A credible agency proposal should name what is delivered, what is excluded, when payment is due, who owns each asset, how the build is tested and what help exists after launch. If those answers are vague, ask for a revised scope before paying. For the cash comparison itself, use the separate store-cost worksheet.
- 01DeliverablesOutputs and quantities
- 02OwnershipAccounts, files, rights
- 03AcceptanceQA and revisions
- 04After launchSupport and exclusions
Turn the proposal into a deliverables table
Ask the agency to write one row for each promised output: product research, brand assets, theme files, product-page copy, catalog entries, payment and shipping configuration, tracking, test orders, training and post-launch support. Each row needs an acceptance test and a named owner. “Store setup” without rows is too vague to inspect at handover. For the separate cash/time comparison, use the store-cost worksheet.
Ask the ownership questions
Who owns the Shopify account and domain? What files, design assets and logins will be handed over? What does “custom-coded theme” mean in the written scope, and what happens when Shopify or an app updates? What is the revision limit and support window? Shopify's theme-code guidance is a reminder that customizations carry maintenance needs.
Score eight answers before paying
Give each item 0 for missing, 1 for verbal only or 2 for written and testable: (1) named deliverables; (2) product-entry quantity; (3) buyer-facing policy and checkout QA; (4) account/domain ownership; (5) editable source and third-party licenses; (6) revision and acceptance window; (7) launch timing and client dependencies; (8) support coverage and exclusions. The score is a document-quality check, not a guarantee of provider competence. Any zero in payment, ownership or delivery deserves resolution even if the total score is high.
Put marketing outside the build promise
A store can be delivered quickly without producing a first sale quickly. Decide who funds samples, stock if any, ads, content, customer service and refunds. Ask what the agency's post-launch support does and does not include. Treat projections as assumptions to test, not an expected return on a small investment.
Rystella's package comparison and included-scope guide let you compare one done-for-you option against your DIY checklist. Request the written agreement before paying and confirm the build, access and exclusions fit your product. If you can execute the same scope well yourself, DIY may be the better choice.
Ask the provider to put all eight scorecard answers in the agreement. Resolve every missing ownership, payment or acceptance term before making the deposit.
Compare Rystella's written scope with the DIY tasks in this guide. A store build is the start of an operating business, not a sales guarantee.
Review the deliverables ↗