Search for a Shopify agency in Karachi and you will find hundreds of results, most of them using the same words. Every one of them claims to be the best. The checks below are the ones we would use ourselves if we were hiring, and they work on us as well as on anyone else.
1. Ask for live stores, and open them on your phone
Screenshots prove nothing. Ask for links to stores that are trading today, then open them on a mid-range phone on mobile data. Add something to the cart. If it feels slow or awkward, so will yours.
2. Find out how long they have worked on Shopify specifically
General web experience does not transfer cleanly. Shopify has its own templating language, its own checkout rules and its own release cycle. Ask when they built their first Shopify store and what has changed on the platform since. Someone who has lived through those changes answers quickly.
3. Ask who writes the code
Some agencies sell the project and pass it to a freelancer you never meet. Ask to speak to the developer who will work on your store. A direct line to that person saves weeks.
4. Check whether they build or only install
Installing a theme and ten apps is setup. It has its place, and it should be priced as setup. If you need something specific to your business, ask to see custom sections or apps they have written.
5. Confirm you own everything
The store, the theme code, the domain and every account should be in your name from day one. The agency should work through collaborator access, which Shopify provides for exactly this purpose. Never let anyone open the store under their own email.
6. Ask how they handle payments for Pakistan
Cash on delivery, local card gateways and courier integration are where Pakistani stores differ from overseas ones. An agency that works here regularly will have clear answers. See our guide to Shopify payment options in Pakistan for the questions to raise.
7. Get the scope and price in writing
A fixed quote against a written scope protects both sides. Be careful with very low prices that leave the scope vague, because the cost returns later as extras.
8. Ask what happens after launch
Stores need small changes every week. Find out whether there is a support period, what a maintenance plan costs and how quickly they respond.
9. Read reviews on platforms they do not control
Testimonials on an agency's own website are chosen by the agency. Look for reviews on third-party platforms where the client's identity is verified, and read the three-star ones first.
Where iShopify stands
iShopify was started by Aaliyan Gul in 2009, which makes it one of the longest-running Shopify practices in Pakistan. You speak to the people who build your store, you own everything we make, and we quote in writing. If that suits you, tell us about your project.