How to Do a Test Order on Shopify: The Ultimate Guide

Why Shopify Test Orders Matter for Your Business Success

Launching an online store takes careful planning. One key area often overlooked is testing. You wouldn't open a restaurant without a practice run in the kitchen. Likewise, launching your Shopify store without testing invites trouble. Shopify test orders are your virtual trial run. They let you experience the checkout process just like your customers, without the financial risks.

Imagine a customer trying to use a discount code during a sale, only to find it’s broken. This small glitch can lead to frustration and lost sales. Regular testing helps you catch these small but important problems before they affect your customers. This improves your conversion rates and prevents launch-day problems. Test orders also help spot errors in the checkout process, such as incorrect taxes or shipping costs.

Shopify test orders are essential for merchants launching new stores or making changes to their checkout process. They allow owners to simulate real orders without using real credit cards. This lets you check the entire purchase process in a safe environment. According to Firebear Studio (2025), test orders help catch common errors like incorrect discounts or shipping rates, vital for a smooth customer experience. Test orders are important because they replicate real-world scenarios, including various payment gateways and methods, ensuring everything works correctly before launch. This attention to detail can greatly reduce cart abandonment rates and build customer trust. For more on Shopify, check out this article: How to master your Shopify store.

Real-World Impact of Test Orders

Real-world examples show how test orders have prevented problems for businesses. One Shopify merchant found their inventory wasn't updating after a purchase. Another discovered inaccurate shipping costs for international orders. These issues, if undiscovered, could have led to lost money and unhappy customers.

Test orders are especially helpful when adding new products, running sales, or using new apps. A new product launch can reveal problems with product options or bundles. Sales can highlight problems with discount codes or inventory. Using test orders to simulate these situations helps you fix problems before they impact your customers. This leads to a smoother checkout, higher sales, and satisfied customers. Understanding the whole process helps you improve every stage, from finding a product to order confirmation, creating a positive experience for each shopper.

Preparing Your Store For Effective Test Orders

Understanding the importance of test orders is crucial for your Shopify store's success, especially if you're looking to boost sales. Before diving into testing, it's essential to ensure your store's settings are properly configured. Many merchants overlook these critical steps, leading to inaccurate test results and potential problems down the line. This guide provides practical advice for setting up your store for optimal testing.

Accessing Your Payment Settings and Enabling Test Gateways

First, navigate to your payment settings within the Shopify admin panel. This is where you'll enable a test payment gateway without impacting your live transactions. Shopify provides the Bogus Gateway, a simulated payment processor that doesn't use real money. This allows you to run test orders without incurring any charges. Alternatively, you can use your regular payment gateway's test mode, if available. This is particularly useful for simulating real-world payment scenarios.

Simulating Different Payment Scenarios

Experienced Shopify merchants design their tests to encompass a wide range of payment situations. They simulate successful transactions, declined cards, and even specific error messages. By mimicking these scenarios, you can verify that your store handles each one correctly. Consider it a dress rehearsal for your store's checkout process, preparing it for all possible outcomes.

Testing with Different Product Types

Testing with various product types is paramount. Physical, digital, and subscription products each have unique checkout flows. A physical product necessitates shipping information, while a digital product does not. Subscription products require recurring billing setup. By testing each type, you ensure your store functions flawlessly for all your offerings. You might find this helpful: How to master adding products to Shopify.

Preparing Inventory and Shipping For Testing

Finally, prepare your inventory and shipping settings for testing. Allocate specific products or variants for test orders. This helps prevent confusion with your live inventory and keeps your records clean. Also, configure test shipping rates to avoid charging customers real shipping costs during testing, ensuring accurate cost calculations throughout your tests.

To help you choose the right test payment gateway, refer to the table below:

To help you understand your test payment options better, let's take a look at the following comparison:

Test Payment Gateway Options in Shopify

This table compares different test payment methods available in Shopify and their specific use cases.

Payment Gateway	Test Capability	Best For	Setup Difficulty	Limitations
Bogus Gateway	Simulates various transaction outcomes (successful, declined, pending)	General testing, verifying order processing	Easy	Doesn't process real payments
Payment Gateway Test Mode (if available)	Tests real payment flows with test card numbers	Testing specific gateway integrations, verifying real-world scenarios	Medium	Requires specific setup with your payment provider

By following the steps outlined above and using this table as a guide, you can create a realistic testing environment for your store. This meticulous preparation will not only streamline your testing process but also provide valuable insights into your store's performance. Increasing Shopify sales often relies on a robust testing strategy. This methodical approach will help set the stage for accurate results and ultimately contribute to your business's success.

Creating Your First Shopify Test Order: Step-by-Step

Before you run a test order, make sure your Shopify store is set up correctly. You might even want to browse the Shopify Marketplace for helpful apps. Now, let's walk through your first test order. This guide shows you how to simulate a real purchase without spending any actual money.

The infographic above shows the Shopify admin dashboard. Notice the clear "Setup Test Order" indicator. This highlights how easy it is to run a test transaction right from your store's backend. This simple process gives you valuable insights into your customer's checkout experience.

Using the Bogus Gateway

Shopify has a built-in Bogus Gateway to simulate transactions without real payments. This is the easiest method for most test situations.

Enable the Bogus Gateway: In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Payments. If you use Shopify Payments, deactivate it temporarily. Under Third-party providers, select Choose a provider, then Bogus Gateway. Click Activate.
Add Products to Cart: Browse your online store as a customer would and add some products to the shopping cart.
Proceed to Checkout: Go through each checkout step, filling in the customer information.
Use Test Card Numbers: When you get to the payment stage, use the test card numbers provided by Shopify for the Bogus Gateway. Use "1" as the card number for a successful transaction. Other numbers will simulate declined card scenarios.
Complete the Order: Finish the order as you would with a real purchase.

Testing with Shopify Payments (Test Mode)

If you use Shopify Payments, you can use its Test Mode to simulate real payment processing. This helps you test specific payment scenarios and card types.

Enable Test Mode: In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Payments. In the Shopify Payments section, click Manage. Under Test Mode, click Enable test mode.
Follow Checkout Steps: Just like with the Bogus Gateway, add products to your cart and proceed to checkout.
Use Specific Test Card Numbers: Shopify provides test card numbers for simulating both successful and declined transactions with various card types (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
Complete the Order: Finalize the test order.

Placing a Shopify test order is a practical process. Store owners worldwide use it to ensure their checkout process runs smoothly before launching to customers. Shopify's Help Center recommends enabling test payment gateways, like the Bogus Gateway, which mimics payments without using real money. You select the Bogus Gateway in your payment settings, then go to checkout using test credit card numbers. (Remember, card number "1" simulates a successful transaction.) Test orders let you check several key things: payment processing, order confirmation emails, inventory updates, and shipping cost calculations. For example, a test order confirms that a 10% discount code results in the correct total. Shopify's testing system supports credit card simulations and offline payments. This is important because 87% of Shopify stores worldwide accept multiple payment types. This robust testing helps reduce checkout abandonment by validating the user experience and making sure everything works correctly. Merchants in major markets like the US, UK, and Australia frequently use test orders to troubleshoot their stores. This is crucial, especially considering the average Shopify order value was $87 as of early 2025. Every transaction needs to be perfect. Learn more about Shopify test orders here.

Verifying Results

After placing a test order, double-check these things:

Order Confirmation: Did you receive a correctly formatted order confirmation email?
Inventory Update: Did your inventory levels change accordingly?
Customer Data: Is the customer information accurately recorded in your Shopify admin?
Shipping and Taxes: Were the shipping costs and taxes calculated correctly?
Discounts and Promotions: If you used a discount or promotion, did it apply correctly to the final price?

By carefully following these steps, you can thoroughly test your Shopify store's checkout process. This ensures a smooth and positive shopping experience for all your customers. Finding and fixing problems before they impact real customers protects your brand and helps boost sales.

Beyond Basics: Testing Critical Checkout Scenarios

The difference between basic and professional Shopify test orders lies in the depth of scenario coverage. While confirming a simple purchase is a good start, top-performing merchants go further. They understand a robust checkout experience requires rigorous testing of various scenarios. This builds a bulletproof checkout, inspiring customer confidence and minimizing cart abandonment.

Discount Codes and Promotions

Thoroughly test your discount code functionality. This involves more than just applying a code. Test various scenarios:

Expired codes
Minimum purchase requirements
Specific product exclusions
Multiple code combinations (if allowed)
Code case sensitivity

For example, if you're running a "20% off" promotion, confirm the discount is accurately calculated for different order values and product combinations. A small error here could mean significant losses over time.

Taxes and Shipping

Next, verify your tax calculations across different regions. Ensure taxes are accurately applied based on the customer's shipping address. This is especially important for international stores.

Test your shipping options, simulating orders with various weights, dimensions, and destinations. Verify offered shipping rates are correctly calculated and match your carrier’s pricing. This prevents surprises for you and your customers.

Mobile Checkout and Guest Purchases

A seamless mobile checkout is critical. Test your checkout process on different devices and browsers to identify any mobile-specific issues.

Also, test both guest purchases and account creation flows. Ensure the checkout experience is smooth and intuitive for both customer types.

Check out our guide on How to master Shopify conversion optimization to further enhance your process.

Advanced Checkout Features

Beyond the basics, test any advanced features:

Upsells and cross-sells: Verify these function correctly and don't disrupt checkout.
Gift card redemptions: Test different gift card amounts and combinations with other discounts.
Multiple payment methods: Confirm all integrated payment gateways are working.

Addressing Common Points of Friction

Finally, use testing to identify and address common points of friction leading to cart abandonment. This might include slow loading times, confusing navigation, or unclear shipping information. By systematically testing these critical scenarios, you can significantly improve your checkout conversion rate and create a more positive customer experience.

To help you get started, we've compiled a list of essential checkout scenarios to test:

Essential Checkout Scenarios to Test
This table outlines critical checkout scenarios every Shopify store should test before launch.

Scenario	What to Test	Common Issues	How to Verify Success
Discount Codes	Different code types, expiry dates, and usage limits	Incorrect discounts, codes not applying	Correct discount applied, order total accurate
Taxes	Accuracy based on shipping address and product type	Incorrect tax calculations	Tax amount matches expected value
Shipping	Rates, delivery times, and carrier integration	Incorrect shipping costs, invalid shipping methods	Shipping cost accurate, delivery options valid
Mobile Checkout	Functionality and responsiveness on various devices	Layout issues, broken features on mobile	Seamless checkout experience on all devices
Guest Purchases	Checkout flow without account creation	Forced account creation, data entry issues	Smooth checkout without requiring an account
Abandoned Cart Recovery	Email automation and discount application	Emails not sending, discounts not working	Successful email delivery, discount code applied upon cart recovery

By addressing these critical checkout scenarios, you’ll transform your store's checkout from a potential liability into a powerful asset, driving conversions and fostering customer loyalty.

Managing Test Orders Like a Shopify Pro

So, you’ve got the hang of creating test orders on your Shopify store. Great! But the journey doesn't end there. Managing these test orders effectively is essential for gaining valuable insights and maintaining clean store data. This involves analyzing results, organizing your tests, and knowing how to clean up afterward. This helps prevent skewed analytics and refine your checkout flow.

Analyzing and Interpreting Test Order Results

Once you've completed a test order, resist the urge to simply archive it. Take some time to analyze the results. Savvy Shopify merchants treat these test orders as valuable data points.

For example, check your order confirmation emails. Are they clear, concise, and on-brand? Verify your inventory updates. Did the test order accurately deduct the purchased items from your stock?

This careful analysis can reveal hidden issues that could negatively impact real customers. Examine your customer data, too. Is the information captured correctly in your Shopify admin? This seemingly small detail has significant implications for customer service and marketing efforts. Finally, double-check your shipping and tax calculations. Any discrepancies here could lead to financial losses or unhappy customers.

Organizing Your Test Orders

As you conduct more test orders, a system for organization becomes crucial. Consider using tags to categorize your tests. For example, you might tag orders by the type of test conducted, such as shipping, discounts, or payment gateway tests.

This allows you to quickly filter and analyze specific test groups. It also keeps your test data separate from your real order data, ensuring accurate reporting. Document any issues you uncover during testing. A simple spreadsheet can be an invaluable tool for tracking problems, solutions, and resolution dates. This helps prevent recurring issues and provides a historical record of your testing efforts.

Cleaning Up Test Orders

Test orders are essential, but they can skew your sales data and analytics if not managed properly. Fortunately, Shopify makes cleaning up test orders relatively simple. You can locate your test orders within your Shopify admin panel by filtering or using your assigned tags. Select the test orders you want to remove and delete them.

However, effective cleanup involves more than just hitting the delete button. Before removing test orders, make sure you’ve extracted all relevant insights. Document any uncovered issues, track the progress of resolutions, and update your testing strategy accordingly. This meticulous approach ensures that your cleanup process not only tidies your data but also contributes to continuous improvement.

Statistical data from Shopify usage globally highlights the increasing reliance on test orders for store optimization. As reported by Site Builder Report in January 2025, Shopify hosts millions of active stores worldwide with an average order value of approximately $87. Find more detailed statistics here. The top 10% of Shopify stores see even higher order values, often with complex checkout configurations. This reinforces the importance of regular testing.

Test orders are now a critical pre-launch checklist item for Shopify merchants. A 2025 Shopify case study found that stores actively using test orders pre-launch experienced a 15% reduction in checkout-related order failures after going live. This practice contributes to higher customer retention and improved conversion rates. You might be interested in: How to master improving e-commerce sales.

Establishing a Regular Testing Cadence

Just as you wouldn't open a restaurant and then stop checking the food quality, your testing process should be ongoing. Implement a regular testing cadence to catch problems before they affect real customers.

Schedule tests around promotional events, app installations, or any significant changes to your store. This proactive approach creates a stronger, more resilient checkout process and is essential for a smooth customer experience and maximizing your Shopify store’s success.

Troubleshooting Your Way to Checkout Perfection

Even with the most careful planning, test orders can sometimes uncover unexpected issues. This section offers practical advice and solutions for common problems Shopify merchants often face. We'll cover how to diagnose and fix a range of issues, from payment gateway errors and shipping discrepancies to those frustrating discount code failures.

Identifying the Source of the Problem

When a test order goes wrong, the first step is pinpointing the source of the trouble. Is the issue related to your theme, a third-party app, or perhaps something within Shopify itself?

Theme Customizations: If your theme has been significantly customized, start by temporarily switching back to a default Shopify theme. If the problem disappears, the issue likely resides within your custom code.
Third-Party Apps: Try disabling any recently installed apps, one by one. Test your checkout process after each deactivation. If the issue is resolved, you've found the problematic app. Contact the app developer for assistance.
Shopify Core Functionality: If the problem persists even with a default theme and no third-party apps active, the issue might originate within Shopify's core functionality. In this case, contact Shopify support directly. Make sure to document the steps you've already taken, along with any error messages you encountered.

Diagnosing Payment Gateway Errors

Payment gateway errors are a frequent source of frustration. These errors often stem from incorrect test card numbers or an improperly configured gateway. Double-check that you're using the appropriate test card numbers for your selected gateway. For Shopify's Bogus Gateway, entering "1" signifies a successful transaction, while other numbers simulate various decline scenarios. If you're using your actual payment gateway's test mode, refer to your gateway's documentation for the correct test card numbers. This is often the quickest way to troubleshoot payment processing problems.

Resolving Shipping Calculation Discrepancies

Shipping calculation discrepancies frequently arise from incorrect shipping settings. Carefully review your shipping zones and rates. Ensure they are accurate and reflect your real-world shipping costs. If you are using real-time carrier calculated shipping, double-check your carrier account settings and its connection with Shopify. Testing with various shipping scenarios can help confirm that everything is functioning correctly.

Fixing Discount Code Failures

Discount code failures can be annoying for both merchants and customers. Carefully verify your discount code's configuration:

Check the expiry date: Ensure the discount code is still valid and hasn't expired.
Review the usage limits: Confirm that the code hasn't reached its maximum number of uses.
Confirm product eligibility: Is the discount code applicable to the products in your test order?
Validate minimum purchase requirements: Does your test order meet the minimum purchase amount required for the discount code to apply?

Sometimes, a simple typo in the discount code itself can be the culprit. Double-check the code you're entering at checkout.

Using Browser Developer Tools

For more technical issues, your browser's developer tools can be very helpful in pinpointing errors. These tools provide detailed information about JavaScript errors, network requests, and other diagnostic data that can be essential for troubleshooting checkout problems. They offer valuable insights that might not be apparent to the average user.

Documenting Issues Effectively

Clear and detailed documentation is essential when seeking help from support teams. When contacting Shopify support, app developers, or theme designers, provide the following information:

Steps to reproduce the issue: Provide a clear, step-by-step guide on how to replicate the problem.
Error messages: Include any error messages you received. Screenshots can be particularly helpful.
Theme and app information: List the active theme and any installed third-party apps, noting any that are relevant to the issue.
Browser and device information: Specify the browser and device you're using to access your store.
Testing steps taken: Detail any troubleshooting measures you've already tried.

By providing this information upfront, you enable support teams to quickly diagnose and address the problem, minimizing downtime and preventing recurring issues. Through systematic troubleshooting and thorough documentation, you can ensure a smooth and efficient checkout experience for all your customers. This is another valuable way to enhance the customer journey and encourage sales.

Creating a Test Order Strategy That Scales With Your Store

As your Shopify store grows, your testing strategy needs to keep pace. A simple approach suitable for a small startup won't work for a larger business with a more complex product catalog, international shipping, and multiple team members. This section explores how successful merchants adapt their test order processes to handle growth and maintain a smooth checkout experience.

Building a Scalable Testing Workflow

Early on, informal testing might be enough. But as your store expands, a more structured approach is crucial. Integrate testing into your regular operations, just like routine car maintenance – it prevents bigger issues later.

Scheduled Testing: Set a regular testing schedule. This could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on how often you update your store. Many successful stores schedule tests around important events, like product launches, sales, and new app installations. This proactive method catches problems before they affect customers.
Automated Testing: For frequent tests, consider using automated testing tools. These tools save time and effort on manual testing, freeing your team to focus on more complicated situations.

Adapting to Growth and Complexity

Expanding your product line, entering new markets, or adding new features all require more testing.

Product Expansion: When you add new products, test the entire checkout process for each product type. Check inventory updates, shipping costs, and any product-specific options or bundles. This ensures a consistent checkout experience for every product.
New Markets: Entering new markets usually involves different currencies, taxes, and shipping options. Test your checkout with addresses from each target market to confirm accurate pricing and a localized experience.
Advanced Features: Adding features like subscriptions, personalized recommendations, or loyalty programs needs thorough testing. Simulate different customer interactions to catch and fix any problems.

You might be interested in: How to master promoting your Shopify store.

Team Collaboration and Documentation

As your team grows, make sure everyone involved in store management understands the value of testing and follows the same procedures.

Training: Train all team members on the correct testing procedures. This includes how to create test orders, use different payment methods, analyze results, and report issues.
Documentation: Create clear documentation of your testing process. This acts as a guide for your team and ensures consistency. Include details about your testing schedule, specific test cases, and how to interpret results.

Streamlining Your Testing Process

A few simple steps can make testing more efficient:

Test Order Templates: Create templates for common test scenarios. This saves time and keeps tests consistent.
Dedicated Test Accounts: Use separate customer accounts just for testing to avoid mixing test data with real customer information.
Tagging and Filtering: Tag your test orders so you can easily find them in your Shopify admin panel. This simplifies analysis and keeps test data from affecting your sales reports.

By using these strategies, you can ensure your testing process grows along with your store, providing a smooth and reliable checkout experience for all your customers. A strong testing strategy is a key part of long-term success in e-commerce.

Ready to streamline your link in bio and boost sales? Check out LinkShop, the powerful link in bio app designed for Shopify merchants. Create attractive, shoppable link in bio pages that convert followers into customers.