Open the products for presale
Create a campaign and add the products that are not in stock yet. The app sets them to continue selling and tracks stock.
Use case
Fund production and inventory with presales and deposits
Sell products before they are in stock. Preorder & Back in Stock takes full payment or a deposit at checkout, so the cash comes in while you make or order the stock.
Apps used
Preorder & Back in StockMain app
Goal
Cash flow & recurring revenue
Works for
Home & FurnitureToys, Hobby & CollectiblesArts, Crafts & HandmadeWholesale & B2B
The problem
Stock costs money before it sells
Production runs and inventory orders need cash up front. Each problem below has a matching fix in this setup.
Who it is for: makers selling small batches, stores ordering from suppliers, and brands with long production times.
Problem 01
You pay for production or inventory before you know how much will sell.
How it gets fixed
Sell before the stock exists
A preorder campaign opens products for sale at zero stock. Orders arrive before the production run, so you can order what you have sold.
Problem 02
Taking full payment is a big ask for an expensive item that ships weeks away.
How it gets fixed
Offer a deposit
Let shoppers pay a percentage or a fixed amount now. Deposits need Shopify Payments and the Selling Plan mode.
Problem 03
You want an incentive for shoppers to commit early.
How it gets fixed
Discount the full payment
Pay in full can carry an optional preorder discount. The discount needs Shopify Payments.
Set it up
Four moves to presales and deposits
Each card shows what the result looks like. Set up the campaign first, then the payment option shoppers see.
Take full payment
Choose Pay in full, and add a preorder discount if you want one. The discount needs Shopify Payments.
Or take a deposit
Set a percentage or a fixed amount. This needs Shopify Payments and the Selling Plan mode.
Collect the balance in Shopify admin
The app creates a draft order for the remaining amount. You collect the balance in Shopify admin.
Tips
Before you go live
Deposits need Shopify Payments
Partial payments work only with Shopify Payments and the Selling Plan mode. Check both before you promise a deposit option to shoppers.
You collect the balance yourself
The app does not charge the remaining balance. It creates a draft order, and you collect the rest in Shopify admin. Plan who does this and when.
Deposits are not refunded automatically
If a shopper cancels, the deposit does not go back on its own. Decide your cancellation policy before launch and tell shoppers up front.
What to measure
Check these after launch
Preorder orders and deposits paidShopify admin orders
Outstanding balances on draft ordersShopify admin drafts
Units sold against your production runShopify inventory
Cancelled orders that still need a deposit refundShopify admin orders
FAQ
Common questions
Can I take full payment up front?
Yes. Choose Pay in full in the campaign. You can add a preorder discount, and the discount needs Shopify Payments.
Do I need Shopify Payments for deposits?
Yes. Deposits need Shopify Payments and the Selling Plan mode. The deposit can be a percentage or a fixed amount.
Is the remaining balance charged automatically?
No. The app creates a draft order, and you collect the balance in Shopify admin.
What happens to a deposit if the shopper cancels?
It is not refunded automatically. You handle the refund yourself, so set your policy before launch.
Is this the same as backorders?
No. This is a preorder. The app sets the products to continue selling and tracks stock, and it has no separate backorder feature.
Related use cases
Keep selling when products are out of stock
Preorder & Back in Stock Replace Add to cart with a preorder button on the products and variants you pick when stock hits zero. See how
Launch a new product or limited drop without losing momentum
Preorder & Back in Stock · Banner & Pop-up · Product Labels Take presale orders, count down to launch and mark the new products. See how
Bring shoppers back the moment items are restocked
Preorder & Back in Stock Notify me buttons and automatic restock emails. See howSet this up on your store.
Every Tech Arms app installs from the Shopify App Store in minutes.