When to Upgrade

Shopify Plus starts at $2,500/month (approximately £2,000), so it's important to upgrade at the right time. Consider Plus when you need its specific features or have outgrown standard Shopify.

Signs You're Ready for Plus

•Revenue over £1M/year: At this level, Plus often pays for itself in lower transaction fees
•Need B2B capabilities: Native B2B features like company accounts and custom pricing require Plus
•Complex checkout requirements: Checkout customisation is Plus-only
•High-volume flash sales: Plus handles unlimited transactions per minute
•Multiple storefronts: Plus includes expansion stores for international markets
•Enterprise integrations: Access to advanced APIs and higher rate limits

Transaction Fee Savings

Shopify Plus credit card rates start at 1.5% + 25p (compared to 1.7% on Advanced). If you process over £2M annually, the transaction fee savings alone can offset much of the Plus cost.

Plus-Exclusive Features

Understanding what Plus offers helps you plan which features to implement after upgrading.

Checkout Extensibility

Customise the checkout with apps and custom code. Add upsells, custom fields, delivery date pickers, loyalty points, and more directly in checkout.

Shopify Functions

Custom backend logic for discounts, shipping, and payment customisation. Create complex discount rules, custom shipping rates, or payment method restrictions.

B2B on Shopify

Native wholesale functionality with company accounts, custom price lists, payment terms, and B2B-specific checkout experiences.

Shopify Flow

Powerful workflow automation. Automate inventory alerts, customer tagging, fraud review, order routing, and hundreds of other processes.

Launchpad

Schedule and automate product launches, flash sales, and campaigns. Change themes, prices, and visibility on a schedule.

Expansion Stores

Up to 9 additional stores included in Plus pricing. Perfect for international expansion, different brands, or B2B vs B2C separation.

The Upgrade Process

Upgrading from standard Shopify to Plus is straightforward since you're staying on the same platform. Here's what to expect.

Pre-Upgrade Steps

1
Contact Shopify Plus Sales
Reach out to discuss your needs and get a quote. Plus pricing is negotiable based on your volume and requirements.
2
Review Your Current Setup
Document your current apps, integrations, and customisations. Some apps have Plus-specific versions or pricing.
3
Plan Feature Implementation
List which Plus features you want to implement and prioritise them. Some require development work.

During Upgrade

The technical upgrade is handled by Shopify. Your store continues operating normally. After upgrade:

•Access to Plus admin features is enabled immediately
•You're assigned a Merchant Success Manager
•Access to Shopify Plus Academy for training
•Priority support channel opens

Checkout Customisation

Checkout customisation is one of the most valuable Plus features. It can significantly improve conversion rates and average order value.

What You Can Customise

•Checkout branding: Full control over colours, fonts, and styling
•Checkout UI extensions: Add custom components like upsells, banners, and trust badges
•Post-purchase upsells: Show additional offers after payment but before thank you page
•Custom fields: Collect additional information like gift messages or delivery instructions
•Payment customisation: Reorder, rename, or hide payment methods based on conditions
•Delivery customisation: Offer date selection, time slots, or custom delivery options

Checkout Extensibility vs Scripts

Shopify is transitioning from checkout.liquid scripts to Checkout Extensibility. New Plus stores should use Extensibility. Existing stores using scripts should plan migration, though scripts remain supported for now.

Automation with Flow

Shopify Flow is an automation platform that can save hours of manual work daily. It uses triggers, conditions, and actions to create workflows.

High-Impact Workflows

Inventory management

Automatically tag products as "low stock" when inventory drops below threshold. Hide sold-out products from collections. Send reorder alerts to suppliers.

Customer segmentation

Tag customers based on behaviour: VIP after spending over £500, "at-risk" if no order in 90 days, "wholesale-interest" if they visit trade pages.

Fraud prevention

Flag orders for review based on risk indicators: mismatched billing/shipping, new customer high-value order, certain postcodes, etc.

Order routing

Route orders to different fulfilment locations based on SKU, customer location, or order value. Automatically split orders if needed.

Getting Started with Flow

Access Flow from Apps → Shopify Flow in your admin. Start with templates (pre-built workflows you can customise) before creating from scratch.

B2B Setup

If you're upgrading to Plus for B2B capabilities, plan your B2B implementation carefully.

B2B Configuration Steps

1
Enable B2B
Go to Settings → B2B and enable the feature. Choose whether to run blended (B2B and DTC together) or dedicated B2B store.
2
Create Price Lists
Set up wholesale pricing tiers. Use percentage discounts for simplicity or fixed prices for precise control.
3
Configure Payment Terms
Set default payment terms and determine which customers qualify for net 30, net 60, etc.
4
Set Up Companies
Create company accounts, add locations, and invite buyers. Assign price lists and payment terms to each location.

B2B Resources

For detailed B2B setup instructions, see our dedicated guides:

How to Set Up Shopify B2B →How to Create Wholesale Pricing →How to Set Up Trade Accounts →

Maximising Your Investment

To get the most from your Plus investment, use the features that directly impact revenue and efficiency.

Quick Wins After Upgrade

1.Implement checkout upsells: Can increase AOV by 10-15%
2.Set up Flow automations: Start with inventory alerts and customer tagging
3.Customise checkout branding: Match checkout to your brand for improved trust
4.Review transaction fees: Ensure you're on the best rate for your volume

Ongoing Optimisation

•Regularly review Flow automations and add new ones as you identify repetitive tasks
•Work with your Merchant Success Manager on growth strategies
•Attend Shopify Plus Academy sessions for new features
•Test checkout optimisations using A/B testing

How to Migrate to Shopify Plus