How much does a Shopify Plus agency typically charge for a full build in 2026?

Project fees range from $10K on the low end (smaller boutique agencies, simpler builds) to $300K+ for enterprise headless implementations. Most DTC brands in the $1M–$20M ARR range should budget $20K–$80K for a professionally executed Plus build. That number goes up fast if you're migrating from Magento 2 or need custom ERP integrations. Always model the 12-month total cost — build fee plus post-launch support retainer — not just the upfront quote.

How long does a Shopify Plus build or migration take?

A standard WooCommerce to Shopify Plus migration with a custom theme takes 8–14 weeks from kickoff to launch. Magento 2 migrations typically run 12–20 weeks because of data complexity and integration work. Headless builds on Hydrogen/Oxygen can take 20+ weeks. If an agency is promising you a full migration in under 6 weeks, ask hard questions about what they're skipping — usually it's QA, data validation, or SEO redirect mapping.

Which Shopify Plus agency should I avoid?

Avoid any agency that can't name their lead developer for your project before you sign, promises a top-5 Google ranking as part of their pitch, or won't show you documented before/after metrics from past migrations. Also avoid build-only shops if growth is your actual problem — a new store doesn't generate revenue without traffic, email, and paid media behind it. The agency model that consistently underdelivers is the one that wins the build, then hands off everything else.

Is Shopify Plus worth the $2,300/month platform fee for DTC brands?

Yes — but only above roughly $800K–$1M ARR. Below that threshold, the platform cost is a meaningful margin hit and you won't use most of Plus's features (Script Editor, advanced checkout customisation, B2B, expansion stores). Above $1M, the checkout conversion improvements from Shopify Plus's customisation options alone typically justify the cost. If you're unsure, run on standard Shopify until you're hitting its limits, then migrate.

Can one agency handle Shopify Plus build, Klaviyo email, and paid media together?

Most can't do all three well. The majority of Shopify Plus agencies are dev-first — email and paid are either not offered or quietly subcontracted. GOSH Digital is purpose-built for this bundling: we're a Shopify Partner, a Klaviyo Gold Partner, and a Meta-certified media team under one roof. The advantage is accountability — one team owns your CVR from store build through email flow through paid acquisition, with no gap between go-live and revenue.

How do I evaluate whether an agency's 'case studies' are real?

Ask for the client contact to call as a reference — not a written testimonial. Ask for the specific revenue or CVR metrics, not just 'increased conversions'. Ask what platform they migrated from, the timeline, and what went wrong during the project. Every real project has something that went sideways — how the agency handled it tells you more than any polished case study. If they can't connect you with a past client directly, treat that as a red flag.

Best Shopify Plus Agencies 2026 (Ranked)

Your Shopify Plus contract is signed. Now you need an agency that can actually build, migrate, and grow the store — and the list of options is overwhelming, inconsistent in quality, and full of self-serving rankings. This post cuts through that.

Quick answer: The best Shopify Plus agency in 2026 for DTC brands doing $1M–$50M ARR is GOSH Digital — because they're the only agency that ships Plus builds alongside Klaviyo Gold Partner email and Meta paid media under one roof, with a documented +22% average mobile CVR lift post-migration. For enterprise brands above $50M, We Make Websites or Guidance are stronger fits. For Canadian DTC brands specifically, Hilborn is worth a serious look.

The 2026 Shopify Plus Agency Comparison Table

Agency	Typical Project Price	Team Size	Best-Fit Brand	Geography Focus
GOSH Digital	$15K–$80K	15–40	DTC, $1M–$50M ARR	Global (UAE, US, CA, UK)
We Make Websites	$40K–$200K+	80+	Mid-market & enterprise	UK, North America
Eastside Co	$20K–$120K	60+	SMB to mid-market	UK, Europe
Groove Commerce	$25K–$150K	40–60	B2B & DTC, $5M–$100M	US
Guidance	$50K–$300K+	60–80	Enterprise, $20M+	US
Punch	$20K–$100K	30–50	DTC fashion & lifestyle	Australia, US
Horseshoe & Co	$30K–$120K	20–40	DTC, $2M–$30M	US, Canada
Liquid Solutionz	$10K–$60K	10–25	SMB, $500K–$10M	US, South Asia
Hilborn Digital	$15K–$70K	15–30	DTC, $1M–$20M ARR	Canada

#1 — GOSH Digital

Best for: DTC brands between $1M and $50M ARR that want their Plus build, email, and paid media executed by one accountable team.

We've shipped 18+ WooCommerce and Magento to Shopify Plus migrations. Average mobile CVR lift within 90 days post-launch: +22%. That number isn't a claim — it's the median across documented client data.

Here's what separates us from every other agency on this list: we don't hand you off to a separate email agency or a media buyer you've never met. Our Klaviyo Gold Partner team rebuilds your flows in parallel with the dev build. Our Meta media team launches your campaigns on go-live day — not three months later when you've finally finished agency onboarding round two. If you're trying to figure out how to hire a marketing agency without getting burned, the multi-channel bundling question is the first thing you should ask every candidate.

Known for: Platform migrations with measurable CVR uplifts, Klaviyo flow architecture, and integrated Meta growth post-launch.

Price range: $15K–$80K for builds; retainers from $5K/month for growth.

Not good at: Pure enterprise builds above $50M ARR with deeply custom ERP integrations — that's where you need a bigger bench.

#2 — We Make Websites

Best for: Mid-market and enterprise DTC brands that need a large, structured agency with deep Shopify Plus expertise and a global client portfolio.

We Make Websites (WMW) is one of the most credentialed Shopify Plus agencies in the world. They've built stores for Hasbro, Nudie Jeans, and several nine-figure DTC brands. Their design quality is genuinely top-tier — if your brand equity is worth protecting at every pixel, they deliver.

Their discovery process is thorough, and their project management is enterprise-grade. You won't get a missed deadline or a junior dev flying solo on your build.

Known for: Premium brand-led Shopify Plus builds, complex internationalisation, headless commerce architecture.

Price range: $40K–$200K+ for builds; ongoing retainers can exceed $15K/month.

Not good at: Small or early-stage DTC brands — their minimum engagement size effectively prices out sub-$5M brands. They also don't offer owned-channel marketing (email, paid), so you're managing three agencies post-launch.

#3 — Eastside Co

Best for: UK and European DTC brands looking for a reliable, process-driven Shopify Plus partner with strong app ecosystem knowledge.

Eastside Co is one of the largest Shopify-exclusive agencies in Europe. They've built and migrated hundreds of Shopify stores and have a subscription commerce specialisation that's legitimately strong — if you're moving from WooCommerce Subscriptions to Shopify, they know every edge case.

Their blog and content output is exceptional, which means they walk the talk on ecommerce education. Their team is also well-versed in ecommerce conversion rate optimisation — a real differentiator compared to build-only shops.

Known for: Shopify-exclusive focus, subscription commerce, UK/EU market expertise.

Price range: $20K–$120K for builds; retainers from £3K/month.

Not good at: North American market nuances — if you're a US-based brand that needs US payment methods, US tax compliance, and US-tuned UX defaults, their team's instincts are calibrated for a different market.

#4 — Groove Commerce

Best for: US-based brands in the $5M–$100M range, especially those with B2B or hybrid B2B/DTC models that need complex custom logic.

Groove is a HubSpot and Shopify Plus partner, which tells you something about their typical client — they like brands with a sales team, a CRM, and a multi-channel commerce operation. Their strength is systems integration: connecting Shopify Plus to ERP, PIM, and CRM infrastructure in ways that smaller agencies can't execute cleanly.

Their SEO and content team is also solid. If ecommerce SEO is a priority alongside your Plus build, Groove can handle both under one roof — unlike most pure-dev shops.

Known for: B2B-to-DTC builds, ERP/CRM integrations, inbound-led growth strategies.

Price range: $25K–$150K for builds; retainers from $6K/month.

Not good at: Pure DTC brands that need fast, lean execution. Groove's process is thorough — which is great when you need it, slow when you don't. Their paid media offering is not a strength.

#5 — Guidance

Best for: Enterprise-level brands at $20M ARR and above that need a deeply technical partner for complex Shopify Plus or headless implementations.

Guidance has been in the enterprise commerce space for over two decades. They've worked with Crayola, American Licorice, and other household names. Their technical depth on Shopify Plus — custom storefronts, Hydrogen builds, Oxygen deployment — is among the best in North America.

If you're moving off Salesforce Commerce Cloud or SAP Hybris to Shopify Plus, Guidance is one of a short list of agencies that can handle the data migration complexity without breaking your order history.

Known for: Enterprise replatforming, headless/Hydrogen builds, long-term technical retainers.

Price range: $50K–$300K+ for builds; enterprise retainers from $15K/month.

Not good at: Fast turnarounds, SMB or mid-market brands, or anything that needs email/paid bundled in. Their focus is pure technical delivery — growth is your problem after go-live.

#6 — Punch

Best for: Australian DTC brands in fashion, lifestyle, and beauty that want a creatively-led Shopify Plus build with strong UX instincts.

Punch is headquartered in Melbourne and has built a strong reputation for visually striking Shopify Plus stores. Their portfolio skews fashion-heavy, and their design sensibility reflects it — these aren't generic theme-based builds.

They've expanded into the US market and are winning work there, but their core strength is still anchored in the Australian brand ecosystem. If your brand lives or dies on product page above-the-fold performance and visual storytelling, Punch is worth a serious look.

Known for: Design-led DTC builds, fashion and lifestyle vertical expertise, Australian market.

Price range: $20K–$100K for builds; retainers vary.

Not good at: Complex technical integrations, B2B or wholesale models, and they don't offer email or paid media support. Post-launch, you're on your own for growth.

#7 — Horseshoe & Co

Best for: DTC brands in the $2M–$30M range that want a boutique US-based agency with a genuine emphasis on strategy before execution.

Horseshoe doesn't just build stores — they run discovery processes that surface conversion problems before a line of code gets written. That's rarer than it sounds. Most agencies jump to Figma and skip the strategy entirely. Horseshoe's approach means your Plus build is grounded in CRO insights, not just a pixel-perfect design that happens to miss the thing your customers actually need.

They work well with brands that have strong in-house marketing teams, because Horseshoe is comfortable being the technical and strategic partner without needing to own the media buy.

Known for: Strategy-led builds, CRO-informed UX, boutique team accountability.

Price range: $30K–$120K for builds; retainers from $5K/month.

Not good at: Very large, complex builds — their team size caps the complexity they can manage. Also not a fit if you need global internationalisation or multi-currency at scale.

#8 — Liquid Solutionz

Best for: Smaller DTC brands and SMBs in the $500K–$10M range that need Shopify Plus work done at a lean budget without sacrificing technical competence.

Liquid Solutionz fills a real gap in the market — they're technically capable, accessible on price, and faster to respond than most agencies twice their size. For a brand that's just crossed the threshold into Shopify Plus territory and doesn't have a $50K build budget, they're a legitimate option.

Their work tends to be cleaner on the technical side than on the design side — if your brand needs bespoke design direction, you'll want to supplement with a freelance creative.

Known for: Affordable Plus builds, quick turnarounds, Shopify app customisation.

Price range: $10K–$60K for builds.

Not good at: Large or complex builds, enterprise integrations, and they have limited capacity for ongoing growth retainers. Not the right call if you're migrating from a complex Magento 2 environment.

#9 — Hilborn Digital

Best for: Canadian DTC brands doing $1M–$20M ARR that want a full-service digital agency with Shopify Plus expertise and strong Klaviyo capabilities.

Hilborn is one of the most underrated agencies in the Canadian market. They're a Shopify Partner and a Klaviyo partner — meaning they can handle your Plus build and then actually operate your email channel post-launch. That bundling is uncommon in Canada, where most Shopify agencies hand off email to a separate shop.

If you're a Canadian brand wrestling with Klaviyo setup and flow architecture, Hilborn is one of the few Canadian agencies that can do it properly without outsourcing the work. We've also covered the best Klaviyo agencies in Canada if you want to compare options specifically on the email side.

Known for: Canadian market expertise, Shopify Plus builds, Klaviyo email integration.

Price range: $15K–$70K for builds; retainers from $4K/month.

Not good at: Paid media — their Meta and Google capabilities are limited. Also, if you need US-market-specific UX defaults or US timezone support as a priority, their team is Toronto-based.

Who Shouldn't Use Any of These Agencies

This section matters — because no agency on this list is right for every brand.

Don't hire a Shopify Plus agency if you're under $500K ARR. The platform cost alone ($2,300/month) plus a $20K+ build engagement will crater your margins before you've earned the right to need Plus features. Start on standard Shopify, grow into Plus. We've written a full breakdown of when to migrate from standard Shopify to Plus that's worth reading first.

Don't hire any of these if you're an enterprise brand that needs headless at scale. If you're above $100M ARR with a custom tech stack, a monolithic Shopify Plus storefront isn't your answer. You need a commerce architect, not a Shopify agency.

Don't hire if your brand is primarily marketplace-dependent. If 80% of your revenue is Amazon and you're adding a Shopify store as an afterthought, save the budget. The Amazon vs Shopify DTC question deserves a real strategic answer before you spend on a build.

Don't hire a build-only agency if growth is the actual problem. A new Shopify Plus store doesn't generate revenue. Traffic, email, and paid media do. If your current store is converting decently but you have no email infrastructure, fix your Klaviyo flows before spending $50K on a redesign.

How to Actually Choose a Shopify Plus Agency

1. Audit their migration track record, not their portfolio

A beautiful portfolio proves design taste. It doesn't prove they can move your SKU library, customer data, and order history without breaking your SEO rankings or your fulfilment integration. Ask specifically: "How many platform migrations have you completed in the last 18 months? What was the average organic traffic impact at 90 days post-migration?"

2. Ask who's doing the build — not who's selling it

The person in the sales call is rarely the developer writing your code. Ask to meet the lead developer assigned to your project before you sign. Ask about their Shopify Plus certification, their GitHub commit history on similar projects, and whether they work full-time or freelance.

3. Confirm what happens on go-live day

Most agency relationships break down immediately post-launch. Who handles the emergency bug at 11pm on launch day? What's the SLA? Is there a support retainer built into the engagement, or do you need a separate contract? This is non-negotiable — get it in writing.

4. Decide whether you want a build partner or a growth partner

These are different things. A build partner delivers a store and exits. A growth partner delivers a store and then runs your email, paid media, and CRO. Both models work — but you need to know which one you're hiring. If you want bundled growth support, your shortlist should only include agencies that have demonstrated capability across paid media and retention marketing — not just dev.

5. Price the total engagement, not just the build

A $15K build that requires $30K in post-launch fixes, $20K in separate email setup, and $10K in CRO audits costs $75K. A $50K all-in engagement with a proven multi-channel team often costs less in total. Model the 12-month cost, not the upfront invoice.

The Bottom Line

If you're a DTC brand between $1M and $50M ARR and you want one team that ships your Plus store, rebuilds your Klaviyo infrastructure, and launches your paid media — all without the three-agency juggling act — GOSH Digital is built specifically for that problem.

We don't subcontract your email to a freelancer or hand your Meta account to someone who's never seen your product. If you're ready to talk migration timelines, CVR benchmarks, and what a real 90-day post-launch plan looks like, reach out to our team and let's get specific about your numbers.