This guide requires Downpay to be installed with selling plans configured on your products.
Why Use Deposit Links?
High-value products often suffer from cart abandonment because customers hesitate at the full price. A deposit link changes the ask — instead of $2,000 upfront, you’re asking for $500 today. That’s a much easier yes.
Deposit links give customers a lower-commitment entry point while securing the sale. You get cash flow plus a committed order, and the customer gets a lower barrier to purchase.
Use case
How it helps
Email campaigns
“Reserve with just 25% down” converts better than “Buy now for $3,500”
SMS promotions
Direct link to checkout with deposit pre-selected
Social media ads
Promote the deposit price to reduce sticker shock on high-AOV products
Pre-order launches
Capture early orders with minimal upfront commitment
Customer support
Send a link with the exact product and deposit terms during a conversation
VIP customers
Pair with a discount or free gift for high-value customers
Phone/chat sales
Close the sale in real-time by sending a checkout link
Video tutorial
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/leZVwM-K-R0?rel=0
Creating a Deposit Link
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Create a new link — Click Create Link and give it a name
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Add a product — In the Cart section, add a product that has a Downpay selling plan configured
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Select the deposit option — Click Edit on the line item. You’ll see all available selling plans. Select Deposit Only Due at Checkout and click Done
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Add promotions (optional) — In Promotions, add free shipping, a discount, or a free gift to sweeten the deal
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Customize your link — Set a memorable slug like
deposit-campaign. Add attribution to track performance. Set usage limits to cap redemptions or add a passcode for exclusive access -
Save and test — Click Save, then Visit Link to verify the deposit option is pre-selected in the cart
The deposit amount is configured in your Downpay settings. Customers pay this amount at checkout, with the remaining balance collected later according to your Downpay payment schedule.
Quick-Create from Shopify Admin
You can also create deposit links directly from a product page without opening the Checkout Links app:
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Open the product in your Shopify admin
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Click More Actions > Create Checkout Link
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Click Edit on the line item and select the deposit selling plan
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Customize the slug, add promotions, and click Create Link
This is especially handy during customer support conversations — create a deposit link in seconds while you’re still talking to the customer.
Use UTM tracking to measure which channels drive the most deposit conversions.