Which distribution model for a private testing phase with non-owned stores?

Retired Boards Appdev Authentication

Topic summary

A bookkeeping firm is developing a Shopify app that automates ecommerce accounting by connecting Shopify stores with QuickBooks Online (QBO). The app monitors orders and automatically generates journal entries.

Current Challenge:

  • The app is still in private alpha testing
  • They want select clients to test it, but these are client-owned stores (not owned by the development firm)
  • Uncertain which Shopify distribution model fits this scenario

Initial Consideration:

  • Public distribution seems premature given the alpha stage
  • The approval process appears designed for public listings

Recommended Solution:

  • Use a Custom App distribution model
  • Custom Apps are specifically designed for limited client deployments rather than general App Store distribution
  • This approach suits private testing phases with a restricted number of external stores

Status: The discussion provides a clear recommendation but remains open for confirmation or additional input.

Summarized with AI on November 12. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi all,

We’re building an app in the Shopify ecosystem that helps automate common ecommerce bookkeeping logic. The idea is that a user logs into our app, authorizes / connects it with both their Shopify account and their Quickbooks account, and our app will sit in-between. It will do things like watch for orders in the Shopify store and automatically generate the journal entries in QBO.

We’re building this as a bookkeeping firm, and we want to have a few of our clients try it out. We’re not ready for it to be completely public yet - in fact, for this private alpha phase, only we can create an account for a user. But, the app is connecting to live Shopify stores that are owned by our clients, i.e. they’re not owned by us or part of our organization.

What distribution model in the Shopify store is best suited for this? From the documentation, it sounds like it’d be Public distribution, but that process seems to steer us through the form for our public listing, which is a bit premature given we’re still in a private alpha.

Thanks,

Allen

2

Hi Ayang8,

Froom your description I believe this should be a Custom App. Custom Apps in Shopify are designed specifically for cases like yours, where the app is intended for a limited number of clients and not for general distribution in the Shopify App Store.