Knowledge Base

How to create a preorder listing on ListItNGo

This guide walks sellers through the full preorder setup: menu items, schedule, pickup or delivery, payment setup, and what to manage after publishing.

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At-home kitchen seller handling preorder requests

Before you start

Gather the basics before building the listing so setup goes smoothly.

Listing copy

Prepare a title, short description, section title, and item names for your menu.

Product photos

Use one strong listing photo and item-level images if you want buyers to browse visually.

Pickup plan

Know when orders open, when they close, and exactly when buyers can pick up.

Payout account

If you want online checkout, connect your payout account in Earnings & Payouts first.

1

Choose Preorder as the listing type

Click Create New Listing, then choose Preorder. This opens the seller flow that is built for menu items, pickup scheduling, delivery options, and preorder payments.

  • Use this mode for food, drinks, baked goods, meal prep, and custom made-to-order items.
  • Preorder supports menu rows, schedule setup, fulfillment preferences, deposits, and full payment.
2

Add your listing details and menu

In the Details step, add the listing title, description, menu section title, and each item row you want buyers to order from.

What to fill in

  • Listing title: the name buyers see first
  • Description: what is available and any ordering notes
  • Section title: for example Juices & Wellness Shots or Weekend Menu

For each menu row

  • Add the item name
  • Enter the selling price in Starting at Price
  • Add an item image if you have one
  • Use customization groups only if needed

Good first-run approach

Keep the first listing simple. Start with 4 to 7 items, use clear names and pricing, and avoid too many custom options until you know what buyers order most.

Example preorder menu item

Example: one listing can include individual items, bundles, and optional add-ons in the same preorder menu.

3

Set your schedule and weekly availability

Use the Schedule step to decide when buyers can request pickup times and how far in advance they must order.

Slot length
How long each pickup slot lasts. Example: 30 minutes.
Lead time (hours)
How much advance notice you need before a buyer can book a pickup time.
Booking window (days)
How far ahead buyers can see and choose pickup times.
Latest pickup end time
The latest time your pickup window can end for the day.

Example weekly cycle

Open orders Monday, close Thursday at 6:00 PM, and run pickup on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A setup close to that example is: 30 minute slots, 43 hours lead time, a 7 day booking window, and Saturday weekly hours of 10:00 AM–1:00 PM.

4

Choose fulfillment preferences

In the fulfillment step, decide whether buyers can request pickup, meetup, local delivery, or a mix of those options.

Pickup

Best for a first run if you want the simplest handoff flow.

Meetup

Useful if you want to meet in a public place instead of offering pickup from your address.

Delivery

Set a radius, choose fixed or per-mile pricing, and optionally require a minimum order for delivery.

Recommended first run

Start with one main pickup option, then add delivery after you understand order volume, timing, and which neighborhoods request handoff most often.

5

Turn on payment setup

If you want buyers to check out online, enable payment setup in the Details step and connect your payout account through Stripe.

Deposit options

  • No deposit
  • Fixed amount
  • Percentage
  • Full payment

What the preview shows

  • Price
  • Deposit
  • ListItNGo fee
  • Buyer pays now
  • Customer total

Good rule of thumb

Use full payment for made-to-order items when you want to reduce no-shows. Use a deposit for higher-ticket or custom orders if you want a softer first checkout experience.

Stripe logo

ListItNGo uses Stripe for secure online preorder checkout and seller payouts.

6

Publish and manage the listing weekly

After publishing, you can edit the same preorder listing each week instead of creating a new one every time.

  • Update the schedule, menu items, pricing, and fulfillment settings as needed.
  • Track what buyers paid, what is pending, and what is available for payout.
  • Use confirmed order cards to manage pickup or delivery handoff when the order is ready.

Important note

Completed orders are released to your connected Stripe payout account based on your payout schedule, so the seller dashboard is the best place to monitor available and pending funds.

Order earnings dashboard for preorder sellers

Best practices for first-time sellers

Keep the menu focused

Start with 4 to 7 items so setup and fulfillment stay manageable.

Use clear pickup instructions

Tell buyers exactly when to arrive, where to go, and what to expect at handoff.

Be realistic on timing

Choose availability you can consistently keep before adding more pickup days or delivery areas.

Watch what sells

Use your first few runs to learn which items, bundles, and price points get the most response.

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