Freelance Shopify developer or agency: how to choose

For most small and mid-sized stores, a senior freelance Shopify developer delivers the same technical quality as an agency, with more direct communication and lower overheads. An agency is worth it when the project needs several people at once: design, content, marketing and development in parallel. What matters most isn't the format, it's the experience of the person writing the code.

I've worked on both sides. I've been at agencies such as Bydas, StudioForty9 and MK-Way, and on the brand side at Steve Madden. Today I run Galante Labs on my own. This is the guide I'd give anyone making this choice.

What changes between a freelancer and an agency

Who you talk to

At an agency, you usually talk to an account or project manager who passes requests to the design and development team. With a freelancer, you talk directly to the person doing the work. Fewer people in between means fewer things lost along the way, but it also means everything rests on one person.

Price

An agency's price includes its overheads: office, management, sales and margins. That isn't necessarily bad, but you pay for it. A senior freelancer is usually cheaper than an agency for the same technical work. More important than the hourly rate is whether the price is fixed in writing or grows halfway through.

Capacity

An agency can put five people on a project at the same time. A freelancer can't. If you need a large store in three weeks, with design, photography and campaigns in parallel, an agency makes more sense.

Continuity

At agencies, people move on: whoever built your store may be gone a year later. With a freelancer it's the same person, but you should know what happens if they become unavailable. Always ask for collaborator access and store documentation.

When a freelancer makes sense

• The store has a small to medium catalogue and a clear scope.
• You want to talk to the person writing the code and make decisions quickly.
• Your budget can't carry an agency's overheads.
• You need someone who knows the store inside out for maintenance in the years ahead.

When an agency makes sense

• The project needs several specialities at once: branding, photography, content, ads and development.
• A tight deadline needs several people working in parallel.
• Your company requires formal procurement, with contracts and team guarantees.

Questions to ask before you choose

Freelancer or agency, these questions separate the people who know what they're talking about:

1. Who will write the code? Can I talk to that person directly?
2. Is the price fixed in writing? What happens if the scope changes?
3. Which Shopify stores have you built? Ask for examples similar to yours.
4. What happens after launch? Is aftercare included? What does maintenance cost?
5. Who owns the store? The Shopify account, domain and theme should always be in your company's name.
6. Which apps will you use, and what do they cost per month? Apps come on top of the Shopify plan, as I explain in how much a Shopify store costs.

Red flags

• A price without a clear list of what's included.
• Nobody can tell you who will do the work.
• The store is created in an account in the supplier's name, not yours.
• Promised results ("you'll double your sales") instead of explanations of what will be done.
• A rush to sign before understanding your business.

Hiring a developer in another country

Many of my clients are outside Portugal, in Ireland, the UK, Spain and the US. Working remotely with a European developer is straightforward if three things are in place: calls at times that suit both sides (Portugal shares a time zone with the UK and Ireland and overlaps with US East Coast mornings), a private preview of the store at every stage, and a written scope with a fixed price. For clients outside Europe, a senior European developer usually costs less than a comparable agency at home.

How I work

At Galante Labs you always talk to me, from the first email to the last line of code. The price is fixed in writing before I start with staged payments. I take on few projects at a time and include 2 months of aftercare after launch. See my background and services on the Shopify developer page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a freelance Shopify developer cheaper than an agency?

Usually, for the same technical work, because there are no agency overheads. What matters most is having the price fixed in writing before work starts.

Is it risky to depend on one person?

It can be, if the store is in the supplier's name or undocumented. Make sure the Shopify account, domain and theme are in your company's name, and ask for documentation at the end of the project.

What experience should I expect from a Shopify developer?

Shopify stores similar to yours, knowledge of the theme and apps you'll use, and experience with what your store needs: migrations, integrations, invoicing or selling in several countries.

Can I hire a Shopify developer from another country?

Yes. With overlapping working hours, a private store preview and a written fixed-price scope, remote work runs as smoothly as with someone local.