How to Create Invoices From Draft Orders on Shopify

A draft order, a custom quote, a phone sale, a B2B arrangement negotiated before checkout, still needs proper invoice documentation, even though it has not become a standard order yet. Generating that invoice directly from the draft closes the gap between negotiation and paperwork.

This guide is for merchants using Shopify draft orders for quotes, phone sales, or custom B2B arrangements who want proper invoices generated directly from those drafts.

Quick Answer

Yes, invoices can be generated directly from Shopify draft orders. Order Printer Pro supports printing and exporting draft orders, using the same customizable, branded templates as standard order invoices, so a quote or phone sale gets professional documentation before it ever converts into a paid order. This closes the gap between a negotiated arrangement and its proper paperwork.

What This Involves

Creating invoices from draft orders means applying the same invoice generation and templating capability used for standard orders to draft orders specifically, producing professional documentation for quotes, phone sales, or custom B2B arrangements before the draft converts into a completed order.

Who Needs This

• Merchants using draft orders for custom quotes
• Phone or in-person sales teams building orders manually
• B2B sellers negotiating custom pricing before checkout
• Any business needing invoice documentation before payment
• Stores wanting consistent branding across draft and standard invoices

Why It Matters for Your Business

• Draft orders still need proper invoice documentation for the buyer
• Quotes benefit from the same professional presentation as standard invoices
• This closes a gap that otherwise requires manual document creation
• Consistent templates mean drafts and standard orders both look professional
• B2B buyers often expect formal documentation before committing to payment
• This removes friction between negotiation and the eventual sale

How to Create Invoices From Draft Orders on Shopify

Step 1

Start by confirming how your business uses draft orders.

• Identify the scenarios generating draft orders, quotes, phone sales, custom B2B
• Decide whether draft invoices need distinct content from standard ones
• Confirm what information the draft stage should already include

Step 2: Install and Configure Order Printer Pro

Install Order Printer Pro and generate the draft order invoice.

• Use the print and export capability specifically for draft orders
• Apply your branded template consistently across draft and standard invoices
• Confirm pricing, taxes, and terms display correctly at the draft stage

Step 3

Decide how the draft invoice reaches the customer.

• Send the draft invoice directly for review before payment
• Use it as the basis for a formal quote awaiting acceptance
• Keep a copy for internal records regardless of delivery method

Step 4

Test the draft invoice generation across your typical scenarios.

• Create a test draft order representing a typical quote or custom sale
• Generate its invoice and confirm the content and branding are correct
• Check that converting the draft to a standard order does not create documentation confusion

Step 5

Launch and refine based on real draft order usage.

• Track how draft invoices are actually being used by your sales process
• Gather feedback from buyers on the clarity of draft documentation
• Adjust the template if draft-specific needs diverge from standard invoices

Examples & Use Cases

Custom Furniture Workshop (Furniture)
Problem: Custom quotes built as draft orders had no proper invoice, leaving buyers with only an informal price mention
Setup: Generated branded invoices directly from draft orders through Order Printer Pro before buyers committed to payment
Result: Buyers received professional documentation supporting their purchase decision, and quote-to-sale conversion improved

B2B Equipment Distributor (Industrial)
Problem: Phone orders built manually as drafts lacked the formal documentation B2B buyers expected before payment
Setup: Used draft order invoice generation to produce consistent, branded documentation for every phone sale
Result: Phone sales gained the same professional paperwork as standard checkout orders

See more case studies.

Best Practices

• Confirm how your business actually generates and uses draft orders
• Apply the same branded template across drafts and standard invoices
• Verify pricing and terms display correctly at the draft stage
• Test across your typical draft order scenarios
• Keep internal records regardless of how the draft invoice is delivered
• Gather buyer feedback on draft documentation clarity
• Adjust the template if draft-specific needs genuinely differ

Summary

Draft orders deserve the same professional invoice documentation as standard orders, and generating it directly from the draft closes the gap between negotiation and proper paperwork. The core steps are confirming how your business uses draft orders, generating branded invoices directly from them, and testing across your typical quote and custom sale scenarios.

If your draft orders lack proper invoice documentation, Order Printer Pro can generate the same branded invoices for drafts as for standard orders.