Do I need a web developer for Shopify?
Not for the basics. Where people get stuck, what a developer changes, and when to skip the question.
See the templatesThe short answer: not for a standard shop. Shopify is built so the owner can add products, pick a theme and take payments without code. People bring in a developer when the theme needs changing in ways the editor does not allow, or when the shop needs to talk to something else.
You do not need one for
- Adding products, options and stock
- Picking and adjusting a theme
- Shipping rules and taxes
- Connecting a domain
- Most apps
You might for
- Theme changes beyond the settings: custom sections, layouts, product page logic
- Connecting to a warehouse, an accounts package or a till that is not Shopify's
- Migrating a big catalogue with history
- Speed problems from too many apps
What it costs
Shopify developers in the UK charge £40 to £100 an hour. A small theme change is a few hours. A custom build is thousands.
When the question goes away
If you have a few dozen products and no warehouse, a simpler shop avoids Shopify's complexity and its £30 a month. Ours is £99 then £20 a month with your own Stripe account at 1.9% + 20p per sale, and we make the changes. Nothing to develop.
Prices in this post were checked on 2 October 2026.
Want to see yours? Pick a website template and fill it in for free. You only pay when you want it live. Already have a site? Bring it in and we fill a template from it.