How we build composable ecommerce experiences with Downpay.

Some products do not suit paying in full at checkout. Made to order furniture, a pre-order six weeks out, a high value item a customer wants to reserve. Standard checkout forces the whole payment now, and you lose the orders that were not ready for that.

Downpay handles deposits, partial payments and pre-orders inside Shopify's own checkout, which matters because a separate payment flow costs conversions. We set up the terms per product, connect the balance collection to your fulfilment timing, and make sure the customer knows exactly what they have paid and what is still owed. Getting that communication right is most of the work.

Is Downpay right for my ecommerce brand?

Who it's for

Shopify brands selling things customers buy before they are ready to ship, or items expensive enough that paying in full up front is a barrier.

Made to order, custom or built to spec products
Brands running pre-order launches or seasonal drops
High average order value categories like furniture and equipment

What it solves

Customers will not commit to full payment on a long lead time order
Pre-orders are handled manually or not offered at all
High value items lose sales at the point of full payment
Deposit terms are tracked in a spreadsheet outside the store

Common questions about integrating Downpay for your ecommerce brand.

When does taking a deposit make more sense than full payment?

When the customer is committing well before delivery, or when the total is large enough that paying it all now is the objection. Deposits capture demand you would otherwise lose to hesitation. On low value, ship-tomorrow products they add complexity for nothing.

Does this work inside Shopify's native checkout?

Yes, which is the main reason to use it rather than a workaround. Sending customers to a separate payment flow reliably loses conversions, and it also breaks the payment methods and trust signals they expect.

How does the balance get collected?

On terms you set, usually tied to when the item ships or a fixed date. The part worth planning is the communication around it, since an unexpected charge weeks after ordering generates support tickets and chargebacks even when it was clearly disclosed.

Can we use deposits for pre-orders and made to order separately?

Yes, terms can differ by product. A pre-order might take twenty percent, a custom build fifty. It is worth deciding those percentages against your working capital needs rather than picking a round number.

How long does a Downpay setup take?

One to three weeks for a straightforward setup, longer if deposit orders need to reconcile with an ERP or if fulfilment triggers the balance. The technical install is quick, the operational process around part-paid orders takes the thought.