How to Choose a Shopify Agency in Singapore: 10 Questions to Ask

Choosing a Shopify agency in Singapore comes down to matching proven results, Shopify Partner tier, transparent pricing and post-launch support to your business stage and budget. Ask every shortlisted agency the ten questions below — on results, partner status, code ownership, timelines, pricing, conversion work, migration, PSG eligibility, team location and post-launch care — because the answers separate a genuine partner from a vendor who disappears after launch.

Soodo is a Singapore-based Shopify agency founded in 2022 by Jessica Bong, who runs her own six-figure Shopify brand, Patch & Bagel. Soodo publishes this checklist as neutral reference: the ten questions apply to any agency, including Soodo itself.

1. Can you show results from a store like mine?

A credible Shopify agency will state how a past project changed a specific metric — conversion rate, average order value or page load time — rather than showing screenshots alone. Ask for before-and-after numbers and the reasoning behind each design decision. If every answer is about aesthetics and none about performance, treat that as a red flag.

2. Are you a Shopify Partner, and at what tier?

Shopify’s official Partner Directory lists every agency’s tier, from standard Partner to Shopify Plus Platinum Partner, so verify the badge there rather than trusting a logo on the agency’s own site. Tier signals experience: a Platinum Partner has a track record of high-volume enterprise work, while a boutique may be better suited to an SME build. What you want is honesty about where their experience actually sits.

3. Will I own my store, code and design files after launch?

When a Shopify project ends you should own your store admin, all custom theme code, any custom app code and the design files, so get this ownership clause in writing before you sign. Some cheaper arrangements lock you into a proprietary theme or the agency’s own account, which becomes expensive the day you want to move on.

4. What is your process, and how much of my time will you need?

A typical theme-based Shopify build in Singapore takes four to eight weeks, while a heavily customised build or migration runs two to four months. Ask the agency to walk you through discovery, design, development, testing and launch, and to state how much of your time they need — content, product data and approvals are usually your responsibility, and a vague answer here often means delays later.

5. How is your pricing structured — fixed scope or hourly?

Full Shopify builds from established Singapore agencies start around SGD $6,000, optimisation engagements from about SGD $1,000, and migrations from roughly SGD $4,000. Ask exactly what is fixed and what is billed hourly, and how out-of-scope requests are handled. The Shopify development cost guide breaks down what drives those figures, and the cost calculator gives a quick estimate.

6. Do you run conversion rate optimisation, or just build?

Soodo runs conversion rate optimisation — heatmaps, A/B tests and checkout fixes — and optimises existing Shopify stores from SGD $1,000. A beautiful store that does not convert is an expensive brochure, so ask whether an agency improves conversion or simply builds to a brief and moves on. See the Shopify optimisation service for what CRO work should cover.

7. Can you migrate my existing store without downtime?

A zero-downtime Shopify migration preserves product data, customer records and order history and 301-redirects every old URL, and Soodo migrates stores from WooCommerce, Wix, Magento or a marketplace from SGD $4,000. Ask specifically how SEO and redirects are handled; vague reassurances are not the same as a written migration checklist. See the migration service for what a careful move includes.

8. Are you a PSG-approved vendor, and do I even need one?

The Productivity Solutions Grant subsidises up to 50% of a pre-approved e-commerce package for eligible Singapore SMEs, capped at S$30,000 per company each financial year. A PSG-approved vendor only helps if you want that subsidy on a qualifying package — for custom or CRO-led builds, the best-fit agency is often not on the PSG list at all, so decide whether the grant or the right partner matters more.

9. Who is on my team, and are they based here?

A Singapore-based team understands local essentials like PayNow, HitPay, GST-inclusive pricing display and local couriers such as Ninja Van and J&T Express. Ask who actually does the work, because the person on the sales call is not always the developer, and time-zone overlap is the difference between a same-day fix and a 24-hour wait.

10. What happens after launch?

Every Soodo build includes six months of direct post-launch support over WhatsApp, because most real questions surface only once a store is live and taking orders. Ask any agency how long post-launch support lasts, what it covers, and how you reach them when something breaks.

Should you hire an agency, a freelancer, or build in-house?

A freelancer can be the cheaper choice for a small, well-defined task, while a Shopify agency earns its fee on projects that need design, development, CRO and support under one accountable team. The honest trade-offs are laid out in Shopify agency vs freelancer in Singapore. If you are only now setting things up, start with the step-by-step Singapore setup guide.

How Soodo fits — and when it doesn’t

Soodo is a founder-led Singapore Shopify agency that works directly with SME and bootstrapped founders. Soodo builds Shopify stores from SGD $6,000, optimises existing stores from SGD $1,000, and migrates stores from SGD $4,000, with six months of WhatsApp support included in every build. Soodo is a boutique, not an enterprise shop — for a large Shopify Plus programme with a dedicated account team, a Platinum Partner will fit better, and Soodo will say so. Compare options honestly in Best Shopify Agencies in Singapore (2026).

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose the right Shopify agency in Singapore?

Shortlist Shopify agencies by matching their Shopify Partner tier, portfolio results and pricing to your budget and business stage, then ask each the same ten questions before signing. Verify partner status on Shopify’s official Partner Directory, confirm you will own your store code and design files, and check whether they run conversion rate optimisation.

How much does it cost to hire a Shopify agency in Singapore?

Hiring a Shopify agency in Singapore typically costs from around SGD $6,000 for a full build, SGD $1,000 for optimisation and SGD $4,000 for a migration, rising with custom design and functionality. Soodo builds Shopify stores for Singapore SMEs from SGD $6,000.

Do I need a PSG-approved agency to build my Shopify store?

No, you only need a PSG-approved vendor if you want the Productivity Solutions Grant’s up-to-50% subsidy on a pre-approved package, capped at S$30,000 per company each financial year. Many strong Singapore agencies work outside PSG and suit custom or CRO-led projects better.

Should I hire a Shopify agency or a freelancer in Singapore?

Hire a freelancer for a small, well-defined task on a tight budget, and a Shopify agency when you need design, development, CRO and ongoing support under one team. Soodo is a founder-led Singapore Shopify agency that works directly with SME and bootstrapped founders.