How To Transfer Development Store Shopify In 2024

Key Takeaways

• You can transfer a development store to your client when it is ready to launch, and you can choose to receive a commission from Shopify for the ongoing subscription fees.
• Transferring a development store requires some preparation, such as setting up the billing information, removing any test data, and checking the store settings and features.
• Transferring a development store can benefit you in many ways, such as earning recurring income, building trust with your clients, showcasing your skills, and attracting new customers.

What are Shopify development stores?

Development stores in Shopify are test stores that allow you to build and experiment with the platform. Here are the basic steps and purposes for using development stores:

1. Purpose of Development Stores: Development stores serve two primary purposes:

• Build for Clients: You can create a Shopify store on behalf of a client using a development store. When you transfer ownership to the client, you earn a recurring commission on their monthly subscription cost.
• Test Apps and Themes: Development stores also test apps or themes still in development. This provides a sandbox environment with the functionality of the Shopify Advanced plan, with a few restrictions.

2. Creating Development Stores: To create a development store, you need a Shopify Partner account. Once you have this account, you can create an unlimited number of development stores with no time limit.

3. Testing and Experimentation: Development stores allow you to build, test, and experiment with various aspects of Shopify, such as design, functionality, and content. You can also try out themes and apps to ensure they work as intended.

4. Recurring Commission: When you build a store for a client using a development store and transfer ownership to them, you will earn a recurring commission based on their monthly subscription cost. This provides an ongoing benefit for Shopify Partners.

5. Developer Preview: Note that features like “developer preview” might prevent you from transferring the store to a client. Be aware of these limitations when using development stores for client projects.

Step-by-Step on How to Transfer Shopify Development Store 

Preparing for store transferring

Before you hand over the ownership of a development store to your client, it’s crucial to complete these essential steps:

Step 1. Add Your Client as a Staff Member: 

Start by adding your client as a staff member. Ensure they complete their part of the staff account setup. After transferring ownership, you’ll still be involved as a collaborator, but you won’t have access to financial details anymore.

Step 2. Include Your Client’s Address in Store Settings:

Before transferring your store, ensure your client’s address is updated in the store settings, especially if they are based in a different country. This avoids any extra taxes on their Shopify bill because of a wrong address.

Step 3. Think About Ownership Transfer Before Upgrading to a Paid Plan: Before upgrading to a Shopify Plus plan, start by transferring store ownership. Once you switch to Shopify Plus, you become the owner of both the organization and the store, and you cannot change the organization owner through the Shopify admin. So, handle the ownership transfer first. If you need to change the organization owner after upgrading, reach out to Shopify Plus Support.

Step 4. Ensure Your Client Manages Shopify POS Pro Features:

Your client should opt for the POS Pro subscription at each location that needs its features, once they’ve selected their e-commerce plan. It’s important to note that when moving to an active subscription, the store owner must enter billing details. Inform your client that the credit card filed for the store subscription will be charged for additional purchases like themes, domains, and apps.

By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and hassle-free transfer of ownership for your client’s development store.

Transfer the store to your client

There are two main reasons to move a store to an active plan:

1. Store Ready to Sell: If your store is ready to start selling products, it’s time to transfer it to an active plan.

2. Need Paid Features: Sometimes, even if your store isn’t fully complete, you may need a feature only available on a paid Shopify plan. In such cases, moving to an active program is necessary.

Tip: If you apply a plan to your store, you can pause it later. This allows more development time before the store is officially launched.

Here’s the steps on how to transfer a development store:

Step 1. Log in to Your Partner Dashboard: Go to your Partner Dashboard and click “Stores.”

Step 2. Choose the Store: Next to the store you want to transfer, click “Actions,” and then select “Transfer ownership.”

Step 3. Select the New Owner: In the “Transfer store ownership” dialog, pick the new owner from the list of eligible new owners. If your client isn’t a staff member yet, click “Add a staff account” and create a new account for them. After sending the invite, your client has seven days to complete their part of the setup.

Step 4. Complete the Transfer: Once you’re ready, click “Transfer store.” The store will now appear on the Stores page in your Partner Dashboard under the Managed tab.

After the transfer, the new owner will receive an email with instructions to create their account and choose a plan. Until your client accepts the transfer, the store remains paused.

After transferring the store to your client, make sure to provide them with this vital information:

• How to access the store, including the URL (client-store.myshopify.com/admin).
• Your recommendation for a Shopify plan.
• Do you have any other suggestions, like recommended apps, webinars, or resources to help them grow their business?
• Once your client starts paying for a Shopify plan, a collaborator account is automatically created, and you’ll begin receiving your monthly recurring revenue share.

How to create a Shopify Development Store 

To create development stores in Shopify, follow these basic steps:

Step 1. Get a Shopify Partner Account: Start by obtaining a Shopify Partner account, which provides access to development stores and various partner benefits, including partner-preferred apps, documentation, and affiliate rewards. Sign up for a Partner account on the Shopify Partner Program page.

Step 2. Log In to Your Partner Account: After obtaining a Partner account, log in to your Shopify Partner dashboard.

Step 3. Create a Development Store:

• Click on the “Stores” option in your Shopify Partner dashboard.

•    Choose “Add Store.”
•    Select “Development store” as your store type.

•    Provide a name, URL, and password for your development store.
•    Optionally, you can enter a purpose for the store.
•    Click “Save” to create your development store.

Step 4. Access Your Development Store: Once your development store is created, log in through the “Stores” tab in your Shopify Partner account dashboard. This allows you to start experimenting with your store or practice managing multiple stores.

Step 5. Customize Your Development Store: In your development store, you can:

• Edit the password page (note that it cannot be removed).
• Install various themes and apps from the Shopify App Store to test their functionality and compatibility.

Step 6. Install Apps: To install an app in your Shopify development store, visit the Shopify App Store, select the desired app, and provide your store’s address. If prompted, enter the password you set during store creation.

Step 7. Enable Developer Preview: When creating a development store, you can enable “Developer Preview” to access new Shopify features for experimentation before they are released to merchants.

Step 8. Archive Development Stores: If needed, you can archive your development stores by going to the “Stores” tab, clicking on the store name you want to archive, and then clicking the “Archive” option.

In summary, creating development stores in Shopify involves obtaining a Partner account, setting up a development store, customizing it, and using it for testing themes, apps, and new features. These stores provide Shopify Partners with a valuable platform for development and experimentation.

Benefits of transferring Shopify Development Store

Earn recurring commission

Introducing a new seller to Shopify can earn you a development store referral. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• Sign up a new seller to Shopify.
• Create a development store for them.
• Once set up, transfer the store’s ownership to them.

By doing this, you’ll get a recurring commission based on the seller’s subscription plan. The commission rate varies, depending on if you’re a regular Shopify Partner or a Shopify Plus Partner.

You’ll receive these payments monthly. To keep getting them:

• Your client should remain a paying Shopify customer.
• You must stay an active Shopify Partner, meaning you’ve brought in at least one active merchant in the past year, as per the Partner Program Agreement.

Remember, even a basic store setup can earn you a commission. Just help with essentials like setting up a domain, basic theme settings, key pages, and product listings. Here’s a small tip: To earn the commission, avoid using Shopify’s free trial. Instead, transfer a development store to a merchant. Not a trial store.

Build business relationships

Creating a store for a client is often just the beginning of a lasting partnership. Many partners maintain long-term business relationships with clients who continue to entrust them with technical tasks even beyond the initial website setup.

If you’re looking for guidance on finding new clients, here are six tips on how to do just that.

Get new clients

You can use development stores like a showcase to display your skills and creativity on Shopify. When your development store is all set to show your latest themes, apps, and other features, share the store password with potential clients or customers. This way, they can see what you can create for them.

Increase the Shopify skills

Development stores serve as a platform for you to try out not just your apps but also to experiment with creating products, using custom domains, and handling orders through Shopify’s Bogus Gateway. Plus, when you enable developer preview, you can test out upcoming features.

These development stores are a safe place to discover which Shopify features can offer the best advantages for your business. Smart agencies use them to gain knowledge about the Shopify platform and share their expertise with potential clients even before features become available to everyone.

When to Transfer a Shopify Development Store

Engage with Stakeholders

Effective communication with all relevant stakeholders is crucial when transitioning your website or online store. By keeping your team, customers, suppliers, and partners well-informed about the transfer process, you can set clear expectations and ensure a smooth transition. Share essential details such as the timeline and expected downtime to minimize disruptions and maintain trust within your network.

Maintain Data Precision

The accuracy of data is paramount during the migration process. Whether you’re moving product information, customer details, or order history, meticulous attention to detail is essential. Conduct thorough checks to verify that all data has been successfully transferred without any discrepancies. This ensures that your business operations continue seamlessly in the new environment.

Evaluate Functionality and User Experience

Testing the functionality of your website or online store is a critical step before going live. It’s essential to identify and address any potential issues that could impact user experience. Test all features, including product pages, the checkout process, payment gateways, and email notifications. By putting yourself in your customers’ shoes, you can guarantee a smooth and intuitive online experience, which is vital for customer satisfaction.

Enhance for SEO

As you transition from a development environment to a live one, take advantage of the opportunity to optimize your online presence for search engines. Start by conducting comprehensive keyword research to identify the most relevant terms for your business. Then, optimize meta tags, URLs, and headings to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. These SEO enhancements will help attract organic traffic and boost your online presence.

Following these steps, you can ensure a successful transition and set your website or online store up for continued growth and success in its new environment.

FAQs

Bottom line

Moving your Shopify development store to a live setting is crucial for your online store to reach customers. By following a structured plan and using the right methods, this transition can be seamless and efficient. It’s essential to understand the reasons for this move, the steps involved, and the importance of testing to ensure success. Remember, a well-executed transfer can make a big difference in your store’s performance.