The Shopify Agency for US D2C Brands
Cognito IT is a Shopify-only D2C agency based in Bangalore, working with brands in the United States. 100+ stores built. Fixed price with the scope in writing, a proposal within 2 working days, a 2–3 week launch and 30 days of support. Calls in your timezone.
An Offshore Team, Run Like a Local One
Our team is in Bangalore. You get the same written scope, staging reviews and support a US agency would give, from a team that only works on Shopify. See how this compares in our agency vs offshore developer guide.
Shopify-only
No WordPress builds, no generic web projects. Every project is a Shopify project.
Fixed price
Scope, timeline and total cost are in writing before work starts. No hourly billing surprises.
Fast launch, real support
A standard store launches in 2–3 weeks, with 30 days of support included after go-live.
Your timezone
Calls are scheduled to suit you, and the time difference means work can move forward while your team is offline.
From First Call to Go-Live
Free audit or call
Send your store or your idea, or book 30 minutes. We ask the right questions so nothing is missed.
Free · no obligationFixed-price proposal
A written proposal listing every deliverable and the total fee. Payment terms depend on the project.
Within 2 working daysBuild and review
Your store is built on a staging link you can review, with feedback rounds as part of the process.
Weeks 1–2Launch and support
Domain, DNS, final QA, team training and launch, then 30 days of support.
Week 2–3 + 30 daysMeet in Your Morning
Calls work in any timezone. A US morning falls in the evening in India, so we schedule calls then and confirm the time when you book. Between calls you get regular written updates.
| Your zone | Your 9am-12pm in India (US daylight time) | Your 9am-12pm in India (US standard time) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 6:30-9:30 pm | 7:30-10:30 pm |
| Central (CT) | 7:30-10:30 pm | 8:30-11:30 pm |
| Pacific (PT) | 9:30 pm-12:30 am | 10:30 pm-1:30 am |
Times are an illustration. US clocks change on the first Sunday of November (1 November this year), so the India time moves by an hour. India does not change its clocks. We confirm the exact time when you book.
The Tools We Set Up For US Stores
Some options depend on your Shopify plan. We recommend what fits your volume and set it up as part of the fixed-price scope.
Payments and pay later
- Shop Pay
- Shopify Payments
- Stripe
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
- PayPal
- Klarna
- Affirm
- Sezzle
Shipping and fulfillment
- USPS
- UPS
- FedEx
- Shopify Shipping
- ShipBob
- ShipStation
- ShipHero
- AfterShip
Tax and duties
- Shopify Tax
- TaxJar
- Avalara
- Zonos
Marketing and retention
- Klaviyo
- Yotpo
- Smile.io
- LoyaltyLion
- Recharge
- Skio
State by State, Not Guesswork
US sales tax depends on where you have nexus. Many states use an economic threshold, often $100,000 in sales, but the rules vary by state. We configure Shopify Tax, TaxJar or Avalara; your accountant confirms where you must register. See our sales tax nexus guide.
State base rates shown for illustration only. Local taxes are extra and rates change, so check current rates before relying on them. This is not tax advice.
What You Need Before You Launch
Shopify Payments is listed as available in the United States, and orders paid through it do not carry Shopify's third-party transaction fee. Setup has requirements, so check them early. See our guide to Shopify fees for the full cost picture.
US bank account
Payouts go to a Shopify Balance account or a US checking account in USD that is eligible for ACH transfers.
US business address
The official business address must be in the 50 states or Puerto Rico. Guam, the US Virgin Islands and other territories need another payment provider.
Tax and identity details
Shopify asks for details such as an EIN, SSN or ITIN, depending on your business type.
Business type
Some business types and services are not allowed. Check Shopify's prohibited list in the Shopify Payments terms before you plan around it.
Source: Shopify Help Center, Shopify Payments requirements for the United States, checked 13 October 2026. Shopify can change these rules, so confirm there before you apply.
Built Toward WCAG 2.1 AA
Accessibility matters to your customers and carries legal risk for US stores. We build toward WCAG 2.1 AA at the source, and test with axe DevTools, WAVE and manual keyboard and screen-reader checks. Overlay widgets are not a substitute for fixing the code, and no agency can guarantee legal compliance, so involve your counsel. Read the ADA compliance guide.
Color contrast
At least 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface elements.
Keyboard use
Every interactive element reachable and usable without a mouse.
Labels and ARIA
Forms, buttons and menus that screen readers can read correctly.
Alt text
Descriptive alt text on product and content images.
Why hire an offshore Shopify agency for a US brand?
An offshore agency can suit a US brand that wants a fixed price, a written scope and a team that works only on Shopify. Cognito IT is based in Bangalore, builds standard stores in 2-3 weeks and includes 30 days of support after launch. Calls are scheduled in your timezone, and the time difference means build work can continue while your team is offline. Ask any agency, including us, for past work and a written scope before you sign.
Which US payment methods do you set up?
We set up Shop Pay and Shopify Payments, Stripe with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and PayPal. For pay-later we connect Klarna and Affirm, or Sezzle if you prefer it. Subscription brands can use Recharge or Skio, and B2B stores can use Shopify's B2B tools. Some options depend on your Shopify plan and country. See Klarna vs Affirm if you are choosing between them.
How do you handle US sales tax and accessibility?
Sales tax: we configure Shopify Tax, TaxJar or Avalara and set up your tax settings and nexus tracking. Your accountant decides where you must register and file. Accessibility: we build toward WCAG 2.1 AA and test with axe DevTools, WAVE and manual keyboard and screen-reader checks. No agency can guarantee legal compliance, so involve your counsel. More in our ADA compliance guide and sales tax nexus guide.
What about US shipping carriers and fulfillment?
We connect USPS, UPS and FedEx through Shopify Shipping or your shipping app, and integrate 3PLs and shipping tools such as ShipBob, ShipStation and ShipHero. For international orders we can set up duty and tax calculation, for example with Zonos. See ShipBob vs ShipStation if you are choosing between a 3PL and shipping software.
How do time zones work?
Calls work in any timezone. For US brands, a morning in ET, CT or PT falls in the evening in India, so we schedule calls then and confirm the times when you book. Between calls you get regular written updates, and the time difference means work can move forward while your team is offline.
What does a Shopify project cost?
Every project is fixed price. After a free audit or a 30-minute call, we send a written proposal within 2 working days that lists every deliverable and the total fee, quoted in US dollars. Price depends on scope, so we do not publish an hourly rate. Use the Shopify cost calculator for a rough scope estimate first.
Ready to Build or Fix Your US Store?
Send us your store or your idea. You get written findings and a fixed-price proposal within 2 working days. Launch takes 2–3 weeks, with 30 days of support after.
