Quick answer:
To sell products you do not have on hand, use the continue-selling-when-out-of-stock setting for simple backorders, a pre-order app or purchase option for unreleased items, and clear lead times for made-to-order products. Show a realistic ship date at every step, decide whether to charge now or on shipment, and tell your ERP and 3PL how to handle orders for items that are not yet in the warehouse.
Selling something you do not have yet can add revenue, or it can create a wave of late shipments and refund requests, and the difference is how clearly you set expectations and how well your systems agree. Manufacturers and wholesalers face stockouts, production runs, and long lead times constantly, so a clean backorder and pre-order process is worth building once.
This guide compares the practical ways to take orders ahead of stock on Shopify, explains inventory and payment timing, and shows how to keep your ERP and warehouse in step.
01. The Quick Answer
Match the method to the situation. A temporary stockout needs the simplest backorder setting, an unreleased item needs a pre-order flow, and a product made after the order needs honest lead times. In every case the buyer should see the expected ship date before paying, and your inventory, payment, and fulfilment settings should all agree on what happens next.
Why it matters: most pre-order and backorder problems are not technical. They are expectation gaps between what the page promised and what the warehouse can do.
02. Four Ways to Sell What You Do Not Have Yet, Compared
| Option | Best for | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continue selling when out of stock | Temporary stockouts on items you restock regularly | Turn on the per-variant setting so inventory can go negative and orders keep flowing | No delivery date or backorder label by default, so add messaging yourself |
| Pre-order app or purchase option | New releases and items not yet produced | App or selling plan manages the pre-order label, messaging, and payment timing | App fees, theme compatibility, and how B2B catalogs and checkout treat the item |
| Made-to-order product | Items produced only after the order arrives | Sell without stock and state the production lead time on the product page | Lead time promises must match your real production schedule |
| Request a quote or draft order | Large wholesale quantities and uncertain availability | Buyer requests, you confirm availability and terms, then invoice | Slower and manual, so reserve it for orders that need a human decision |
Why it matters: these options can live side by side. Many stores backorder core products, pre-order new launches, and quote large wholesale quantities, all in the same catalog.
03. Backorder Versus Pre-Order Versus Made-to-Order
A backorder is a product you normally stock that is temporarily unavailable. A pre-order is a product that has not been released or produced. Made-to-order means you produce only after the order arrives. The labels matter because buyers read them differently: a backorder implies a restock soon, while a pre-order implies waiting for a launch. Our guide to Shopify inventory management for manufacturers covers the stock planning that keeps backorders short.
Why it matters: using the wrong label sets the wrong expectation, and the wrong expectation is what turns a delay into a complaint.
04. Inventory Settings and Overselling Risk
Do not let a backorder run past your real supply.
Allowing negative stock without a limit means a popular item can sell far more than your next shipment covers. Set a cap, review it weekly, and know your supplier or production lead time before you promote the product.
Continuing to sell at zero stock is simple, but it works only when you can restock on a predictable schedule. Pair it with a lead-time message and a regular check of the negative balance. If you also sell kits, remember that component stock drives the bundle, as explained in our guide to Shopify bundles and kits.
Why it matters: an unlimited backorder is a promise you may not be able to keep, and breaking it costs more than the sales it brought in.
05. Payment Timing and Wholesale Terms
Retail pre-orders are usually charged at order, which locks in the sale. Wholesale buyers often work on payment terms and expect to be invoiced when goods ship, so review how your company accounts and terms behave for items on backorder. Our guides to Shopify B2B features and request-a-quote and draft orders explain the tools available for large or uncertain orders.
Why it matters: charging a net-terms buyer up front, or invoicing a retail pre-order too late, creates friction that the product itself did not deserve.
06. Setting It Up Step by Step
Classify each product before choosing a tool.
Is it a temporary stockout, an unreleased item, or a made-to-order item? Each calls for different messaging, payment timing, and inventory handling.
Set a realistic ship date and put it everywhere.
Show the expected ship window on the product page, in the cart, at checkout, and in the order confirmation email, so no buyer is surprised later.
Decide how inventory should behave.
Allow negative stock only where you can restock reliably, and set a cap or a stop point so a popular item does not oversell far beyond your supply.
Choose payment timing per product type.
Charge now for pre-orders and made-to-order items, and consider invoicing on shipment for wholesale buyers on net terms.
Test a retail order and a wholesale order end to end.
Run both through checkout, fulfilment, and your ERP, including a partial shipment and a cancellation, before you promote the product.
Why it matters: classifying the product and setting the ship date come before any app is installed, because the tool only enforces the policy you have already decided.
07. Connecting to Your ERP and 3PL
Downstream systems must know that an order includes items that are not yet on hand. Decide whether the warehouse holds the whole order, ships what is available, or waits for a purchase order, then map that behaviour so picking and invoicing stay accurate. Our guides to Shopify ERP integration and Shopify 3PL integration cover how orders and stock travel between systems.
Why it matters: a warehouse that receives an order it cannot fill will either stall it or ship the wrong quantity, and customers see the result first.
08. How AtlanticWorks Helps
AtlanticWorks is a certified Shopify and HubSpot partner working with manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and DTC brands across Atlantic Canada and beyond. We choose the right backorder or pre-order approach for each product, set up inventory, messaging, and payment timing, and connect those orders to your ERP and warehouse so fulfilment stays accurate. It starts with a free assessment.
09. Key Takeaways
- Backorders, pre-orders, and made-to-order are different situations. Name which one you have before picking a tool.
- The simplest backorder method is continuing to sell at zero stock, but you must add the delivery messaging yourself.
- Show a realistic ship date on the product page, in the cart, at checkout, and in the confirmation email.
- Wholesale buyers often expect invoicing on shipment and partial shipments, so test a company checkout separately.
- Tell your ERP and 3PL how to treat orders for items not yet on hand, or fulfilment will stall.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up pre-orders on Shopify?
Shopify has no single universal pre-order switch for every store, so the usual routes are a pre-order app, a purchase option or selling plan that your theme and apps support, or the simpler approach of allowing the product to keep selling at zero stock with clear delivery messaging. Check the current Shopify documentation and your plan in the admin, since features change.
What is the difference between a backorder and a pre-order?
A backorder is an order for a product you normally stock that is temporarily out of stock. A pre-order is an order for a product that has not been released or produced yet. Backorders are about timing a restock, while pre-orders are about demand before launch, and each needs different customer messaging.
Can I let customers buy out-of-stock products on Shopify?
Yes. Each variant has a setting to continue selling when out of stock, which lets inventory go negative so orders keep coming in. This is the simplest backorder method, but it does not add a delivery date or a backorder label on its own, so add that messaging in the theme or with an app.
Should I charge the customer now or when the product ships?
It depends on your risk and your buyers. Charging at order is simplest and protects you from cancellations, but wholesale buyers on net terms usually expect to be invoiced on shipment. Decide payment timing per product type, and state it clearly on the product page and at checkout to reduce disputes.
Do wholesale and B2B buyers need different backorder rules?
Often yes. Wholesale buyers may accept longer lead times, place larger quantities, and expect partial shipments. Confirm how your catalogs, quantity rules, and draft orders behave for backordered items, and test a company checkout end to end before relying on it.
How do pre-orders and backorders sync with my ERP and 3PL?
Your ERP and warehouse need to know that an order contains items that are not yet on hand. Decide whether they should hold the order, release it in part, or wait for a purchase order to land, and map that behaviour before launch so picking and invoicing do not fail or ship the wrong quantity.
Are there legal or consumer protection issues with selling items you do not have?
Be clear and honest about availability and expected ship dates, and do not take payment for an item you cannot reasonably deliver. Consumer protection rules in Canada expect accurate delivery information, and we are not lawyers, so confirm your wording and refund approach with your own legal advisor.
Related Resources
Keeping stock accurate and backorders short
Component inventory, pricing, and ERP sync for kits
Handling large or uncertain wholesale orders
Syncing orders, inventory, and terms with your back office
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