Shopify partners are the engine behind some of the world’s most successful commerce stories. Every day, you help merchants build, launch, and scale their businesses. But selling is never simple—especially in a fast-moving market. That’s why we’re investing in new tools and training to help you sell faster, deliver value sooner, and win more deals.
In a recent fireside chat with Shopify Partnership leaders, Morghan Golofaro and Linda Hoffmann, we unpacked what’s new, what’s changing, and how you can take advantage.
Key takeaways from the fireside chat
- Shopify is doubling down on partner success: We’ve rolled out new sales tools and educational resources designed to help you close deals and deliver results for merchants—faster than ever before.
- The right approach for every deal: Not every merchant opportunity is the same. Learn when to sell and launch on your own using new development store functionality and when to leverage Shopify sales expertise to maximize your opportunity.
- New capabilities for selling Shopify Plus: The new Plus Development Store functionality in Partner Dashboard gives you full control over the entire sales process, from discovery all the way through launch. Build real solutions, demo advanced features, and give merchants a taste of what’s possible on Shopify Plus immediately from Partner Dashboard.
- Training built for real-world selling: We’re here to help you sell better and faster. Now available in Shopify Academy, new courses are ready to help you sell more.
Take full control with Plus Development Stores
Now available for merchants on Shopify Plus plans, our development store functionality puts you in the driver’s seat. For the first time, you can manage the entire Shopify Plus sales journey—from discovery to launch—directly from your Partner Dashboard.
In the past, selling Shopify Plus meant going through our sales team. Now, you have the power to sell Plus directly, keeping full control of the merchant relationship at every step. If you own the client relationship and don’t need extra support, you can move fast and close the deal yourself. Merchants get up and running on Plus sooner, which means they see results (and ROI) faster.
This change strengthens your role as the merchant’s primary Shopify advisor—not just their implementer. You become the go-to expert for their entire Plus journey.
And there’s a tangible reward: you now earn a higher commission rate. When you use Plus Development Stores, you receive 20% of monthly billed platform fees, including variable platform fees (VPF). More control, less friction, and more revenue in your pocket.
Learn more about how to build and transfer a Plus Development Store in the updated course from Shopify Academy, Developing on Shopify.
Understand when to sell independently or with Shopify Sales Assistance
Not every opportunity is the same. Sometimes, teaming up with Shopify’s sales team is the best way to win. Other times, you can move faster and more efficiently by selling and building on your own. Knowing when to co-sell versus when to sell independently is key to realizing faster sales—and now, there’s a course for that.
In our course, Selling Shopify, you’ll learn when to bring in Shopify’s sales team and when to run with the deal yourself, how to qualify deals and set expectations with merchants, and best practices for using a Plus Development Store to demo, solution, and close.
The fastest path to value isn’t always obvious. This course helps you pick the right strategy, save time, and win more often.
Continuing our investment in a partner-powered future
Shopify’s mission is to make commerce better for everyone. That starts with empowering our partners. When you succeed, merchants succeed—and so do we. These new tools and courses are just the beginning. We’re committed to giving you what you need to grow your business, serve your clients, and stay ahead of the curve.
Watch the Fireside Chat
Want the full story? Watch the fireside chat for a candid conversation about what’s new, what’s next, and how you can make the most of Shopify’s partner ecosystem.
Ready to sell faster and deliver more value?
Start building a Plus Development Store