The 5 Most Common Checkout Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

You’ve done the hard work: someone found your store, browsed your products, added something to their cart—and then left.

Abandoned carts are one of the biggest leaks in any eCommerce business. And more often than not, it comes down to friction at checkout. Fortunately, most of these mistakes are fixable.

Let’s walk through five common checkout problems and how you can solve them.

1. Forcing Account Creation

Nothing kills a sale faster than making someone create an account before they buy. People are in a hurry. They don’t want to remember another password just to get your product.

Fix it:
Always offer guest checkout. You can still ask if they’d like to create an account after the purchase is complete.

2. Surprise Costs at the End

Hidden shipping fees or taxes that show up after someone clicks “checkout” are one of the top reasons people abandon their cart. If the final price jumps, they back out.

Fix it:
Be transparent early. Display shipping costs on product pages or offer a shipping calculator in the cart. Better yet—offer free shipping thresholds.

3. Too Many Steps

If your checkout feels like filling out a form at the DMV, people will give up. Every extra step is a chance for them to change their mind.

Fix it:
Simplify your flow. Combine steps where possible. Use auto-fill for address and payment info. Remove unnecessary fields. Make the experience quick and smooth, especially on mobile.

4. Limited Payment Options

Not everyone wants to pay with a credit card. If you only offer one method, you’re excluding people who prefer PayPal, digital wallets, or buy-now-pay-later options.

Fix it:
Offer at least three options: credit/debit, PayPal, and something mobile-friendly like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Consider Afterpay, Klarna, or Shop Pay for flexible payments.

5. Lack of Trust and Security Signals

If your checkout page looks sketchy or unfinished, shoppers get cold feet. They’re about to share personal and financial info—they need to feel safe.

Fix it:
Use SSL (https), display security badges, and include trust indicators like reviews or return guarantees. A clean, branded checkout page with familiar design makes a big difference.

Bonus Tip: Test It Like a Customer

Want to know how your checkout really feels? Use it. Try buying something on desktop and mobile. Where does it slow down? Where does it feel awkward?

Better yet, ask a friend who’s never used your store to do a test order. Watch where they hesitate. Those are the spots to improve.

Final Thought

A smooth, trustworthy, and fast checkout experience can dramatically boost your conversion rate. Don’t let simple mistakes cost you sales after you’ve already won the customer’s attention.

Want help optimizing your store’s checkout flow? Reach out and let’s make sure nothing’s standing between your customers and the “Thank You” page.