Freelance Shopify Developer
Hands-on Shopify development for growing ecommerce teams
I’m Ryan Findlay, a freelance Shopify developer with over 10 years experience delivering ecommerce projects across Shopify, Magento and wider ecommerce ecosystems. I build, improve and stabilise Shopify stores with a focus on performance, maintainability and commercial impact.
Independent Shopify developer
I’ve spent over a decade in the ecommerce agency space delivering end to end builds, improvements and rescue work for retailers. Shopify is a core part of my work, and I’m often brought in when a store needs reliable hands-on delivery without the overhead of a large agency.
My approach is practical. I focus on shipping improvements that support conversion, speed, stability and long-term maintainability. I’m comfortable working directly with business owners, alongside in-house teams, or in collaboration with designers, agencies and other developers.
Shopify development services
Clean builds. Faster stores. Less friction. I provide freelance Shopify development for brands that want reliable delivery, clear communication and work that holds up long term.
Whether you’re improving an existing theme or building something new, I’ll help you ship changes safely and avoid breaking what already works.
Theme development and custom sections
Building and extending Shopify themes with clean Liquid, reusable sections and maintainable code. Ideal for new builds, redesigns and ongoing iteration.
Performance and speed improvements
Auditing and improving storefront performance by reducing bloat, improving Core Web Vitals, and tightening third-party scripts and apps.
Integrations and technical fixes
Solving tricky Shopify issues across apps, tracking, feeds and integrations. Useful when things get messy and you need a developer who can troubleshoot properly.
CRO implementation support
Turning UX and conversion ideas into real storefront improvements, including templates, product page enhancements and key journey tweaks.
Tracking and data layer support
Helping ensure analytics and conversion tracking are reliable. Includes GA4, GTM, Meta pixel and ecommerce events where required.
Ongoing Shopify development
Retained support for teams who want a dependable Shopify developer on hand for continuous improvements and quick turnaround fixes.
When to hire a freelance Shopify developer
Most teams bring in a freelance Shopify developer when they need speed, reliability and technical confidence. That might be a redesign, performance issues, ongoing improvement work, or a store that has grown complicated over time.
Below are common scenarios where Shopify teams bring me in.
You need changes shipped fast
You have a backlog of improvements and want a developer who can deliver quickly without creating technical debt.
Your theme is getting messy
The store has been touched by multiple developers or apps and it’s becoming fragile. You need a clean-up and a safer approach.
Performance and speed are hurting conversion
Page speed is slowing down the buying journey and impacting paid traffic efficiency. You want improvements that move the numbers.
You’re planning a redesign or rebuild
You need hands-on Shopify development support to implement designs properly and keep the build maintainable long term.
You need help with apps and integrations
Tracking, feeds, fulfilment or subscription setup is misbehaving. You need proper troubleshooting, not guesswork.
You want ongoing technical support
You want a reliable Shopify developer available for continuous improvements without hiring full time.
Experienced Shopify developer
Experience: Over 10 years delivering ecommerce projects, including Shopify builds, improvements and technical rescue work.
Practical delivery: Clean code, clear communication and changes shipped safely.
Commercial focus: Work aligned with performance, conversion and long-term maintainability.
Collaborative approach: Happy working with business owners, in-house teams, agencies and designers.
Shopify development FAQs
A freelance Shopify developer builds and improves Shopify stores. That can include theme development, custom sections, performance improvements, troubleshooting, integrations and ongoing iteration work. The goal is to deliver changes safely and keep the storefront maintainable.
Yes. Most work I do is on existing Shopify themes. I can improve performance, tidy up code, add new sections and templates, and implement CRO improvements without needing a full rebuild.
Yes. Speed improvements often come from reducing theme bloat, tightening third-party scripts and apps, improving asset delivery and addressing Core Web Vitals issues. I focus on practical changes that improve real user experience.
Yes. I often work alongside internal teams, designers and agencies. I’m happy to slot into an existing process and focus on delivery, quality and momentum.
Yes. I offer retained support for teams that want regular development time each month. It’s a good fit if you want continuous improvements and quick turnaround fixes without hiring full time.
Usually with a short discovery call to understand goals, constraints and priorities. From there I’ll recommend the simplest approach that gets results, whether that’s a defined scope project, an initial audit, or ongoing support.
Ryan's commercial acumen and technical expertise is nothing short of impressive. He possesses a solid understanding of the ecommerce landscape and knows exactly how to leverage it for results. Always a pleasure to work with.
Faisal Butt, Quiz Clothing
Brands I've worked with
