Shopify Guides and UpdatesA Seller’s Guide to Moving from Shopee to Shopify
Shopify Guides and Updates / Shopify-Related FAQs / Singapore eCommerce Updates
From Shopee to Shopify

A Seller’s Guide to Moving from Shopee to Shopify

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Why Consider Moving Beyond Shopee?

As a successful Shopee seller, you’ve mastered marketplace selling. But there’s a world of opportunity waiting with your own Shopify store. Let’s break down why and how you can make this strategic move.

The Marketplace Limitation Trap

Shopee offers:

  • Quick market entry
  • Built-in traffic
  • Low initial costs

But it comes with significant drawbacks:

  • Intense price competition
  • Limited brand control
  • Razor-thin profit margins
  • Dependency on platform algorithms

Financial Comparison:

Shopee vs. Shopify

Shopee Seller Fees

Shopee Costs

  • Commission: 1-5% per sale
  • Average transaction cut: 9%
  • No monthly fee
  • Hidden costs in promotions and ads

Visit Shopee Seller Education Hub for more on seller fees.

Shopify Singapore Pricing

Shopify Pricing Breakdown

Plan Tiers:

  • Basic Shopify: SGD 39/month
    2.9% + $0.50 per online transaction
  • Shopify: SGD 165/month
    2.6% + $0.50 per online transaction
  • Advanced Shopify: SGD 399/month
    2.4% + $0.50 per online transaction

Visit Shopify Singapore for more on pricing plans.

Potential Savings Scenario

Example: SGD 50,000 monthly sales

  • Shopee fees: ~SGD 4,500 (9%)
  • Shopify Basic fees:
    • Monthly subscription: SGD 39
    • Transaction fees: ~SGD 1,450
    • Total: SGD 1,489

Potential Annual Savings: Approximately SGD 36,132

Setting up Shopify

Strategic Migration Roadmap

1. Preparation Phase

Before Launching:

  • Audit current Shopee product catalog
  • Professional product photography
  • Develop brand storytelling
  • Create compelling product descriptions

2. Technical Setup

Shopify Essentials:

  • Choose a responsive theme
  • Set up payment gateways
    Local options: PayNow, DBS PayLah!
    Regional: GrabPay, Atome
  • Configure shipping integrations
    Shippit (integrates directly with Shopify)
    Locad (provides storage needs)
    Ninja Van
    Qxpress
    SingPost

3. Marketing Strategy

Multichannel Approach:

  • Maintain Shopee presence
  • Drive traffic to new Shopify store
  • Leverage social media marketing
  • Use email marketing
  • Implement retargeting ads
Singapore Shop

Local Considerations for Singapore Sellers

Compliance Checklist

  • GST registration
  • Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) compliance
  • Local payment method integrations
  • Localized customer support

Recommended Local Apps

  • Multilingual support plugins
  • Local SEO optimization tools
  • Singapore-specific shipping calculators

Hybrid Strategy Recommendation

Don’t Abandon Shopee Completely

  • Use Shopee as a customer acquisition channel
  • Redirect customers to your Shopify store while keeping in line with Shopee’s regulations
  • Offer exclusive Shopify-only deals

Cost of Transition

Estimated Initial Investment

  • Website design: SGD 800 – SGD 5,000
  • App subscriptions: SGD 100 – SGD 500/month
  • Marketing setup: SGD 1,000 – SGD 3,000
  • Photography/branding: SGD 500 – SGD 2,000

Potential Challenges

What to Watch Out For

  • Initial traffic building
  • Higher upfront marketing costs
  • Learning new platform skills
  • Managing multiple sales channels

Success Metrics to Track

Key Performance Indicators

  • Customer acquisition cost
  • Conversion rate
  • Average order value
  • Customer lifetime value
  • Return on ad spend

Pro Tips from Successful Migrators

  1. Start small and scale gradually
  2. Invest in brand storytelling
  3. Prioritize customer experience
  4. Leverage Shopify’s analytics
  5. Continuously experiment and optimize

Final Thoughts

Transitioning from Shopee to Shopify represents much more than a mere change of platform—it’s a significant leap towards business expansion and brand development.

By establishing your own domain, you elevate your operation from simply selling products to crafting a distinctive brand identity.

Achieving success in this new arena requires relentless dedication, strategic marketing prowess, and a commitment to delivering unparalleled customer value. For more in depth comparison between Shopify & top marketplaces, check out our comprehensive article on Building Your eCommerce Brand in Singapore: Comparing Amazon, Shopify, Lazada, and Shopee.

If you’re looking for support during this pivotal transition, Soodo stands ready as your cross-platform eCommerce growth partner. We specialize in helping brands like yours connect with customers across their preferred shopping venues, ensuring a smooth and successful expansion.

Disclaimer: Financial figures are approximate and may vary based on individual business models and market conditions.

Tags:

Jessica Bong is the founder of Soodo, a Singapore-based Shopify development and CRO agency. She built and scaled her own eCommerce brand before starting Soodo, and has since audited 60+ Shopify stores. Jessica also teaches eCommerce at Equinet Academy. Her hands-on experience running a live brand gives Soodo an edge most agencies lack.

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Got Questions?

Working With Soodo, Shopify Agency

What types of businesses does Soodo work with?

Soodo works with Singapore SMEs, bootstrapped eCommerce founders, and growing online brands who want a Shopify store that actually sells. Our clients include first-time store owners, businesses migrating from Shopee or WooCommerce, and established brands needing CRO to scale without increasing ad spend.

Do I need a big budget to work with Soodo?

No. New Shopify builds start from SGD $6,000, store optimisation from SGD $1,000, and migrations from SGD $4,000. Book a free audit call to get an exact quote.

Can Soodo help me if I am new to Shopify?

Absolutely. We handle everything from scratch — store setup, product uploads, payment gateway configuration, shipping rules, and brand design. Every project includes hands-on training, recorded video walkthroughs, and 6 months of WhatsApp support so you can run your store confidently after launch.

How is Soodo different from a freelancer or large agency?

Soodo is founder-led: Jessica Bong built and runs her own six-figure Shopify brand, so she builds your store the way an experienced operator would. Unlike large agencies, you get direct access to the person doing the work. Unlike most freelancers, you get a structured process, unlimited revisions, and real post-launch support.

How long does a typical Shopify project take from start to launch?

New builds typically take 2 to 6 weeks. Migrations take 2 to 4 weeks. CRO optimisation projects take 2 to 4 weeks for scoped improvements. Every project starts with a clear milestone plan so you always know what is happening next and when to expect your launch date.

Does Soodo work with businesses outside Singapore?

Our primary focus is Singapore SMEs, but we work with brands across Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia. We also work with international clients from US and Europe that do not mind the timezone differences. Soodo is experienced with Shopify Markets for multi-currency and multi-region selling.

What does a Shopify build cost in Singapore?

Budgets range from $5K SGD for a customised theme to $30K+ SGD for a fully custom build. We provide fixed-scope pricing with no surprises.

Do you offer post-launch support?

Yes. We offer 6-months of post-launch support. Most clients are able to self-manage the store with our comprehensive handover training and do not require a monthly retainer fees. Most of our larger clients continue to engage us for upgrades to their store such as performance monitoring, CRO improvements, and technical support.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus — which is right for us?

Shopify ($39–$399/month) suits most growing SMEs. Shopify Plus ($2,300+/month) adds enterprise B2B tools, checkout scripting, and unlimited staff accounts. We'll advise which fits your stage.

Can you improve my existing store's conversion rate?

Absolutely. Our CRO service starts with a full store audit identifying friction in product pages, cart, and checkout. Data-driven fixes follow. Most clients see measurable uplift within 60 days.

How long does a Shopify migration take?

Most migrations from WooCommerce, Magento, or Wix take 4–8 weeks depending on catalogue size and custom features. We provide a detailed project plan before we start.

Do you build custom themes or use templates?

Both. We build fully custom themes from scratch and customise premium Shopify themes for faster launches. Every project is tailored to your brand — no cookie-cutter output.

Can you help with Shopify SEO?

Yes. Every Soodo build is on-page SEO-ready from day one — structured data, optimised meta tags, fast load times, and content mapped to search intent. We also offer ongoing SEO retainers through our agency partners.

Do you handle app integrations?

Yes — Smile.io, Klaviyo, HitPay, EPOS, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and EasyParcel are some of the top CRM and logistics integrations. Brands that already use these platforms can easily manage them within Shopify as an app integration. For brands that need suggestions on applications, we will evaluate each app for performance impact and build custom solutions where needed.

What do I need to get started?

Just a brief on your business, customers, products, timeline, and budget. Book a free Meet and Greet call — we'll send a tailored proposal within 48 hours.

Book a Free Shopify Audit →
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