What to ask for
- Ask for
- Collaborator account with selected permissions Agency access
- Minimum safe access
- Only the sections the SOW needs (for example themes or products), not every permission.
- Client needs
- The store owner (or staff who can manage users) in Shopify admin, plus the store's permanent myshopify.com URL and its 4-digit collaborator request code.
Ask for Collaborator account with selected permissions and nothing broader. The smallest role that does the job is easier for the client to approve, easier to audit later, and simpler to remove when the work ends. If the scope of work grows, ask again for the larger role rather than requesting it up front.
| Permission | Level | Lets the agency |
|---|---|---|
| Any store permission you select | Collaborator | Only the areas the client approves |
| Administrator store role | Not available | Can't be given to collaborators |
| POS app / Point of Sale channel | Not available | Collaborators get no POS access |
What the client clicks
Send these steps to the person who holds the store owner (or staff who can manage users) in shopify admin, plus the store's permanent myshopify.com url and its 4-digit collaborator request code. Tick them off as you go.
What breaks if the role is wrong
- Too lowA missing permission blocks that area until the client edits your collaborator permissions.
- Too highCollaborators can't be given the Administrator role; if the work truly needs it, the owner has to do that part.
- GotchaThe legacy Partner Dashboard called this 'Send collaborator request'; it now lives in the Dev Dashboard under Stores → Request store access.
- GotchaGenerate new code invalidates every older code, so send the agency the current one.
- GotchaNo code is needed if the agency's organization already has an app installed on the store.
- GotchaCollaborators can't get the Administrator store role and get no POS app or Point of Sale channel access.
- GotchaShopify auto-creates a role named '<Collaborator>x<Store>'. Reject request removes it.
- GotchaCollaborator access expires after 90 days without a login. The client can restore it with Actions → Reactivate user.
- GotchaRemoving a collaborator (Settings → Users → the collaborator → Actions → Remove) is permanent; the agency has to send a new request.
- GotchaDon't share the owner's password. Shopify recommends collaborator accounts and prohibits password sharing.
- GotchaCollaborators don't count toward the staff limit (Starter 0, Basic 0, Grow 5, Advanced 15, Plus unlimited). A staff invite from Settings → Users → Add users expires after 7 days.
Copy this access request
Fill in the blanks and paste it into your email to the client. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Sources
- https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/your-account/users/security/collaborator-accounts · checked Oct 14, 2026
- https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/your-account/users/users-plan-requirements · checked Oct 14, 2026
- https://help.shopify.com/en/partners/manage-clients-stores/working-on-client-stores · checked Oct 14, 2026
- https://help.shopify.com/en/partners/manage-account/dashboard · checked Oct 14, 2026
- https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/stores/collaborations · checked Oct 14, 2026
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