Making a First Sale with SureCart

This document explains how to test the checkout flow using Test Mode and how to enable live payments to begin processing real orders. Running a test transaction before going live is recommended to confirm that the checkout, product setup, and payment flow work as expected.

This guide assumes that the SureCart plugin has been installed, the store has been set up, and at least one product has been created. If those steps have not been completed yet, refer to Getting Started with SureCart first.

Requirements

• WordPress admin access
• SureCart plugin installed and activated
• At least one product created in SureCart
• A SureCart account connected to the store

Testing the Checkout in Test Mode

Test Mode allows the Instant Checkout flow to be verified without processing real transactions. No payment is charged, and no live order is created.

Step 1: Open the Product

• Go to WordPress Dashboard → SureCart → Products.
• Click the product name or the Edit link to open the product editing page.

Step 2: Enable Test Mode

• On the product editing page, locate the Instant Checkout dropdown menu in the top-right corner.
• Click the dropdown to open it.

• Toggle the Test Mode option to activate it.
• Click Save Product to save the change.

Note: When Test Mode is enabled, the Instant Checkout displays a Test Mode badge and uses a test payment processor. Real payment methods are not available in this mode.

Step 3: Open the Instant Checkout Preview

• Open the Instant Checkout dropdown menu again.
• Click View (or Preview if not published) at the bottom of the dropdown.

Expected outcome: The Instant Checkout page opens in a new tab, displaying the product details, payment fields, and order summary.

Step 4: Complete the Test Order

On the Instant Checkout page, fill in the required fields:

• Enter a value in the Name field.
• Fill in the Shipping Address fields, including country, street address, city, state, and zip code.
• Click Purchase to submit the test order.

Expected outcome: A Thank you confirmation modal appears, indicating that the test transaction was completed successfully. A test receipt is sent to the email address used in the order.

Step 5: Review the Test Order in the Customer Dashboard

Click Continue in the confirmation modal to open the Customer Dashboard. The Customer Dashboard displays the test order under Order History, along with sections for Plans, Invoices, and Downloads.

For a complete overview of the Customer Dashboard, refer to Overview of the Customer Dashboard.

Disabling Test Mode

Once testing is complete, Test Mode must be disabled before the product can process live transactions.

12. Open the product in WordPress Dashboard → SureCart → Products.
13. Open the Instant Checkout dropdown menu.
14. Toggle the Test Mode option off.
15. Click Save Product.

Enabling Live Payments

To process real transactions, a payment processor must be connected to the store. SureCart supports the following payment processors:

• Stripe
• PayPal
• Mollie

Each payment processor has its own setup process. Refer to the documentation that matches the chosen processor:

• How to Connect Stripe Payment Processor
• How to Connect PayPal Payment Processor
• How to Connect Mollie Payment Processor

Note: Both live and test modes are available after a payment processor is connected. Test Mode can continue to be used to verify changes before they affect live transactions.

Expected outcome: Once the payment processor is connected and Test Mode is disabled on the product, the store is ready to process live orders.

Notes and Limitations

• Test Mode transactions do not process real payments and do not generate live orders.
• Test Mode is configured per product. Each product must have Test Mode disabled before it can process live transactions.
• Test orders appear in the Customer Dashboard but are clearly marked as test transactions.
• A receipt email is sent for both test and live orders. Test receipts are labeled accordingly.

Related Documentation

• Getting Started with SureCart
• Next Steps After Getting Started with SureCart
• How to Connect Stripe Payment Processor
• How to Connect PayPal Payment Processor
• How to Connect Mollie Payment Processor
• Overview of the Customer Dashboard
• How to Migrate from Other Platforms to SureCart

FAQ