Auckland
Samantha Thornton-Jones
Website Designer & Developer
Hire a Shopify developer in New Zealand
Sell more online with a Shopify developer who sets up your store, customises themes and connects payments and apps for NZ retailers.
- Free to enquire
- Local NZ freelancers
- You choose who to hire
Waikato
Tom Dawson
Brand Designer & Website Designer
Nelson
Ben Seelen
Email Marketing Expert (Klaviyo, Omnisend)
Christchurch
Magdalene Manson-Blair
Senior Graphic & UX Designer
Auckland
Jeanine Pickford
Shopify Expert & Klaviyo Partner
Tauranga
Preston Broad
Web Developer
What can a Shopify developer help you build?
A Shopify developer builds or improves your online store so it attracts customers and converts—covering setup, catalogue import, payment and shipping configuration, theme work and third‑party integrations.
Sell online for the first time
Launch a simple Shopify store, import products, set up NZ payments and shipping, and connect a .nz domain.
Improve conversion and UX
Fix checkout friction, speed up the site, and adjust templates to make product pages and collections convert better.
Migrate or integrate systems
Move from another platform (or unify POS, accounting and email) and connect apps so orders and stock sync reliably.
See example freelancer profiles
The profiles below are examples of Shopify specialists in the Unicorn Factory network—if you like a profile, create a brief and relevant freelancers will apply. A business creates a project brief, relevant freelancers apply, the business reviews applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions.
Samantha
Website Designer & Developer
Auckland
Websites & Web Development
Tom
Brand Designer & Website Designer
Waikato
Branding
Ben
Email Marketing Expert (Klaviyo, Omnisend)
Nelson
eCommerce
Magdalene
Senior Graphic & UX Designer
Christchurch
Design & Creative
Jeanine
Shopify Expert & Klaviyo Partner
Auckland
Websites & Web Development
Preston
Web Developer
Tauranga
Websites & Web Development
Michael
Graphic Designer
Taranaki
Design & Creative
Josue
Webflow Designer & Developer
Christchurch
Websites & Web Development
Recent related work
Examples of Shopify work from the Unicorn Factory network. View the case study cards below for project titles and short summaries from real engagements.
eCommerce
Shopify Ecommerce Website and POS Integration for Loobie & Friends
- Email Marketing
- Website Development
- API & Systems Integration
Karen Rubado
eCommerce
Shopify Redesign & Build for Green with Envy Lifestyle Store
- Shopify
- SEO
- eCommerce Store Build & Redesign
Karen Rubado
Marketing & Growth
Scaling Shopify Revenue for Flight Coffee with Digital Marketing
- Google Analytics 4
- Shopify
- Meta Ads / Paid Social
Robbie Lawton
eCommerce
Diagnosing and fixing a broken Shopify product pipeline
- API & Systems Integration
- Backend Development
- Shopify
Finn Greig
Branding
Graphic Design | Photography | Web Design | Content Creation | Marketing Strategy
- Brand Identity & Visual Identity
- Analytics Implementation
- Email Automation
Tamsyn Standeaven
eCommerce
Custom Shopify Website for Flooring Connection
- Website Development
- UX Design
- Web Design
Ellie ManahiProject ideas you can brief
Three common, practical scopes you can use to brief freelancers. Each is a suggested starting point — final deliverables and ongoing support are agreed with the freelancer.
Shopify store launch (small catalogue)
A lean launch for a local retailer or maker who needs a sales-ready Shopify site and basic marketing setup.
- Shopify plan and store configuration (domain, payments, taxes for NZ)
- Product import for agreed catalogue and basic inventory set-up
- Theme installation and light customisation to match brand styling
- Analytics, sales pixels and email capture (e.g., GA4, Facebook pixel, basic Klaviyo or MailerLite set-up)
Migrate to Shopify from another platform
Move products, customers and orders from an existing platform and ensure POS or accounting connections function post-migration.
- Content and product data migration (export/import mapping)
- Redirect plan for SEO and URL mapping
- Integration with POS or accounting system (e.g., Vend, Xero) as agreed
- Post-migration check list: payments, shipping, tax, and test orders
Custom theme and app integration
Customise a theme or build Liquid/JS changes and connect apps or APIs for subscription, wholesale or custom checkout flows.
- Custom Liquid and front-end adjustments to product and cart templates
- App selection and installation plus configuration (subscriptions, memberships, reviews)
- API or middleware integration for external systems (inventory, CRM, or headless components)
- QA, device testing and short handover documentation for store admins
How we help you find the right Shopify specialist
We do the legwork of briefing and finding people, then step back so you work directly with the Shopify specialist you choose.
Tell us what you need
Share your project, the help you need, and any timing or budget you have in mind.
Choose who to meet
Review interested freelancers and their work. Choose who you want an introduction to.
Agree the work together
Agree the scope, timing, and price with your freelancer.
- 1Tell us what you need
- 2We help shape the brief
- 3Relevant freelancers are surfaced
- 4You compare them
- 5You choose
How much does Shopify development cost?
Indicative NZD freelancer-fee ranges to help you set a budget. The higher bands reflect more products, migration work, bespoke design or connected systems.
Starter store
Projects fromNZ$3,000
Basic Shopify setup, a small product catalogue, theme installation and light customisation. Suitable for a retailer or maker starting online.
- Typical rangeNZ$3,000–NZ$7,000
Growth store
Projects fromNZ$7,500
A larger catalogue, migration work, tailored theme changes and agreed email, analytics or shipping integrations.
- Typical rangeNZ$7,500–NZ$18,000
Complex or custom store
Projects fromNZ$18,000
A bespoke theme, POS or inventory integration, complex subscriptions, wholesale flows, headless work or multiple sales channels.
- Typical rangeNZ$18,000–NZ$70,000+
What affects the price
Freelancers quote after reading your brief. These move the price most.
- Number of products, variants and required data clean-up
- Custom theme work or bespoke front-end development
- Complex integrations (POS, ERP, subscription services, marketplaces)
- Ongoing services: marketing, SEO, app subscriptions and maintenance
Indicative New Zealand dollar estimates only, excluding GST and ongoing Shopify or app fees. Freelancers set their own pricing after reviewing your scope. Updated July 2026.
Questions about hiring for Shopify
Answers to the questions clients commonly ask before starting a brief.
How long will my Shopify project take?
Simple store setups can be a few weeks; migrations or custom work typically take several weeks to a few months depending on data complexity and integrations. Timelines are agreed in the brief.
Do I need to pay Shopify fees in addition to development costs?
Yes. Shopify subscription fees and any paid apps are separate from developer fees. Your freelancer can recommend plans and likely app costs during scoping.
How does hiring through Unicorn Factory work?
You create a project brief, relevant freelancers apply, you review applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions so you can interview and hire directly.
Who owns the store and code after the work finishes?
Ownership and access are agreed between you and the freelancer—ensure the brief and contract state you receive required admin accounts, theme files and documentation.
How do I trust a freelancer’s work and experience?
Review profiles, past work and case studies provided in applications. Ask for examples of similar NZ projects, references, and a short technical plan before hiring.
Ready to brief a Shopify developer?
Create a short brief with goals, budget range and timelines — relevant freelancers will apply and Unicorn Factory will make warm introductions.