Hire Shopify Expert Agency Vs Make It Yourself: Which One Is Better?

One of the most crucial choices each business owner must make when beginning eCommerce is whether to hire Shopify expert agency or make it your self.

Choosing a do-it-yourself strategy creates a sense of personal accomplishment and control while lowering initial costs. On the other hand, employing skilled Shopify experts increases efficiency and advanced Shopify store customization but the initial cost is more. 

In this blog, we will analyze both routes, giving a thorough rundown of the advantages and disadvantages of whether to hire someone to make a Shopify store vs do it yourself.

1. Introduction of Shopify

Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce platform that enables online store creation, management, and operation. With the help of third-party apps, built-in capabilities, and a variety of stunning themes, you can design, modify, and improve their eCommerce store without knowing any code.

For beginners or small businesses, Shopify stands out as one of the best eCommerce solutions because:

• It has lower transaction fees and no listing fees, making it cost-effective.
• It is built with a straightforward interface, allowing no tech savvy to set up and customize easily.
• It is versatile and scalable thanks to its diverse pricing plans, which offer you options to start humbly now but grow quickly then.
• It often offers limited hot deals for new users like using Shopify $1 for 3 months. 

2. Hire Shopify Expert Agency

Shopify Experts are reliable and knowledgeable members of the Shopify community who actively assist Shopify merchants in expanding their online businesses by offering outstanding and superior services. Specifically, they can be:

• Shopify web designers, theme and app developers and business consultants
• Agencies that specialize in eCommerce and Shopify
• Freelance experts

A Shopify expert can specialize in a wide range of areas, including branding, content, online store setup and development, marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and many more.

This means that they can provide Shopify store setup and configuration service like selecting a theme and design for your store that complements your tastes and makes sure it is user-friendly. They also manage store performance optimization, essential store configuration (e.g., payment, shipping), Shopify app integrations, etc.

They help with the store’s upkeep and technological support while it is operating. There are professionals on standby to handle any issues that may come up in your Shopify store.

People can find them in many places including:

• Shopify Expert Marketplace: a curated directory hosted by Shopify, featuring vetted professionals with specialized skills and proven track records

• Shopify Agencies: specializing in Shopify store setup, with professional working process and communication.

• Freelance Marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr, etc.) 

• LinkedIn and Professional Networks 

3. Build A Shopify Store By Yourself

Building your own Shopify store can save you a lot of money but it will require you a lot of time and effort to execute it well. You should have certain knowledge so that you can easily navigate through the process or it might be a little bit daunting for you. 

Understanding your problem, we’ve built a step-by-step guide on how to launch your Shopify store. Below is a summarized version of it:

• Create a Shopify account & Select a Shopify pricing plan 
• Connect your existing domain or buy a new one
• Add & Organize your products 
• Build & Customize your Shopify store design with Shopify theme selection
• Set up Shopify payment gateways and checkout, shipping and tax rates 

By following these steps, you can build an online store on your own. It’s not only a cost-effective way but also a good way to improve your online entrepreneurship. Yet, the drawbacks are what you need to pay attention. It may take a lot of your time and effort without the guarantee of success, along with risks of making errors.

Relevant reading: How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Website?

4. Hire Shopify Expert Agency Vs Make It Yourself

If you’re pressed for time, check out our brief comparison between 2 options: Hire someone to build Shopify store vs Build it by yourself.

Now, let’s dig deeper into each section to see 

4.1. Time & Effort

Experts in Shopify development can complete the construction considerably more quickly, and using clean, adaptable code makes future modifications much easier. 

Building a Shopify store with a skilled developer can take 4 to 8 weeks on average. Even better, they only need 1 to 2 weeks for basic stores. This timeline covers the preliminary stages of planning and designing, developing and customizing, testing, and launching.

On the other hand, it will take a lot more time and effort to create a Shopify store from the ground up on your own. It can be intimidating for people without much web programming skills to navigate Shopify’s features and customizations. 

Since there is a high learning curve, a substantial time commitment is required to grasp every aspect of the platform. It could last months (if you make mistakes and spend time troubleshooting).

4.2. Cost Efficiency

Saving money is one of the biggest advantages of doing your own Shopify development. Based on our research, the estimated initial setup cost for a Shopify store is at least around $150.

For startups or small businesses with tight budgets, this strategy is especially helpful because it enables them to more efficiently distribute resources among other crucial business areas.

Whereas, the increased initial cost is one of the main factors to be taken into account when deciding whether I want to hire someone to build my Shopify store or make it yourself. As they have more specialized knowledge and experience, expert developers usually charge more. Here is a summary:

• Fixed-rate projects: $5,000–$15,000 for custom theme development, $10,000–$50,000 for full eCommerce store development
• Agencies: $1,200–$2,500 per hour
• Freelance Shopify professionals: $30–$150 per hour

That being said, some of the Shopify agencies have flexible pricing like our eComStart’s Shopify store setup service. You can send us your request with estimated budget and requirements, then we will have discussion to find the best solution for you.

4.3. Level Of Control

With do-it-yourself Shopify store development, you obtain higher level of control than with hiring Shopify experts. It’s easy for you to keep track of the budget and process, like which aspects to invest the most and how you want the storefront look like.

You have everything at your discretion. Thus, your brand identity and business objectives will be fully aligned with every element of the store.

On the other hand, there will be an excessive dependence on hired developers. You will have to discuss with them before making decisions. Eventually, depending too much on them can cause you to lose touch with your own e-commerce platform.

4.4. Quality & Performance 

Building a Shopify store doesn’t require you to be a tech expert, but it does help if you know the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 

Especially, when you want to build an unique shop which might require a number of advanced features. If you don’t have the specialized knowledge and abilities needed for complex stores, expert assistance will be your savior. 

With a complex store and advanced features, you can be confident that your business will function well, resulting in attracting more customers and higher conversion rates.

Meanwhile, do-it-yourself store building may encounter technical constraints despite Shopify’s ease of use. Errors can range from little bugs to serious problems impacting user experience or transaction security. In addition to taking longer to fix, these mistakes can impair the store’s professionalism and credibility.

Moreover, without extensive technical and web design skills, one may only be able to use simple layouts and features, which would make it harder to stand out in a crowded online market.

5. Hire Shopify Agency vs Do It Yourself: Final Verdict

Answering the question of whether to choose to hire someone to set up Shopify store or make it yourself will affect the competitiveness of your business and its development path. 

Although doing a DIY Shopify store can save money initially and add a personal touch, it might not be as scalable or technically proficient. Although they are more expensive up front, expert developers offer practical knowledge, professional customization, and long-term growth potential that meet client expectations and market trends.

Choose to hire Shopify store setup services if:

• You’re not familiar with web design or coding.
• You want a professional design, seamless functionality, and advanced features.
• You need your store to come to life fast and spare time to grow the business.

Choose to build on yourself if:

• You are a very new and small business which may only need a very simple interface to get started selling your products.  
• You’re working with a limited budget and want to save some money.
• You have much time and want to gain hands-on expertise.

6. Conclusion

Choosing to hire Shopify expert agency vs make it yourself is a strategic decision affecting your eCommerce success in the long run.

Creating a Shopify store from the ground up is a fun and fulfilling endeavor. Meanwhile, you may get the proper assistance without having to handle any technical project components yourself if you have a Shopify expert on your side. 

Although there isn’t an objectively correct or incorrect course of action, make sure your choice will best serve your requirements and the interests of your business. If you need a reliable source for Shopify consultation, our eComStart experts are at your disposal.

7. FAQs