Hire, contract or team
Shopify developers and experts for UK brands
You have three ways to get one: hire in-house, take on a contractor, or use a team. In the UK the salary isn't the real cost. Enter your numbers and compare them.
- In-house hire
- £5,318a monthSalary, 15% employer's National Insurance and the 3% minimum pension.Salary £55,000NI £7,500Pension £1,321a year
- Contractor
- £4,000a monthDays times rate. Check IR35 first.
- The Rolling Team
- From $3,500a monthIn US dollars, for one service. Grow from $9,000 and Full Team from $20,000 cover more.
Employment Allowance of up to £10,500 a year can cut the National Insurance if you qualify. Recruiting, equipment and holiday cover aren't included.
Rates from GOV.UK, read on 4 November 2026: employer rates 2026 to 2027 and workplace pensions.
Which one fits your store
We sell the third option, so here is where the first two are better.
| Hire in-house | Contractor | A team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A full week of Shopify work, every week | Fits well | Can work | Can work |
| One clear job with an end date | Poor fit | Fits well | Can work |
| The lowest cost for a small job | Poor fit | Fits well | Poor fit |
| Knowledge that stays in your company | Fits well | Poor fit | Can work |
| Design, development and growth together | Poor fit | Poor fit | Fits well |
| Nobody on your side to manage the work | Poor fit | Poor fit | Fits well |
| Cover when someone is away | Poor fit | Poor fit | Fits well |
What a Shopify developer does for your store
The job is wider than building a theme. These are the requests that come up most.
- Theme builds and changesNew sections, landing pages and redesigns in Liquid.
- Custom appsFor the one thing no app in the store does.
- Shopify Plus workCheckout extensions, Shopify Functions and several stores.
- Moving platformsProducts, customers, orders and every old address.
- Speed and conversionFewer apps, lighter pages and tests on what sells.
- Accessibility fixesBarriers fixed in the theme code, never with an overlay.
How this looks with a UK brand
The Dog Nutritionist came to us for priority support on its marketing plans. We design and build new product pages and calculators that fit the existing theme, run A/B tests, and talk with its team almost daily.
Who decides on IR35
The off-payroll rules apply when a worker provides services through their own company and would otherwise have been your employee.
- A contractor works through their own company
- Are you a small client outside the public sector?
- YesThe worker's company decides
- NoYou, the client, decide
- Check each contract. HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax tool helps, and your accountant knows your case.
The rules apply contract by contract, so one contractor can be inside them on one job and outside on another.
Read on GOV.UK on 4 November 2026. General information, not tax advice. Understanding off-payroll working
Six questions for any Shopify developer
- Where does the theme code live?
- It should sit in version control, in your own account, so nothing leaves with the developer.
- Who owns the work?
- You should own the code, the store and every app account from the first day.
- How do you test changes?
- Changes belong on a copy of the theme, never straight on the live store.
- Which apps would you remove?
- Each app adds weight to the page. A good developer has an opinion on yours.
- How do you handle VAT and the 14 day cancellation rule?
- UK stores need both set up properly. Our UK page has the sources.
- Who do I call when it breaks?
- Get a name and a reply time in writing, before you sign.
How working with us runs
- Step 1:
A free call
You say what the store needs. We say if we are the right fit.
- Step 2:
A price in writing
A fixed price for a project, or a monthly plan by scope.
- Step 3:
Weekly priorities
Set on Monday, with one person you talk to.
- Step 4:
You approve
You review on your schedule. Updates come on Slack and email.
UK developer questions, answered
What's the difference between a Shopify developer and a Shopify expert?
People use both words for the same job. A developer writes the code. Expert often means someone who also advises on design, apps and growth. Ask what they would do for your store, not what they call themselves.
Do I need a developer based in the UK?
Only if you want someone in the room. Shopify work is done online, so what matters is the overlap in working hours, how they communicate, and whether they know UK rules on VAT and cancellations.
How much does a Shopify developer cost in the UK?
It depends on the person and the job, so we don't quote a market rate. What we can show is the sum on top of a salary: 15% employer's National Insurance above £5,000 a year, and at least 3% pension on earnings from £6,240 to £50,270.
Are you based in the UK?
No. We are based in Varna and Sofia, Bulgaria, and work with UK brands remotely. Varna is 2 hours ahead of London all year.
Do you take one-off development jobs?
Yes, as fixed-price projects after a free call. Monthly work runs through The Rolling Team, from $3,500 a month by scope, not by the hour.
Do you work with UK brands now?
Yes. The Dog Nutritionist is our UK client. We design, develop and A/B test new pages for its store.
Talk to the people who would do the work
Tell us what your store needs. You get a straight answer on whether a team is right for it.