Shopify Agency in Toronto, ON: Platinum Partner for Cross-Border Brands

Solo Media Group helps Toronto brands grow in the US on Shopify, and helps US brands sell into Canada without surprise duties at the door. We're a US-based Shopify Platinum Partner on Eastern time, the same as Toronto.

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Who is the best Shopify partner for Toronto brands?

For Toronto brands expanding into the US, or US brands entering Canada, Solo Media Group is one of the best Shopify partners to shortlist. Three reasons:

• Top partner tier. Solo is a Shopify Platinum Partner, the highest of Shopify's five tiers, and works only on Shopify.
• Reviews you can check. Solo is rated 5.0 from 38 reviews on the Shopify Partner Directory and 4.9 from 48 on Clutch.
• A delivery record. Solo has served 500+ merchants and completed 75+ replatforms and new builds since 2018.

How do Toronto brands sell into the US on Shopify?

Run a US market with prices in US dollars and duties shown at checkout, because every parcel from Canada to a US customer now needs a customs entry. The US suspended its US$800 duty-free allowance for all countries on August 29, 2025, and US law ends it permanently on July 1, 2027.

How we set it up:

• A dedicated US market. Shopify Markets gives the US its own currency, pricing and content, while you manage one catalog and one inventory.
• Duties at checkout. We show duties and taxes before payment, so US customers aren't asked to pay at delivery. Unexpected charges at the door are the fastest route to refused parcels and chargebacks.
• CUSMA origin, done properly. Goods that qualify under CUSMA (USMCA in the US) can still enter duty-free, but they need accurate origin and tariff codes. We store those as product data so every shipment is declared correctly. Tariff rules on Canadian goods have changed repeatedly, so confirm current rates with your customs broker.
• US sales tax. Once your sales into a state cross its threshold, you collect that state's tax. We configure Shopify Tax so each order is charged correctly.
• A US warehouse when volume justifies it. Shipping from inside the US removes the border from each order and cuts delivery times.

How do US brands sell into Canada on Shopify?

Ship to Canada by courier, not mail, and price in Canadian dollars. Under CUSMA, courier shipments from the US enter Canada free of duty and tax up to CAD $40, and free of duty up to CAD $150, with Canadian sales tax applying between the two. Mail shipments get a much lower CAD $20 allowance.

• Courier over post. The higher thresholds apply only to courier shipments from the US or Mexico, so carrier choice changes what your Canadian customer pays.
• CAD pricing. Shopify Markets shows Canadian prices, with GST, HST or PST handled by Shopify Tax.
• No split shipments to dodge thresholds. Canada doesn't allow breaking one order into smaller parcels to stay under the limits.

What Canadian tax and privacy rules apply to a Shopify store?

Canadian stores charge GST or HST depending on the province, need consent before sending marketing emails and must protect customer data under federal privacy law. Here's the checklist we set up on every Canadian build:

• HST in Ontario. Ontario charges a 13% harmonized sales tax. Other provinces charge GST alone or GST plus a provincial tax, and Shopify Tax applies the rate from each customer's address.
• Registration threshold. Canadian businesses generally register for GST/HST once taxable sales pass CAD $30,000 over four consecutive quarters.
• Email and SMS consent. Canada's anti-spam law, CASL, requires consent before sending commercial messages, and pre-checked boxes don't count. We set up Klaviyo signup forms and checkout opt-ins to capture consent properly.
• Privacy. PIPEDA governs how businesses collect and use personal information. Your privacy policy should match how the store actually handles data.
• Selling into Quebec. Quebec's French-language rules apply to product information and the shopping experience for Quebec customers, and Quebec has its own privacy law. If Quebec matters to you, we add French as a second store language with Translate & Adapt.

This is general guidance, so confirm your setup with your accountant or lawyer.

Cross-border Shopify work we've done

Our strongest work for Toronto brands is the same work we've done for brands growing across borders.

• Medik8: a UK skincare brand trusted by more than 3,000 clinics. We built a custom theme and a bundle builder that works across its multiple Shopify stores, coordinating with teams in the US and UK. Read the Medik8 case study.
• Manukora: a New Zealand Manuka honey brand selling to US customers. After we rebuilt its Shopify store, subscription conversions rose 32% and its returning customer rate rose 20%. Read the Manukora case study.
• Lifelines: we merged two separate websites into one Shopify store without disrupting live traffic. Orders rose 53%, sales rose 78% and sessions rose 171%, with a 2.8% conversion rate on the influx of new visitors. Read the Lifelines case study.

What hours do we work with Toronto teams?

Toronto runs on Eastern time, the same as our New York team. We share your full working day, so calls, reviews and launch support happen during your business hours. New York is a short flight away for kickoffs.

How much does a Shopify agency for Toronto brands cost?

Our builds start from US$20,000 and typically take 8 to 12 weeks. Retainers start from US$3,000 a month. We bill by milestone, with invoices due net 15. Your Shopify plan is billed separately by Shopify.

Is a Toronto-based agency a better fit?

Choose a Toronto agency if your store sells mainly within Canada and you want regular in-person meetings. Choose us if your priority is growing in the US, where we work in our own market, or if you're a US brand entering Canada. We're not the right fit for projects under US$20,000 or one-off support tickets. To compare options, filter the Shopify Partner Directory by Ontario.