Sales Report

[SallyG]

Why are unpaid draft orders included in our daily sales? A sale isn't a sale until we have collected the funds.  I realize Shopify was created around retail stores, but our biz is 50 service, 50 retail and we have a tough time making Shopify work on our service side. 

Thx

[PageFly-Garcia]

Hi @SallyG 
As far as I know unpaid draft orders are included in Shopify's daily sales reports because they track the value of products as soon as an order is placed, not when payment is collected. This inclusion aligns with Shopify’s design, which caters primarily to retail environments where orders are typically paid for quickly. For businesses with a service component, this can cause discrepancies in sales tracking, as unpaid drafts might be considered premature sales. To manage this, consider customizing your reports or using additional tools to differentiate between paid and unpaid orders more accurately. 

For more detailed information, you can refer to Shopify's help center: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/reports-and-analytics/shopify-reports/report-types/default-report...

[INA_MSWEB]

Hi @SallyG  Thank you for reaching out with your query regarding the inclusion of unpaid draft orders in your daily sales reports. I understand the concerns this raises, especially when dealing with a business model that combines both service and retail components.

Unpaid Draft Orders in Daily Sales

In Shopify, draft orders are designed to allow flexibility for merchants to create orders on behalf of customers or to facilitate special circumstances, such as invoicing for services or wholesale orders. These draft orders, once created, are often included in daily sales reports by default, even if the payment has not yet been collected.

Why This Happens:

1. Shopify’s reporting is primarily designed around retail transactions, where an order typically translates immediately into a sale.
2. Draft orders are considered as potential sales, hence included in sales metrics to provide a complete picture of all pending transactions.

Recommendations to Address This Issue:

1. Use Shopify’s reporting tools to create custom reports that exclude unpaid draft orders. This can be done by filtering orders based on their payment status.
2. Consider using Shopify apps that help manage and automate the tracking of order statuses to ensure only paid orders reflect in your primary sales reports.

Shopify Coupon Discount on Cart App 

The Coupon Discount on Cart app can enhance your Shopify experience, particularly on the retail side of your business, by encouraging quicker payment and completion of sales. Automatically apply discounts at the cart level, making it easier for customers to see their savings upfront, which can drive quicker purchase decisions. By providing immediate incentives, customers are more likely to complete their purchase rather than leave it as a draft order. Simplifies the checkout process, reducing friction and increasing the likelihood of payment completion. Gain insights into which discounts are most effective, allowing you to tailor your promotional strategies to maximize sales.

I hope this provides a clear understanding and potential solution to your query. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional assistance.

Best regards,

Ina