How Do I Close My Shopify Store? A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Your Options: Pause, Deactivate, or Close?
3. Key Considerations Before Closing Your Shopify Store
4. Step-by-Step Instructions on Closing Your Shopify Store
5. What Happens After You Close Your Shopify Store?
6. Exploring Alternatives to Closing Your Shopify Store
7. Conclusion

Introduction

Picture this: you’ve poured your heart and soul into your Shopify store, yet the passion for e-commerce has waned. Perhaps overwhelming responsibilities, personal commitments, or shifting interests have prompted you to consider closing your store. You are not alone. With millions of stores on Shopify, many store owners face this dilemma at some point in their journey.

In fact, a significant percentage of online businesses end up pausing or closing their stores yearly. This reality highlights how common it is for entrepreneurs to seek new paths, whether temporarily or permanently. For many, the decision to close originates from the desire to reevaluate strategies, pivot to new business models, or simply take a well-deserved break.

In this blog post, we will address the complexities and considerations involved in closing a Shopify store while underscoring the value of the Tevello app as a holistic solution for those who still want to engage with their audience through online courses and community selling when they return to e-commerce.

We are here to offer insights—if you’re thinking about deactivating your store, this guide will equip you with the essential steps you need to know, as well as explore alternatives to closing your Shopify store altogether. As we dig deeper, take a moment to reflect on your own Shopify experience; could now be the right time to close your store, or could you find new life by diversifying your approach?

By the end of this post, you will have a clear understanding of how to close your Shopify store and, importantly, how to make that process as smooth as possible.

Understanding Your Options: Pause, Deactivate, or Close?

Before diving into the technicalities of how to close your store, it’s essential to weigh your available options. Depending on your situation, partially stepping back from your business might suit you best.

1. Pause Your Shopify Account:
   • Ideal for store owners who want to take a break without losing access to their store.
   • You will switch to Shopify’s affordable "Pause and Build" plan at $9 per month, retaining your store's information while suspending sales.
2. Deactivate Your Shopify Store:
   • This option allows you to deactivate without permanently removing your store data.
   • You can reactivate your store within two years but will lose the unique myshopify.com domain associated with your account.
3. Permanently Close Your Store:
   • If you are certain you want to step away for good, you can cancel your Shopify store entirely.
   • This option will not only stop payments but also result in the losing your store name and URL.

Understanding these options will make the decision-making process clearer and print the right path suited to your circumstances. If we think about it, sometimes taking time off and evolving your approach can lead to fruitful opportunities.

Key Considerations Before Closing Your Shopify Store

There are several critical aspects to consider before making a definitive decision to close your Shopify store. Here’s an overview of actionable steps for ensuring that you make an informed choice:

Assess Your Current Store Situation

• Review Financial Obligations:
  • Settle any outstanding payments, including pending Shopify Payments payouts and outstanding third-party fees. You can refer to Understanding billing implications for more information.
• Customer Relations:
  • Consider how your existing customers will be affected. For those who have pending orders, outstanding gift cards, or active subscriptions, you should plan to resolve those before closing.

Maintained Store Data & Assets

Before permanently closing your store, it’s wise to back up important data and understand the implications if you wish to return to Shopify:

• Export Data:
  • Download CSV files containing customer, product, and order data for future reference.
• Custom Domain Management:
  • If your domain was purchased through Shopify, it may need to be transferred to maintain ownership, especially if you want to use it later for a new site.

Community Engagement

If you have successfully built a community around your brand, consider how closing your store will impact that community. Whenever we think about closing our stores, we miss out on the relationships we've built, not just the sales we've made.

Step-by-Step Instructions on Closing Your Shopify Store

Once you’ve made the decision and considered the implications, closing your Shopify store is a straightforward process. Here's how:

On Desktop

1. Login: Access your Shopify admin panel.
2. Settings: Navigate to Settings > Plan.
3. Select Option: Choose either to Cancel trial (if on a free trial) or Cancel plan (if on a paid plan).
4. Feedback: Provide a reason for your decision and, if you wish, leave a comment for feedback.
5. Confirmation: Enter your password when prompted and click Deactivate Store.

On Mobile (iPhone/Android)

1. Login: Open the Shopify app and log in as the store owner.
2. Settings: Tap … > Settings > Plan.
3. Select Option: Choose to Cancel trial or Cancel plan.
4. Feedback: Pick a reason for your closure and provide additional comments, if necessary.
5. Confirmation: Enter your password and confirm by tapping Save or ✓.

Once completed, you will receive an email confirmation of your store's closure. Your information will be stored for two years in case you change your mind and wish to reactivate it.

What Happens After You Close Your Shopify Store?

Data Retention Period

Even when closed, Shopify retains your data for two years. You can log back in, and your store's information will be intact. However, it's critical to understand that you cannot use the same myshopify.com domain or the store name again once you’ve deactivated the store.

Deleting Personal Customer Information

If you wish to delete all customer information before your store's closure, it is possible to request a deletion through Shopify Support. Though this removes sensitive business data, it is a vital step if privacy is a concern for you.

Exploring Alternatives to Closing Your Shopify Store

Before you take the plunge into closing your store, consider these alternatives that might allow you to rethink and rejuvenate your business model.

1. Switch Your Shopify Account Plan

If your current plan feels restrictive or overwhelming, consider switching. Shopify offers various subscription plans that cater to different needs and budgets. By going to Settings > Plan and reviewing the options, you might discover a plan better suited to your current capacity.

2. Utilize the Pause Feature

If you need a break, consider the Pause and Build plan, which allows you to temporarily halt your sales. You can still access your admin and work on developing your store, updated offerings, and new products while enjoying a significantly reduced monthly fee.

3. Explore Timely Automation

Automating certain Shopify processes can alleviate the day-to-day burden of managing your store. For example:

• Use apps like Tevello to create and manage online courses and communities. They serve as an all-in-one solution for engaging your audience even when your e-commerce store isn’t actively producing sales.

Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today and discover how we help merchants unlock new revenue streams effortlessly.

Conclusion

Deciding to close your Shopify store or explore other options isn’t a step to take lightly. Various factors—financial obligations, customer relations, and potential future ventures—come into play when making this critical decision.

Tevello believes in empowering Shopify merchants to explore all avenues before making such a significant transition. Our app aims to minimize reliance on external platforms by providing you with tools to create online courses and foster vibrant communities, ensuring even when you pause or deactivate your store, your audience remains engaged.

If you are feeling unsure or would like to take the next step in your e-commerce journey—whether it’s closing your store or exploring new opportunities—install the all-in-one course platform for Shopify today and unlock the potential of diversifying your revenue streams.

FAQ

1. How do I cancel my Shopify account?

To close your Shopify store, navigate to your store admin panel, select Settings > Plan, and then follow the prompts to deactivate your store.

2. Can I close my Shopify store anytime?

Yes, as long as you do not have outstanding debts to Shopify. Settle all bills before proceeding with the account closure.

3. Will I receive a refund after closing my store?

No, Shopify does not offer refunds for unused subscription fees after closure.

4. Can I open a new Shopify store with the same name afterward?

No, once you deactivate your store, you lose the myshopify.com domain associated with it, including the store name.

5. What happens to my customer data if I close my store?

Shopify retains your data for two years, but you can delete customer information permanently upon request.

Closing your Shopify store does not have to feel like an end; consider it a transition that opens doors to new possibilities.