Shopify themes · from $4,000 · 3-8 weeks
Shopify theme development
A bought theme makes your store look like every other store using it. A custom theme is built around your catalog and how your customers buy.
Bought vs custom
A good place to start, a bad place to stay
For many stores a bought theme is the right call, and I'll say so on the call if it's yours.
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Looks like
Bought theme
Every other store using the same theme
Custom theme
Your brand, built from scratch
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Built for
Bought theme
Someone else's catalog
Custom theme
Your catalog, whether 10 products or 10,000
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JavaScript
Bought theme
Shipped for features you never use
Custom theme
Only what your store needs
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Changes
Bought theme
A developer fighting the theme's assumptions
Custom theme
Editor sections your team rearranges
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Ownership
Bought theme
Licensed from the theme vendor
Custom theme
Liquid source you own outright
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Upfront cost
Bought theme
Lower
Custom theme
From $4,000
| Bought theme | Custom theme | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like | Every other store using the same theme | Your brand, built from scratch |
| Built for | Someone else's catalog | Your catalog, whether 10 products or 10,000 |
| JavaScript | Shipped for features you never use | Only what your store needs |
| Changes | A developer fighting the theme's assumptions | Editor sections your team rearranges |
| Ownership | Licensed from the theme vendor | Liquid source you own outright |
| Upfront cost | Lower | From $4,000 |
Speed
Slow stores don't convert on mobile
Most Shopify stores are slow because the theme loads scripts for features the store doesn't use, and every installed app adds its own.
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LCP
Largest Contentful Paint
How fast the main content shows up
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INP
Interaction to Next Paint
How fast a tap gets a response
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CLS
Cumulative Layout Shift
How much the page jumps while it loads
Measured on mobile Before handover you get a Core Web Vitals report and a list of which installed apps cost the most load time.
What I build
Built around how people buy from you
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Themes from scratch
Liquid built to your brand and product structure, not a template with your logo dropped in.
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Merchandising
Product pages, collection filtering and variants shaped around your real catalog.
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Metafields your team edits
Structured content in the Shopify admin, so copy changes don't wait on a developer.
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Admin API integrations
The store connected to your ERP, inventory system or fulfilment provider.
Where I stand
One custom theme shipped
I'm not a Shopify-only agency. For a Shopify Plus build with checkout extensibility and B2B, a specialist agency is the safer choice, and I'll tell you so on the call. For a fast, well-built storefront you own, that's my ground.
How it works
Previewed on a development theme throughout
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A call
Show me your catalog and how customers buy.
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Scope
What's in, what's out, and the price.
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Build
On a development theme you preview throughout.
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Handover
Source, docs and a theme your team can run.
FAQ
Questions about Shopify themes
Your question isn't here? Ask it on the free call, or email safi.abdulkader@gmail.com.
How much does a custom Shopify theme cost?
Custom Shopify themes start at $4,000. A focused storefront with a simple catalog sits near that floor. Complex variants, custom merchandising, metafield-driven content and an ERP integration cost more. Scope and price are agreed in writing before you commit.
Why build a custom theme instead of buying one?
A bought theme is built for every catalog, so it ships code for features you never use and looks like every other store on it. A custom theme is built for yours. For many new stores a bought theme is still the right start.
Why are Shopify stores usually slow?
Mostly scripts: the theme loads code for features the store does not use, and each installed app adds its own. The Core Web Vitals report at handover lists which apps cost the most.
Can our team edit the store without a developer?
Yes. Pages are built from theme editor sections and metafields, so your team rearranges sections and changes copy in the Shopify admin.
Start a project
Tell me what you need
I reply within one business day with questions first, then a fixed quote.
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