Shopify Retainers: Complete Guide to Ongoing Shopify Support (2025)

Running a thriving online business on Shopify also means being able to tackle any technical hurdles that get in the way of your business operations. If you find yourself handling different teams of developers, designers, and marketers just to keep your brand sailing smoothly online, then it may be time to consider partnering with a Shopify Expert that provides Shopify retainer and support services. 

Partnering with a Shopify retainer means that you get access to priority support from a team of Experts who handle all the technical aspects of your Shopify store, allowing you to aim your focus on growing your brand.

But what exactly is a Shopify Retainer? Let’s dive in:

Hire the Experts: Explore Ecommerce Pro’s Shopify Retainer Support Services.

What is a Shopify Retainer?

Hiring a Shopify retainer means having an ongoing partnership with a Shopify Expert agency that will provide reliable and consistent support for your online store. Think of it as having a Shopify Expert team on-call, ready to smooth over any issues or handle any requests or requirements.

The partnership operates on a monthly fee that you’ll pay to your retainer, ensuring that you have a dedicated team of Shopify Experts ready to help you manage, troubleshoot, and keep your store fully optimized as you run your online business. Retainer services can also include everything from website maintenance and custom development to performance optimization and even marketing strategy! You’ll have a dedicated team of Shopify experts committed to your store's success. 

Note: Make sure to only look for and hire Shopify retainers who are certified Shopify Experts and partners. You can find these Experts on the Shopify Expert Marketplace.

Below, we break down exactly why you need a Shopify retainer on board:

Why Do You Need a Shopify Retainer?

Managing an online business means more than just selling products—it also entails keeping your website and all of your business operations in smooth running condition. Here are some key reasons why a Shopify retainer can be a major game-changer for your online business:

1. Access to Expertise

The first pro when it comes to hiring a Shopify retainer is the access you get to a set of Shopify experts and professionals in their field. Shopify Experts are certified and vetted by the Shopify platform, and they come equipped with knowledge and understanding of the platform. Having a Shopify retainer of this kind of caliber will mean that they’ll be able to implement the best ecommerce practices to improve your store's running performance.

2. Cost Efficiency

Having a Shopify retainer on board will allow you to say goodbye to managing different teams of marketers, SEO specialists, designers, and developers. Instead, you’ll have a comprehensive team of specialists who all work under one organization to optimize and improve the function of your store.

3. Ongoing Optimization

A Shopify retainer helps you make sure that your store is in tip-top shape, keeping your website's performance fully optimized for performance, user experience, and conversions. This includes regular updates, bug fixes, feature enhancements, and even specific customizations you had in mind!

4. Strategic Growth Support

Think of having a Shopify retainer as having a strategic growth partner. A Shopify retainer goes beyond technical fixes. It includes proactive strategies to help your store grow. Whether it’s launching a new product line, creating a promotional campaign, or improving site speed, the retainer team will be there to support you and your growth trajectory.

5. Peace of Mind

Knowing that there is a team of Shopify retainers that are available to manage your store’s technical aspects allows you to focus on core brand activities like product sourcing, customer engagement, and scaling. It’ll give you the peace of mind to run your business instead of managing the complex technicalities of an ecommerce site.

When Should You Hire a Shopify Retainer?

Should every Shopify business at any stage hire a Shopify retainer? The answer is that it may not be necessary, and that timing is crucial when deciding to hire a Shopify retainer. Here are some signs that it might be the right time for your brand:

1. Rapid Growth:

If your store is quickly growing or scaling and you need more technical and marketing support, it may be time to hire a Shopify retainer to sustain and increase that momentum!

2. Limited In-House Expertise:

If you come to the point where your business lacks the resources or expertise to manage the complexities of a Shopify store effectively, then it may be time to call on and hire the Experts.

3. Frequent Issues:

If you face recurring technical or performance issues, this can be a major roadblock to your business, causing all kinds of disruptions in your store operations. You can easily avoid and overcome these issues by having technical experts on board.

4. Desire for Proactive Strategy:

If you want to implement ongoing improvements and stay ahead of the competition without juggling multiple service providers, hiring a Shopify retainer can be a good, long-term business investment.

Services Included by Shopify Retainers

Below, we talk about what a Shopify retainer can do for you. Typically, Shopify retainers include a team of professionals who work together and cover a wide range of services and expertise. This team will be able to tailor their services to your store's needs!

Here are some of the services that Shopify retainers can provide for your store on an ongoing basis, or as needed:

1. Store Maintenance

Store maintenance is an ongoing service that Shopify retainers can provide. This includes everything from regular updates to Shopify themes and apps, security checks, performance monitoring, and fixing bugs and errors. They’ll be able to help you keep your store in its most optimized, up-to-date state.

2. Custom Development & Design

The Shopify retainer you partner with should know the ins and outs of Shopify, and Shopify Experts are your best bet. They’ll be able to help you achieve a bespoke look for your store through custom Shopify theme design and development. They will also help you integrate all of the third-party apps and tools your store needs, providing all of the features and functionalities you need to run your online business.

3. Marketing and SEO

Instead of having a separate team for marketing and SEO, hiring a Shopify retainer can consolidate these efforts into one streamlined solution for your store. Retainers often have marketing, SEO, and content specialists on board who can take care of your store's needs—everything from search engine optimization to setting up your email marketing campaigns. Shopify retailers who work as a unified team ensure that their marketing strategies align with their store's technical performance.

4. Analytics and Reporting

Performance reports are the backbone of any business. So, instead of relying on scattered data points, hiring a Shopify retainer ensures that analytics and reporting are centralized and actionable.

Retainers often include data experts who specialize in tracking performance metrics, generating insights, and optimizing strategies based on data. Monthly performance reports, A/B testing results, and tailored recommendations come together to give you a clear picture of your store's progress, allowing for informed decision-making that works towards boosting your business's growth.

How to Hire the Best Shopify Retainer

Finding the right Shopify retainer is crucial for maximizing the benefits of ongoing priority support. Here’s a step-by-step guide to hiring a Shopify retainer, from evaluating your needs to accepting proposals:

Step 1: Define Your Needs:

Before you even begin your search for a Shopify retainer, you need to clearly define your needs. Do you need technical maintenance? Detailed analytics and reporting, or perhaps some advanced app integrations?

Knowing your online store’s needs before searching for and contacting a retainer will help you communicate with the agency better and also allow you to select the appropriate Shopify retainer for the job.

Step 2: Research & Shortlist Agencies:

Once you have your store’s needs noted. It’s time to look for a Shopify Expert Agency that also provides Shopify retainer services. Look for certified Shopify Experts with strong reviews, case studies, and a solid portfolio of successful projects under their belt.

Remember to always go for certified Shopify Experts who are vetted by Shopify as fully reliable professionals. You can find them on the Shopify Experts Marketplace. From here, you can shortlist a few agencies you’d like to get in touch with.

Step 3: Get in Touch & Request Proposals: 

When you’ve narrowed down the Experts you wish to contact, you can easily contact them through their provided contact details. Make sure to include quick and clear details about your business’s needs. Expect a response containing further questions or to be asked to hop on a scheduled call. To ensure that the potential Shopify retainer partner creates an accurate proposal, you should provide as much information as you can during this phase. When all the necessary details are noted, the agency can begin working on a proposal. A proposal should include outlining its services and pricing.

Step 4: Receive & Review the Proposal

The Shopify Expert agency will need a few working days to formulate a proposal based on the information you have provided. The proposal that you will receive will include an outline of the job requirements and the cost of their monthly retainer services.

You need to review the details, and if everything sounds good, you can accept the proposal. If not, you are always at liberty to negotiate amendments or to decline the proposal entirely.

Proposals are typically free.

Step 5: Begin Partnership or Trial Period

Given that you have accepted the proposal, you will now have hired a Shopify retainer! You can have them on board on a trial basis of one month, depending on the agreement, before committing to a long-term retainer. Consider starting with a smaller project or a trial period to evaluate their performance. If all goes well, you can have them on board for a long-term, ongoing basis to keep your online store in its best running condition.

Partner with Shopify Retainers: Ecommerce Pro

If you’re looking for dedicated Shopify support and a strategic partner in growth, our team of 5-star-rated, certified Shopify Experts can provide your online business and brand with the best Shopify retainer services personalized to the needs of your store. 

Ecommerce Pro is a top-rated Shopify Plus and Expert Agency that has worked with Shopify stores from around the world in all industries, offering Shopify and Shopify Plus stores retainer support services that help grow and support your business goals.

If you're looking for a top-rated and highly experienced Shopify and Shopify Plus Experts Agency to provide retainer support services for your online store, look no further than Ecommerce Pro. 

Get the benefits of hiring a top Shopify Expert. Get in touch today.

Conclusion

A Shopify retainer is an investment in the long-term success of your online store. By partnering with a team of Shopify Experts who provide ongoing support services, you’ll not only save time and resources but also ensure that your store remains competitive and optimized for growth.

Whether you're a small business on the cusp of scaling or an established brand aiming to maintain its edge, a Shopify retainer can provide the ongoing support you need to thrive online.

Get in Touch

At Ecommerce Pro, we help entrepreneurs and business owners build better and more successful Shopify businesses. Have a question or a project in mind? Get in touch with us today!