Ecommerce launch checklist
Everything to finish before you open an online store: products, payments, shipping, policies, tracking and marketing.
A step-by-step checklist for opening an online store on Shopify, WooCommerce or another platform. It covers the work most new stores forget.
Business basics
- Business name, domain and social handles are settled
- Registration and tax requirements are checked with an accountant
- Return, refund, shipping and privacy policies are written and published
- Contact methods are visible: email, phone or WhatsApp
Products and content
- Every product has clear photos from several angles
- Titles and descriptions are written for shoppers, not just copied from suppliers
- Sizes, materials and care details are listed
- Variants, stock levels and prices are checked
- Categories and filters match how people shop
Checkout and payments
- Every payment method is tested end to end with real test orders
- Guest checkout is enabled
- Taxes are configured correctly for the markets you sell to
- Order confirmation and shipping emails are reviewed
- Failed payment messages are clear
Shipping and fulfilment
- Shipping zones, rates and delivery times are set and shown before checkout
- Couriers or carriers are chosen and labels tested
- Packaging is ready and the packing process is written down
- A returns process is defined and tested
Tracking and marketing
- Analytics and purchase tracking are installed and verified
- Ad pixels and conversion tracking are set up where you advertise
- Abandoned cart messages are ready
- Email or WhatsApp sign-up is live
- Social profiles and a launch post are prepared
Launch and after
- Place a real order as a customer, including delivery
- Check the store on a phone
- Watch orders, errors and support messages closely in week one
- Review the numbers after two weeks and fix the biggest drop-off first
