Shopify store setup services for D2C brands: live in 2 to 3 weeks, fixed price, tested before launch
We build and launch Shopify stores for D2C brands in India, the US, the UK and the UAE: theme, products, payments, shipping and tax, tracking and SEO foundation. Here is what every build includes, how we test before launch, and how pricing works.
- 100+Shopify stores built
- 2 to 3 weeksStandard launch
- 2 daysProposal (working days)
- 30 daysPost-launch support
Key facts
- Service
- Shopify store setup and launch for D2C brands
- Provider
- Cognito IT Consultancy, a Shopify-only D2C agency in Whitefield, Bangalore 560066, India
- Markets served
- India, United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, Singapore
- Standard launch
- 2 to 3 weeks, depending on catalog size, integrations and design scope
- Pricing
- Fixed price in writing, no hourly billing. Proposal within 2 working days of a free discovery call
- Always included
- Theme setup, payments, tax and shipping, product upload, GA4 and Meta Pixel, SEO foundation, 60-minute training, 30 days of support
- How to start
- Book a free call or request a free Shopify store audit
- Contact
- info@cognitoitconsultancy.com, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm IST. Calls can be arranged in any timezone
What is Shopify store setup?
Short answer: It is everything needed to take a store from an empty Shopify account to a store that can sell: design, products, payments, shipping, tax, tracking and testing. Shopify's own first steps are to add a product, choose a theme and set up a domain, and a launch-ready store needs much more than that.
Shopify's help center starts new merchants with three steps: add your first product, choose a theme and set up a domain. After that comes the work that decides whether the store can sell: payment providers, shipping zones, tax and invoicing rules, store policies, order emails, analytics and test orders. Many first-time sellers do the first three steps themselves and hire help for the rest.
Setup is different from migration, which moves an existing store, and from theme customization, which redesigns a store that already works. For a self-serve walkthrough, read our step-by-step Shopify store setup guide, how to sell on Shopify and our D2C launch checklist.
What is included in every Shopify store build?
Short answer: Every Cognito IT store build includes theme setup, payments, GST and tax configuration, shipping sync, product upload, tracking, an SEO foundation, a 60-minute training session and 30 days of post-launch support. These are standard, not add-ons.
| Area | What we do | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Store and theme | Create and configure the store, set up your theme with your brand colors, fonts, homepage and navigation. | Deeper redesign work is a separate service: theme customization. |
| Payments | Razorpay or PayU integration for India, and the right gateway for your market elsewhere. | Shopify Payments is not available in India. It is available in the US, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia and Singapore. |
| GST and tax | GST and HSN code configuration for India, and tax or VAT settings for other markets. | We confirm tax settings with you and your accountant before launch. |
| COD and shipping | COD with OTP verification, Shiprocket or logistics sync, shipping zones and delivery charges. | Rates and zones come from your carrier agreements and delivery rules. |
| Product catalog upload | Upload products, variants, prices, images and collections from your spreadsheet. | Shopify's CSV import allows up to 3 options per product, and image links must be public https URLs. |
| Tracking | GA4 and Meta Pixel setup, with events checked before launch. | Clean tracking is the base for later CRO work. |
| SEO foundation | On-page SEO: titles, descriptions, headings, sitemap and clean URLs. | Shopify's CSV allows SEO titles up to 70 characters and descriptions up to 320. |
| Training and support | A 60-minute team training session on the Shopify admin, then 30 days of post-launch support. | Ongoing work after that is an optional retainer, quoted separately. |
The included list matches our pricing page. Limits are from Shopify's product CSV help page, and payment availability is from Shopify's Shopify Payments country list, both checked 20 October 2026.
Optional add-ons, quoted separately: Klaviyo email automation, custom app or ERP integration, a Shopify SEO retainer, CRO and speed optimization, and an ongoing development retainer. See our Shopify SEO, CRO and app development pages.
How does our store setup process work?
Short answer: A free discovery call, a written fixed-price proposal, then design, product and payment setup, test orders and device testing, and a launch with team training. Your store is tested before it goes live.
Discovery call and proposal
A free 30-minute call about your brand, products, integrations and go-live date. We send a written fixed-price proposal within 2 working days, listing every deliverable and the payment schedule.
Theme and design
We select and configure your theme with your branding, layout and key pages, with your approval of the design direction before we build further.
Products and configuration
We upload products, set up payments, shipping and tax, install and test the apps you need, and connect tracking.
Testing
We place test orders through Shopify's test payment gateway and review checkout on real devices and browsers. Shopify says gateway testing needs a paid plan, and test orders do not appear in payouts or reports.
Launch and training
We connect your domain, take the store live, and train your team in a 60-minute session on the Shopify admin.
30 days of support
We fix issues and answer questions for 30 days after launch.
Test order behavior from Shopify's test orders help page, checked 20 October 2026.
How does setup differ by market?
Short answer: Payments, tax and shipping differ by country, so we configure them for where you sell. The biggest difference is payments: Shopify Payments is not available in India but is available in the US, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia and Singapore.
- India: Razorpay or PayU, GST and HSN setup, COD with OTP verification and Shiprocket sync. See our guides to Razorpay on Shopify, GST setup, COD with OTP and Shiprocket
- United States: Shopify Payments where you are eligible, plus sales tax setup. See our sales tax and nexus guide and our page for US D2C brands
- United Kingdom: Shopify Payments, VAT settings and invoices. See our VAT and MTD guide and our page for UK D2C brands
- United Arab Emirates: Shopify Payments, VAT settings set up with your accountant. See our UAE VAT and free zone guide and our page for UAE D2C brands
- Canada, Australia and Singapore: Shopify Payments is available in all three. Tax and shipping are scoped in your proposal
What do you need to provide to get started?
Short answer: Products with prices and images, brand assets, domain access, payment and tax details, and your shipping and return rules. Having these ready is the biggest factor in keeping a 2 to 3 week launch on schedule.
- Products: a spreadsheet with titles, descriptions, prices, variants and SKUs. For an import, Shopify allows up to 3 options per product and requires image links to be public https URLs
- Images and brand assets: product photos, logo, colors and fonts
- Domain: access to your domain registrar, or a decision to buy a new domain
- Payments: business and KYC details for your payment provider
- Tax: GST details for India, or the tax registrations for your market
- Shipping and returns: your carrier details, delivery charges and return rules
- Store policies: Shopify offers policy templates and automated policies, but says they are for information only and are not legal advice. Have your own counsel review what you publish. See Shopify's policy help page
We send a full checklist after the discovery call. For a longer pre-launch list, see our 47-point launch checklist.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
Short answer: A standard launch takes 2 to 3 weeks. The price is fixed in writing within 2 working days of a free discovery call. We do not publish a price list, because stores differ too much for one price to be honest.
What moves the price and the timeline:
- Product catalog size: 10 products and 2,000 products are different upload and QA efforts
- Migration complexity: a new store, or a move from WooCommerce or Magento with redirect mapping
- Integration requirements: a standard payment gateway, or a custom ERP sync or subscription app
- Design scope: a premium theme configured to your brand, or a fully custom design
- Timeline: a standard 2 to 3 week delivery, or an expedited launch
Shopify's own subscription is separate and billed by Shopify. For current plan prices, read our Shopify pricing guide for India and what a Shopify store costs in India. For how long a build takes, see how long it takes to build a Shopify store. Our pricing page explains how we quote.
How to start
Book a free call
Book a free 30-minute call in any timezone, or request a free store audit.
Receive a fixed-price proposal
Deliverables, total fee, payment schedule and timeline in writing within 2 working days.
Approve and build
Payments follow milestones set in your proposal, and we start the build.
Store setup, migration or theme customization: which do you need?
Short answer: Choose setup for a new store, migration if you are moving from another platform, and theme customization if you already run Shopify and want a better design.
| Your situation | Service | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| New brand or first online store | Store setup (this page) | A complete store built and launched. |
| Existing store on WooCommerce, Magento or another platform | Shopify migration | Products, customers, orders and 301 redirects moved. See WooCommerce to Shopify. |
| Store already on Shopify but design is weak | Theme customization | Layouts, sections and product pages on a duplicate theme. |
| Live store with low conversion | CRO | Funnel audit, fixes and testing. |
Is professional store setup right for you?
Short answer: Hire us when you want a launch-ready store without learning every setting. Set it up yourself if you have a small catalog and time to learn.
A good fit
Hire a setup team if
- You want to launch in weeks, not months
- You sell in India and need GST, COD and local payment setup
- You have a larger catalog to upload and check
- You want tracking and SEO foundations done right from day one
- You prefer a fixed price and a written scope
Probably not
Do it yourself if
- You have a handful of products
- You are comfortable learning the Shopify admin
- You are testing an idea before investing
- A free theme with default settings already fits your brand
Browse our full service list or GA4 and Pixel setup if tracking is your main gap.
Frequently asked questions
What are Shopify store setup services?
Shopify store setup services build and configure a store so it is ready to take orders: theme, products, payments, shipping and tax, tracking, SEO basics and testing. Cognito IT Consultancy does this for D2C brands at a fixed price, with a standard launch of 2 to 3 weeks.
How long does it take to set up a Shopify store?
Our standard launch takes 2 to 3 weeks. The exact timeline depends on catalog size, integrations and design scope, and your written proposal gives a dated plan. Content that is ready on day one, such as products, images and brand assets, keeps the plan on schedule.
How much does Shopify store setup cost?
We do not publish a price list, because a store with 10 products and a store with 2,000 are different projects. We send a fixed-price proposal in writing within 2 working days of a free discovery call. Shopify's own subscription is billed separately by Shopify.
What is included in every Shopify store build?
Store setup and theme configuration, Razorpay or PayU integration, GST and HSN configuration, COD with OTP verification, Shiprocket or logistics sync, product catalog upload, GA4 and Meta Pixel, on-page SEO foundation, a 60-minute training session and 30 days of post-launch support.
Do I need technical knowledge to run my store?
No. We train your team on the Shopify admin in a 60-minute session, and we provide 30 days of post-launch support for questions and fixes. Day-to-day tasks such as adding products and editing banners are done in the Shopify admin without code.
Which payment gateways do you set up?
In India, Razorpay or PayU, because Shopify Payments is not available there. In the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia and Singapore, Shopify Payments is available, and we set it up for your market where you are eligible.
Can you set up GST, COD and shipping for India?
Yes. Every store build includes GST and HSN configuration, COD with OTP verification and Shiprocket or logistics sync. We confirm tax and shipping rules with you and your accountant before launch, because those settings affect invoices and orders.
How do you test a store before launch?
We place test orders through Shopify's test payment gateway and review checkout on real devices and browsers. Shopify says testing a payment gateway needs a paid plan, and that test orders do not appear in payouts or reports, so we plan the plan switch around your launch date.
What do I need to provide to start?
Your products with prices and images, brand assets, domain access, payment provider details, tax details such as GST, and your shipping and return rules. Image links for a product import must be public https URLs. We send a checklist after the discovery call.
Will my store work well on mobile?
Yes. We review layouts, menus and checkout on real mobile devices before launch, because most D2C traffic arrives on phones. If mobile conversion is your main concern, our CRO service reviews it in depth.
Do you provide support after launch?
Yes. Every store build includes 30 days of post-launch support for fixes and questions, plus the 60-minute team training session. After that, you can continue with an ongoing development retainer, quoted separately.
Can you move my existing store to Shopify instead?
Yes. Migration is a separate service because it also moves products, customers, orders and redirects. See our migration page for what moves and what cannot. If you already run Shopify and only want a better design, theme customization is the right service.
About this page
Who wrote it: Cognito IT Consultancy, a Shopify-only D2C agency in Whitefield, Bangalore. We have built 100+ Shopify stores for brands in India and overseas.
How it was checked: Every Shopify limit and behavior on this page was checked against Shopify's Help Center on 20 October 2026. The sources are listed below. What we include in every build matches our pricing page. We do not publish client ratings, fixed package prices or outcome numbers we cannot back up.
Last updated: . Spotted something out of date? Email info@cognitoitconsultancy.com.
Sources
- Shopify Help Center: Get started (add a product, choose a theme, set up a domain)
- Shopify Help Center: Import and export products with CSV
- Shopify Help Center: Test orders
- Shopify Help Center: Shopify Payments supported countries
- Shopify Help Center: Refund, privacy and terms of service policies
All Shopify pages checked 20 October 2026.
