How to Create Shopify Development Store: 7 Powerful Easy Steps 2025
Why Shopify Development Stores Are Essential for E-commerce Success
How to create shopify development store is a crucial skill for anyone building Shopify stores professionally. Here’s the quick answer:
- Get a Shopify Partner account (free at partners.shopify.com)
- Steer to Partner Dashboard → Stores → Add store → Create development store
- Choose your purpose: “test and build” or “for a client”
- Enter store name (becomes your myshopify.com URL)
- Select build options: empty store, test data, or developer preview
- Click “Create development store”
Development stores are free Shopify accounts with most Advanced Shopify plan features. As a Shopify Partner, you can create unlimited development stores to test themes, build apps, or set up client stores before transfer.
Think of development stores as your sandbox environment – a safe place to experiment without breaking anything live. Most work involves updating live stores where mistakes can block sales. Development stores solve this problem completely.
You can process unlimited test orders, create unlimited products, and install up to 10 custom apps per store. Plus, when you transfer a client store, you earn up to 20% recurring commission on their monthly subscription fees.
I’m Cesar A Beltran, founder of Blackbelt Commerce, and I’ve helped over 1000+ businesses launch successful Shopify stores using development store workflows. Knowing how to create shopify development store efficiently separates amateur developers from true professionals.
Quick look at how to create shopify development store:
– dedicated shopify developer
– shopify development experts
– shopify editions summer 2025
What Is a Shopify Development Store & Why You Need One
Think of a Shopify development store as your free playground for building and testing e-commerce stores. It’s essentially a full Shopify store with most Advanced plan features included, but with smart limitations that keep it focused on development work.
You need a Shopify Partner account to access this world. Partner accounts are completely free and open up unlimited development stores for your projects.
Development stores provide a safe sandbox environment where mistakes don’t cost money or break live stores. I’ve seen too many developers accidentally mess up client stores because they were testing directly in production.
Development stores serve main purposes every Shopify professional needs. Testing custom themes and apps becomes stress-free when you can break things without consequences. Building client stores before handoff ensures everything works perfectly before going live. Creating demo environments helps showcase your work to potential clients.
The Advanced plan features included are impressive. You get unlimited test orders using Shopify’s Bogus Test gateway, unlimited unique products for testing complex catalogs, and custom domain assignment for professional demos.
Developers love the API and webhook access that comes standard. You can test most Shopify APIs without restrictions, with support for up to 10 custom apps per store. Advanced reporting and analytics help you understand how your builds perform.
At Blackbelt Commerce, we typically manage 20-30 active development stores across different client projects. The unlimited stores benefit means we never choose between projects or worry about monthly fees.
The smartest part about development stores is how they bridge testing and real business. When you’re ready to launch, the transfer process is seamless, and you start earning recurring commission from successful handoffs.
How to Create a Shopify Development Store: Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to learn how to create shopify development store? It’s surprisingly straightforward once you know the process. The only prerequisite is a free Shopify Partner account from partners.shopify.com.
If you created your Partner account after April 28, 2023, Shopify automatically gifted you a “Quickstart” development store with pre-loaded test data. It’s non-transferable but perfect for learning.
The Partner Dashboard flow is simple. Access your Partner Dashboard and steer to “Stores,” then click “Add store” and select “Create development store.” Choose your store purpose, enter your store details including name and region, select build options like developer preview or test data, and create and configure your new store.
You can choose between the current Shopify release or developer preview mode for early access to upcoming features. Start with an empty store or populate it with test data instantly.
| Feature | Test/Build Store | Client Store |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Testing themes/apps | Building for client handoff |
| Transferable | Only if empty | Yes, always |
| Test Data | Recommended | Not recommended |
| Developer Preview | Available | Available but limits transfer |
| Revenue Share | No | 20% recurring commission |
How to Create a Shopify Development Store – Dashboard Walkthrough
The Partner Dashboard is your mission control center. Once logged in, the interface feels intuitive.
Step 1: Steer to store creation. From your dashboard, click “Stores” to see all existing development stores with their status and activity timestamps.
Step 2: Hit “Add store,” then select “Create development store” from the dropdown. This opens Shopify’s store creation wizard.
Step 3: Pay attention to store naming. Whatever name you enter becomes part of your permanent myshopify.com URL and cannot be changed. Use descriptive names like “client-name-dev” or “theme-testing-v2” instead of generic names.
Step 4: Select your region, which determines default shipping rates and suggests region-appropriate apps. Choose your client’s business location for client work, or your local region for testing.
Creating a Shopify Development Store for Testing vs for a Client
This decision affects everything that comes after. The purpose you select changes your development store’s capabilities and future possibilities.
Test and Build stores are your playground, perfect for theme development and app testing. You can load them with generated test data and access developer preview features. The trade-off? Stores with generated data or developer previews cannot be transferred to merchants.
Client stores follow different rules. They’re designed for eventual handoff, so they must remain transferable. This means no test data and no certain preview features that would block transfer.
The upside is significant: when you transfer a client store and they subscribe to a paid plan, Shopify pays you up to 20% recurring commission on their monthly fees. These payments arrive twice monthly when your balance exceeds $25 USD.
Handoff timing deserves attention. Clients have exactly seven days to accept transfer invitations. Complete as much development work as possible before initiating transfers.
How to Create a Shopify Development Store via Shopify CLI
For terminal-focused developers, Shopify CLI offers a powerful alternative. shopify login handles authentication, shopify store create walks you through store creation, and shopify app generate helps scaffold applications.
If you have a Quickstart store, shopify store list shows available stores, and shopify store select switches your working context instantly.
Staff account management becomes effortless with CLI. The system automatically creates staff accounts when needed, eliminating manual invitation processes.
Advanced Options: Developer Preview & Plus APIs
Developer preview features grant early access to upcoming Shopify functionality and include all Advanced Shopify plan capabilities. The catch? Stores with developer preview enabled cannot be transferred to merchants.
Plus API access: A standard development store can access all Shopify Plus APIs. The main difference between Plus and standard stores is API rate limit allotment, not available functionality.
Checkout UI Extensions can be tested by enabling the Extensibility Preview on any normal development store, eliminating the need for separate Plus sandbox environments.
Features, Limitations & Best-Practice Setup
Now that you know how to create shopify development store, let’s explore what you can actually do with these tools. Development stores pack quite a punch but come with important boundaries.
You can process unlimited test orders using the Bogus Test gateway – perfect for testing checkout flows without real money. Product creation is completely unlimited too, whether you’re building catalogs with 10 or 10,000 products.
Each development store supports up to 10 custom apps. Most client projects use 3-5 custom apps maximum, so you’ll rarely hit this ceiling. You can install any free apps from the Shopify App Store without restrictions.
Custom domains work perfectly for client presentations. Nothing looks more professional than showing clients their store running on their actual domain during development.
The limitations are straightforward. No real payments can be processed – this prevents accidental charges during development. The password page stays locked until you transfer the store or upgrade to a paid plan, keeping work-in-progress private.
App installation has quirks worth knowing. While free apps install normally, paid apps require “partner-friendly” versions or development store discounts. Most major app developers offer these.
Domain restrictions center around that permanent myshopify.com URL. Once you create “awesome-client-store.myshopify.com,” that URL is locked forever. Choose store names carefully.
Transfer restrictions matter most for client work. Stores with generated test data or developer preview features cannot be transferred. Plan ahead – if you know a store will go to a client, keep it clean from day one.
One best practice: set unique passwords for each development store. Using the same password across multiple stores creates security risks and makes client handoffs messy.
Populating, Sharing & Managing Your Dev Stores
Efficient development store management separates professional agencies from casual developers.
Generated Test Data Benefits:
Shopify’s generated test data includes commerce primitives and Plus-specific features, dramatically speeding up development and testing.
Developer Tools App:
For macOS users, Shopify’s Developer Tools app can automatically generate dummy store data. Install, authenticate, select Data generator, configure options, and click Start.
CSV Import Alternative:
For bulk product setup, download Shopify’s Product CSV template, fill in your data, then upload through the admin’s import function.
Adding Dummy Products & Orders Fast
Automated Data Generation:
The generated test data option during store creation populates your store with demo products, sample orders, and theme modifications instantly.
Product CSV Shortcuts:
Maintain template CSV files with common product types for rapid deployment of realistic product sets for client demos.
Sample Order Creation:
Use the Bogus Test gateway (credit card number 1) to create sample orders quickly, populating order history without real transactions.
Secure Access: Passwords, Demo Links & Collaborator Accounts
Password Management:
Set unique passwords for each development store rather than reusing admin credentials. Store these securely and share only with authorized team members.
Demo Link Bypass:
For Theme Store and App Store listings, demo links automatically bypass the password page, allowing public access to specific sections.
Staff Invitation Process:
Add clients as staff members before transferring ownership to maintain collaborator access and ensure smooth handoffs.
Organizing Multiple Stores Like a Pro
Naming Conventions:
We use: [client-name]-[project-type]-[version]
Examples: acme-corp-migration-v2 or theme-testing-dawn-mod
Archive and Unarchive Workflows:
Archive completed projects to keep your dashboard clean. Archived stores don’t count against any limits and can be unarchived later.
Project Tracking:
Maintain a simple spreadsheet tracking store purposes, client contacts, and project status to prevent confusion when managing 20+ active stores.
Transferring & Monetizing Development Stores
Transferring a development store to a client marks a significant milestone – it’s the start of a potentially lucrative long-term revenue stream.
Every time your client pays their monthly Shopify subscription, you earn up to 20% recurring commission. This continues for as long as your client maintains their Shopify store. These commission payments can add up to substantial passive income over time.
Before earning, you need to handle the transfer process correctly. A rushed handoff can damage your professional reputation and disqualify you from commission payments.
The pre-transfer checklist: First, verify all development work is complete. Next, add your client as a staff member with appropriate permissions before initiating transfer. Confirm the business address is accurate – this affects tax calculations on your client’s invoice. Finally, review all installed apps for transferability.
For detailed information about commission rates and payment schedules, Shopify provides comprehensive recurring commission details in their partner documentation.
Preparing the Store for Client Handoff
Legal address verification deserves special attention because it directly impacts your client’s monthly billing. The business address becomes the default billing address, affecting tax calculations.
POS Pro considerations add complexity if your client needs point-of-sale functionality. POS Pro requires separate subscription management and affects the transfer process.
Understanding organization ownership vs store ownership prevents confusion. Organization owners control billing and high-level permissions, while store owners manage day-to-day operations.
Documenting customizations during development saves enormous time during handoff. Create a simple document explaining custom code, theme modifications, or special app configurations.
Transfer Steps & Post-Transfer Revenue
The transfer process starts in your Partner Dashboard under Stores. Click Actions, then Transfer ownership. You can select an existing client staff account or add a new client contact. Once you send the invitation, your client has seven days to accept.
Give clients advance notice before initiating transfers. A quick email explaining what to expect prevents panic and ensures timely acceptance.
Post-transfer deliverables should include comprehensive handoff packages with store access credentials, admin URLs, and detailed documentation of customizations.
Revenue begins flowing after your client upgrades to a paid Shopify plan. Commission payments accumulate until reaching the $25 minimum threshold, then Shopify disburses payments twice monthly.
The recurring commission model has a compounding effect. Each successful client transfer adds to your monthly passive income. After years of consistent transfers, these payments can represent significant agency revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shopify Development Stores
After helping over 1000+ businesses with Shopify development, we’ve heard every question about development stores. Here are the most common ones.
Can I test Shopify Plus features in a development store?
Absolutely! You don’t need a special Shopify Plus development store to test Plus features. A standard development store can access all Shopify Plus APIs. The only difference between Plus and regular stores is API rate limit allowance.
Want to test Checkout UI Extensions? Just enable the Extensibility Preview on your regular development store. This open ups Plus-gated features without requesting special sandbox access.
At Blackbelt Commerce, we’ve built countless Plus stores using regular development environments with identical workflows and features.
What happens if I install a paid app in a dev store?
Development stores have specific app installation policies. You can install free apps without issues, plus “partner-friendly” apps – paid apps that developers can install for free in development stores for testing.
If you try installing a regular paid app, Shopify shows an error message. This is intentional. You can reach out to app developers and ask for partner-friendly status, or use the app’s free trial after transferring the development store to your client.
How do I archive or delete a development store safely?
Archiving is almost always better than deleting. Archiving removes the store from your active dashboard but preserves all work. Think of it like filing a completed project – it’s accessible if needed but out of the way.
To archive, go to your Partner Dashboard, find the store, and select “Archive development store.” You can unarchive stores anytime for updates or reference. There’s no limit to archived stores, keeping your workspace clean without throwing away valuable work.
Actual deletion is rarely necessary – only if you accidentally created a store with wrong settings and want to start fresh immediately.
Conclusion
Learning how to create shopify development store efficiently separates professionals from hobbyists in Shopify development. Development stores are your creative playground where mistakes become learning opportunities instead of lost sales.
The workflow change will surprise you. No more holding your breath while testing changes on live stores. No more explaining to clients why their site went down during “a quick update.” Development stores give you confidence to experiment boldly and deliver flawlessly.
Your development process becomes predictable and professional. Every project starts clean, gets tested thoroughly with realistic data, and transfers to clients only when everything works perfectly. This systematic approach has helped us at Blackbelt Commerce maintain our reputation for delivering stores that convert.
The financial benefits make this sweeter. When you transfer client stores properly, Shopify rewards you with up to 20% recurring commission on their monthly subscription fees. That’s passive income flowing as long as your clients stay successful.
Development stores scale with your ambitions. Whether you’re a solo developer testing your first custom theme or an agency managing dozens of client projects, unlimited store creation means you never outgrow this system.
The Plus-level API access deserves mention. You can build and test advanced features without expensive Plus accounts, making sophisticated functionality accessible to smaller budgets.
At Blackbelt Commerce, we’ve used these exact development store workflows to help over 1000+ businesses launch successfully. Every store in our portfolio started as a development store, got refined through systematic testing, and transferred only when we knew it would perform.
Your next steps are straightforward: create your Shopify Partner account, set up your first development store, and start building with confidence. The sandbox environment removes the fear factor that holds back many developers from pushing creative boundaries.
Ready to transform your Shopify development process from stressful to systematic? Our team has perfected these workflows through years of real-world client projects. More info about Shopify Builder services to find how we can help accelerate your next project with our proven development store methodologies.
