If you are a Shopify owner looking to give Shopify Partners access to your Shopify admin, you can do so easily with Shopify's collaborator accounts through their Partner Dashboard or the Shopify app. The great thing about collaborator accounts is that they only see what you allow them to see in your store. The best part? These accounts don't count towards your staff limit , giving you more flexibility.
Only store owners or staff members with the Manage Collaborator Requests permission can view and grant access requests for your store. As soon as a Shopify Partner sends a request, you'll receive an email and a notification on your Shopify Home.
To optimally manage your collaborator requests, you can mandate a collaborator request code for Shopify Partners. By implementing this code, you can ensure that only Partners who have the code can request access to your store, reducing the number of requests you receive.
Also, if you are a collaborator, you can access all permissions within your store, except for staff-related changes like viewing, adding, or removing staff members. It's important to carefully assess the necessary permissions for a collaborator to successfully carry out their tasks. Learn more about staff permissions.
In this article, we'll dive deeper into collaborator accounts, covering everything you need to know. We'll explore how these accounts function, provide insights on managing access requests, and share best practices for effectively handling them.
What are Collaborators?
Shopify Partners, known as Collaborators, can access and contribute to your store's success. Similar to staff members, they provide additional benefits, including logging in from their Partner Dashboard. You can manage their access through your store admin, ensuring security and flexibility. Notably, Collaborators don't contribute to your staff limit, making them a beneficial asset to your Shopify store's management.
If you're working with freelancers or agencies, you can allow them to submit a request for collaboration on your Shopify store. Upon receiving a collaboration request, you can review and decide whether to approve or reject it. Once approved, collaborators appear under the Collaborators section located in the Users and Permissions matrix of your Shopify admin panel. For enhanced control over incoming requests, you can mandate Shopify Partners to input a unique 4-digit collaborator request code when making a collaboration request.
How to Provide Access to an Agency or Freelancer for collaboration?
If your freelancer or agency requires access to your store, they must request it. If you've enabled a collaborator request code, provide this code to any freelancers or agencies seeking access to your store. Point your freelancer or agency towards our guide on How to Request Access to a Client's Store to help them kickstart the process.
How to Generate a Collaborator Request Code for Access?
If you need a collaborator request code, it must be correctly entered by a freelancer or agency to gain access to your store. This code must be shared with the freelancer or agency to initiate their request. To switch on the code within your store's Users and permissions settings, choose Only people with a collaborator request code can request access under the Collaborators section. Collaborator request codes are auto-generated 4-digit codes that come into play once you activate the requirement. You have the flexibility to expire and create a new code at any moment.
How Much Access Can I Grant to Freelancers or Agencies?
Only grant permissions that you are comfortable with. When a freelancer or agency requests specific permissions, there may be a valid reason. If you're unsure, it's best to have an open conversation with the freelancer or agency to understand why they need those permissions. This will help you make an informed decision about granting the appropriate permissions based on their specific requirements.
For granting access to your shipping profiles to a collaborator, it is essential to provide them with Products and Manage settings staff permissions.
Visit Staff permissions for detailed information about Shopify account permissions.
Can a freelancer use a collaborator account to access the Shopify app?
Absolutely! Collaborators can access the Shopify app by signing in to your web store through the Stores page on their Partner Dashboard. Once they have done that, they can easily log in to the Shopify app and manage tasks efficiently.
How Can I Go Back and Grant Access to a Freelancer Agency Whose Request I Accidentally Rejected?
To resolve this situation, simply ask the freelancer or agency to contact Partner Support. They will be able to assist by adjusting the Partner's account, allowing them to resend the access request to you.
What Should I Do After Wrapping Up a Collaboration with a Collaborator?
Once you no longer require assistance from a collaborator, the best course of action is to delete their account.
What should I do if I encounter an issue with a freelancer or agency?
Before proceeding, it's essential to rule out any miscommunication or differences in expectations that may have caused the problem. It's important to note that Shopify does not assume direct responsibility for addressing issues with freelancers or agencies. However, if you suspect a Shopify Partner of breaching the Partner Program Agreement, you can take action by completing and submitting the " Report a Partner violation form" form. This will allow appropriate measures to be taken in response to the situation.
What should I do if I receive an email from an unfamiliar freelancer or agency?
If you receive an email from a freelancer or agency that you are not familiar with, it's important to exercise caution. Refrain from accepting any unexpected requests or engaging in collaboration without proper verification. If you suspect the email to be spam, you can report it to Shopify Support for further assistance.
Shopify offers an better way to manage your received requests. You have the option to implement a 4-digit collaborator request code for freelancers and agencies. This mechanism ensures that only partners who possess the correct code can submit requests to access your store. By requiring the code, you can prevent unauthorized access and filter out requests from freelancers and agencies who do not provide the valid code.
How can I control a collaborator's access to specific apps and channels?
Once you grant access to a collaborator, you have the flexibility to assign them the same permissions as your staff members. If a collaborator requests access to your store, they can only request access to specific apps. They do not have visibility into the list of apps currently installed in your store.
