Frequently asked questions

No. A proper audit takes real time, usually 3 to 5 hours depending on the size of your store. I go through your analytics, product pages, SEO, tracking and checkout so the recommendations are based on your actual data, not guesswork. You get a prioritized list of fixes you can act on, whether or not you hire me for the implementation.

It depends on what your store needs. A full build can cover everything from setting up your Shopify store, products, shipping and delivery, to SEO, tracking pixels and Google Merchant Center. For existing stores, I usually start with a 3 to 5 hour audit, and the estimate depends on what the audit finds. If you already have a mockup, share it and I can estimate from that. Message me on Upwork for a quote.

Message me on Upwork with your store URL (or your product if you're starting fresh), what you need, and any mockups or examples. I'll reply with a timeline and estimate before any work starts. For longer projects, the estimate takes the total hours into account.

I prefer working hourly, because store work often uncovers things no one could see at the start. Before any implementation begins, I give you a clear timeline and estimate, so you know what to expect and there are no surprise costs.

Yes. Your Shopify plan is paid directly by you to Shopify, and the store stays in your name. Some themes and apps also have their own fees. I'll recommend what you actually need, so you don't pay for apps you won't use.

Because every app you install is code and permissions you don't control. Many apps can read your products, customers or orders, add scripts to your store, and charge a monthly fee. I always check what Shopify can do natively first. If a feature isn't available, I usually build a small custom app with only the permissions it needs, so you know exactly what it does and who has access to your data. I'll still recommend a trusted app when it's clearly the better option.

No, I'm not an agency. I work solo, so the person you talk to is the person doing the work, with no hand-offs to other developers. With today's AI tools in my workflow, my turnaround is around 70% faster than it was before AI, so you get the attention of one experienced developer with much quicker delivery.

I work through Upwork only. I've been on Upwork for almost 4 years, and it lets both of us focus on the work instead of worrying about payments. You get Upwork's payment protection, and I can put all my attention into building and fixing what your store needs.

Yes, you can book a consultation with me on Upwork. Before booking, prepare a list of what you want to know or what you need help with. Sometimes clients find it hard to explain what they need during the call, and the time runs out before all their questions are answered. Coming prepared helps us cover everything and makes the most of your time.

Honestly, that arrangement isn't a good fit for me. With irregular, occasional tasks, I'm usually busy with other projects when they come in, so I can't give your work the priority it deserves, and you wouldn't get the service you should. It works much better when there's at least some activity every week. If you have that, I'd be very happy to work with you.

I'm based in Cebu City, Philippines (UTC+8), so I don't work Western business hours. Many of my clients are in Asia-Pacific, like Australia and Singapore. That said, I've worked with a US client on Upwork for almost 2 years. When we need a meeting, we usually schedule it in my morning, which is around 8 to 11 PM US Eastern time. Outside of meetings, we collaborate smoothly through shared Google Docs, and I'm also comfortable with Jira, Trello, Monday.com and ClickUp.

No. You know your product and your customers; I handle the technical side. I'll guide you through each step in plain language and ask simple questions about your business when I need information.

It's possible, but it's harder without an ecommerce background, because a successful store takes a lot of work beyond just launching the site, especially if your products have many competitors. Some store owners rely on paid ads alone, but ads don't guarantee sales either. Your content structure, site performance and trust signals (like clear product pages, reviews and policies) still decide whether visitors actually buy. If your budget is limited, I'll help you focus on what matters most first, so every dollar goes where it makes the biggest difference.

No ecommerce store succeeds overnight. Success comes from continuous improvement over time, so your store needs ongoing maintenance, not just a launch. AI tools can help a lot today, but they still don't guarantee success on their own, especially without a web development background. Many issues only show up over time: small lapses, blind spots and problems you won't notice right away. Most importantly, keep your focus on both people and machines. Search engines and AI tools are what bring visitors and leads to your store, but people are the ones who make the decision and buy. A store that works well for both is the one that grows.

Google Merchant Center lets your products appear in Google Shopping results, with photos and prices. If you sell physical products, it's worth setting up. I can connect it to your Shopify store and make sure your product data is clean so your products get approved and shown.