How Do I Put My Shopify Store on Hold? A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Pause and Build Plan
3. When to Consider Pausing Your Store
4. How to Pause Your Shopify Store
5. Important Considerations Before Pausing
6. Managing Your Store While on Pause
7. Restarting Your Shopify Store
8. Conclusion

Introduction

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with the daily operations of your Shopify store? Whether it's managing orders, responding to customer inquiries, or keeping your inventory up to date, the strain can sometimes be too much. According to recent trends, over 40% of small business owners feel the pressure of running their e-commerce operations, particularly during peak seasons. As online merchants, we may find ourselves in need of a breather—time to recharge, revamp our stores, or simply catch up on orders.

If you've been asking yourself how do I put my Shopify store on hold, you're not alone. Thankfully, Shopify offers a valuable option known as the "Pause and Build" plan, which allows store owners to temporarily stop selling without losing access to their store’s features. In this post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of putting your Shopify store on hold, why it may be beneficial for you, and how it can align with your business goals.

At Tevello, we believe that empowering Shopify merchants means providing a seamless solution for diversifying revenue streams and building meaningful connections with our audiences. By putting your store on hold at the right time, you can position yourself to create and manage online courses, digital products, and even foster vibrant communities—all within your Shopify ecosystem.

This blog post is designed to give you a comprehensive and practical understanding of how to manage your Shopify store during a pause, allowing you to make informed decisions that align with your business strategy. By the end of this article, you’ll have clear guidance on leveraging Shopify’s Pause and Build plan effectively and strategically.

Understanding the Pause and Build Plan

To grasp the implications of putting your Shopify store on hold, it's essential first to understand the Pause and Build plan itself. This feature allows merchants to temporarily disable the checkout function while keeping the rest of the store fully accessible. Here’s what you need to know:

Key Features of the Pause and Build Plan:

• Reduced Subscription Fee: While the regular Shopify plans can be costly, the Pause and Build plan typically costs about $9 per month. This significantly reduces your operational costs during periods when you may not want to actively sell.
• Active Storefront: Your website remains live, and customers can still browse your products, engage with your content, and see what you have to offer, albeit without the ability to purchase.
• Admin Access: You maintain full access to the Shopify admin panel, which allows you to continue managing your products, work on marketing strategies, and leverage valuable analytics.
• Abandoned Cart Recovery is Disabled: During the pause, features like abandoned cart recovery will not function. However, you can still send draft order invoices to customers if necessary.

Understanding these aspects equips you to make an informed decision about whether putting your Shopify store on hold aligns with your needs.

When to Consider Pausing Your Store

There are many scenarios where it would make sense to put your Shopify store on hold. Here are some common reasons:

Seasonal Breaks

If your business peaks during specific times of the year—like holidays or particular seasons—considering a pause during the off-season can save you money. Using the Pause and Build plan allows you to skip the higher fees associated with active selling while preparing for the next busy period.

Website Revisions

If you’re redesigning your website or making essential changes to the products or services you offer, putting your store on hold allows you to work on these improvements without customers encountering an incomplete or confusing site.

Fulfillment Challenges

Perhaps you’ve received a sudden surge of orders, or your suppliers have experienced shipping delays. Pausing your store gives you the breathing room needed to fulfill existing orders and get your inventory back on track.

Personal Time

Every entrepreneur deserves a break. If life has thrown you a curveball or you simply need a vacation, putting your store on hold ensures you can step back without the constant stress of managing orders and customer service.

Preparing for an Expansive Future

Sometimes the best way to grow is to pause and strategize your next steps. With Tevello’s robust features, including the ability to create and market online courses directly through your Shopify store, this downtime can be the perfect opportunity to think about the future of your business.

How to Pause Your Shopify Store

Now that we have established the benefits of putting your Shopify store on hold, let’s look at how to do it. Follow these detailed steps to smoothly transition to the Pause and Build plan:

Step-by-Step Guide to Pausing Your Store

1. Log into Your Shopify Admin: Start by logging into your Shopify account as the store owner.
2. Navigate to Plan Settings: Click on your Settings, and select Plan. Ensure your current plan is eligible for the Pause and Build option (you must have been on a paid plan for at least 60 days).
3. Deactivate Your Store: You will find an option to deactivate the store. Click on it to proceed.
4. Select the “Pause and Build” Plan: Choose the Pause and Build option from the dropdown.
5. Review and Confirm: Shopify will summarize the features included in this plan. Make sure you read through them, and then hit the confirmation button to finalize your choice.

By following these steps, you can seamlessly transition to the Pause and Build plan, reducing your subscription costs while still maintaining access to your store. For those eager to explore the benefits of the Pause and Build plan further, start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today and discover how you can revolutionize your store's offerings.

Important Considerations Before Pausing

While pausing your store can be a wise decision, there are several key factors to consider to ensure a smooth transition:

Current Plan Eligibility

Ensure that you understand the requirements for the Pause and Build plan. If you are still within your free trial period or using a Shopify Plus account, this option will not be available to you.

Communication with Customers

Keep your customers informed about your decision to pause. Include a notice on your site, such as a banner that states your store is temporarily closed for renovations or improvements. Transparency can help maintain trust in your brand.

Visibility Settings

If you prefer your store to be completely offline during the pause, consider enabling password protection. This option hides all store content from the public, allowing you to keep everything private while you work on necessary improvements.

App Management

Be prudent about any paid apps you are using. Even while your store is paused, most apps continue to bill you unless you uninstall them. Review your app subscriptions to cancel unnecessary ones during this period.

Order Fulfillment

Make sure to address all pending orders before pausing. Communicate any deadlines to your customers so they remain informed and their expectations are appropriately managed.

Managing Your Store While on Pause

One of the significant perks of Shopify's Pause and Build plan is that you retain access to your store’s backend while it is paused. This allows you to focus on several crucial areas:

Optimize Your Store’s SEO

Use this time to improve your store’s SEO performance. Research new keywords, update product descriptions, and optimize your images to improve your chances of being discovered when you reactivate your store.

Review Store Analytics

Take a deep dive into your store’s data and performance analytics. By analyzing historical performance, you can identify trends that will help you refine your marketing strategy once you reopen.

Create New Digital Products

With our Tevello features, this is an opportune moment to explore creating online courses or digital products that can supplement your income. Not only will this help build engagement and community, but it could also expand your revenue streams significantly. Explore our powerful, all-in-one feature set for course creation, communities, and digital products, and see how Tevello can elevate your e-commerce experience.

Reassess Your Business Strategy

Strategize your next steps. Perhaps it’s time to pivot your business model or explore new markets. Take advantage of this reflective opportunity to evaluate your long-term business goals.

Restarting Your Shopify Store

Once you’ve completed the necessary tasks and feel ready to reopen your store, re-enabling your Shopify operations is a straightforward process:

1. Log In to Your Shopify Admin: Use your existing login credentials to access your account.
2. Navigate to Plan Settings: Go back to Settings, then click on Plan.
3. Select to Change Your Plan: Choose to change your plan back to a regular paid plan. You might want to consider upgrading if you find that your business growth has changed your needs, or returning to your previous plan.
4. Review and Confirm: As always, double-check to ensure you understand what you're selecting and then confirm your changes.
5. Communicate the Reopening to Customers: Let your customer base know that your store is back in business! Use social media platforms and email updates.

Conclusion

Putting your Shopify store on hold may seem daunting, but understanding the Pause and Build option offers an invaluable opportunity to recharge and refocus. Whether you need to fulfill orders, enhance your website, engage in self-care, or develop new products, pausing your store can align with your overall business strategy.

At Tevello, our mission is to empower you to create, manage, and diversify your revenue streams seamlessly. With our all-in-one solutions, you can reinvigorate your store and engage your customers more effectively than ever.

So, if you are considering hitting the pause button, remember that you aren’t just taking a break—you’re setting the stage for your Shopify store’s next chapter. Start your Free Trial with Tevello today and explore the integrated features designed to elevate your e-commerce journey.

FAQ

Can I pause my Shopify store? Yes, Shopify allows you to pause your store using the Pause and Build plan, which enables you to deactivate checkout while keeping your store active.

Will I need to pay while my store is paused? Yes, during the Pause and Build period, you’ll need to pay a nominal fee (approximately $9 per month).

What happens when my Shopify store is paused? Your checkout functionality will be turned off, though customers can still browse your products. You'll maintain access to your Shopify admin.

Is my store hidden from the public while paused? No, your storefront remains visible. If you want it hidden from the public, you can manually enable password protection.

How do I reactivate my store after pausing? To reactivate, log into your admin, go to Settings > Plan, select a plan, and confirm the changes. Don't forget to communicate your reopening to customers!

The right questions can lead to the right solutions, and at Tevello, we are here to support you, whether you’re pausing for growth or planning for the future.