Before you remove the password and open your store to the world, run through this checklist. It's easy to miss small details when you're focused on the big picture—this will help you catch anything you've overlooked.
Products
- All products have clear, descriptive titles
- Product descriptions are complete and compelling
- Every product has at least one high-quality image
- Prices are correct (double-check decimal points)
- Variants are set up properly with correct prices and SKUs
- Inventory quantities are accurate if tracking is enabled
- Products are organized into collections
- No placeholder or test products are visible
Payments
- At least one payment provider is connected and active
- Payment provider is in live mode, not test mode
- You've verified your payout details with your payment provider
- Test transactions process successfully
- Refunds work correctly
Shipping
- Shipping zones cover all regions you sell to
- Shipping rates are reasonable and cover your costs
- Free shipping thresholds are set if offering free shipping
- Local pickup is configured if applicable
- Ship-from address is correct for rate calculations
- You've tested checkout with addresses in different zones
Taxes
- Tax collection is enabled for required jurisdictions
- Tax-exempt products are marked correctly
- Shipping tax settings match your obligations
- You've verified tax calculates correctly at checkout
Store design
- Logo is uploaded and displays correctly
- Favicon appears in browser tabs
- Homepage looks complete with no placeholder content
- Navigation menu links to the right pages
- Footer contains relevant links and information
- Colors and fonts are consistent throughout
- Store looks good on mobile devices
- All images load properly (no broken images)
Pages and content
- About page tells your story
- Contact page has accurate contact information
- FAQ page answers common questions (if applicable)
- No "Coming Soon" or placeholder pages are published
- All links work and go to the right destinations
- No spelling or grammar errors in visible content
Policies
- Privacy policy is complete and accurate
- Return and refund policy clearly states your terms
- Shipping policy sets realistic expectations
- Terms of service are in place
- Policies are linked from footer and accessible at checkout
- Policies reflect what you'll actually do (don't overpromise)
Checkout
- Checkout flow works from start to finish
- Guest checkout is enabled (unless you have a reason to require accounts)
- All form fields are working correctly
- Order confirmation page displays properly
- Express checkout options appear if configured (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Discount codes apply correctly if you're using them
Emails
- Order confirmation email sends and looks professional
- Shipping confirmation email includes tracking information
- Your store name and contact info appear correctly in emails
- Email "from" address is correct
- Links in emails work and point to the right places
- Emails aren't landing in spam folders
Domain and security
- Custom domain is connected (if using one)
- SSL certificate is active (padlock shows in browser)
- www and non-www versions both work
- Old domain redirects to new domain if migrating
Legal and compliance
- Business is properly registered if required in your jurisdiction
- Any required licenses for your products are in place
- Cookie consent banner is shown if required for your customers
- Age verification is configured for age-restricted products
- Product claims are truthful and substantiated
Operations
- You have packaging materials ready to ship orders
- Shipping labels can be printed (Fulfillment Bolt is set up)
- You know how to process and fulfill an order
- Customer support email is monitored
- You have a plan for handling returns
Analytics and tracking
- Google Analytics is connected if you want external analytics
- Facebook Pixel is installed if running Facebook ads
- Any other marketing pixels are properly configured
- CartOS dashboard is showing data correctly
Final tests
- Place a real test order and process it completely
- Test the full flow on a phone, not just desktop
- Have someone unfamiliar with your store try to buy something
- Check your store in multiple browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)
- Verify the store loads quickly (no major performance issues)
Ready to launch
Once you've checked everything above:
- Take a backup of your current configuration (export products, note settings)
- Go to Online Store › Preferences
- Disable password protection
- Your store is live
Congratulations—you're open for business. Now tell people about it.
After launch
Your first few orders are a learning experience. Pay attention to:
- Questions customers ask—they reveal gaps in your content
- Where people abandon checkout—it might indicate friction
- Actual shipping costs vs. what you're charging
- How long fulfillment actually takes
It's normal to make adjustments in the first few weeks. No launch is perfect, but this checklist gets you close.