How to launch a new product with preorders on Shopify

All plansLast verified 11 November 2026View as Markdown

To launch a new product with preorders on Shopify, add it to EZ Preorder & Back In Stock with the Always rule (or Specific inventory level for a limited run), write the expected ship date in the custom note, and, on the Growth plan and above, schedule the preorder's start and end dates so it opens and closes by itself. Then make the launch visible with collection page badges and a preorder page, and keep buyers informed with confirmation and shipment update emails. This checklist covers each step and the plan it needs.

Available on: All plans. Scheduling, badges and the preorder page need Growth; deposits and discounts need Professional.
Where to find it: EZ PreOrder → Preorders and Configuration.

#Launch checklist

#Step 1: Create the product in Shopify

Create the product and its variants in Shopify as usual, publish it to your Online Store, and turn on Track quantity for each variant. EZ Preorder reads Shopify inventory to decide when the preorder button shows.

#Step 2: Choose the preorder rule

In EZ PreOrder, open Preorders, click Select products, add the product, then click Edit:

• Always for an open-ended launch: the preorder button shows whatever the stock.
• Specific inventory level for a limited run: set the variant's inventory in Shopify to the number of preorders you will accept. The button shows until they sell out, then the variant shows as sold out.

See What the preorder rules do.

#Step 3: Tell shoppers when it ships

On the same Edit page, add a Custom Note such as "Preorder. Ships the week of 15 March." It shows above the preorder button in every language you write it for. Change the button text in Configuration → Pre-order Button Text if you want something like "Reserve now". See How to add a custom note to preorder products.

#Step 4: Schedule the launch window (Growth plan)

On the Edit page, turn on Enable/Disable by custom dates and pick a start and end date. EZ Preorder switches the preorder on at the start date and off at the end date. Leave Mark as sold out when the pre-order ends ticked to stop sales when the window closes. Dates are read in UTC, so check the timing for your time zone. See How to schedule preorders with start and end dates.

#Step 5: Make the launch visible (Growth plan)

• Turn on preorder badges so the product is labelled on collection pages. See How to show preorder badges on collection pages.
• Add the Featured Pre-Order Section to your home page to feature the launch. See How to add a featured preorder section to your store.
• Turn on the Custom Pre-Order Page and add it to your navigation. See How to set up a custom page that lists all your preorder products.

#Step 6: Give shoppers a reason to commit (Professional plan)

• Deposits lower the price of committing now. See How to take deposits and partial payments on preorders.
• A preorder discount rewards early buyers. See How to give a discount on preorder products.
• A free gift adds value to the preorder. See How to give a free gift with preorder products.

#Step 7: Confirm every preorder by email

Turn on the preorder confirmation email so buyers know their order contains a preorder. See How to send preorder confirmation emails to customers.

#Step 8: Check the button before you announce

Open the product in your store and confirm the button shows your preorder text. Add a test product to the cart to see the type: preorder line item property. Remember that test orders count toward your plan's preorder limit. If the button is missing, see The preorder button is not showing on my product page.

#Step 9: After launch

• If the ship date moves, send a shipment update email to everyone who bought the product. See How to send shipment update emails to preorder customers.
• When stock arrives, filter Shopify Orders by the preorder tag and fulfill them. See How to find and manage preorder orders.
• When the launch is over, make sure Continue selling when out of stock is off for the product, so it does not keep selling with no stock. See Why a product still sells after its preorder is turned off or ends.
• Keep an eye on your plan's preorder limit during a big launch. See What counts toward your EZ Preorder plan limits.

#Frequently asked questions

#How do I make a coming soon product available for preorder on Shopify?

Add the product to EZ Preorder & Back In Stock with the Always rule. The add to cart button becomes a preorder button and checkout accepts the order even with no stock. Add the release date in the custom note.

#Can I limit how many preorders I take for a launch?

Yes. Use the Specific inventory level rule and set the variant's Shopify inventory to the number of preorders you want. When it reaches 0, the variant shows as sold out.

#Can preorders open and close automatically at launch?

Yes, on the Growth plan and above. Set a start and end date on the product's Edit page in EZ Preorder, and the preorder switches on and off on those dates.

#Will a big launch hit my plan limit?

It can. Core allows 50 preorders or $2,000 per billing cycle, Growth 150 or $5,000, and Professional 300 or $10,000. At the limit, preorders switch off. Scale never switches off and charges a 1% usage fee past 500 preorders or $20,000.

#Related articles

• How to take preorders on Shopify: the basic setup.
• How to schedule preorders with start and end dates: automatic launch windows.
• What the preorder rules do: choose the right rule.
• How to set up a custom page that lists all your preorder products: a launch landing page.
• How to show preorder badges on collection pages: label the product in collections.
• How to send shipment update emails to preorder customers: keep buyers informed.