What And How To Set Up Shopify Partial Payment

Shopify payment, especially partial payment, might be a new concept for many people, but in fact, it has become popular in many eCommerce platforms nowadays, including Shopify. Shopify Partial Payment allows its users to maximize their payment plans and keep heading to their process of pre-orders. 

In spite of its existing limitation, partial payment in Shopify still wins customers’ trust by playing a critical role in driving eCommerce sales and providing online customers with more freedom. Before going further, let’s find out what the partial payment is and how to accept partial payment in Shopify.

What is Shopify Partial Payment?

Shopify partial payment is a flexible payment option that lets customers pay a portion of their order upfront, with the rest due later. This feature can be implemented using draft orders, manual payments, or third-party apps to split payments or schedule installments.

Example of Shopify Partial Payment

John purchased a $1,000 handmade dining table from a Shopify store but opted to pay only $300 upfront, with the remaining $700 due at delivery. Shopify marked the order as "Partially Paid," and once the table was ready, John received a reminder to complete the payment securely using his saved card details​.

How to set up Partial Payment for your Shopify store

Shopify doesn't have a built-in feature for automatic partial payments. However, you can still achieve Shopify split payments in a few ways:

Method 1: Using Draft Orders

1. Create a Draft Order: From your Shopify admin, go to Orders > Draft > Create Order.

2. Add Products and Customer Details: Select the products the customer wants to purchase and fill in the customer’s information.

3. Specify the Partial Payment Amount: In the draft order, click Send Invoice. In the invoice settings, specify the partial amount the customer needs to pay.

4. Send the Invoice: Once the partial amount is set, click Send Invoice to send the partial payment request to the customer via email.

5. Collect the Payment: When the customer pays the specified amount, mark the draft order as Partially Paid in the order status.

6. Complete the Order: After receiving the remaining payment, mark the order as Paid, and proceed to fulfill and complete the order​.

Method 2: Manual Partial Payments

1. Open the Order: From your Shopify admin, go to Orders and select the order for which you want to collect a partial payment.

2. Collect the Payment: Click Collect Payment to open the payment options.

3. Enter the Partial Amount: In the Amount section, choose either Fixed Amount or Percentage, and input the partial payment amount you want to charge the customer.

4. Select the Payment Method: Choose the customer’s preferred payment method, such as a credit card or a manual option (like a bank deposit).

5. Process the Payment: Click Charge (for credit card payments) or Record Payment (for manual methods).

6. Mark as Partially Paid: If there is an outstanding balance, select Mark as Partially Paid to update the order status. This indicates that a partial payment has been received, and the remaining amount is due later.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Apps

Several apps available in the Shopify App Store can help you enable partial payments. These partial payment Shopify apps provide features such as:

• Payment Schedules: Set up automatic payment installments for customers.
• Down Payments: Collect a percentage of the order value upfront to secure the purchase.
• Pre-Orders: Accept partial payments for pre-order items to reserve products.

To use an app:

1. Find a partial payment app: Go to the Shopify App Store and search for apps using keywords like "partial payments" or "payment plans." Popular choices include apps like PreOrder Now WOD or Splitit.

2. Install the App: Select a suitable app and click Install. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

3. Set Up and Configure: Open the app’s dashboard from your Shopify admin and set up partial payment options, like payment schedules or down payments.

4. Define Terms: Specify the deposit amounts, installment schedules, and payment methods.

5. Activate Partial Payments: Save the settings to enable partial payments at checkout.

Important Tips:

• Communicate Clearly: Ensure your customers are aware of the partial payment policy, terms, and any conditions or deadlines.
• Maintain Records: Keep detailed and accurate records of all partial payments received and any outstanding balances.
• Send Reminders: Use automated tools or manual reminders to notify customers of upcoming or overdue payments.​

By implementing partial payments, you can offer greater flexibility to your customers, potentially increasing sales and customer satisfaction.

Pros & Cons of Shopify Partial Payment

Here are the detailed pros & cons of setting Shopify partial payment for your online business:

Pros	Cons
Increased sales conversion Improved customer flexibility Reduced cart abandonment Ability to secure deposits upfront Enhanced cash flow management Easier purchase of high-value items Higher customer satisfaction Better inventory commitment with deposits Customizable payment schedules Wider payment method choices	Manual order tracking complexity Risk of delayed payments Potential fulfillment delays

3 best apps to accept partial payment in Shopify

PreOrder Now WOD

PreOrder Now helps boost sales by enabling preorders and presales for products that are not yet in stock. By allowing customers to order in advance, the app prevents lost sales due to out-of-stock items, which is perfect for managing demand spikes and new launches.

Pricing:

• Free Plan: Free for the first preorder product
• Shopify Basic: $19.95/month
• Shopify Standard: $39.95/month
• Shopify Advanced: $59.95/month

Rating: 4.5/5⭐ 

Main Features:

• Mixed cart alerts
• Preorder discounts
• Partial payments
• Stylish preorder badges
• Back-in-stock notifications

Charge Me Later

Charge Me Later lets customers create "Pay Later" orders or choose between paying now or later. It enables manual or automatic invoicing with customized due dates and offers the ability to set different wholesale prices for customer groups without using coupon codes.

Pricing:

• Basic: $9.99/month
• PLUS: $19.99/month
• GOLD: $29.99/month

Rating: 4.8/5⭐

Main Features:

• Pay now or pay later options
• Automatic invoicing
• Wholesale pricing for customer groups
• Bulk import/export of custom prices
• Additional discount for pay-now selection

SPD Split Payment & Deposit

SPD Split Payment & Deposit offers flexibility with options like split payments, deposits, multiple payment methods, and installment plans. It allows customers to share payments, pay with multiple methods, or make a deposit and settle the balance later.

Pricing:

• Unlimited Plan: $17.95/month

Rating: 4.3/5⭐

Main Features:

• Split/partial payments
• Multiple payment methods
• Shareable payments
• Installment payment options
• The auto charge for deposit payments

FAQs

Can Shopify support partial payments without apps?

No, Shopify does not have a built-in partial payment feature for online stores. However, you can use methods like draft orders or install third-party apps to enable this functionality.

Is it possible to set automatic payment schedules for partial payments?

Yes, several third-party apps, like SPD Split Payment & Deposit, allow you to set up automatic installment schedules and collect remaining balances automatically.

Can you split payments in Shopify?

Yes, while Shopify doesn’t directly support split payments for online stores, it offers solutions like draft orders and partial payment methods. Alternatively, you can use third-party apps such as SPD Split Payment & Deposit to split payments across different methods or installments.

How do you accept partial payment on Shopify?

You can accept partial payments on Shopify by using draft orders, manual payment setups, or third-party apps that offer flexible partial payment features.

Are there risks associated with using partial payments on Shopify?

Yes, risks include tracking complexity, potential delays in receiving full payment, and the need for manual monitoring to ensure all balances are collected. Using automated apps can help mitigate these risks.

How to accept partial payment on Shopify?

You can use third-party apps like Deposits & Split Payments to enable partial payments at checkout on Shopify.

How to take partial payment in Shopify?

Install apps like Lay-Buy or Partial.ly to offer customers the option to make deposits or pay in installments for their purchases.

Conclusion

Shopify partial payments can offer flexibility to boost sales and improve customer satisfaction. By setting up the partial payments on your Shopify store through draft orders, manual setups, or third-party apps, you can create a seamless payment experience for your customers. Start applying these methods today to grow your business, and feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.

Related Posts:

• Activate a Credit Card Payment Provider on Shopify
• Activate an Alternative Payment Method on Shopify
• How To Mark Manual Payment As Paid on Shopify?