How can I set up customer accounts in an eCommerce platform?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Setting up customer accounts with an “on account” option at checkout in Shopify. The requester wants customers to place orders without immediate payment and be billed later, considering this a core need and saying it’s often requested.

Cost constraint and urgency: they are unwilling to pay an extra $50 USD for an add-on and may switch platforms when their subscription renews if this isn’t feasible. They’re asking for suggestions that don’t require extra fees.

A responder asks a key clarification: should Shopify automatically collect payment later, or will the merchant handle invoicing/collection internally?

“On account” explained: allowing checkout on net terms/invoice, deferring payment rather than charging at the time of order.

Current status: no solution or decision provided yet; the thread is awaiting more details on payment handling to guide recommendations. No images or code included.

Summarized with AI on January 10. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I’ve been looking into how I can set up customer accounts in Shopify. At minimum, having the ability to allow a customer to choose “on account” at checkout.

This seems like such an important (and often requested) feature - why is it not already a feature?

I am not interested in paying an additional $50 USD for a feature that should already be integrated.

I have been using Shopify for almost a year - I have a few more months before my subscription is due again. I hate the thought (and work involved) with switching to another system, but I need something else that works better with customer accounts. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Amber

2

Are you needing Shopify to then automatically pull payment from them? Or are you going to do that with your own internal system?