What is manual order entry in Shopify?

Creating orders by hand in the admin, rather than a shopper checking out on the storefront.

How do I create a manual order in Shopify?

Use draft orders in the admin to create an order, add products, and send a payment link.

When would I use manual order entry?

For phone orders, email orders, wholesale, customer service, and in-person sales.

Do manual orders deduct inventory?

Yes — manual orders deduct inventory like online orders, keeping stock accurate.

Can I apply custom pricing to manual orders?

Yes — draft orders let you apply custom or wholesale pricing for specific customers.

Glossary Term

M

Manual Order Entry

Creating orders by hand in the admin — for phone, email, or in-person sales.

Book A Consultation Back to Glossary

Key Takeaways
Manual Order Entry creates orders by hand in the admin.
It's used for phone, email, in-person, wholesale, and service orders.
It lets you sell outside the storefront.
It's powered by Shopify's draft orders feature.
It's the flexibility layer for non-storefront sales.

Overview

Manual Order Entry is the process of creating an order by hand in the Shopify admin, rather than a shopper checking out on the storefront. On Shopify, it's used for phone orders, email orders, in-person sales, wholesale, and customer service replacements.

Manual order entry lets you sell outside the storefront. A customer calls to order, you create the order in the admin and send them a payment link. A wholesale buyer emails an order, you create it with wholesale pricing. A customer service issue needs a replacement — you create a manual order.

Manual order entry pairs with draft orders (the Shopify feature), order management as the practice, and POS integration for in-person sales. It's the flexibility layer for non-storefront sales.

1

Why Manual Order Entry Matters for Shopify Merchants

1
Phone & Email Sales
Take orders from customers who prefer to call or email — don't lose the sale.
2
Wholesale
Create wholesale orders with custom pricing outside the storefront.
3
Customer Service
Create replacement or adjustment orders for customer service issues.
4
In-Person Sales
Take orders in person at events, pop-ups, or shows.
5
Custom Orders
Create custom or one-off orders that don't fit the standard storefront flow.

2

Using Manual Order Entry Effectively

1
Use draft orders
Shopify's draft orders let you create and send orders with payment links.
2
Apply custom pricing
Use draft orders to apply custom or wholesale pricing for specific customers.
3
Send payment links
Email the customer a payment link from the draft order for easy checkout.
4
Track inventory
Manual orders deduct inventory like online orders — keep stock accurate.
5
Keep records
Use order tags to track manual orders for reporting and follow-up.