WooCommerce Payment Gateway Configuration

WooCommerce supports multiple payment gateways that can be configured independently and ordered by preference. For B2B sites in particular, a mix of online and offline methods is typically required to accommodate varying client payment terms.

Accessing Payment Settings

Navigate to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments to view and manage all available gateways. Each gateway can be enabled, disabled, and reordered from this screen.

Online Gateways

Stripe

1. Locate Stripe in the payments list (it will show "Action Needed" if not yet connected).
2. Click Complete Setup.
3. Click Create or Connect an Account and authenticate with the client's Stripe credentials.
4. Once connected, drag Stripe to the top of the payment list — it should be the default preferred method.

PayPal

1. Locate PayPal in the payments list.
2. Click Complete Setup.
3. Log in using the client's PayPal credentials to connect the account.

Note: Neither Stripe nor PayPal requires manual API key entry through this flow — the OAuth connection handles it. You will need the client's login credentials for each service.

Offline Payment Methods

Offline methods do not process payment at checkout. Instead, they display instructions to the customer and allow the order to complete without a card transaction. These are essential for B2B contexts where invoicing, delivery payment, or bank transfer are common.

Check Payments

• Enable via WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Check Payments → Manage.
• Customize the instruction text shown to the customer at checkout (e.g., mailing address, who to make the check out to).
• The order completes normally; fulfillment proceeds while payment is awaited.

Cash on Delivery

• Enable via WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Cash on Delivery → Manage.
• Appropriate for local delivery routes where payment is collected at the time of drop-off.
• Customize the instruction text (e.g., "Please have payment ready upon delivery").

Direct Bank Transfer (ACH / Wire)

• Enable via WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Direct Bank Transfer → Manage.
• Requires the client's bank account details: bank name, account number, and routing number (found on the bottom of a check).
• WooCommerce will display these details to the customer at checkout as transfer instructions.
• Confirm with the client before enabling — not all businesses want to publish banking details through this flow.

Recommended Configuration Order

For a B2B wholesale site, a typical priority order is:

1. Stripe (primary online)
2. PayPal (secondary online)
3. Cash on Delivery (for local delivery clients)
4. Check Payments (for net-terms clients)
5. Direct Bank Transfer (if client opts in)

Role-Based Payment Restrictions

In a B2B context with varied client terms, payment methods can be restricted by user role using the WooCommerce B2B plugin. For example:

• Require prepayment (Stripe/PayPal only) for new or high-risk clients.
• Allow Cash on Delivery only for established local accounts.
• Enable Check or Bank Transfer only for clients on net terms.

See ^[1] for how to configure payment restrictions per role.

Testing

Before going live, test each enabled payment method end-to-end:

1. Create a test user account.
2. Add products to cart and proceed to checkout.
3. Select each payment method in turn and complete the order.
4. Verify the order appears correctly in WooCommerce and that any confirmation emails are sent.

Use email address aliases (e.g., yourname+test1@domain.com) to run multiple test signups without needing separate email accounts.

Related

• ^[2] — Client context for this configuration
• ^[1] — Restricting payment methods by user role
• ^[3] — QuickBooks Online integration for order/payment sync
• ^[4] — ShipStation plugin setup for order fulfillment