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Scope of Work
Ref: 2026-001 • Standard Business Template
Project Objectives
The objective of this project is to develop, configure, and launch a professional, high-converting Shopify store. The Developer will customize a target Shopify theme and integrate necessary application structures to support the Client\'s online sales goals, ensuring mobile optimization, clean semantic Liquid markup, and fast page-load speeds.
Deliverables
The Developer will deliver only the specific technical components listed below:
- Theme Setup & Customization: Installation of the approved baseline Shopify Theme. Customization of global styles, colors, typography, and layout options via the Shopify Theme Editor.
- Custom Templates & Liquid Development: Development of up to three (3) custom JSON/Liquid page templates (e.g., custom landing page, custom product detail template, custom about page).
- App Integration: Installation, configuration, and CSS styling styling for up to four (4) third-party apps selected from the Shopify App Store (e.g., reviews, subscription app, basic email marketing popup).
- Catalog & Settings Setup: Import of up to one hundred (100) products via standard Shopify CSV import. Configuration of tax rates, native shipping profiles, custom navigation menus, and standard payment gateways (Shopify Payments, PayPal).
Explicit Exclusions (Out of Scope): Custom ERP/CRM API integrations, custom Shopify App development from scratch, headless commerce setup (Hydrogen/Oxygen), custom checkout liquid modifications (unless Shopify Plus), and ongoing product copywriting or search engine optimization (SEO) content writing.
Timeline and Milestones
The project will proceed according to the following phased schedule. Progression to the next milestone is contingent upon client approval and milestone payment clearing:
- Milestone 1: Discovery & Sandbox Provisioning (Week 1): Initial setup of the Shopify Partner development store, theme import, and content asset delivery. (Requires 40% non-refundable deposit).
- Milestone 2: Front-End Liquid & Layout Development (Weeks 2-4): Execution of custom CSS, Liquid templates, and section styling. Delivery of functional staging link. (Requires 30% milestone payment).
- Milestone 3: App Integration & Settings (Week 5): Connection of payment processors, shipping rules, and third-party utility applications. (Requires 20% milestone payment).
- Milestone 4: Launch & Handover (Week 6): Domain mapping, DNS configuration, and store transfer to Client live hosting. (Requires final 10% milestone payment prior to ownership transfer).
Revision Limits
To keep the project on schedule and prevent scope bloat, the Client is entitled to exactly two (2) rounds of revisions per milestone. A 'revision' is defined as minor adjustments to existing deliverables (e.g., tweaking margins, font weight, or minor section restructuring). Revisions must be compiled by the Client into a single, consolidated feedback document per round. Redesigns, structural changes that contradict previously approved wireframes, or new feature additions do not qualify as revisions and will trigger a Change Request.
Acceptance Criteria
Each milestone will be considered complete and accepted when it meets the following objective standards:
- The page renders properly without visual breakage on modern evergreen browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) and mobile devices (iOS and Android).
- Interactive elements (add to cart, filters, checkout redirects) function without console errors.
- The client signs a digital Milestone Acceptance Form.
Crucial Rule of Ownership Transfer: Shopify store ownership and live admin credentials will remain in the Developer's Shopify Partner Account. The Developer will not transfer ownership, change administrative permissions, or publish the theme to the Client\'s live production domain until all payments, including final milestone fees and any approved Change Orders, have cleared in full.
Change Requests
Any requests for features, templates, integrations, or alterations not explicitly detailed in the 'Deliverables' section of this SOW must follow the formal Change Request procedure. Upon receipt of an out-of-scope request, the Developer will provide a written estimation detailing the technical implications, additional costs (billed at a flat rate of $150 USD per hour, unless otherwise agreed), and the anticipated delay in the final project launch date. The Developer will not perform any out-of-scope work until a written Change Order is digitally signed and the corresponding upfront payment is received.
The Third-Party App Trap
Clients assume you will configure, debug, and maintain third-party Shopify App Store integrations indefinitely without extra charge, even when those apps have native bugs.
Liquid & Theme Version Lock
Failing to define the baseline Shopify theme version means you could be blamed for breaking changes caused by automatic theme updates or client-installed app conflicts post-launch.
Unlimited Theme Customization Revisions
Without strict boundaries, clients will treat feedback rounds as an open-ended invitation to completely redesign product and collection page layouts without paying more.
What is a Shopify Developer Scope of Work?
A Shopify Developer Scope of Work (SOW) is a legally binding document that defines the exact technical deliverables, theme configurations, custom Liquid code, third-party app integrations, milestone schedules, revision limits, and acceptance criteria for a Shopify e-commerce project, protecting developers from scope creep and ensuring timely payment.
Built from real freelance projects
This template is based on real-world scenarios across freelance projects where unclear scope, missing payment terms, and revision creep led to lost revenue. It is designed to protect your time, define expectations, and ensure you get paid.
Why Shopify Developers need a clear scope of work
Shopify development lives at the intersection of design, e-commerce functionality, and third-party app ecosystems. Because clients often misunderstand the complexity of liquid files, APIs, and checkout customizations, they easily conflate a simple theme setup with a fully custom-engineered headless storefront. A robust Scope of Work acts as your legal firewall. It clearly defines what is included—such as specific page templates, payment gateway integrations, and third-party app installations—and explicitly outlines what is not. By establishing clear boundaries around API rate limits, theme customization constraints, and data migrations, this document ensures you are paid for every hour of specialized engineering. Without it, you expose yourself to 'feature creep' where clients expect complex backend logic under the guise of 'minor adjustments,' eroding your profitability and delaying project completion.
Real-world scenario
Alex, a freelance Shopify developer, was hired to launch a high-end fashion storefront. Midway through the project, the client demanded a custom-built product bundles configurator and a complex integration with an obscure ERP system—features that would require 40 additional hours of custom API development. Because Alex's Scope of Work explicitly defined 'Deliverables' as standard Shopify App configuration and limited custom coding to basic liquid alterations, he confidently pointed to the SOW's 'Out-of-Scope' and 'Change Requests' clauses. He presented a formal Change Order detailing a $6,000 upsell for the custom ERP integration and configurator. Because the SOW had set clear, legally binding boundaries from day one, the client acknowledged the extra complexity, signed the Change Order, and paid the 50% upfront deposit without dispute, turning a potential scope-creep nightmare into a highly profitable upsell.
🛡️ What this scope of work covers:
- ✓Baseline Shopify Theme Installation and Configuration (e.g., Dawn or premium theme)
- ✓Custom Liquid/JSON Section and Template Development
- ✓Third-Party App Installation and API Integration Setup
- ✓Product Catalog CSV Import and Collection Rule Mapping
- ✓Payment Gateway and Checkout Settings Configuration
- ✓Post-Launch Technical Support Handover and Documentation
Best practices for Shopify Developers
Explicitly List Exclusions
Always include a dedicated 'Out of Scope' section detailing complex elements like custom checkout (unless Shopify Plus), custom app development, and ERP syncs.
Establish Clear Sandbox Boundaries
Require all development and testing to occur in a Shopify Partner development store, holding back the transfer of ownership until final payment is cleared.
Legal Disclaimer: MicroFreelanceHub is a software workflow tool, not a law firm. The templates and information provided on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I handle Shopify Plus specific features in the SOW?
Clearly specify if the client's store is on Shopify Plus. If so, outline deliverables for Checkout Extensibility or custom Shopify Functions. If they are on a standard plan, explicitly state that custom checkout scripts are out of scope.
What happens if a third-party Shopify app breaks during development?
Include a clause in the SOW stating you are not liable for core functionality bugs or updates caused by third-party apps from the Shopify App Store. Limit your scope to installing and styling the app based on its native developer APIs.