Running a Shopify store on your own can get overwhelming handling products, orders, payments, marketing, and customer messages all by yourself isn’t easy. That’s when adding another admin or staff member to your Shopify store comes in handy.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to add another admin to Shopify, what permissions they can have, and how to manage staff accounts safely.
Let’s get started.
What Does an Admin Do on Shopify?
In Shopify, an admin (or staff account) is someone you give access to your store’s backend. Depending on the permissions you assign, they can help you with tasks like:
- Managing orders and refunds
- Adding or editing products
- Updating themes or apps
- Managing discounts and marketing campaigns
- Viewing analytics and reports
If you run a growing business, having another admin (like a manager or assistant) can save you hours every week. But before adding someone, it’s important to know what level of control you’re giving them.
Types of Admin Roles on Shopify
Shopify has a few different types of access roles, depending on your plan:
1. Store Owner
The person who created the store.
They have full control — can add, remove, or transfer ownership. Only one store owner exists per Shopify store.
2. Staff Accounts
These are team members you add. You can customize what each person can do — for example, some may handle orders only, while others manage products or marketing.
3. Collaborators
If you hire an agency, freelancer, or Shopify expert, they can access your store as a collaborator.
The best part? Collaborators don’t count toward your staff account limit.
How to Add Another Admin to Shopify (Step-by-Step)
Let’s go through the exact steps to add another admin or staff member to your Shopify store.
Step 1: Log in to Your Shopify Admin Dashboard
Go to shopify.com/admin and sign in using your store owner account.
Only the store owner (or someone with permission to manage users) can add new staff members.
Step 2: Go to Settings
From your Shopify admin sidebar, scroll down and click Settings (bottom-left corner).
Step 3: Select “Users and Permissions”
In the Settings menu, click Users and permissions.
Here, you’ll see all the existing users and collaborators who currently have access to your store.
Step 4: Click “Add Staff”
Now, click the Add staff button.
This is where you’ll invite a new admin or staff member.
Step 5: Enter Their Details
You’ll need to enter:
- Full name of the person
- Email address (this will be used for their login)
Make sure the email is correct because Shopify will send them an invitation link.
Step 6: Set Permissions
Here comes the important part — deciding what your new admin can and cannot do.
You can select Full access or Custom permissions.
If you want to give someone full control (like a co-owner or senior manager), enable all permissions.
Otherwise, customize what they can access. For example:
- Products: Let them add/edit products.
- Orders: Let them fulfill and refund orders.
- Marketing: Let them create campaigns.
- Settings: Keep this off if you don’t want them changing store info or payment details.
Take a few minutes to review the permissions carefully before saving.
Step 7: Send the Invitation
Once you’ve set permissions, click Send invite.
Shopify will email the person an invitation to join your store.
They’ll need to open the email and click the link to create their own Shopify login.
Step 8: Wait for Them to Accept
Once the person accepts the invite, you’ll see their name in your Users and permissions list.
You can edit or remove their access anytime.
How to Add a Collaborator Instead of an Admin
If you’re working with a Shopify Expert, developer, or marketing agency, you can give them limited access without using up a staff seat.
They’ll send you a collaboration request, which you can approve in your Users and permissions section.
This is safer than sharing your password, and you can remove their access at any time.
How Many Admins Can You Have on Shopify?
The number of admins or staff accounts you can add depends on your Shopify plan:
| Shopify Plan | Staff Accounts Allowed |
|---|---|
| Basic | 2 |
| Shopify | 5 |
| Advanced | 15 |
| Plus | Unlimited |
So if you’re on the Basic plan and need to add more than 2 admins, you’ll need to upgrade your plan or use collaborator accounts for external help.
Editing or Removing an Admin in Shopify
If you ever need to edit or remove someone’s access:
- Go to Settings → Users and permissions
- Click on the user’s name
- Adjust their permissions or click Remove staff
They’ll immediately lose access to your admin dashboard once removed.
Best Practices for Managing Admin Access
Giving admin access is a big deal — it’s like handing over the keys to your store. Here are some tips to keep things safe and organized:
1. Give Access Only When Necessary
Avoid giving full permissions unless you completely trust the person. Most staff only need access to products, orders, or marketing.
2. Use Unique Logins
Never share your own login details. Always invite new users through the proper “Add staff” process. That way, you can track who did what.
3. Enable Two-Step Authentication
Encourage all admins to enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication). It adds an extra layer of security to your store.
4. Remove Access When Someone Leaves
If a team member, developer, or freelancer stops working with you, remove their access immediately. It takes 10 seconds and keeps your store safe.
5. Use Collaborator Access for External Partners
Instead of making every helper a full admin, use Shopify’s collaborator feature for agencies, designers, or freelancers.
Common Reasons to Add Another Admin on Shopify
You might add another admin when you:
- Hire a virtual assistant to handle customer support
- Bring in a co-founder or partner
- Hire a marketing manager or product uploader
- Work with an accountant or finance manager
- Get help from a Shopify developer
Each admin can handle different areas — so you can focus on growing your business instead of being stuck in day-to-day tasks.
Why It’s Smart to Add Another Admin
If your Shopify business is growing, managing everything alone isn’t sustainable. Adding another admin helps you:
- Share responsibilities
- Improve efficiency
- Reduce errors
- Increase security (since no passwords are shared)
- Keep things running smoothly when you’re away
It’s a simple step that makes your store more scalable.
Conclusion
Adding another admin to your Shopify store is one of those small changes that can make a big difference. You can delegate tasks, keep your store secure, and manage operations more efficiently all while staying in control.
Just make sure to set the right permissions, use trusted team members, and review access regularly.
Whether you’re building your store solo or running a growing team, Shopify makes it easy to bring others on board safely.
FAQs
To add another admin on Shopify, follow these simple steps:
Log in to your Shopify Admin Dashboard.
Go to Settings → Users and permissions.
Click Add staff.
Enter the new admin’s name and email address.
Choose the permissions you want them to have (you can give full access or limit it to certain areas).
Click Send invite.
Shopify will email them an invitation to join. Once they accept, they’ll have access to your store based on the permissions you set.
To give someone admin access, you’ll need to assign full permissions while adding them as staff:
Go to Settings → Users and permissions.
Click Add staff → Enable Full Access.
Click Send invite.
This gives them full control over your Shopify store — they can manage products, orders, themes, and settings.
Only the store owner can grant or revoke full admin rights.
You can’t have two store owners in Shopify — only one owner is allowed per store.
However, you can transfer ownership to someone else if needed. Here’s how:
Go to Settings → Users and permissions.
Click on the current store owner’s name.
Scroll down and select Transfer ownership.
Enter the new owner’s email address and confirm.
The new owner will receive an email invitation. Once accepted, they’ll officially become the store owner, and you’ll become a staff member (if you stay added).
If you want to add someone who can edit your store — like a designer, developer, or content manager — here’s what to do:
Go to Settings → Users and permissions.
Click Add staff.
Enter their name and email.
Grant permissions for areas they need — like Online Store, Themes, or Blog Posts.
Click Send invite.
If they’re an external partner (like a freelancer or agency), they can also request Collaborator access instead of being added as staff. This keeps your admin organized and secure.
