Shopify expert UK: a freelance Shopify developer you work with directly.
I'm James Sheen, a UK senior software engineer and freelance Shopify developer. I build new Shopify stores, migrate existing stores onto Shopify, and take on theme work when the store you already have needs a senior developer. You work with me directly, from the first call through launch and support. New builds from £4,000.
From £4,000
New store builds run 4–8 weeks depending on catalogue size and custom sections. Migrations from another platform add 1–3 weeks for data transfer and redirect mapping.
Recent Shopify project: Orchard Classic Decals
Orchard Classic Decals makes reproduction decals for classic Kawasaki motorcycles. I rebuilt the Shopify storefront around how riders shop (by model line, year and build), rewrote every page in the owner's own voice, and shipped ten buying guides alongside the launch. The old theme kept selling throughout the build, and the switch-over went live with no downtime. 26 active days from start to launch. Read the Orchard Classic Decals case study.
Working with a freelance Shopify developer
You work with me directly. I scope the store, build it, launch it and look after it afterwards, so the person you brief is the person writing the code. Every conversation, every decision, every line of code: same hands, same standard.
When you'd hire me for this
- You're launching a new Shopify store and want it built properly from day one — designed around your catalogue, your brand, and how your customers shop
- You're moving from another platform (WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Magento) and need your products, customers, and SEO equity carried across without losing rankings
- Your existing Shopify store is underperforming on Lighthouse scores or cart-abandon rates and you need someone to diagnose and fix it
- You've been using a stock theme and hit the ceiling of what it can do. You need custom Liquid sections and Online Store 2.0 development
- You need a Shopify store you can actually manage yourself without calling a developer every time you want to change a price
What you get
- A Shopify store built on a clean, maintainable Liquid codebase, designed to last.
- Performance, accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), and Core Web Vitals all checked at launch before the site goes live.
- Product pages, collection layouts, cart and checkout configured for your catalogue and customer flow, not just installed from a template.
- Training walkthrough at launch so you can manage products, collections, and content yourself — with ongoing support if you'd rather not.
- First month of post-launch partnership included.
- For migrations: full product data and customer record migration, 301 redirect map covering every existing URL, and planned launch-day cutover support.
How I work
Scoping
Scoping starts with your current situation: existing platform, catalogue size, integrations (email marketing, fulfilment, accounting, CRM), and what the new store needs to do.
Design and build
New stores: design runs one to two weeks; build runs three to six weeks depending on catalogue size and custom feature requirements.
Migration audit
Migrations: I audit what you have first. Product count, content pages, URL structure for SEO preservation. Every redirect is mapped before we touch the new site.
Performance work
Performance work on an existing store starts with a Lighthouse and Core Web Vitals audit (£300 to £900) with a written findings report. Fixing what the audit finds is a separate scoped engagement.
Launch
A planned cutover: DNS migration, final QA, redirect verification, and a training walkthrough so you can manage the store from day one.
What it costs
New Shopify store builds typically land between £4,000 and £10,000, depending on catalogue size, number of custom templates, and integrations. Migrations from another platform run £6,000 to £15,000 depending on data volume and SEO redirect complexity.
Small fixes on an existing Shopify store, such as a conversion fix or speed work, start at £300. Reshaping your existing theme around your brand starts at £850. A bespoke Shopify theme built from scratch is £3,000 to £8,000. Standalone performance and conversion audits are £300 to £900.
Every project scoped individually. Bands are honest guides, not menu prices.
FAQ
Talk to me about your store
Tell me about your store or your idea. 15-minute call, no preparation needed. I'll ask the questions. Written scope and proposal within three working days.