Shopify scope of work template (for agencies)
If you’re a Shopify agency, you already have templates.
Scoping a specific project? Jump to the Store Build Scope, Migration Scope, or Retainer Scope.
So why does scoping still take forever?
Because the time isn’t lost to formatting. It’s lost to assembly:
- deciding what’s included for this client
- removing sections that don’t apply
- recalculating hours/pricing
- making exclusions explicit (so scope creep doesn’t eat margin)
RuleDox is built for this exact problem. It assembles Shopify scopes inside Google Docs—calculating hours, pricing, and conditional sections from rules—so your team starts with a scope that’s ~95% done, then tweaks what’s unique.
Assemble a scope in Google Docs → https://ruledox.app/live-demo
Who this template is for
- Shopify agencies selling repeatable services (store builds, migrations, theme work, retainers)
- Teams scoping in Google Docs today
- Founder/operator-led shops where scoping lives in one person’s head (and delegation is risky)
A good Shopify scope of work should make these five things unambiguous:
- Deliverables (what you will ship)
- Exclusions (what you will not do)
- Assumptions (what must be true for the plan to work)
- Responsibilities (who owns what)
- Change rules (what triggers a change request)
If those five are clear, the rest is details.
Use this as a starting structure. Remove sections you don’t offer.
- Overview
- Project context and goals
- What success looks like
- Primary deliverables (in scope)
- What you will deliver (explicit list)
- Out of scope (exclusions)
- What is specifically not included
- Assumptions
- What you are assuming about the client, assets, access, timelines
- Timeline & milestones
- Phases and checkpoints
- Roles & responsibilities
- Agency responsibilities
- Client responsibilities
- Quality assurance (QA) and acceptance
- What you will test
- What the client must review/approve
- Launch plan (if applicable)
- Cutover steps
- Rollback approach
- Post-launch monitoring window
- Post-launch support (if applicable)
- Hypercare period
- Ongoing support boundaries
- Change request process
- What triggers a change
- How changes are scoped and approved
The Shopify variables that determine 90% of scope
These are the decision points that make your scope predictable.
Include them explicitly (or embed them into a form/intake) so your scope can be assembled consistently:
1) Project type
- New build
- Redesign
- Migration
2) Theme approach
- Off-the-shelf theme + customization
- Custom theme build
3) Catalog complexity
- SKU count
- Variants/options
- Bundles/kit logic
4) Markets
- single-market vs multi-currency/multi-language
5) Integrations & operations
- shipping rules
- subscriptions
- reviews
- ERP/WMS/3PL
6) B2B / wholesale
- yes/no and depth of requirements
7) POS
- yes/no (locations/hardware/training)
8) Implementation mode
- do you implement changes, or provide recommendations?
If you want the full checklist:
- Shopify scope variables: https://ruledox.app/content/shopify/scope-variables-checklist
Common Shopify scoping mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Mistake 1: “We’ll handle integrations” with no definition
Fix: name the systems, describe workflows, and state testing/rollout responsibilities.
Mistake 2: Exclusions are implied
Fix: exclusions should be a first-class section, not a footnote.
Mistake 3: Hours/pricing live outside the doc
Fix: if the doc doesn’t reflect the logic, scopes drift as soon as a new person scopes.
Mistake 4: Delegating scoping without a system
Fix: if a junior can’t scope safely, the process isn’t a process.
How RuleDox helps
Templates help you start.
RuleDox helps you assemble:
- define inputs once
- encode hours/pricing logic as rules (if you use it)
- include/exclude sections automatically
- generate a mostly complete Google Doc scope
Assemble a scope in Google Docs → https://ruledox.app/live-demo
Related Shopify scope templates
- Store build scope: https://ruledox.app/content/shopify/shopify-store-build-scope-of-work
- Migration scope: https://ruledox.app/content/shopify/shopify-migration-scope-of-work
- Theme customization scope: https://ruledox.app/content/shopify/shopify-theme-customization-scope
- Retainer scope: https://ruledox.app/content/shopify/shopify-retainer-scope
FAQ
Is a scope of work the same as a statement of work (SOW)?
People use “SOW” to mean both. In practice, agencies use a scope/SOW to make deliverables, exclusions, and responsibilities clear. The key is not the label—it’s whether the scope is specific enough to prevent misunderstandings.
We already have Shopify templates. Why do we need anything else?
Templates still require manual assembly: copying sections, recalculating hours/pricing, and re-deciding inclusions each time. RuleDox applies rules so scopes assemble from inputs.
Is RuleDox a proposal tool like PandaDoc or Proposify?
No. Proposal tools focus on sending, approvals, and signatures. RuleDox focuses on assembling the scope inside Google Docs before you send it.
Is this a Shopify development proposal template?
It can be.
A typical Shopify development proposal template includes a scope section, timeline, responsibilities, and commercial terms.
This page focuses on the scope component (deliverables, exclusions, acceptance, and change rules) because that’s what prevents misunderstandings and margin leakage. You can attach it to your proposal—or use it as the scope section inside your proposal doc.
Do you have a Shopify agency proposal template?
If you’re searching for a Shopify agency proposal template, what you usually need is a proposal plus a project scope that’s specific enough to be enforceable.
Use this page as your scope section, then add your commercial terms (pricing, payment schedule, legal terms) around it.
This same structure also works as the scope section inside a broader web design proposal template—the key is making deliverables, exclusions, and acceptance testable.
Is this also a Shopify project scope template?
Yes—this is a Shopify project scope template designed for agencies. It’s written to be copied into Google Docs and adapted based on inputs (project type, markets, integrations, B2B, etc.).