Guides

Straight answers about running a Shopify store with less software. Written by Tim Haines, from his own store.

Costs and apps

How much does a custom Shopify app cost?
Published agency and freelancer figures, the costs people forget, and what Dorris costs.
What did my Shopify store pay in app subscriptions?
The real list: twelve tools, what each did, and which to replace.
Is there an all-in-one tech stack that won't break the bank?
Three ways to cover a store's back office, and how to pick.
Can you replace your Shopify apps with custom software?
Which kinds of app are worth replacing and which to keep.
A custom app, a freelancer or a bought app
The three routes side by side.
Renting or owning your software
When a paid app is the right call and when it isn't.
How to audit your app subscriptions
A short method for finding the ones you can drop.
Who fixes a custom Shopify app when it breaks?
What can go wrong, and who does what.
A helpdesk alternative
An inbox of your own instead of a hosted helpdesk.
A reports app alternative
Your numbers in one place, without renting a reports app.

How do I run my Shopify store more efficiently?
Cut the places you work in. Where to start.
Stocky is gone. What should I use for purchase orders now?
What Shopify said, the options and getting your data out.
How I replaced my app stack
What Tim built, in the order he built it.
Building a support inbox with Claude Code
The first tool to build, step by step.

Can I build my own Shopify app with AI?
Yes, for one store. What to build first and when to keep a bought app.
How do I use AI in my Shopify business?
Five jobs AI does well in a store, and what to keep for people.
How I run a store with AI
Tim's own routine.
Why not just use ChatGPT or Claude?
What a chat window can't do for your store.
I leaked an API key
What to do first.