When to Use #

High-demand launches (tech, fashion, collectibles) where you want reservations without charging full price on day one.

What You Can Achieve #

• Open pre-orders with a deposit (percentage or fixed).
• Collect the balance near the availability date and then ship.
• Set clear expectations on the PDP (PRE-ORDER badge, availability date, “deposit now, pay the balance later”).

How It Works (Customer Flow) #

1) Reserve with a deposit #

PDP shows PRE-ORDER, availability date, and a Deposit option (e.g., 20%). Customer pays only the deposit to secure a unit.

2) Clear reservation confirmation #

Order shows amount paid and remaining balance, plus the availability date.

3) Balance payment & fulfillment #

Near availability, customer pays the outstanding balance; order moves to Processing and you ship.

Setup (Admin) #

Deposits settings #

WooCommerce → Deposits → Settings → set Deposit type (Percentage 10–30% recommended, or Fixed), Value, and Mode (Mandatory or Optional). Save.

Product settings #

Products → Edit → Pre-Order: enable and set Availability date. Ensure Deposit is enabled for this product/variation.

Best Practices #

• Prefer percentage deposits (10–30%) for higher-priced items.
• Add a short PDP note: “Reserve today with a deposit. Pay the balance when available.”
• Optionally add a countdown to the availability date.

Email & Status Notes #

Orders often remain unpaid in pre-order flows until the balance is captured. Enable email templates for the post-checkout status (e.g., On-hold/Pending) and for Processing/Completed after the balance is paid.

FAQ #

Is this available in Free versions? #

No. Free supports each feature separately. Combining Deposits + Pre-Orders requires Pro for both plugins.

Why do I need both Pro plugins? #

Deposits and Pre-Orders were created as separate tools. By user demand, we added compatibility between them available in the Premium versions of both.

Can I control when taxes/shipping/fees are charged? #

Yes (Pro). Choose to collect taxes, shipping, and extra fees with the deposit or with the final payment.

Gateway marks the order unpaid is that normal? #

Yes. In pre-order scenarios, the order typically stays unpaid until the balance is captured at or near availability.

Optional Note (Membership) #

If you prefer a broader toolkit, our Club-Membership includes access to 19 plugins. It may be more convenient than purchasing two plugins separately just an option to consider.