← All store models
Store model
Run a real store without renting someone else's runtime
Independents use Shepherd when Shopify fees and app markup stop making sense, but they still need checkout, carrier rates, and admin that work on day one. You deploy the stack, connect Stripe, and sell — no platform subscription on self-host.
What we ship
- Storefront, admin, and REST API from one Railway deploy
- Live multi-carrier shipping quotes at checkout, not flat-rate guesses
- Stripe, Authorize.Net, or Coinbase Commerce through one payment hub
- Guest checkout, order history, and catalog SEO without extra apps
Typical setup
Most independents start on self-host Railway (~$10/mo hosting), connect payment and shipping in admin, and import a catalog. Full management is there when you want someone else on ops.
Related capabilities
See if Shepherd fits your store model
Start on Railway for about the cost of hosting, or request a quote for managed setup for your model.