Offline Payment Methods

Offline payment methods are ways to pay for orders that do not require a credit card or a traditional payment gateway. These can be helpful alternatives to make payments attainable for shoppers. Unlike online payment methods, collecting payment is not immediate in these methods.

The options for offline payment methods in BigCommerce are Bank Deposit, Cash on Delivery, Check, Money Order, and Pay in Store. See Local or In-Store Pickup for details on how to take orders in your physical store locations. 

When the customer places their order, they will be shown the information and instructions you provide. The order will be placed in Awaiting Payment status. At the point when you receive the payment, you can manually set the order to the Awaiting Fulfillment or another order status as you process the order.

To set up an offline payment method, go to Settings › Payments and click Offline Payment Methods to expand the list.

Click the Set up button beside the offline method that you want to use.

You will be taken to a new tab, where you can set up the offline payment method. Enter a name to display at checkout, select eligible countries, and include any additional required information.

You can set up your store to allow your customers to make a payment directly into your bank account by setting up a Bank Deposit payment method. This payment method displays your bank account information and instructions to your customer after their order is complete.

As this is an offline method, no payment gateway or merchant accounts are required, although the order will need to be updated manually when payment is received. In the Bank Deposit Settings tab, enter your preferences in the fields below.

• Display Name — what will your customers see this option called during checkout? (Consider Bank Deposit or Pay by Bank Deposit).
• Available Countries — which customers should see the option to pay via bank deposit? Only customers who enter a billing address within these countries will see this option. We recommend limiting it to countries within your region.
• Account Information — this should include all the bank account information necessary for the shopper to make a bank deposit payment. You can also include any further instructions. This text will appear on the order confirmation page and in the confirmation email sent to the shopper.

You can set up your online store to allow your customers to pay you with cash by setting up a Cash on Delivery payment method. Specify an address for the shopper to send the payment as well as other preferences in the fields under the Cash on Delivery Settings tab.

• Display Name — what will your customers see this option called during checkout? (Consider Cash on Delivery or Pay by Cash on Delivery).
• Available Countries — which customers should see the option to pay via cash on delivery? Only customers who enter a billing address within these countries will see this option. We recommend limiting it to countries within your region.
• Delivery Information —edit the text field to include the address to send the payment and any additional information. This information will be displayed on the order confirmation page and in the confirmation email.

You can set up your online store to allow your customers to pay you by check by setting up a Check payment method. This payment method displays your mailing address and instructions for sending the check when your customer completes their order.

Enter your information in the fields under the Check Settings tab.

• Display Name — what will your customers see this option called during checkout? (Consider Check or Pay by Check)
• Available Countries — which customers should see the option to pay via check? Only customers who enter a billing address within these countries will see this option. We recommend limiting it to countries within your region.
• Payment Information — edit the text field to include your mailing address, who customers should make the check out to, and any additional instructions. This information will be displayed on the order confirmation page and in the confirmation email.

You can set up your online store to allow your customers to pay you via money order by setting up a Money Order payment method. When a customer completes their order, they will be shown the information and mailing instructions you provide.

In the Money Order Settings tab, fill in the following fields:

• Display Name — what will your customers see this option called during checkout? (Consider Money Order or Pay by Money Order)
• Available Countries — which customers should see the option to pay via money order? Only customers who enter a billing address within these countries will see this option. We recommend limiting it to countries within your region.
• Account Information — edit the text field to include your mailing address and any additional instructions. This information will be displayed on the order confirmation page and in the confirmation email.

The final offline method is Pay in Store, which has your customers make payments at your physical store location. This is best used when offering In-Store Pickup.

Enter payment instructions and other information in the fields within the Pay in Store Settings tab.

• Display Name — what will your customers see this option called during checkout? (Consider Pay in Store or In-Store Pickup).
• Available Countries — which customers should see the option to pay via money order? Only customers who enter a billing address within these countries will see this option. We recommend limiting it to countries within your region.
• Payment Information — edit the text field to include your store's physical address and any additional instructions for how to handle in-store payments. This information will be displayed on the order confirmation page and in the confirmation email.