How do I vet a Shopify developer before hiring?

Look at built work, not portfolios of designs, ask for live stores you can open and inspect, ideally in your niche. Check that they're a verified Shopify Partner, read third-party reviews (Upwork, Clutch, Google), and ask for a reference you can actually contact.

Then test communication: a good developer asks sharp questions about scope before quoting and gives you a fixed price in writing with clear deliverables and a timeline. Red flags: vague quotes, no code-ownership clause, pressure to pay everything up front for a large project, and answers that dodge 'what exactly will I get and when'.