How to Effectively Scope Shopify Projects: Partner Panel
summary
Panelists explain scoping as a practical checklist: break projects into four components: design functional integrations data migration, run a paid discovery (often 20–50 hours), and treat Shopify Plus as time-and-materials while non‑Plus projects average ~400 hours. Position apps against documented business workflows, not app lists; justify higher budgets with analytics-driven ROI and case studies. Protect margins with documented project policies, mandatory single client contact, strict review rounds, and a 30-hour flex fund (~$5k) for small out‑of‑scope requests.
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chapters (12)
- 0:00Start
- 3:09What's your process for scoping Shopify ecommerce projects at your agency?
- 7:17How do you position Shopify apps and integrations to clients?
- 11:25What resources do you use to document your scoping process and manage client expectations?
- 15:09How do you manage or protect your Shopify projects from scope creep?
- 19:54How do you say no to client requests?
- 23:43What are the warning signs of a potentially tough client?
- 31:07How should an agency pitch a high-level budget and how do they defend those budgets?
- 35:32How do you track time among cross-functional teams?
- 37:30What do you do when you're working with a client who doesn't actually know what they need?
- 39:56How do you approach retainers at your agency?
- 44:00What is the single piece of advice you'd recommend to a new Shopify Partner?
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