How to Choose the Right Shopify Partner? What Shopify Plus Partner Status Tells You

Brancoy is now an official Shopify Plus Partner. We achieved this status during 2024/2025 through proven experience and the expertise of our team. But what does this actually mean for you when choosing a Shopify partner?

In this article, we explain why Plus Partner status is one of the most important quality indicators when choosing a partner, and what it practically means for your project.

Why is choosing the right partner critical?

The success of a Shopify project depends on many factors: technical expertise, experience, processes, and the ability to understand your business goals. Choosing the wrong partner can lead to schedule and budget overruns, technical issues and slowed growth, lack of post-launch support, or solutions that do not scale with your business.

The right partner, on the other hand, helps you avoid common pitfalls, execute the project efficiently, and ensure that your online store is ready to grow.

What does Shopify Plus Partner status mean?

Shopify Plus Partner is an official certification granted by Shopify to partners who meet strict criteria. It is the second level in Shopify’s five-tier partner program (Registered, Select, Plus, Premier, Platinum).

Unlike self-proclaimed “experts,” Plus Partner status is Shopify’s verified proof of expertise and experience. At Brancoy, this status was achieved through proven project experience and continuous development of our team’s skills. We are not beginners, but a partner that has worked with Shopify for years.

Brancoy in numbers:

• 4+ years of Shopify experience

• 100+ completed projects

• 50+ successful platform migrations

• A team of 12 experts

• 10+ Shopify Verified Skills certifications

What are the requirements for the status – and why should you care?

1. Proven commercial experience

A Plus Partner must meet one of the following requirements:

• USD 500,000 in annual revenue from Shopify-referred customers

• USD 2.5 million in revenue from existing client accounts

What does this mean for you? The partner has delivered a significant number of successful projects. They are not a beginner, but an operator with proven experience in launching and scaling online stores.

Brancoy’s experience: We have delivered over 100 completed Shopify projects and more than 50 migrations from different platforms (WooCommerce, Magento, MyCashflow, Vilkas, Confirma, Odoo) to Shopify. Our experience spans both fast DTC launches and complex B2B integrations.

2. Experience with different types of projects

The partner must have delivered:

• At least 2 Shopify Plus or Enterprise stores or

• At least 40 Shopify Standard stores within the past five years

What does this mean for you? The partner has experience with both large, complex projects and smaller, agile implementations. They understand the needs of businesses of different sizes and know how to scale solutions accordingly.

3. Certified expertise

The partner’s team must have:

• A total of 10 Shopify Verified Skills certifications

• At least 3 individuals holding these certifications

What does this mean for you? Expertise is not concentrated in a single individual. Multiple team members have Shopify’s officially certified skills, which reduces project risk and ensures expert service throughout the project.

Brancoy’s team: We have a team of 12, with several members holding Shopify Verified Skills certifications. This means your project is always handled by multiple experts, and you are not dependent on a single person.

What are the concrete benefits of a Plus Partner?

1. Direct access to Shopify experts

Plus Partners have:

• A dedicated Partner Development Manager at Shopify – a personal contact who supports strategy and problem-solving

• Access to the Partner Solutions Engineers team – Shopify’s technical experts for consultation

Practical benefit: If a technical challenge arises or fast answers are needed regarding Shopify features, your partner can get direct support from Shopify. This means faster solutions and fewer dead ends.

Brancoy’s experience: We have a direct connection to Shopify’s Partner Development Manager, which has enabled rapid support for complex B2B integrations and the use of Plus features. When our clients need solutions quickly, we can escalate directly to Shopify’s experts.

2. Up-to-date knowledge and best practices

Plus Partners receive:

• First-hand information about new features and updates

• Ongoing training and access to Shopify’s resources

• Insight into upcoming changes and trends

Practical benefit: Your online store is built according to the latest standards, not outdated practices. You also receive guidance on how new features can benefit your business.

Brancoy’s expertise: Our team holds over 10 Shopify Verified Skills certifications, and we continuously keep our knowledge up to date. This means that when Shopify launches new features (such as the latest AI tools or enhanced B2B functionality), we can immediately assess their value and implement them for our clients.

3. Proven project management and processes

The project volume required for the status indicates that the partner has:

• Functional project management processes

• Experience managing schedules and budgets

• An understanding of common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Practical benefit: Lower risk of project failure, more realistic timelines and budgets, and a more predictable delivery.

Brancoy’s approach: We have developed a tested project process through dozens of Shopify implementations. We know which phases are critical, where challenges typically arise, and how to ensure projects progress as planned. Our clients receive regular progress reports and a clear understanding of project status.

4. Broader network and resources

Plus Partners have access to:

• Partner Solution Accelerators (ready-made integrations and solutions)

• A broader partner network

• Marketing Development Funds

Practical benefit: The partner can leverage ready-made solutions to speed up delivery and reduce costs, and bring in specialized experts when needed.

Why we chose the Plus Partner path – and what it means for collaboration

Achieving Shopify Plus Partner status was a strategic decision for Brancoy. We wanted to ensure we have the best possible resources and support to deliver truly high-quality Shopify implementations for our clients.

What does this mean in practice?

Deeper Shopify expertise: Our team has comprehensive knowledge of the Shopify ecosystem, from basic stores to complex Plus and Enterprise implementations. Plus Partner status required proven experience across dozens of successful projects—and that expertise is now available to you.

AI-driven solutions: We combine design, data, and Shopify to create scalable commerce experiences guided by AI-driven insights. We conduct continuous audits and AI-supported analysis that turn performance and behavioral data into clear insights and decisions.

Closer collaboration with Shopify: We are not just an external vendor—we have a direct line to Shopify’s development and support resources. This results in faster solutions, deeper technological understanding, and the ability to anticipate upcoming changes.

Long-term commitment: Maintaining Plus Partner status requires continuous investment in training, projects, and skill development. It is a sign that we are committed to the Shopify ecosystem for the long term—we haven’t just “tried” the platform.

Broader network and tools: We can utilize Shopify’s Partner Solution Accelerator solutions to speed up implementations and reduce costs, and leverage Shopify’s marketing support for co-marketing initiatives.

Concrete examples of Brancoy projects

We have successfully delivered both fast SMB launches and complex B2B online stores with ERP integrations, inventory management, and customized checkout flows. Earning Plus Partner status required proven experience across all of these scenarios.

Real projects:

• Beamhill – Comprehensive design and migration to Shopify (2025)

• Skogsverket – Complex migration and custom HI Engine integration (2025)

• RATIA – Design-driven e-commerce solution for a Finnish fashion brand (2025)

• Aarni – WooCommerce to Shopify migration that significantly improved performance and workflows (2025)

Our clients benefit from over four years of Shopify experience and expertise in:

• Fast “time-to-market” launches for smaller brands

• Building complex technical integrations for large enterprises

• Migrating legacy platforms to Shopify (WooCommerce, Magento, MyCashflow, Vilkas, Confirma, Odoo)

• Headless commerce solutions

• B2B and B2C hybrid stores and Shopify POS solutions

Summary: Why Plus Partner status is an important quality marker

Shopify Plus Partner status is not just a logo on a website. It is:

• Shopify’s official validation of a partner’s expertise and experience

• Proof of significant project experience: dozens of implemented online stores

• A guarantee of certified expertise: multiple Shopify-certified professionals on the team

• Access to Shopify support and resources: faster solutions and better support

• Reduced project risk: proven processes and experience

When choosing a Shopify partner, Plus Partner status is one of the most objective ways to assess a partner’s reliability and expertise. It is not the only criterion, but it is an excellent starting point for identifying trustworthy partners.

Ready to start your Shopify project? Book a free consultation or view our projects