Payments
From the customer's card to your bank.
Shopify Payments is how customers pay on your website: by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with the money paid into your own bank every few days. We never see or touch it. This guide covers payouts, refunds, disputes, cash on collection and taking payments at the counter.
How the money moves
Paid by card. Paid into your bank.
The basics every owner should know.
01
Shopify Payments
Customers pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the payment goes to your Shopify account, not ours.
02
Payouts
Shopify sends your takings, less card fees, to your bank every few working days, listed under Finance, then Payouts.
03
Refunds
Open the order, press Refund and choose the items or amount, and the money goes back to the customer's card.
04
Chargebacks
If a customer disputes a payment with their bank, Shopify tells you and you send evidence from the order page.
05
Cash on collection
It can be switched on, but unpaid orders are more likely to be left uncollected, so most shops stay card only online.
06
Taking cards in the shop
Shopify's optional point of sale app and card reader put shop and online sales in one place.
07
VAT on receipts
If you are VAT registered, your VAT number and VAT can show on receipts, at the rates your accountant gives us.
08
Fraud checks
Shopify flags risky orders, so check the warning on the order before you prepare it.
Payments
Money questions, answered.
When does Shopify pay me?
Every few working days, on a schedule shown in your admin under Finance, then Payouts. The first payout can take longer while Shopify checks your account.
Why is my Shopify payout less than my sales?
Card fees, refunds and any chargebacks come off before the payout. Each payout lists the orders and fees inside it.
Can I change the bank account Shopify pays into?
Yes. The owner can change it in Shopify Payments settings, and Shopify may ask you to confirm your identity again.
How do I refund an order on Shopify?
Open the order, press Refund, choose the items or the amount, and confirm. The customer gets an email, and the money usually reaches their card within a few working days.
What is a chargeback?
A chargeback is when a customer asks their bank to reverse a payment. Shopify tells you by email, holds the money and the dispute fee, and you can respond with evidence such as the order, the collection time and any messages.
How do I avoid chargebacks?
Clear descriptions and photos, a name on the receipt customers recognise, and a quick reply when someone complains. Most disputes start with a customer who could not reach the shop.
Can customers pay cash when they collect?
Yes, as a pay on collection option. The risk is orders that are never picked up, so many shops allow it for regulars by phone and keep the website card only.
Can I take card payments in the shop with Shopify?
Yes. Shopify has a point of sale app and card readers, and some phones can take tap payments directly, but it is optional and you can keep your current card machine.
Can online orders print at the counter?
Yes. We set orders to come to your phone and, if you want, to a small printer at the counter, so the team sees each ticket.
Does my receipt need to show VAT?
Yes, if you are VAT registered. Your receipts and invoices should show your VAT number and the VAT charged, and we set Shopify up to do that.
Which VAT rate applies to my food?
Your accountant decides, because food VAT is tricky; hot and cold food, for example, can be treated differently. We are not tax advisers, so we set the rates they give us.
Can I get sales reports for my accountant?
Yes. Shopify has sales, tax and payout reports you can download, and your accountant can have their own limited staff account.
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