Pre-orders on Shopify for Singapore stores

Information checked as of 15 October 2026

Pre-orders let you sell a product before it's in stock: a new launch, a restock of a sold-out bestseller, or a made-to-order item. They help with cash flow and demand forecasting, but they come with payment, tax and consumer-protection questions. This guide covers how pre-orders work on Shopify, when to charge, what Singapore's GST and fair trading rules mean, and how to keep customers informed.

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. It summarises Shopify, IRAS and Singapore legislation sources as of the date above.

How pre-orders work on Shopify

Shopify's pre-orders help says you need to install a pre-order app from the Shopify App Store and set up products there; you then manage the orders in your Shopify admin. Pre-orders are only available to merchants using Shopify Payments or PayPal Express. The apps use Shopify's native purchase options (selling plans), so the payment terms show at checkout and on the order. Shopify's guide to pre-orders covers the same setup.

If you uninstall a pre-order app, Shopify says the pre-order data you created in it is deleted after 48 hours, although stored payment details stay with Shopify. Choose an app carefully before launch.

Pre-order apps

Examples on the Shopify App Store, as described in their listings:

• PreProduct: charge upfront, later on a saved card, or by deposit, with fulfilment holds until stock arrives.
• Essent Preorder Back in Stock: pre-orders with full or partial payment, plus back-in-stock alerts.
• Downpay: deposits and partial payments for custom and pre-order products.

Check each listing for supported payment options, mixed-cart handling and whether it works with your theme and markets.

Charge now, take a deposit, or charge later

Shopify says you can collect full, partial or no payment when the customer orders. Collecting payment stores the customer's payment method, so you can charge the rest later.

• Charge in full now: simplest and best for cash flow, but you hold the customer's money until you ship, so refunds matter more.
• Deposit now, balance later: lowers the barrier for high-value items. Make the balance due date and what happens to the deposit on cancellation clear.
• Charge later: the card is saved and charged when stock is ready. It's the most customer-friendly, but a charge can fail if the card expires or lacks funds.

The managing pre-orders page explains how to collect remaining payments from the admin.

Authorisation windows and capture

Manual capture is not the same as a deferred pre-order charge. With manual capture, the card is authorised at checkout and charged when you capture. Shopify's pages on payment authorisation and capturing payments say the Shopify Payments authorisation period is 7 days; capture within it, or you may not be able to collect. That suits stock arriving within days, not weeks. For longer waits, use an app that saves the payment method and charges later. Funds you capture follow your normal Shopify Payments payout schedule.

GST timing on pre-order payments and deposits

If you're GST-registered, IRAS says the time of supply is generally the earlier of when you issue an invoice or receive payment, according to its guide on when to report supplies. For pre-orders that means:

• Charging in full at checkout generally triggers GST in that period, even if you ship months later.
• A deposit that's a part payment towards the price is subject to GST when received, according to IRAS's page on deposits and downpayments. A security deposit that's refundable and not a part payment isn't, until it's used as payment.
• If you charge later, GST is generally accounted for when you invoice or collect payment, whichever comes first.

If you refund a pre-order, adjust the GST in the period of the refund. Our service business guide covers deposits in more detail.

Delivery dates, the CPFTA and refunds

The Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act lists unfair practices in its Second Schedule. One is accepting payment for goods or services when the supplier knows or should know it can't supply them within the period specified or, if none is specified, within a reasonable time. The CCCS and CASE explain how consumers can seek redress for unfair practices.

• Give a realistic ship date or window, not "coming soon".
• If a date slips, tell customers promptly and offer a refund to anyone who doesn't want to wait.
• State your pre-order cancellation and refund terms in your policy and on the product page. Our returns and refunds guide covers the wider rules.

Chargeback risk

Shopify's pre-orders help warns that collecting payment early without clear communication can lead to chargebacks. Customers who forget a pre-order or don't recognise a delayed charge may dispute it. To reduce the risk:

• Label the product, cart and checkout clearly as a pre-order with the expected ship date.
• Send a confirmation that explains when they'll be charged and when it ships.
• Send updates before a deferred charge and when the order ships.
• Use a store name customers recognise on card statements.

Communicating ship dates

Put the date in several places: the product page, the cart, the order confirmation and a tag on the order so your team can filter pre-orders. Avoid mixing pre-order and in-stock items in one shipment unless your app supports split fulfilment, or customers wait for everything. If you also sell to trade buyers, our B2B and wholesale guide covers trade orders, net terms and invoicing.

Frequently asked questions

Does Shopify have pre-orders built in?

Shopify handles pre-order payments natively, but you set up pre-order products through an app from the Shopify App Store. Shopify's Help Center says pre-orders are only available to merchants using Shopify Payments or PayPal Express.

Can I authorise a card now and charge it when the stock arrives?

Only for a short wait. With manual capture, Shopify Payments authorisations last 7 days, and you need to capture within that window. For longer lead times, use a pre-order app that saves the payment method and charges it later, or take a deposit.

When do I account for GST on a pre-order?

IRAS treats the time of supply as the earlier of issuing an invoice or receiving payment. If you charge the full price at checkout, GST is generally due in that accounting period, even if you ship later. For a deposit that's a part payment, GST is due on the deposit when you receive it, and on the balance later.

What if the pre-order is delayed?

Tell customers as soon as you know, give a new date and offer a refund. Under the CPFTA, accepting payment when you know or should know you can't supply within the stated or a reasonable time is listed as an unfair practice.

Do pre-orders increase chargeback risk?

They can. Shopify warns that charging customers long before shipping without clear communication can lead to chargebacks. Show the expected ship date on the product page, in the cart and in emails, and keep customers updated.

Planning a launch or restock? A Shopify trial lets you install a pre-order app, test full, deposit and pay-later options, and check the customer emails first.

Start a Shopify trial →

References

Rules, features and fees change, so check the live page before you act on anything here.

1. Pre-orders, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 15 October 2026.
2. Managing pre-orders, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 15 October 2026.
3. How to set up pre-orders on Shopify, Shopify Singapore blog. Accessed 15 October 2026.
4. Payment authorization and capture, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 15 October 2026.
5. Capturing payments for your orders, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 15 October 2026.
6. PreProduct pre-order, Shopify App Store. Accessed 15 October 2026.
7. Essent Preorder Back in Stock, Shopify App Store. Accessed 15 October 2026.
8. Downpay: Partial Pay & Deposit, Shopify App Store. Accessed 15 October 2026.
9. When to report supplies in GST returns, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Accessed 15 October 2026.
10. Deposits and downpayment, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Accessed 15 October 2026.
11. Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003, Second Schedule, Singapore Statutes Online. Accessed 15 October 2026.
12. Consumer protection FAQs, Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore. Accessed 15 October 2026.
13. CPFTA and lemon law, Consumers Association of Singapore. Accessed 15 October 2026.