Before any Shopify store goes live, it should clear a launch checklist covering payments, checkout, content, legal pages, speed and analytics. This is the 27-point list RouteIgnite runs before every client launch — it has caught hundreds of “small” issues that would have cost real orders.
Payments & Checkout (the ones that lose money silently)
- Real test purchase completed on mobile with a live payment method
- UPI, cards and wallets all verified — not just enabled
- COD rules configured: order limits, pin-code checks, verification flow
- Shipping rates correct for every zone you serve
- Taxes/GST applying correctly on test orders
- Order confirmation email arrives, looks right, links work
- Abandoned checkout email flow active
Store Content
- Every product has description, price, images, correct variants
- Product images compressed (speed) with descriptive alt text (SEO)
- Collections structured for browsing, not just your internal logic
- Homepage communicates what you sell within 3 seconds
- Contact page with a real, monitored channel
- About page that builds trust (buyers do check)
Legal & Trust
- Return/refund policy in plain language
- Shipping policy with honest delivery timelines
- Privacy policy and terms of service published
- Business name, GST details and contact info consistent everywhere
Technical
- Mobile experience tested on real devices, not just browser resize
- Page speed under 3 seconds on 4G (under 2 is the goal — fix guide here)
- Custom domain connected with SSL active
- 404 page branded and pointing somewhere useful
- Unused apps uninstalled (each one costs speed)
Measurement & Launch
- Analytics + Meta pixel installed and firing (verified, not assumed)
- Google Search Console connected, sitemap submitted
- Launch-day traffic plan ready (organic, WhatsApp, existing customers)
- Support channel monitored for the first 72 hours
- Baseline metrics recorded — conversion rate, speed scores, day-one numbers
After the Checklist
A clean launch is the starting line. The stores that win the next 12 months treat it as a cycle: maintenance keeps things fast, CRO compounds the conversion rate, and a sensible ad budget scales what works. If this list feels overwhelming, that’s literally what our new-business setup service is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most commonly missed launch step?+
A real test purchase on mobile with an actual payment method. Owners test on desktop with test mode and discover the mobile payment failure from their first angry customer instead.
Should I launch with a discount campaign?+
A modest launch offer helps momentum, but don’t train customers to wait for discounts from day one. First-order incentives beat sitewide sales for new stores.
When should analytics be installed?+
Before launch, always. Day-one data is baseline data — you can’t measure improvement later if you never recorded where you started.