Shopify Collaborator Request: Effective Partnership Management in 2025
Besides being the owner, there are other roles that you need to know in an eCommerce Shopify store. Sometimes, individuals and businesses can send Shopify collaborator request to help you with several aspects of your business.
For example, marketing collaborators can improve marketing aspects in your store, enhancing customers’ online shopping experience for a higher conversion rate.
As you operate a Shopify store, it’s best to manage partnerships effectively through collaborations like this. Let’s dive into this article and see how this feature benefits your business growth!
Contents
1. Shopify Collaborator overview
1.1. What is Shopify Collaborator?
A collaborator account Shopify is a special user account that allows individuals to work on a Shopify store without being the owner. This account is for agencies, development teams, or freelancers who assist the store owner in various tasks on the platform.
‼️ Haven’t built a store yet? Check out our guide on how to launch a Shopify store.
1.2. Shopify collaborator’s role and permissions
The Shopify store owner can assign collaborators different roles and permissions, which helps control their access to your store.
1.2.1. Different access levels
Collaborators work on the store based on two types of permissions:
- Full access: They can access all store aspects, including settings, customers, products, orders, and apps.
- Limited access: The owner can set permissions so collaborators only access certain parts of the store.
1.2.2. Use collaboration tools
Based on the given role, each collaborator has access to specific tools for fulfillment, marketing, or design. From there, they can make changes to your themes, manage customer inquiries, or create new products.
1.2.3. No access to billing information
It doesn’t matter which access level your collaborators have; they are all restricted from viewing billing or payment details. This helps ensure your security and privacy regarding customer information.
1.2.4. Collaboration invitation and request
A collaborator can access a Shopify store via two approaches:
- From the admin dashboard, the merchant can send a collaboration invitation to specific individuals or agency representatives.
- The collaborator can also send a collaborator request to your Shopify store for approval.
1.3. Key distinctions: Collaborators vs. Shopify Partners vs. Store staff
Collaborators | Shopify Partners | Store staff | |
|---|---|---|---|
Definition | Granted access by the store owner, usually agencies or freelancers assisting with store management. | Part of the Shopify Partner Program, collaborating with Shopify to provide services (e.g., design, support, marketing) | Store employees with fixed roles and responsibilities help operate the store daily. |
Access | Get limited or full access based on the store owner’s settings. | Cannot access the store unless they are invited as collaborators. Can create development stores for testing. | Access the store based on the owner’s permissions. |
Purpose | Help store owners with technical tasks involving Shopify store setup service or specific project work. | Sell Shopify services, build apps and themes, and earn a revenue share from their products or referrals. | Responsible for the store’s daily operation, mainly with customer service or order fulfillment. |
Ownership | Don’t have ownership rights or receive revenue shares from the store’s sales. | Make money from their apps/themes’ sales. Also, receive a percentage of revenue from stores they refer to Shopify. | Don’t have ownership rights. |
Security | Cannot access billing information. | Cannot access the store if they’re not collaborators. | Some staff may have access to the store’s financial aspects. |
🔥 Reminder: Try the Shopify 3 months for $1 to start launching your Shopify store without overspending in the beginning!
2. How to manage Shopify collaborator requests?
There are two ways for merchants to manage collaborators:
- Every collaborator can request access to your store
- Only those having collaborator request codes can request access
In the next section, both Shopify store owners and collaborators can learn from our detailed instructions!
2.1. How to send a collaborator request?
A person or agency can send a request collaborator access Shopify to a specific store with the following steps:
Step 1: Log in to Shopify Partner > Click Store
Step 2: Click Add Store > Request access to store
Step 3: Enter Store URL
Step 4: Choose the permission type you want in the store
Step 5: Add a message (if required)
Step 6: Click Request access to store
2.2. How to give access to Shopify store?
As the store owner, you can follow the steps below to manage Shopify collaborator approval to grant them access:
Step 1: Log in to Shopify admin > Settings
Step 2: Click Users and permissions > Scroll down to Collaborators
Step 3: You’ll see all pending collaborator requests and then review their access requests and permissions (e.g., access to online store, apps).
Step 4: You can accept or deny the request; collaborators will be notified via email.
2.3. What is the collaborator request code in Shopify?
A collaborator request code Shopify is a 4-digit code that store owners use to allow external collaborators to access their stores. From there, merchants will automatically have the collaborators’ details and get them to work.
2.4. How to create collaborator request code?
Step 1: Log in to Shopify admin > Settings
Step 2: Click User and permission
Step 3: Scroll down to Collaborators > Select the 2nd option.
Step 4: A new request code for the collaborator appears in the “Collaborator Request Code” box > The store owner can copy and send it to collaborators.
3. How to remove Shopify collaborator requests?
To remove a collaborator request, here is guidance for both the store owner and collaborators:
3.1. For Shopify store owners
Step 1: Log in to Shopify Admin > Settings > Users and permissions
Step 2: Choose the collaborator you want to remove > Click Remove collaborator account
Step 3: Enter your password > Click Save
3.2. For Shopify collaborators
Step 1: Log in to Shopify Partner > Store
Step 2: Select the store you want to remove > Click Action > Remove access
Step 3: Click Remove store
4. Best Practices to utilize Shopify collaborator request and management
Besides operating the store and overseeing staff work, managing collaborator requests can be a hassle for merchants. That’s why we want to offer you extra help with the practical tactics below to manage Shopify collaborator requests effectively.
4.1. Assign clear roles and permissions
When you send collaboration invitations to partners, specify the exact task permissions. Don’t give them full store access if not necessary to protect your store’s security and private data.
4.2. Clarify your expectations
Make sure to communicate clearly with collaborators at the start of every project. They should understand your expectations and required tasks to ensure everyone’s on the same page.
A personalized message could be a good idea, as it shows that you have researched your partner and believe in mutual benefits as you work together.
4.3. Regularly review collaborator requests
It’s crucial to keep track of collaborators who have been granted access to your store and the permissions they have. Periodically, you should check and remove Shopify collaborator access for partners who no longer need it or have completed projects.
4.4. Use request codes safely
With each specific task or project, you should generate unique Shopify collaborator request codes. It will limit the collaborator’s access to assigned areas only and simplify your approval process.
An extra advice is to share these codes securely to prevent others from unauthorized access. You can use private channels like secure messaging or email to communicate the code directly with collaborators.
4.5. Monitor collaboration activities
Utilizing project management tools like Asana, Slack, or Trello will streamline your task management process, deadlines, and communications with collaborators.
Also, Shopify’s integrated reporting and activity logs can help you monitor changes made by collaborators. You’ll get an overview of your store operation and ensure accountability among different personnel.
5. Conclusion
Collaborators in your store can be helpful, especially when you need assistance leveraging particular aspects. With the Shopify collaborator request feature, both the merchant and partners can utilize their access to a store and work in it.
If you’re interested in building a store but haven’t started yet, we suggest checking out eComStart and its storage of pre-built Shopify dropshipping store.
Hope the comprehensive guide in this article helps you manage partnerships effectively!
6. FAQs
