Launching an online store is exciting — and that excitement makes it easy to rush. But a store that goes live with broken links, a confusing checkout, or no analytics is a store that loses sales from day one. Run through this 15-point checklist before you flip the switch, and you'll launch with confidence instead of crossed fingers.
Products & Content
- 1. Product photos — multiple angles, consistent style, properly compressed (see product photography tips)
- 2. Product descriptions — benefit-led, accurate, and written for your customer, not copied from suppliers
- 3. Pricing and stock levels — correct, with inventory tracking switched on
- 4. Categories and navigation — logical, so shoppers find things in two or three clicks
Checkout & Payments
- 5. Test a real transaction — actually buy something end-to-end with a live card
- 6. Multiple payment methods — cards plus at least one wallet (Apple Pay, PayPal)
- 7. Guest checkout enabled — never force account creation before purchase
- 8. Shipping rates and zones — accurate, transparent, and shown before the final step
The One Test People Skip
Place a real order yourself — pay, receive the confirmation email, and check it arrives correctly. More launch-day disasters come from an untested checkout than anything else on this list. Checkout friction is also the top cause of cart abandonment.
Trust & Legal
- 9. Returns and refund policy — clear, fair, and easy to find
- 10. Contact information — visible, with a real way to reach you
- 11. Privacy policy and terms — in place and compliant for your region
- 12. Trust signals — security badges, reviews, and guarantees on product and checkout pages
Technical & Discoverability
- 13. Mobile test — browse and buy on a real phone, not just a resized window
- 14. Speed check — run PageSpeed Insights; a slow store loses sales (see the speed guide)
- 15. Analytics installed — Google Analytics and conversion tracking working before launch, not after
Pick the Right Foundation
Most of this is easier on the right platform. Shopify bakes in a conversion-optimised checkout and analytics; WooCommerce gives you flexibility but needs configuring. We weigh them up in Shopify vs WooCommerce, and build launch-ready stores on both Shopify and WooCommerce.
Want a second pair of eyes before you go live? Book a free call and I'll run through your store against this checklist with you.
Key Takeaways
- Test a real, paid transaction end-to-end before launch — always
- Enable guest checkout and multiple payment methods
- Have returns, privacy, and contact details clear and findable
- Check mobile and speed on real conditions, not just your desktop
- Install analytics and conversion tracking before you go live