Online store owners often fixate on getting products out there and making money. They forget that checkout can be a major friction point for customers. A clunky process at the end of their journey can cause them to abandon the cart even if they love the products. And that hurts both retention and added sales.
Studies show how big the issue really is. On average 7 out of 10 shoppers give up before completing a purchase. In the US alone better checkout design could recover $260 billion in lost sales. These are not small figures, they matter for every online store.
Checkout isn’t just the last step in a sale, it’s often where trust is tested. Hidden costs, long forms, forced account creation—these things push buyers away. Even if your product pages are strong you risk losing potential repeat customers at this final stage.
In this blog we will talk about the parts of checkout that work well and the way to fix what doesn’t. You will learn how a better thank you page can help reduce friction and how a smart registration form keeps returning buyers happy. We will go through other practical methods too, so you can make your checkout process something customers finish with ease.
Offering Multiple Payment Options for a Smoother Checkout
One of the main reasons shoppers leave their cart is not finding their preferred way to pay. Customers today expect choice and when that is missing they often stop midway. Adding more payment methods not only reduces checkout friction but also creates confidence that the store is reliable.
Payment Options to Consider:
PayPal
A trusted global platform that lets buyers pay without sharing card details directly with the store. Many shoppers already use it and prefer it because it feels secure.
Stripe
This is a flexible solution for accepting credit and debit cards. It supports recurring payments too which is useful if you sell subscriptions.
Credit or Debit Cards
The standard choice that still dominates most online checkouts. Easy and quick for customers who don’t like using third party services.
Buy Now Pay Later
Providers like Klarna or Afterpay let customers split payments over time. This option can increase order size since buyers feel less pressure paying all at once.
Apple Pay or Google Pay
Mobile payment options that allow quick one tap checkout. Ideal for shoppers browsing from their phones.
How to:
To apply multiple payment options you can start by checking what your ecommerce platform already supports. Many online store owners using WooCommerce install plugins that add PayPal, Stripe, or Buy Now Pay Later in just a few clicks. If you want a more advanced setup some developers prefer to custom code gateways directly with the API of the payment provider.
Another practical way is to use extensions from official marketplaces where integration is easier and updates are maintained. Always test the setup before going live so you make sure checkout works smoothly for every method.
Enabling Guest Checkout for First-Time Shoppers
Not every customer wants to create an account before buying something. Forcing registration at the very start often feels unnecessary and can push shoppers away. This is actually beneficial for you because guests can place an order quickly without having to worry about profile creation.
With guest checkout enabling, you can get rid of cart abandonment issues and push your first time customers to complete their purchase. If they like the experience along with the product purchased, they will be more willing to register the next time they visit.
How to Make Guest Checkout Possible:
This is not too much of a tricky process as most ecommerce platforms already provide their store owners with this setting. For instance, in WooCommerce you can activate this feature straight from the settings panel. You have to start by just allowing your customers to make a purchase without having to register. You can also refine the process greatly by using plugins that provide you with more control over the checkout process.
Other than that, you can also ask your customers to fill a form with just their basic details such as their name, payment method, and email. You can skip on the account requirement altogether and once the order is placed, you can simply invite the customers to create an account through a WooCommerce thank you page or a registration form plugin.
Improving Checkout with the WooCommerce Thank You Page Plugin
One of the most overlooked parts of the buying journey is the thank you page. Many store owners keep it as a simple confirmation screen, but it can actually be a strong tool to keep customers engaged after their order is placed.
You can customize the thank you page with the WooCommerce Thank You Page plugin and make it an extension for your checkout process. The WooCommerce custom thank you page plugin confirms the purchase of your customers and also guides them towards additional actions of your choice.
Features:
- Custom Messages
You can add personalized messages for your buyers. Whether it is a thank you note, order details, or a short instruction, custom messages help keep the page meaningful. - Product or Category Specific Pages
The plugin allows you to display unique thank you pages based on purchased products or categories. For example, if someone buys a clothing item, you can direct them to care instructions or related products immediately. - Payment Method Based Pages
You can set a specific thank you page for whatever payment method your customer used, which gives you a chance to provide extra confirmation to your customer for any bank transfers. - Call to Actions
The plugin also lets you place links or buttons for future shopping. This can be as simple as a “Shop More” link or an upsell option, keeping your buyers connected with the store even after checkout.
How to Install:
- Download the plugin from the provider that you wish to purchase it from.
- Log into your WordPress dashboard and then go to your plugins. Simply click on the “Add New” option.
- Next you will have to click on the “Upload Plugin” button and choose the downloaded file from wherever your computer has saved it.
- Click on the “Install now” button and wait for the plugin installation to complete.
- Once installed, click Activate Plugin to make it ready for use.
- After activation, go to WooCommerce settings. You will now see a new section for the WooCommerce Custom Thank You Page plugin.
- From there, you can start setting up a WooCommerce thank you page for your store by selecting conditions, adding messages, or linking related products.
Using a WooCommerce Registration Form Plugin for Checkouts
Even if customers don’t prefer making an account at the start of online shopping, they might be inclined to do so during checkout. You can make that possible with various methods, but the most smooth one would be installing a registration form plugin.
This helps customers avoid the trouble of going to a completely different page to start creating a profile from scratch. With the WooCommerce registration form plugin all the details of the customer can be collected directly from the checkout page.
Features
- Custom Fields
This plugin lets you include extra fields beyond just name and email. You can collect details like the customer’s phone number, company information, or any other data that might support your business needs. - Conditional Logic
Fields can appear only when certain conditions are met. For example, if a buyer selects a business account, additional fields like tax ID can appear, while personal accounts see fewer requirements. - Register on Checkout
Customers can directly sign up for your store on the checkout page without having to leave it. All they need to do is fill out the form and continue making their purchase without any restrictions. - User Role Assignment
You can assign specific roles to customers during registration. This is especially helpful if you run wholesale and retail together, since buyers can be categorized right when they register.
How to Install
- Just like the previous one, you have to download the plugin file from wherever you want to purchase it first.
- Next, you will have to go to your WordPress dashboard, open the “Plugins” section and then click on “Add New”
- Then you will have to upload the plugin by selecting the “Upload Plugin” option and locate the file on your computer.
- Click on “Install Now” and let the process complete on its own.
- After it has finished installing, you simply need to activate it by clicking on “Activate Plugin”
- Once active, go to WooCommerce settings where you will find a new tab for the registration form.
- From here you can start setting up the custom fields, conditional logic, and enable the option for registration at checkout.
Adding a Cart Review Step Before Final Checkout
One of the most overlooked parts of checkout is giving customers a chance to review everything before they pay. A cart review step basically allows the buyer to take one final look at what they are about to purchase, confirm quantities, check shipping choices, and even recheck applied coupons.
Instead of rushing people straight to payment, this step works as a safeguard that not only reduces mistakes but also builds trust with buyers who like to feel in control of their orders.
Benefits of a Cart Review Step:
The most obvious benefit is fewer order errors. Customers sometimes add the wrong size, color, or even duplicate products by mistake, and without a review step these errors usually end up in cancellations or return requests. Another advantage is the confidence it gives shoppers, they know they are paying for exactly what they wanted and that reduces hesitation.
It also creates an opportunity for upsells or product recommendations because when buyers pause at the review stage, they are open to rechecking their choices and may pick an extra product. In the bigger picture this helps stores lower refund costs and secure smoother order processing.
How to Add a Cart Review Step:
Adding this step depends on how flexible your store setup is. In WooCommerce, store owners often rely on checkout management plugins that allow you to insert an additional review stage before payment is processed.
Once installed, you can configure the plugin so that customers see a dedicated review page after entering their details but before the final confirmation. This page usually displays product details, total costs, shipping methods, and applied discounts.
Another method is custom development, where a developer can create a separate template for cart review inside the checkout flow. This is more technical but gives full control over design and functionality. For people who have small scale stores or individuals who simply want to avoid coding, plugins are superior and offer way more customization options for your content.
Either way, whatever your approach is, the goal is usually always the same: Making sure that your buyers leave the checkout satisfied that their order is correct and ready to go.
Conclusion
You are not just looking at a single fix if you want to improve the checkout process for your customers. It includes various techniques, methods, and plugins each of which in their own way guide customers to finish their orders without any hiccups. Adding things like a woocommerce thank you page, showing a clear cart review, or even letting buyers register during checkout all help shape a smoother flow that feels more reliable.
The layout of the page plays a big role as well. When forms are placed in the right order and only the needed details are asked, buyers can move ahead quickly without getting stuck. Extra fields should only show up when they are really required. Removing unnecessary steps keeps the checkout natural and not overwhelming.
What happens after checkout matters too. Using a woocommerce custom thank you page is a good way to share useful details and even invite buyers to shop again through personalized notes. Paired with a structured checkout and clear review, it cuts down the chance of cart abandonment.
Checkouts are just as important as your product or brand image and you must spend more time polishing this part of your customers journey, after all, it is the little thoughts that count.
