How to Give Shopify Access: A Step-by-Step Guide for Store Owners

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Granting Access to Staff Members
  3. Collaborators and Shopify Partners
  4. Managing and Revoking Access
  5. Conclusion
  6. FAQs

Opening the digital doors of your Shopify store to others can be an essential step in expanding your business or collaborating efficiently. Whether it’s staff, collaborators, or Shopify Partners, granting access securely is pivotal. This comprehensive guide will delve into how store owners can give Shopify access, covering various scenarios from adding staff members and collaborators to providing specific permissions.

Introduction

Imagine you're on the brink of launching a promotional campaign that requires a collaborative effort with a freelancer, or perhaps your online store has grown to the point where you need to delegate certain tasks to a team. In either scenario, giving access to your Shopify store becomes a necessity. But how do you do this securely, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected while empowering your team or collaborators to contribute effectively?

This post will guide you through the process of granting access on Shopify, emphasizing secure practices and tailored permissions. By the end of this exploration, you will not only understand the different types of access you can grant but also how to manage and revoke these permissions as your business needs evolve.

Granting Access to Staff Members

Adding staff accounts is a crucial step for businesses looking to scale operations. Shopify provides a structured way to do this, ensuring you can maintain control over what each staff member can see and do. Here's how you can extend access to your team:

Understanding Staff Account Limits

Before you start adding staff members, it's important to know how many accounts you can create, which largely depends on your Shopify plan. The ability to add staff accounts varies, with the Basic Shopify plan offering fewer accounts compared to Shopify Plus, for instance.

Adding Staff Accounts

  1. Navigate to Settings: Log into your Shopify Admin and head over to 'Settings', followed by 'Users and Permissions'.
  2. Add Staff Account: Click on 'Add Staff' and fill in the details of the new member, including their email address. You'll specify here what level of access they need.
  3. Set Permissions: Determine the areas of your admin that the staff member can access. Shopify allows for granular permission settings, so you can restrict access to sensitive areas or grant full permissions depending on the staff member's role.

Activating 2-Step Authentication

Encouraging or requiring staff members to activate 2-step authentication adds an additional layer of security to your store. This precaution helps ensure that even if a staff member's password is compromised, unauthorized users can't gain access without the second authentication factor.

Collaborators and Shopify Partners

Collaborators are often external partners or freelancers who need temporary access to your Shopify admin. Here's how to provide access:

Understanding Collaborator Accounts

Collaborator accounts are provided by Shopify Partners and don't count against your staff limit. These accounts can be tailored to access only specific parts of your admin, making them perfect for project-based or temporary assistance.

Granting Collaborator Access

  1. Request from Partner: The Shopify Partner will request access to your store by sending a collaborator request, which you can review directly from your admin.
  2. Review and Approve: Go to 'Settings', then 'Users and Permissions', and under the 'Collaborators' section, you can approve or deny the request based on the access they require.

It's crucial to carefully consider the permissions you grant to collaborators, ensuring they have just enough access to perform their tasks without compromising the security or privacy of your store information.

Managing and Revoking Access

Whether for staff or collaborators, there may come a time when you need to modify or revoke access entirely. Here's how:

Updating Permissions

Permissions can change as the role of a staff member or collaborator evolves. Revisit the 'Users and Permissions' section to adjust access rights as necessary, ensuring they align with current responsibilities.

Revoking Access

To revoke access, simply navigate to the specific staff or collaborator profile and select the option to remove or deactivate their account. This action should be taken when a staff member leaves your company or a collaboration ends, ensuring no unauthorized access to your admin.

Conclusion

Giving access to your Shopify store is an essential operation that should be handled with care and consideration. By carefully selecting the correct permissions for staff and collaborators, you can maintain the security of your store while fostering a productive work environment. Remember, as your business grows and changes, so too will your access requirements, making ongoing management of permissions a necessary aspect of your operational security strategy.

FAQs

  1. Can I give temporary access to a Shopify Partner?

    • Yes, you can grant temporary access by utilizing collaborator accounts, which can be revoked at any time once their task is completed.
  2. How do I ensure staff members only see what they need?

    • Shopify allows you to customize permissions for each staff account, ensuring they only have access to relevant sections of your admin.
  3. Is there a limit to the number of staff accounts I can add?

    • Yes, the number of staff accounts you can add depends on your Shopify plan. The Basic Shopify plan has a lower limit compared to higher-tier plans like Shopify Plus.
  4. What is 2-step authentication, and why is it important?

    • 2-step authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond just a password. It's important as it significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
  5. Can I revoke collaborator access at any time?

    • Yes, you can revoke collaborator access at any time from the 'Users and Permissions' section in your Shopify admin.