Bigcommerce Checkout Tutorial: Complete Setup Guide

Last year, a Brisbane homewares retailer brought us a puzzle. Her Instagram ads performed well, and site traffic nearly doubled, but sales barely changed.

We placed a test order on her phone. The checkout required an account, hid shipping costs until the final step, and accepted only credit cards. It offered neither Afterpay nor PayPal, so we nearly gave up before paying, and hundreds of her customers had done the same.

We moved her store to the bigcommerce one-page checkout, enabled guest checkout, and added payment methods Aussies expect. Within a few weeks, completed orders rose, while her products and prices stayed exactly the same.

Her story is more common than you might think. Your bigcommerce checkout turns browsing into revenue. If the final step feels slow or confusing, even strong traffic may not produce sales.

This guide takes you through each part of the process. You’ll learn to set up the bigcommerce one-page checkout and enable guest purchases. We cover connecting Stripe, PayPal, Afterpay and Zip, plus setting shipping and GST.

We show you how to style your checkout so it matches your brand. You’ll also learn how to recover abandoned carts and test your checkout for better results.

Every step suits Australian store owners. We cover AUD pricing, Australia Post shipping, and local shoppers’ online payment expectations.

You do not need to be a developer to follow along. We explain each setting in plain language, so you can make changes confidently.

Key Takeaways

• Your Bigcommerce checkout is where visitors become paying customers, so small problems can cost real sales.
• The Bigcommerce one-page checkout reduces steps and helps shoppers finish their orders faster.
• Guest checkout removes the need to create an account, which cuts down on friction.
• Offering Stripe, PayPal, Afterpay and Zip meets the payment habits of Australian shoppers.
• Clear shipping costs and GST-inclusive pricing build trust before customers pay.
• Abandoned cart emails help you win back sales you would have lost.
• Regular testing keeps your checkout fast, simple and focused on conversions.

What Is Bigcommerce Checkout and Why It Matters for Australian Online Stores

Bigcommerce checkout is the final step before a sale. It collects customer, shipping, billing, and payment details, then confirms the order.

We see checkout as the moment of truth. A shopper who reaches it already wants to buy. Make this final step as easy as possible.

How Your Checkout Affects Your Bigcommerce Checkout Conversion Rate

The Baymard Institute puts average cart abandonment at about 70%. Many lost sales result from these checkout problems:

• Forced account creation
• Unexpected extra costs
• Long, complex forms

Fixing even one issue can quickly lift your bigcommerce checkout conversion rate.

“If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell six friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends.” – Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon

Standard Checkout vs the Bigcommerce Optimised One-Page Checkout

Older checkouts load each step on a separate page. The bigcommerce optimised one-page checkout shows every step on one screen.

Common Checkout Frustrations Australian Shoppers Experience

Australian buyers have clear expectations. These issues often send them to a competitor:

1. Surprise shipping fees at the final step
2. No Afterpay or PayPal option
3. Address fields that don’t suit Australian formats
4. Slow loading on mobile
5. Prices shown without GST

The good news is that each issue is easy to fix. We show you how in the setup steps ahead.

Setting Up the Bigcommerce One-Page Checkout Step by Step

We’ve covered why checkout design matters, so let’s build yours. Setup takes about 15 minutes, and you need no coding skills. This guide covers each stage.

Accessing Checkout Settings in Your Bigcommerce Control Panel

Log in to your Bigcommerce control panel and open Settings › Checkout. Most options in this guide appear on this page.

Enabling the Bigcommerce Optimised One-Page Checkout

Follow these steps to switch to the bigcommerce optimised one-page checkout:

1. Find the Checkout Type section.
2. Select “Optimised One-Page Checkout”.
3. Click Save.
4. Preview the checkout on desktop and mobile.

Many Australians shop on their phones, so mobile testing is essential.

Configuring Order Comments, Newsletter Opt-Ins and Terms and Conditions

These small options improve the customer experience and protect your business:

• Order comments: Turn this field on if shoppers need to leave delivery notes or gift messages.
• Newsletter opt-in: Keep the checkbox unticked by default. The Spam Act 2003 requires clear consent, and the ACMA enforces it with fines.
• Terms and conditions: Make acceptance mandatory. Link to your policy page or paste the text directly.

Setting Up Billing and Shipping Address Fields for Australian Formats

Make your bigcommerce one-page checkout feel local to Australian buyers. Set Australia as the default country.

Ensure the State field lists NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT. Postcode fields should accept four digits.

Open Settings › Account Sign Up Form to edit address fields. We recommend adding Google Places address autocomplete. It reduces typing errors and helps prevent failed deliveries.

Once your bigcommerce one-page checkout is configured, let shoppers buy without creating an account.

Enabling Bigcommerce Guest Checkout for Faster, Friction-Free Purchases

With your address fields set up, remove forced sign-ups next. Why does this matter? Baymard Institute’s 2024 research found that 19% of shoppers abandoned an order because a site asked them to create an account.

Turning on bigcommerce guest checkout lets shoppers pay with only an email address. They need no password or extra form.

Here’s how we set it up for our clients:

1. Log in to your control panel and go to Settings › Checkout.
2. Tick Allow customers to checkout as a guest.
3. Click Save to apply the change.

• Invite guests to create an account after they place their order.
• Let returning customers sign in with their email address.

Worried about losing customer data? You won’t, because guest checkout still captures email addresses. These addresses feed your marketing lists and abandoned cart recovery emails.

We recommend guest checkout for most Australian retailers. It’s one of the simplest ways to lift your bigcommerce checkout conversion rate, especially for first-time and mobile shoppers. After removing this friction, connect payment gateways your customers trust.

Connecting Bigcommerce Payment Gateways for Australian Customers

Shoppers need payment choices for a smooth checkout. Manage all bigcommerce payment gateways in one place: Settings › Payments in your control panel. This guide covers popular options for Australian stores.

Completing Your Bigcommerce Stripe Integration

Your bigcommerce stripe integration takes only a few minutes:

1. Click Connect with Stripe and sign in or create an account.
2. Set AUD as your currency and turn on card payments.
3. Place test orders in Stripe’s test mode before you go live.

Setting Up Bigcommerce PayPal Checkout

Enable PayPal, powered by Braintree, and link your PayPal Business account. For faster bigcommerce paypal checkout, turn on PayPal buttons on product and cart pages. Shoppers can skip the form and pay in a few clicks.

Adding Buy Now, Pay Later Options Such as Afterpay and Zip

Afterpay and Zip are well-known names in Australia. Enable each option through its payment settings or app. Show instalment messages on product pages to encourage bigger baskets.

Offering Digital Wallets Including Apple Pay and Google Pay

Activate both wallets through Stripe or Braintree for one-tap mobile checkout. Apple Pay needs domain verification before it appears.

Choosing the Right Gateway Based on Fees and Settlement Times in AUD

Compare transaction fees, international card surcharges and payout speeds:

Rates reflect published 2024 pricing. Always confirm current fees with each provider.

Offer cards, PayPal, BNPL and wallets to suit Australian payment preferences. Next, we’ll set up shipping and GST.

Configuring Shipping, GST and Tax Settings at Checkout

Once payments are live, focus on the final costs shoppers see. The Baymard Institute (2024) found 48% of shoppers abandon carts because of unexpected extra costs. Clear shipping and tax settings keep your bigcommerce checkout honest and fast.

Setting Up Australia Post and Third-Party Carrier Rates

Go to Store Setup › Shipping and create an Australian shipping zone. Connect Australia Post to show real-time quotes based on parcel weight and postcode.

Do you need more delivery options? Apps such as ShipperHQ and Starshipit let you add carriers like Sendle and StarTrack.

Displaying GST-Inclusive Pricing Correctly

In Settings › Tax, add a 10% GST rate. Set prices to display tax-inclusive across your catalogue and at checkout. The ACCC requires businesses to show a single total price, so GST should never appear as a late add-on.

Make sure every invoice shows your ABN and the GST amount. This keeps your records ready for BAS time.

Offering Click and Collect and Free Shipping Thresholds

Turn on the “Pickup in Store” option for local buyers. It suits bigcommerce guest checkout shoppers who want speed and no delivery fee.

Free shipping thresholds can lift your average order value. We suggest these steps:

• Set a clear target, such as free shipping on orders over $99.
• Show the threshold in a site banner and in the cart.
• Display how much more a shopper needs to spend to qualify.

With these costs sorted, your bigcommerce checkout is ready to match your brand.

Bigcommerce Checkout Customisation Options to Match Your Brand

With shipping and GST sorted, your checkout should match the rest of your store. A consistent design builds trust when buyers enter card details. Start BigCommerce checkout customisation with simple, no-code changes.

Open Storefront › Themes › Customise to launch Page Builder. In the checkout settings, update your logo, colours, fonts and button styles for the BigCommerce optimised one-page checkout.

Trust elements matter as much as appearance. Baymard Institute research shows close to one in five shoppers abandon checkout because they distrust sites with their card details. You can reassure buyers with:

• Security badges placed near the payment button
• A clear link to your returns policy
• Phone, email or live chat contact details

For tracking, open Storefront › Script Manager. Add Google Analytics 4, Meta Pixel and Google Ads conversion tags there. These scripts load on checkout and order confirmation pages, so you can measure every sale.

Developers can build custom fields, layouts and logic on the BigCommerce optimised one-page checkout. This suits stores with unique ordering needs.

Code-level BigCommerce checkout customisation can become complex quickly. If your developer struggles, email us at [email protected]. We’ll help you get it right.

Setting Up Bigcommerce Abandoned Cart Recovery

Even a polished checkout loses some buyers. The Baymard Institute estimates the average online cart abandonment rate at around 70%. Bigcommerce abandoned cart recovery is one of the fastest ways to win back sales and protect bigcommerce checkout conversion rate.

Configuring Automated Abandoned Cart Emails

Go to Marketing › Abandoned Cart Emails in your control panel. The built-in Abandoned Cart Saver is available on the Plus plan and above.

You can schedule up to three automated emails. For advanced flows, Klaviyo and Mailchimp both integrate with Bigcommerce.

Writing Recovery Emails That Bring Customers Back

Good recovery emails feel helpful, not pushy. Make sure each one includes:

• A clear, specific subject line
• Product images and the cart total in AUD
• One bold “Return to cart” button
• A friendly tone that matches your brand
• A mobile-optimised layout

Using Incentives and Discount Codes Strategically

Save discounts or free shipping for the second or third email. Offering them too early can train shoppers to abandon carts on purpose.

Add an expiry date, such as 48 hours, to create genuine urgency.

Tracking Recovered Revenue and Recovery Rates

Review recovered orders and revenue under Analytics › Abandoned Carts. Check your recovery rate each month and test new subject lines if results drop.

Strong recovery flows can lift your overall bigcommerce checkout conversion rate. Next, we’ll show you how to test and fine-tune your checkout for even better results.

Testing and Optimising Your Checkout for Higher Conversions

Is your checkout ready for real customers? Test every step before launch. One broken button can cost sales for weeks.

Start with test transactions. Switch Stripe to test mode and use the PayPal sandbox for dummy orders. Check every gateway, shipping option, discount code and confirmation email.

Test each device as well. Most Australian shoppers now buy on phones, so a clunky mobile checkout can quickly lower your bigcommerce checkout conversion rate.

Speed can quietly kill sales. Keep checkout scripts lean and remove apps you no longer use.

Once you have data, try small improvements:

• A/B test button wording and trust badges.
• Change the order of payment methods.
• Remove any form field you don’t truly need.

Fewer fields can help. The Baymard Institute found that 18% of shoppers abandon orders because checkout feels too long or complicated.

Review your bigcommerce checkout conversion rate every month. Treat bigcommerce checkout customisation as an ongoing process, not a one-off task. Small, steady tweaks add up to strong results over time.

Conclusion

A strong bigcommerce checkout needs a few smart steps. Enable the optimised one-page checkout and guest checkout. Connect Stripe, PayPal, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay and Google Pay, so shoppers can pay their way. Set Australia Post rates and show GST-inclusive prices from the first click.

Use bigcommerce checkout customisation to match your brand’s look and feel. Turn on bigcommerce abandoned cart recovery to win back lost sales, and test your checkout often. Small fixes can lift results over time.

Why does this matter? A well-built checkout earns trust and removes friction. Australian shoppers expect speed, clear costs and familiar payment options.

Deliver all three, and more carts become paid orders. We suggest tackling one step at a time. Track your conversion rate and recovered revenue after each change to see what works best for your store.

Are you and your developer struggling with bigcommerce checkout customisation? Email us at [email protected]. We will handle the technical complexity, so you can focus on growing your business.