the Partner Dashboard supports multiple languages. To learn how to select your preferred language, refer to Choose Your Preferred Language in your Partner Dashboard settings.

How do I contact Shopify Support?

You can reach out to Shopify Support by logging into your Partner Account. From the Help Center, select either chat or email support. Depending on your selection, you can choose to inquire about your Partner Account or a development store. Shopify Support can help you to navigate Partner programs, your Partner Dashboard, and grow your Partner business.