Webflow to Shopify Migration Guide

Begin by exporting all available data from your Webflow site. Navigate to your Webflow dashboard and export your site code, then manually compile product information, customer data, and content into CSV files. Since Webflow doesn't have native ecommerce export tools, you'll need to manually extract product details, descriptions, images, and pricing from your Webflow CMS or ecommerce collections. Document all custom interactions, animations, and design elements that you want to preserve in the new Shopify store.

Create your Shopify account and select an appropriate plan based on your business needs. For most SMBs migrating from Webflow, the Basic Shopify plan ($29/month) provides sufficient features to start. Configure your store's basic settings including store name, address, currency, and time zone. Set up your admin user account and configure two-factor authentication for security. Review Shopify's transaction fees and payment processing costs to understand the total cost of ownership.

Browse Shopify's theme store and select a theme that closely matches your Webflow design aesthetic and functionality requirements. Consider themes with good mobile responsiveness, fast loading times, and built-in SEO features. Install your chosen theme and begin customization using Shopify's theme editor, adjusting colors, fonts, layout, and navigation to match your brand. Since you're coming from Webflow's design flexibility, focus on themes that offer extensive customization options or consider hiring a developer for custom modifications.

Create a CSV file following Shopify's product import format and upload your products using Shopify's bulk import tool. Pay special attention to Shopify's 100-variant limit per product - if your Webflow store had products with more variants, you'll need to restructure them as separate products or consolidate variants. Map your product categories to Shopify's collection system and ensure all product images are properly associated. Configure inventory tracking, SKUs, and product SEO settings during the import process.

Export customer information from Webflow (if available) and format it according to Shopify's customer import requirements. Create a CSV file with customer details including names, emails, addresses, and phone numbers. Import customers through Shopify's admin panel, ensuring GDPR compliance and proper data handling. Since Webflow doesn't typically store extensive customer purchase history, focus on importing contact information and basic preferences. Send welcome emails to existing customers informing them of the platform change and any new account requirements.

Set up Shopify Payments (if available in your region) or configure third-party payment gateways that you were using with Webflow. Enable multiple payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, and other region-specific options to maximize conversion rates. Configure payment settings including currency, tax-inclusive pricing, and automatic payment capture. Test all payment methods thoroughly in Shopify's test mode before going live. Review transaction fees and ensure they align with your business model and profit margins.

Configure shipping zones, rates, and methods based on your business requirements and previous Webflow setup. Create shipping profiles for different product types and set up calculated shipping rates using Shopify's built-in carriers or third-party shipping apps. Configure free shipping thresholds, local delivery options, and international shipping restrictions. Set up shipping notifications and tracking integration to keep customers informed. If you were using custom shipping solutions with Webflow, research Shopify apps that provide similar functionality.

Set up tax configurations for all regions where you sell products, ensuring compliance with local tax requirements. Configure automatic tax calculations using Shopify's built-in tax engine or integrate with specialized tax apps like TaxJar or Avalara for complex tax scenarios. Set up tax-inclusive or tax-exclusive pricing based on your target markets and previous Webflow configuration. Configure digital product taxes, VAT settings for EU customers, and sales tax for US states. Ensure tax reporting capabilities meet your accounting and compliance needs.

Manually recreate your key pages from Webflow including About Us, Contact, FAQ, and policy pages using Shopify's page editor. Copy content from your Webflow pages and adapt it to Shopify's content structure and formatting options. Set up your blog (if applicable) and migrate blog posts, ensuring proper formatting and image optimization. Create essential legal pages including privacy policy, terms of service, and return policy, updating them to reflect Shopify-specific elements like data processing and payment terms.

Create a comprehensive redirect map from your old Webflow URLs to corresponding Shopify URLs to maintain SEO value and prevent broken links. Use Shopify's built-in URL redirect feature or install a redirect app for more complex redirect scenarios. Set up 301 redirects for all product pages, collection pages, blog posts, and static pages. Test all redirects thoroughly and monitor for any missed URLs after launch. Consider implementing a catch-all redirect for any unmapped URLs to guide users to relevant pages.

Leverage Shopify's robust app ecosystem to replace functionality you had in Webflow and add new capabilities for easier store management. Install essential apps for email marketing, customer reviews, inventory management, analytics, and SEO optimization. Set up integrations with your existing tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, email marketing platforms, and accounting software. Configure apps for abandoned cart recovery, customer support, and social media integration to maximize your store's potential and take advantage of Shopify's ecosystem benefits.