Launch Checklist

Complete these steps before going live. Progress is saved in your browser.

⚠️

Demo data active

The database contains demo sellers, products, and orders labeled is_demo=true. Remove before public launch using the admin panel or by running the migration rollback.

0 of 0 items complete

💳 Payments

Connect live Stripe keys (not test mode)Update STRIPE_SECRET_KEY and STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY in Render env vars

Test $10/month seller subscription end-to-endSign up as seller, confirm subscription, check Stripe dashboard

Test customer checkout with a real cardPlace an order as a buyer, confirm Stripe payment

Verify platform fee calculation on a test order3% per sale, minimum $0.03 — confirm this appears correctly in order records

🛍️ Operations

Test full seller signup and approval flowRegister → apply → admin approves → seller lists product

Test seller order → mark shipped → add trackingUse the seller dashboard Orders tab

Test admin approve / reject / suspend sellerUse the admin dashboard Sellers tab

Remove all demo/seed data from productionDelete records with is_demo=true or run seed migration rollback

⚖️ Legal & Trust

Review and finalize Privacy PolicyOpen Privacy Policy →

Review and finalize Terms of ServiceOpen Terms of Service →

Define and document refund/return policyAdd to Terms of Service and seller onboarding guide

🔧 Technical

Configure custom domainAdd domain in Render, update DNS records, verify SSL certificate

Set strong SESSION_SECRET in environmentGenerate with: node -e "console.log(require('crypto').randomBytes(64).toString('hex'))"

Verify HTTPS is enforcedNODE_ENV=production in Render env vars enables secure cookies

Set up analytics (pageviews, conversion funnel)Analytics beacon is already wired via POLSIA_ANALYTICS_SLUG

Verify /health endpoint respondsShould return 200 with {"status":"healthy"}

🚀 Go Live

DNS configured and propagatedUse dnschecker.org to verify global propagation

SSL certificate activeRender auto-provisions Let's Encrypt certificates for custom domains

Support inbox monitoredSet up response process for buyer/seller questions and disputes

Announce launchEmail early sellers, post on social media, submit to product directories