How to Become a Shopify Partner – Ultimate Guide

upqode | Aug 29th, 2022

One of the most well-known e-commerce companies to date is Shopify. Shopify is a great tool for helping you manage your inventory and gather sales statistics from all your selling channels if your company sells products online. In actuality, Shopify controls close to 20% of the e-commerce business.

Not only that. There are countless opportunities for brands to increase their revenue on the platform since millions of active buyers exist.

Shopify provides consumers with a straightforward, simplified experience that enables store setup in record time and access to a huge audience.

But Shopify can do more for you than just assist with product sales. You can also achieve the special status of Shopify Partner, which comes with various benefits for your company.

As soon as you sign up for the Shopify platform, you get immediate access to features that let you:

  • Create a website
  • Create a domain 
  • Variety of payment methods
  • Receiving and processing orders

Are you wondering why you should become a Shopify Partner and, more so, How to become a Shopify partner?

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Shopify Partner Program?

The Shopify Partner Program is a contractual arrangement between certain Shopify users and Shopify. As a Shopify Partner, you consent to advertise Shopify in exchange for certain business benefits. Users most frequently uphold their end of the bargain by only referring customers to Shopify. 

In the process, users can access useful Shopify tools and maybe even make some money. You don’t need to set aside money from your budget for it because becoming a Shopify Partner is free.

Shopify
Source: Shopify

Shopify users can use various tools and resources from the join the Shopify Partner Program to expand their businesses. This is accomplished using four major categories:

Marketing: Shopify Marketers can provide their services to help Shopify users expand their reach and apply better marketing methods if they need a more focused audience, more efficient campaigns, or improved content.

Shopify Designers: These designers assist retailers with their design requirements, frequently collaborating with developers on anything from graphics to branding.

Affiliate Marketing: On the Shopify platform, affiliate marketers can provide almost any service, from influencer marketing to content development.

Shopify Developers: Professionals with expertise in building Shopify stores can create apps that benefit Shopify’s merchants in several ways, including boosting engagement and sales.

There are other levels of partners in addition to the above-mentioned different kinds of partners, including:

Shopify Partners: Consider this to be the entry-level position for Shopify Partners. At this level, you have unlimited access to test stores, allowing you to modify, study, and improve your trade. You receive a monthly commission for each action (customer referral, app design, or graphic created).

Shopify Plus Partner Program: Only the best Shopify Partners are eligible for this Shopify Plus Partner Program. Agencies, business consultants, system integrators, and individuals are frequently included at this level.

Shopify Fulfillment Partner: The Shopify Fulfillment Network comprises Shopify fulfillment partner who is free to work inside and outside the join the Shopify Partner Program’s restrictions.

Is the Shopify Partner program worth it?

Numerous advantages come with starting a Shopify partnership; taking the time to sign up is well worth it. The following are three wonderful benefits of becoming a Shopify Partner!

1. Companys Reputation

Your reputation is one of the first things a Shopify partnership can help with. Tests that verify your ability to use Shopify apps are a requirement for applying to be a Shopify Partner. You can demonstrate your expertise with Shopify’s software by stating that you are a Shopify partner.

Additionally, even if consumers are unaware of what it means to be one, having the designation “Shopify Partner” on your website may greatly enhance your credibility and understanding.

This is especially true if your business is B2B because your target market probably knows about Shopify.

2. Opportunities For Learning

The Shopify Partner Academy is an additional benefit that Shopify provides when you start a partnership. The Academy is a course created to educate you on how Shopify functions. If you want to improve your e-commerce results, it’s a useful resource.

You can better understand the technological aspects of the Shopify platforms by using some of the Academy’s resources.

Others focus on effective business tactics to use with Shopify. Once you know them, you can take tests to demonstrate your knowledge in both cases.

3. Extra Revenue

The last and best advantage of a Shopify relationship is a simple one: You can get compensated. You can receive a monthly salary directly from Shopify whenever you contribute to the company through your partnership. This is a great strategy to increase your revenue if you want to do so.

Introducing new customers or creating Shopify businesses or apps is how you make money with Shopify.

You will be able to accomplish it since the Shopify Partner Academy has many resources devoted to teaching you how to do it.

Even better, when you register to become a Shopify Partner, you open doors for your company to grow. Enrolling in the Shopify Partner platform is a fantastic chance for growth, whether you’re a professional agency or an individual looking to expand your knowledge and clientele.

You can also experiment to your heart’s content because of the partnership’s unlimited access to stores. As a Shopify Partner, you have access to special deals on tools that will assist you in managing and expanding your company.

How To Become A Shopify Partner?

There are many benefits to the Shopify relationship that we have already discussed. Still, one major advantage we haven’t discussed is that signing up to be a Shopify Partner login is free.

Now that you know the benefits of a Shopify Partnership, you can grow your company immediately by doing the following five actions.

1. Discover Shopify Partners’ Opportunities

This blog only scratches the surface of a Shopify Partnership; to read the blog and learn more about partner benefits and features, spend more time on the Shopify partner platform.

2. Sign up for the Shopify Affiliate Program

The easiest step so far is this one! Enter your name and email address on the sign-up page, then wait for the verification.

3. Make Sure Your Email Is Valid

You will get an email requesting you to click a link in order to validate your email address after making an account. The window for responding closes after 24 hours, so ensure you respond before.

email example
Source: Shopify

After choosing the blue confirm account button, you will arrive at the Shopify accounts page. Select “Shopify Partners” and “Create new partner account” from there.

4. Enter Your Details

After successfully creating an account, you must fill out a form with information about your company. Fill out all the required fields.

After completing this step, scroll down to the “Business goals” area and select the function most closely matches your product or service. Here, you can choose from:

  • Creating apps
  • creating new Shopify stores for clients
  • Provide services to active Shopify merchants
  • Recommending merchants as an affiliate
  • The process of a Shopify merchant selling goods
  • Other

After making the appropriate choice, move down the page until you find the section about platform usage. Here, you can let Shopify know the platforms you’re currently using so that it can give you specialized tools.

Categories Consist of:

  • BigCommerce
  • Lightspeed
  • Magento
  • PrestaShop
  • Square
  • Squarespace
  • Wix
  • WooCommerce
  • WordPress

Read the Partner Program Agreement at the bottom of the page after choosing the appropriate category, then check the appropriate box.

list of ecommerce platforms
Source: Shopify

5. Introducing Shopify’s Dashboard

The hub of your Shopify business is your dashboard. Choose the join the Shopify Partner programs you want to apply for from the “Get started” menu to get started.

Shopify Partner Dashboard

Please describe your interest in each program in a brief form. If you are not instantly accepted into a program, you can still utilize your dashboard to develop and polish your abilities. 

You can obtain certificates in Business Fundamentals, Theme Development, App Development, and Product Fundamentals by taking any courses offered by the Shopify Partner Academy.

Shopify partner dashboard
Source: Shopify

You can take the related test as many times as you use the tools offered by the Shopify Partner Academy to broaden your knowledge base.

You can begin making money after being accepted into one of the Shopify Programs. PayPal is used to make payments on a bi-monthly basis.

You can find all answers on the Partner Dashboard. You may ask Shopify support any time, anywhere, from the portal, and they will respond.

How Much Does Shopify Partner Cost?

The Shopify Partner Program is free to join and lets you experiment with the Shopify platform through unlimited test stores. For every client you refer, a theme you design, or an app you build, you’ll receive monthly income from Shopify. There are some other benefits, too, like early access to new features, marketing materials, and access to a collaborative community of other Shopify Partners around the world.

Partner Support

You can contact Shopify Partner Support through the Shopify Help Center. Shopify Partner Support can help you to navigate our Partner programs, resolve issues for your clients, and grow your Partner business.

Shopify partner program
Source: Shopify

Visit Shopify Partner Academy To Take a Course.

To get into a course:

  • Go to Education > Partner Academy from your Partner Dashboard.
  • Click View all courses on the Partner Academy page.
  • Next to the course, you want to access, click Start.

Your progress in a course is saved after you start it. You can use the procedures listed above to pause working on it at any moment and pick it back up later.

What Topics Are Covered In The Courses and Exams?

Two themes—product and business—distinguish the course content. While advanced exams verify in-depth knowledge of a particular topic, fundamental exams are concentrated on general product and business curriculum understanding.

  • Product Fundamentals
  • Shopify Fundamentals
  • Design and Theming Fundamentals
  • Development Fundamentals
  • Store Operations Fundamentals
  • Shopify Plus Fundamentals
  • Business Fundamentals
  • Shopify Partner Program Fundamentals
  • Sales Fundamentals
  • Marketing Fundamentals
  • Project Management Fundamentals
  • Revenue and Pricing Fundamentals
  • Affiliate Marketing Fundamentals

How Long Does It Take Complete The Training Course?

You have unlimited freedom over your classes and examinations and how quickly you complete them. It takes about 30 minutes to complete each course. When you finish the courses and tests, there is no set order that you must follow. Experienced Partners may decide to jump through the examinations to demonstrate their level of proficiency.

On the Partner Academy tab on your Partner Dashboard, you can access exams.

Exams are offered without cost and don’t have any prerequisites. You can retake a test as many times as you like after you’ve already taken it. A certification shows up in your Partner Dashboard after you pass an exam.

The Takeaway

There are no signs that Shopify’s expansion will cease.

Being a Shopify Partner is an opportunity for any digital marketer, developer, or graphic designer to expand their portfolio, hone their talents, and make some extra income.

Shopify can be the right choice if you want to grow your customer base and your Shopify partner earnings. If you’re considering partnering with Shopify, ensure you actively track the proper data and disregard vanity metrics that don’t really matter for overall success.

Due to its rapid growth, Shopify presents a  fantastic chance for business owners and marketers to make extra money.

 A Shopify Partner can be someone with a thorough understanding of the Shopify platform and fundamental eCommerce skills. Even better, Partners get access to various assets, including tools, support, resources, and more, which can help them increase their revenue and develop their business.

If, after reading this, you’re still debating whether it’s worthwhile to join Shopify Partners? The answer is yes if you want to earn money passively while asleep.

Filed under: Ecommerce Case Studies

Related posts

Testimonials

What They Say

This is a team that pays great attention to detail and does great work. I had a design done for my website by a separate designer, and Nick implemented the design perfectly for both mobile and desktop. His team uses project management software to track tasks and break up the work for his team into sprints. You aren’t just getting a developer when you hire Nick, you’re also getting great project management and organization. I 100% recommended it.

Erik DiMarco

Manager, NimbleDesk

UPQODE delivers high-quality web work quickly, thanks to their expertise in PHP and WordPress. Regular communication and reasonable prices further smooth the workflow. We've been very pleased with the results. UPQODE responds far more quickly to development changes than our core team would be able to. They are highly knowledgeable about best practices in WordPress, and their ability to rapidly scale up whenever we need a project completed makes them a valuable asset for us in our development needs.

Jim Kreyenhagen

VP Marketing and Consumer Services, doxo

The engagement resulted in an aesthetically pleasing website that satisfied internal stakeholders. They dedicated capable resources that ensured effective collaboration. UPQODE’s attentiveness and flexibility support a successful partnership. They created a beautiful website that we love. The site functions to advertise a certain medical procedure, so I can’t speak to any traffic metrics. UPQODE's responsiveness was their most impressive quality.

Jessica Echevarria

Administrator, University Division

UPQODE delivered a functioning and accessible website. Their adaptable approach to customer service allowed for a smooth development process and set the foundation for possible future collaborations. The delivered website met all of my requirements and explains everything I need it to. UPQODE was very understanding and accommodating of my changing needs throughout the project. The communication was excellent. I plan to work with them again for future needs.

Darren Devost

Owner, Devost's Dynamic Marketing

The vendor succeeded in creating innovative WordPress solutions. Their availability enabled the client to deliver products more quickly. UPQODE's project management was good—their staff met weekly with the client and was always very punctual. UPQODE brought troubleshooting, recommendations, and ideas that our previous partner was unable to provide. They deliver work on-time and within budget. The design they’ve inserted into the product has enabled us to deliver products more quickly. They have always been very helpful in recommending better solutions.

David Bill

President & Founder, Liquid Knowledge Group
Request a Design