How to set up Pre-Orders on WooCommerce

Numerous internet shops use Pre-Orders to generate interest in new products, measure demand, and collect funds for production. This enables businesses to determine the quantity of things to produce on their initial manufacturing run and secure funding upfront.

You may quickly make a product available for pre-order and choose a release date. Additionally, you can charge clients at the point of sale or when the product is ready to be distributed (or transported, if it is a physical product). As a result, when the product becomes available, the plugin can process your orders automatically.

One way to accomplish this is through the use of the WooCommerce Pre-Orders plugin. This plugin enables you to sell your products prior to their release. Depending on the things you sell, WooCommerce pre-order may benefit your online business.

In this article, we will provide you a throughout instruction on How to set up Pre-Orders on WooCommerce as well as introduce you top 4 best Pre-Orders plugins available on the market.

How to set up WooCommerce Pre-orders

Step 1: Install the WooCommerce Pre-Orders plugin

The very first step of the process is to download the extension from the WooCommerce dashboard.

• Log in to your WooCommerce account. Go to Plugin, click on Add new.
• Click on Upload then choose the downloaded ZIP file.
• Select Install Now. Choose Activate.
• Click on Configure and it is ready for you to set up.

Step 2: Configure the General Settings

In your WooCommerce dashboard, navigate to Settings, click on Pre-Orders.

Set up the following settings:

• Add to Cart Button Text: This setting affects the text displayed on the add to cart button on single product pages for products that support pre-orders.“Pre-Order Now” rather than “Add to Cart,” for example.
• Place Order Button Text: When an order involves pre-orders, this controls the text of the place order button on the checkout page. Instead of “Place Order,” say “Place Pre-Order Now.”
• Single Product Page Message: Below the pricing, add an optional message to the single product page. By utilizing availability date and availability time, you can announce when the pre-order will be available. Only a small amount of HTML is permitted. To disable, leave the field empty.
• Shop Loop Product Message: On the shop loop page, add an optional message to each pre-order enabled product above the add to cart button. By utilizing availability date and availability time, you can announce when the pre-order will be available. Only a small amount of HTML is permitted. To disable, leave the field empty.
• Availability Date Title Text: The title of the availability date area on the cart/checkout page, as well as the “thank you,” view order, order email templates, and order details tables, is controlled by this text. If you leave this field blank, the availability date will not be displayed in the cart.
• Charged Upon Release Order Total Format: When the cart contains a pre-order charged upon release, this controls the order total format. Utilize availability date and order total to specify when the consumer will be charged for their pre-order.
• Charged Upfront Release Order Total Format: This setting determines the order total format for pre-orders that are charged upfront. Utilize availability date and order total to indicate how the customer is charged for their pre-order. Disable automated pre-order processing: This setting is used when you’re on a staging/testing site and don’t want any pre-orders handled automatically.

Step 3: Configure Pre-Orders products

To begin, select a WooCommerce product for which you’d like to enable pre-orders. As an example, suppose you sell hoodies and wish to allow customers to pre-order a new design. After you’ve completed the Product data section, head to the Pre-Orders tab.

Set up these following settings:

• Select the checkbox next to the option Enable Pre-Orders.
• Set the date of the product’s availability. You can use the extension to change the date and time.
• You may also specify a Pre-Order Fee if you wish to charge an additional fee.
• When to Charge allows you to choose when buyers are charged for the product. This can be adjusted to Upon Release or Upfront via the dropdown menu.
• To continue, click Publish.

The WooCommerce Pre-Orders plugin enables you to change the labels and button text that show on the front-end of your site by navigating to WooCommerce > Settings > Pre-Orders from the WordPress admin panel.

Note:

Pre-Orders can be modified and altered with varying restrictions. When the “When to Charge” option is set to Immediately upon Release, the Pre-Order tab turns into read-only:

While the cost and “When to charge” settings for a product cannot be modified while there are active pre-orders, the release date can be adjusted via the new WooCommerce > Pre-Orders > Actions tab.

Step 4: Set up the Pre-Orders email

You can automatically send emails to customers when you use the WooCommerce Pre-Orders extension. For instance, you may send the following email:

• If you modify the release date for a whole product’s pre-orders.
• When all pre-orders have been fulfilled.
• If all pre-orders for a particular product are canceled.

From the main dashboard, navigate to WooCommerce > Pre-Orders > Actions and select the Email tab.

• Use the Product dropdown, select the product for which you’d want to send a pre-order email.
• Use the Message textbox to include a message in your email.

After clicking the Send Emails option, an email will be sent to everyone who pre-ordered the product you’ve selected.

4 Best plugins to set up Pre-orders for WooCommerce

1. WooCommerce Pre-Orders

This plugin provides one of the most effective methods for setting up pre-orders on your WooCommerce store. It enables customers to reserve products in your store prior to them being available for delivery. Additionally, it allows you to fulfill orders once the product is ready to ship quickly. This module gives you the option of automating or manualizing this process according to your preferences.

Outstanding features:

• Customize your Pre-Order page with in-built button texts, and messages.
• Access to relevant information about pre-orders from a dedicated page.
• Complete or postpone an order as necessary.
• Conduct all order management activities on both individual and bulk orders.
• Set up payment options that work for you.

Price: $129

2. YITH Pre-Order for WooCommerce

Apart from enabling you to build pre-order products on your website, this module allows you to send timely emails to interested clients. Another excellent technique to try with this plugin is to provide discounts to all clients who pre-ordered it. In this manner, you can ensure that clients are highly driven to return and complete the transaction when you tell them.

Outstanding features:

• Adjust product prices later when they’re available on your site.
• Handle pre-orders directly from WooCommerce order page.
• Monitor out-of-stock products.
• Provide a customer-friendly interface.
• Separates pre-order products from regular products.

Price:

It is available in two flavors: a free version and a paid version that begins at $99 for a single site.

3. Preorders for WooCommerce

Preorders for WooCommerce is a free plugin from Bright Plugins that allows you to create pre-orders on your site. It allows you to conveniently manage all of your pre-orders from the page’s My Account area. Also, it interacts well with WooCommerce, so you will encounter no problems while using it. Customizing preorders for WooCommerce is simple from the settings page.

Outstanding features:

• Prevent customers from adding pre-order products to their carts while already having items available.
• Create an expiration date for pre-order durations.
• Make products automatically available right after the pre-order time expires.
• Utilize a WordPress Bulk action to apply the “Pre-Order” status to multiple products.
• Notify website administrators when pre-order periods for products are about to expire by emails.

Price: Free

4. Pre Order for WordPress WooCommerce

WordPress Pre-Order Another plugin that brings the pre-order capability into your site is WooCommerce. The plugin is extremely customizable and adaptable. You may accept pre-orders even if you have only received a portion of the payment. Using this module, administrators may ascertain product demand and manage to manufacture accordingly.

Outstanding features:

• Provide partial payment features.
• Send out an email notification for the customers when the product is available.
• Creates attractive pre-order pages.
• Set availability date and preorder status
• Available for customers to add new products along with pre-order products to the cart.

Price: $39

Conclusion

Pre-Orders for WooCommerce can benefit your online business in a variety of ways. It assists you in marketing your products or services by generating momentum prior to launch and is an excellent method of increasing revenue. Additionally, it enables you to manage pre-orders more effectively on the back end, both technically and logistically.

Having a high-quality WooCommerce pre-order extension on your retail website enables you to manage pre-order campaigns successfully. Allowing customers to pre-order things can help you generate excitement for the launch and boost the likelihood of earning a transaction.