Shopify development and Shopify Plus development are not the same thing.
A developer who can customize a basic Shopify theme might struggle with Plus checkout extensibility. A developer who's built standard stores might not understand multi-store architecture. A developer who's installed apps might not know how to build custom integrations.
Yet agencies and brands hire for "Shopify developers" as if it's one skillset. Then they're surprised when the developer can't handle Plus-level work.
Shopify Plus is a different game. It requires:
- Checkout customization (Script Editor, Functions, Checkout Extensibility)
- Multi-store management (expansion stores, B2B, international)
- Advanced integrations (ERP, PIM, OMS, custom APIs)
- Performance at scale (high-traffic, high-AOV, enterprise SLAs)
- B2B functionality (wholesale, net payment terms, custom pricing)
If you're hiring for Plus work, you need to vet for Plus skills. Not general Shopify knowledge. Not theme customization. Plus-specific expertise.
In this post, we'll break down:
- What makes Shopify Plus different from standard Shopify
- The specific skills to assess (and how to test them)
- Interview questions that reveal actual Plus experience
- Red flags that signal a developer isn't Plus-ready
- Salary and rate expectations for Plus-level talent
What Makes Shopify Plus Different?
Before you hire, understand what you're actually hiring for.
Standard Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: Key Differences
|
Feature |
Standard Shopify |
Shopify Plus |
|
Checkout customization |
Limited to Liquid edits |
Full extensibility (Functions, Scripts, API) |
|
Multi-store |
One store per account |
Up to 10 expansion stores included |
|
B2B functionality |
Requires third-party apps |
Native B2B on Shopify Plus |
|
API rate limits |
Standard limits |
4x higher limits |
|
Wholesale channel |
Third-party apps only |
Native wholesale channel |
|
Checkout branding |
Basic customization |
Full branding control |
|
Dedicated support |
Standard support |
Merchant Success Program |
|
Launchpad |
Not available |
Automated flash sales, product drops |
|
Flow |
Not available |
Automated workflows (tags, emails, tasks) |
|
Price |
$29–$299/month |
Starting at $2,300/month |
Why this matters for hiring: A developer who's only worked on standard Shopify stores will encounter Plus features they've never seen. By then, it's too late to learn on the client's dime.
The 5 Core Skills Every Shopify Plus Developer Needs
Don't hire for "Shopify experience." Hire for these five specific competencies.
1. Checkout Extensibility
What it is: Customizing the checkout experience beyond basic Liquid edits.
Why it matters: Plus merchants pay $2,300+/month specifically for checkout control. Your developer needs to use it.
Skills to assess:
|
Skill |
How to Test |
|
Shopify Functions |
Ask: "Walk me through building a custom discount function." |
|
Script Editor (legacy) |
Ask: "How do you migrate Scripts to Functions?" |
|
Checkout UI extensions |
Live task: Build a custom checkout field using React. |
|
Payment customization |
Ask: "How would you hide payment methods based on cart value?" |
Red flags:
- Can't explain the difference between Scripts and Functions
- Hasn't built a UI extension before
- Thinks checkout.liquid is still the primary method (it's long gone)
2. Multi-Store Architecture
What it is: Managing multiple stores under one Plus account (expansion stores, international, B2B).
Why it matters: Plus merchants often have 3–10 stores. Your developer needs to understand synchronization, theming, and deployment across stores.
Skills to assess:
|
Skill |
How to Test |
|
Expansion store setup |
Ask: "How do you clone and customize an expansion store?" |
|
Theme synchronization |
Ask: "How do you deploy theme changes across 5 stores?" |
|
International pricing |
Ask: "How do you handle multi-currency pricing?" |
|
B2B store configuration |
Ask: "Walk me through setting up a wholesale store." |
Red flags:
- Has only worked on single-store setups
- Doesn't know about Shopify's organization admin
- Thinks each store needs a separate theme codebase
3. Advanced Integrations
What it is: Connecting Shopify Plus to enterprise systems (ERP, PIM, OMS, CRM).
Why it matters: Plus merchants aren't small DTC brands. They're enterprises with complex tech stacks.
Skills to assess:
|
Skill |
How to Test |
|
ERP integration |
Ask: "Describe an ERP integration you've built (NetSuite, SAP, etc.)." |
|
Custom API development |
Live task: Build a webhook listener that syncs orders to an external system. |
|
Third-party platform experience |
Ask: "What's the most complex app integration you've done?" |
|
Data migration |
Ask: "How do you migrate 100K+ products from Magento to Shopify?" |
Red flags:
- Only integrated basic apps (Klaviyo, Yotpo, Recharge)
- Hasn't worked with enterprise systems
- Can't explain webhook limitations and retry logic
4. Performance at Scale
What it is: Optimizing stores for high traffic, high AOV, and enterprise SLAs.
Why it matters: Plus merchants do millions in revenue. Slow stores cost them six figures.
Skills to assess:
|
Skill |
How to Test |
|
PageSpeed optimization |
Ask: "This store scores 45 on PageSpeed. How do you improve it?" |
|
Liquid performance |
Ask: "What Liquid patterns cause performance issues?" |
|
CDN and caching |
Ask: "How do you configure CDN for Shopify?" |
|
App bloat management |
Ask: "How do you audit and remove unnecessary apps?" |
Red flags:
- Can't name specific PageSpeed improvements
- Doesn't know about Liquid loop limitations
- Thinks more apps = more functionality (without performance cost)
5. B2B and Wholesale Functionality
What it is: Building wholesale experiences on Shopify Plus (native B2B or custom).
Why it matters: B2B is one of the fastest-growing Plus use cases. Your developer needs to understand it.
Skills to assess:
|
Skill |
How to Test |
|
Native B2B features |
Ask: "What B2B features are native to Plus?" |
|
Wholesale channel setup |
Ask: "Walk me through configuring wholesale pricing." |
|
Custom pricing logic |
Ask: "How would you build tiered pricing for different customer groups?" |
|
Net payment terms |
Ask: "How do you configure net-30/60 payment terms?" |
Red flags:
- Has only built B2C stores
- Doesn't know about Shopify's native B2B features
- Thinks B2B requires a separate platform
Interview Questions That Reveal Actual Plus Experience
Don't ask generic questions. Ask questions that only someone with Plus experience can answer.
Technical Questions
|
Question |
What a Strong Answer Sounds Like |
Red Flag Answer |
|
"What's the difference between Shopify Scripts and Functions?" |
"Scripts are Ruby-based, run server-side, being deprecated. Functions are JavaScript/Wasm, more flexible, the future." |
"They're the same thing." or "I haven't used either." |
|
"How do you handle checkout customization on Plus?" |
"Checkout UI extensions with React, custom fields, Functions for discounts/shipping." |
"I edit checkout.liquid." (deprecated) |
|
"Describe a multi-store project you've worked on." |
Specific example with expansion stores, synchronization approach, deployment process. |
"I've only worked on single stores." |
|
"What's your approach to ERP integration?" |
Names specific ERPs, explains webhook usage, discusses data sync challenges. |
"I've used Zapier for integrations." |
|
"How do you optimize a slow Shopify store?" |
Specific tactics: image optimization, Liquid efficiency, app audit, CDN configuration. |
"I install a speed app." |
Scenario Questions
|
Scenario |
What to Listen For |
|
"A Plus merchant wants custom checkout fields for B2B customers. How do you build this?" |
Checkout UI extensions, customer tagging, conditional logic |
|
"A client wants to migrate from Magento to Shopify Plus with 50K products. What's your approach?" |
Data mapping, migration tools, testing strategy, phased rollout |
|
"A store is experiencing timeouts during flash sales. How do you diagnose and fix?" |
App audit, Liquid optimization, CDN, caching, infrastructure review |
|
"A B2B client needs tiered pricing for different wholesale groups. How do you configure this?" |
Native B2B features, customer groups, price lists, or custom solution |
Behavioral Questions
|
Question |
What It Reveals |
|
"Tell me about a Plus project that went wrong. What happened?" |
Honesty, problem-solving, lessons learned |
|
"How do you stay updated on Plus features?" |
Continuous learning, community involvement, documentation habits |
|
"Describe a time you pushed back on a client's Plus request. Why?" |
Technical judgment, client communication, best practices advocacy |
Red Flags That Signal a Developer Isn't Plus-Ready
Watch for these warning signs during the interview process.
Resume Red Flags
|
Red Flag |
What It Means |
|
No Plus-specific projects listed |
They may not have actual Plus experience |
|
Only theme customization, no app/integration work |
Limited to frontend, not full-stack Plus work |
|
Short tenures (6 months or less) at multiple agencies |
Possible performance or reliability issues |
|
No live store links in portfolio |
Can't verify claimed work |
Interview Red Flags
|
Red Flag |
What It Means |
|
Can't explain Scripts vs. Functions |
Outdated knowledge, hasn't kept up with Plus |
|
Says checkout.liquid is the way to customize checkout |
Deprecated approach, not current with Plus |
|
Hasn't worked with enterprise systems (ERP, PIM, OMS) |
Not ready for Plus-level integrations |
|
Can't describe a multi-store project |
Only single-store experience |
|
Blames clients or agencies for past project failures |
Accountability issues |
Technical Test Red Flags
|
Red Flag |
What It Means |
|
Code works but ignores Shopify conventions |
Doesn't follow best practices |
|
Hardcoded values instead of theme settings |
Not thinking about merchant usability |
|
No error handling in custom code |
Production code will break |
|
Can't explain their own code decisions |
May have copied from elsewhere |
When to Hire vs. When to Partner for Plus Work
Not every Plus need requires a full-time hire.
Hire Full-Time When:
|
Scenario |
Why |
|
You have ongoing Plus work (12+ months) |
ROI justifies full-time salary |
|
Plus development is core to your business |
You're building competitive advantage |
|
You need deep institutional knowledge |
Developer will own architecture long-term |
|
You have HR/ops infrastructure |
Someone can handle employment compliance |
Partner When:
|
Scenario |
Why |
|
Project-based Plus work (3–12 months) |
No need for permanent headcount |
|
You need Plus expertise temporarily |
Specialized skills for specific project |
|
You want to test Plus work before committing |
Lower risk than full-time hire |
|
You lack HR infrastructure for international hiring |
Partner handles employment compliance |
A Vetting Framework for Shopify Plus Developers
Use this scorecard to evaluate Plus candidates systematically.
Technical Skills (40% weight)
|
Criteria |
Score (1–5) |
Notes |
|
Checkout extensibility (Functions, UI extensions) |
||
|
Multi-store architecture |
||
|
Advanced integrations (ERP, APIs, webhooks) |
||
|
Performance optimization |
||
|
B2B/wholesale functionality |
Communication (20% weight)
|
Criteria |
Score (1–5) |
Notes |
|
English fluency (written) |
||
|
English fluency (verbal) |
||
|
Client communication experience |
||
|
Documentation habits |
Collaboration (20% weight)
|
Criteria |
Score (1–5) |
Notes |
|
Receptiveness to feedback |
||
|
Teamwork mindset |
||
|
Code review participation |
||
|
Ego management |
Reliability (20% weight)
|
Criteria |
Score (1–5) |
Notes |
|
Reference check results |
||
|
Portfolio quality and verification |
||
|
Interview punctuality and preparation |
||
|
Role stability (tenure at previous positions) |
Scoring:
- 80–100: Strong yes, move fast
- 60–79: Yes with conditions (training, mentorship)
- Below 60: No, keep looking
Shopify Plus developers are not interchangeable with standard Shopify developers. They require specific skills, specific experience, and specific vetting.
Here's what matters most:
- Vet for Plus-specific skills. Checkout extensibility, multi-store, integrations, performance, B2B.
- Ask scenario-based questions. Generic questions reveal generic experience.
- Verify portfolio claims. Live store links, reference calls, code reviews.
- Pay for expertise. Plus developers cost more — but prevent far more in mistakes.
- Choose the right model. Full-time hire for ongoing work. Partner for project-based needs.
The developers you hire will shape your Plus capabilities for years. Investing in thorough vetting isn't optional. It's the difference between winning enterprise work and losing it.
Let Us Handle Developer Hiring for You
If you'd rather skip the vetting process entirely, we can help.
SuperBuilt specializes in embedded Shopify Plus developers from the Balkans. All developers are:
- Vetted for Plus-specific skills (Functions, multi-store, B2B, integrations)
- Fluent in English (tested, not self-reported)
- Experienced with agency workflows (standups, PRs, sprint planning)
- Backed by a 30-day no-risk guarantee
You manage the work and we handle the rest.
Book a Free Consultation Call to discuss your Plus hiring needs and whether we're a good fit.
