Apr 10, 2025

How to enable split payments on your Shopify store?

Today's shoppers expect options, especially when it comes to how they pay. Countless Shopify merchants transform their conversion rates by simply adding more flexibility at checkout. Split payments aren't just a trendy feature anymore; they're becoming essential for stores that want to stay competitive. Ready to give your customers the payment flexibility they're craving? Let's dive into everything you need to know about adding split payment options to your Shopify store.

Understanding Split Payments in Shopify

What are split payments?

Split payments break down a purchase into more manageable pieces—whether that's spreading costs over time or dividing them between different payment methods. Think of it as removing that "can I really afford this?" hesitation that happens right before checkout. With split payments, your customers can say "yes" to purchases they might otherwise delay or abandon altogether.

Benefits of offering split payments to customers

Adding split payment options to your Shopify store isn't just nice for shoppers—it's fantastic for your bottom line:

Conversion rates typically jump 20-30% when you offer payment installments [Shopify]
Customers tend to spend more when they can spread payments out
Shoppers feel more valued when given flexible options
Your store stands out from competitors still stuck with rigid payment options
Those scary cart abandonment numbers? Watch them drop

Different types of split payment options

Deposit payments

Deposit payment is the "save my spot" approach—customers pay some upfront, the rest later. This works wonders for pre-orders, custom-made products, or anything with a higher price tag. Savvy merchants add a deposit badge to their product images so shoppers spot this option right away.

Multiple payment methods

Ever wanted to use part gift card, part credit card? That's where multiple payment methods shine. This option lets customers combine different payment forms for a single purchase—super helpful when someone has a partial gift card or wants to split between cards.

Shared payment between multiple people

Shared payment or payment sharing is the digital equivalent of "everyone pitch in!" Perfect for group gifts or when friends want to split the cost of something bigger. No more collecting cash from five different people—the system handles it seamlessly.

Installment payments

Installment payments or payment in installments are the rock stars of modern ecommerce—equal payments spread over time. This includes wildly popular Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services like Shop Pay Installments and Split Payment. Customers love seeing that big purchase transformed into manageable monthly payments.

How to Enable Split Payments on Shopify?

Shopify native partial payment options

Straight out of the box, Shopify is a bit limited when it comes to partial payments. The standard platform doesn't naturally support splitting transactions across multiple payment methods or taking deposits without some extra help.

Split payment limitations on standard Shopify plans

If you're on a standard plan, your Shopify split payment options are pretty restricted. You'll need to explore:

Third-party apps (more on these shortly)
Creative workarounds with draft orders
Or possibly upgrading to Shopify Plus for more native options

Shopify Plus requirements for native split payments

Shopify Plus merchants get more built-in tools for payment division, especially when dealing with B2B customers. Plus merchants can take advantage of features like vaulted credit cards and advanced payment customization that standard stores can't access.

Setting up draft orders for manual split payments

Not ready for an app? Here's a scrappy way to handle split payments using draft orders in your Shopify admin:

Create a draft order listing all the customer's items
Send them an invoice for just the deposit amount
After they pay that, create a second invoice for what's left
Keep tabs on everything through your admin panel

But let's be real—this manual payment method gets tedious fast if you're dealing with more than a handful of orders daily.

Can I Use 2 Payment Methods on Shopify?

Native options for using multiple payment methods

Out of the box, Shopify doesn't let customers split a single purchase across multiple credit cards or payment methods during checkout. Each transaction is typically processed through just one payment method.

Workarounds for standard Shopify stores

Want to offer multiple payment methods on your standard Shopify store? Consider these approaches:

Installing dedicated split payment apps from the Shopify App Store
Breaking purchases into separate orders for different payment portions (clunky but workable)
Using draft orders with manual payment handling (as described earlier)

Best practices for managing multiple payment methods

When you implement multiple payment methods:

Keep meticulous records of all transactions
Create a reliable system for payment tracking
Make your payment terms crystal clear to customers
Set up automated deadline reminder emails (nobody likes surprise due dates)

Third-Party Split Payment Apps for Shopify

SPD Split Payment & Deposit app

The SPD Split Payment & Deposit app by FINLOOP SOLUTIONS LLC offers a complete toolkit for various split payment scenarios:

Installment payments with terms you can tailor to your needs
Deposit payment options using either percentage-based payment or fixed amount payment
Multiple payment options in one clean interface
Shared payment capabilities for group purchases
Deposit badge features that highlight payment options right on product images

Comparing features and pricing

When shopping for a split payment app, keep an eye on:

Fee structures—some offer zero commission while others take a percentage
Which payment types they support (deposits, installments, etc.)
How smoothly they work with your existing theme and apps
Quality of customer support—because you'll need it at some point
Inventory synchronization capabilities—crucial for avoiding overselling

Installation and setup process

Most split payment apps follow this general setup flow:

Add the app from the Shopify App Store
Set up your preferred payment options
Craft customer-facing messaging that's clear and enticing
Run a few test orders through the checkout process
Go live and watch those conversions climb

How to Activate Shop Pay Installments on Shopify?

Shop Pay Installments requirements

Before you can offer Shop Pay Installments, make sure your store:

Uses Shopify Payments as your payment processor
Operates in an eligible country (currently just US and Canada)
Has your store in good standing (no funny business)
Sells eligible products—most physical items qualify

Step-by-step setup guide

Ready to activate Shop Pay Installments? Here's how:

Head to Settings > Payments in your Shopify admin
Under Shopify Payments, click Manage
Look for the "Buy now, pay later" section
Flip the switch to turn on Shop Pay Installments
Read through and accept the terms (yes, actually read them)

Customizing the installment options

While Shop Pay Installments isn't wildly customizable, you can still:

Select which products should display installment messaging
Tweak where installment info appears on product pages
Turn messaging on or off at different customer journey touchpoints

Testing your Shop Pay Installments setup

After activating, double-check your Shop Pay Installments setup by:

Browsing your store as if you were a customer
Walking through the entire checkout process in test mode
Making sure installment messaging shows up correctly
Checking both mobile and desktop views—they can differ dramatically

Implementing Deposit Payments for Products

Setting up deposit options in your store

To get deposit payment options up and running:

Install a reliable split payment app like SPD
Decide between percentage-based payment or fixed amount payment for deposits
Select which products should offer the deposit option
Set minimum deposit requirements (25%? 50%?)
Draft clear messaging so customers understand the process

Collecting the remaining balance

For smoothly collecting those remainders after initial deposits:

Set crystal-clear due dates for final payments
Create automated deadline reminder emails (3-5 days before due is the sweet spot)
Make it dead simple for customers to record payment of remaining balances
Establish fair policies for what happens if someone doesn't pay the rest

Adding deposit badges to product images

A deposit badge is like a little "psst, you can buy this with a deposit" whisper right on your product images. Apps like SPD can automatically add these eye-catching badges to eligible products, making your flexible payment options impossible to miss.

Managing inventory with deposits

When offering deposit payment options, getting inventory synchronization right is non-negotiable:

Decide exactly when to reserve inventory—at deposit or full payment?
Configure your app to properly flag items as sold after deposit
Create a clear restock policy for when deposit orders get abandoned

Managing and Tracking Split Payments

Order management with partial payments

Orders with partial payments need a different approach:

Use a system that clearly identifies partially paid status
Create rules about when to fulfill based on payment completion
Make sure your team knows exactly how to handle orders waiting for final payment

Reporting and accounting considerations

For keeping the books straight with split payments:

Verify your accounting system can properly handle split transactions
Build reports that clearly show collected funds vs. outstanding balances
Develop a solid process for reconciling payments across different methods
Talk to your accountant about tax implications—timing of collection matters!

Following up on remaining balances

Create a no-fail system for following up on outstanding payments:

Draft templated (but personable) emails for balance reminders
Set a thoughtful cadence—perhaps 7 days before due, 3 days before, day of
Don't rely just on email—add SMS for critical reminders
Know exactly what you'll do when payments are late

Best Practices for Split Payment Implementation

Communicating payment options to customers

Clear communication about payment options makes all the difference:

Add straightforward messaging to product pages explaining available options
Include payment flexibility information in your FAQs (because people actually read those)
Use deposit badge elements to make eligible products pop
Ensure your customer service team can explain payment options in their sleep

Optimizing the checkout experience

Keep your checkout process clean and simple, even with these added options:

Maintain a streamlined interface despite having multiple options
Clearly show the financial benefit of each payment choice
Ensure payment options display properly on mobile (where most shopping happens nowadays)
Test with real humans regularly—what seems obvious to you might confuse customers

Troubleshooting Common Split Payment Issues

Handling failed partial payments

When partial payments hit a snag:

Set up instant alerts to both you and the customer
Create a hassle-free recovery process that makes retrying payment painless
Have a clear policy for what happens after multiple payment failures

Customer support for split payment questions

Get your support team ready for these common split payments questions:

"What happens after I place my deposit?"
"When and how do I pay the rest?"
"Can I cancel after paying a deposit?"
"Any chance of extending my payment deadline?"

Adding split payments to your Shopify store takes some planning but delivers serious rewards. Whether you go with Shop Pay Installments, a specialized app like the SPD Split Payment & Deposit app, or even manual methods through draft orders, giving customers payment flexibility almost always boosts sales and builds loyalty.

By following the strategies in this guide, you'll be well on your way to implementing split payment options that work for both your business model and your customers' wallets. And in today's competitive ecommerce landscape, that flexibility might just be the edge that sets your store apart.