# How to Charge an Order Later on WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
Charging an order later in WooCommerce might seem tricky, but it’s actually quite achievable with the right approach. This is particularly useful for businesses offering services, subscriptions, or custom-made products where the final price might not be known upfront, or you prefer to invoice clients. This guide will walk you through several effective methods.
Why Charge Later? Real-Life Scenarios
Before diving into the technicalities, let’s understand why you might need this functionality:
- Custom Orders: Imagine a tailor taking measurements for a bespoke suit. The final price is determined *after* the design consultation and fabric selection. Charging immediately isn’t practical.
- Service-Based Businesses: A graphic designer might complete a logo design before sending an invoice. Charging before the work is done isn’t ideal.
- Complex Projects: A web developer working on a large-scale project might bill in stages, aligning payments with project milestones.
- Subscriptions: Subscription services often charge at the end of a billing cycle, not at the moment of signup.
- Process: Accept the order, change its status to “On Hold,” and then manually process the payment later using a separate payment gateway (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, manual bank transfer).
- Caveat: This method requires manual intervention and relies on your client’s trust. It’s less efficient for high-volume businesses.
- WooCommerce Subscriptions: Ideal for recurring billing. You can set up subscriptions where payment is automatically processed at the end of each billing period.
- Paid Memberships Pro: This plugin is excellent for membership sites where payment is processed upon signup or renewal, not necessarily immediately.
- Custom plugins: For very specific needs, a custom plugin might be the best solution. This often requires coding skills or hiring a developer.
- Process: Accept the order, create a custom invoice (either within WooCommerce using a plugin or externally), and send it to the client for payment via a preferred method (bank transfer, check, etc.).
- Caveat: This approach is highly manual and prone to errors, particularly for scaling businesses. It makes order management and reconciliation challenging.
- Low-volume, custom work: The “On Hold” status combined with manual invoicing might suffice.
- Subscription-based business: A dedicated subscription plugin is essential.
- High-volume business needing automation: A robust plugin with integration to your payment gateway is crucial.
Methods for Charging Orders Later on WooCommerce
There are several ways to achieve “charge later” functionality in WooCommerce. Let’s explore the most common and effective options:
1. Using WooCommerce’s Built-in Functionality (with caveats)
WooCommerce’s default settings *don’t* directly support charging later. It assumes immediate payment. However, you can *simulate* this by using the “On Hold” order status.
2. WooCommerce Plugins: The Easier Route
Several plugins offer more sophisticated solutions for delayed payments. These plugins typically integrate with your payment gateway and allow for more automated processes. Some popular choices include:
3. Invoicing & Manual Payment Processing (The Most Manual Approach)
This method offers maximum control but requires significant manual effort.
Choosing the Right Method: Consider Your Needs
The best method depends heavily on your business type and volume.
Remember to always clearly communicate your payment terms with clients to avoid misunderstandings.
Example using “On Hold” Status (Beginner-Friendly)
Let’s say you’re a photographer. A client orders a photoshoot. You would:
1. Receive the order in WooCommerce.
2. Change the order status to “On Hold“.
3. Complete the photoshoot.
4. Send the client an invoice (either through a plugin or manually).
5. Upon receiving payment, mark the order as “Processing” or “Completed“.
This simple method works but lacks automation. For a smoother experience, especially as your business grows, exploring plugins is recommended.
Choosing the right method to charge an order later in WooCommerce significantly impacts efficiency and customer experience. Carefully consider your specific needs and choose the option that best aligns with your business model. Remember, clear communication with your clients is key to avoiding potential issues.
