Development store purchase trial theme

[therio]

Hi everyone,

I’m working on a Shopify store that I want to transfer on a client. Currently, I’ve customized a paid theme in my development store, but I haven’t purchased it yet (still using the trial).

I need advice on the best way to transfer this customized theme to my client’s Shopify store. Specifically:

1. Do I need to purchase the theme on my development store first, or is it better to purchase it directly under my client’s Shopify account?
2. If I purchase the theme in my development store, can I transfer it with the customizations intact to my client’s store?
3. Will photos and assets uploaded during customization transfer along with the theme?
4. What’s the most efficient way to ensure the customizations aren’t lost during this process?

Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

[LitExtension]

Hi @therio , sounds like you’ve got a great project going! Let me help you figure out the best way to transfer your customized Shopify theme to your client’s store. Here’s what you need to know : 

1. It’s better to purchase the theme directly under your client’s Shopify account. This ensures they own the license for the theme and can get support and updates directly from the theme developer. If you purchase it on your development store, you might run into issues transferring the license, as Shopify doesn’t officially support transferring purchased themes between accounts.
2. Technically, yes, you can transfer a customized theme (export it from your store and import it into theirs). However, the theme license will remain tied to your account unless purchased under your client’s account. This can cause problems later if they need support or updates for the theme.
3. Yes, photos and assets that are uploaded directly to the theme (via the theme editor) will transfer when you export and import the theme file. However, assets stored in the Files section of your Shopify admin (not directly linked to the theme) won’t automatically transfer. Make sure to download those files and re-upload them to the client’s store if necessary.
4. Transferring a customized paid theme from your development store to your client’s Shopify store while on a trial is a bit tricky but manageable. Here’s what you need to do:  

• Step 1: Export the customized theme from your development store. You can do this by going to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Download theme file.
• Step 2: Share the theme file with your client or upload it directly to their store by going to Online Store > Themes > Add theme > Upload zip file.
• Step 3: Re-check all customizations, including navigation menus, images, and apps, in your client’s store after the upload.
• Step 4: If possible, work directly in your client’s store for final adjustments after the upload to ensure everything works as intended.

 I hope this clears things up for you! If this was helpful, hit the like button and accept the solution.
Thanks