Should I hire a developer or agency to build my store, or just do it myself?
If you're pre-launch and cash-tight, DIY on a free theme is genuinely fine - Shopify's editor is built for non-coders and most brands don't need custom code for version one. Once you need something the theme editor can't do - custom sections, speed fixes, app conflicts - a freelancer off a marketplace is the cheap middle ground, while a Shopify Partner agency costs more but gives you a team (developer, QA, project manager) that doesn't disappear mid-project. Vet anyone on real Shopify store links and past client reviews, not just a portfolio PDF, before you hand over admin access.
Go deeper
3 resources, 2 India-specific, 3 link-checked.
📄 Article
✓ Link checkedIndiaFreeBeginner
Written by a working freelance Shopify developer in India, so the advice on vetting, pricing and red flags comes from the seller's side of the table - useful for spotting the pitch tactics before you're the one getting pitched.
Every agency and freelancer here is Shopify-vetted and tiered by track record, which is the closest thing to a safety net you get before paying someone real money to touch your store's admin.
A full walkthrough - theme, products, pages, payment setup - narrated in Hindi, which is exactly the format a first-time Indian founder wants over a US-accented text guide. Good to watch once end-to-end before you start clicking around yourself.
