The number one question buyers ask before backing a campaign is some version of: do I really pay the full price today for something that ships in three months? There are two honest answers on Shopify right now, and a third one coming.
Today: charged in full, refunded automatically
Fundcap campaigns charge backers at checkout like any normal order. If the goal is missed, every backer is refunded automatically. It is simple, it needs no special payment setup, and buyers understand it. The cost of this model is the processing fee on refunds, which we document honestly.
Today: dedicated deposit apps
Apps like Downpay handle deposits and partial payments well, but they price by volume: plans run from $29 to $249 a month depending on how much you process. Stacking a deposit app on top of a campaign app also gets fragile, and some combinations break bundles or theme blocks.
Coming: reserve now, charged only if funded
The model we are building into Fundcap Pro: backers put down a small deposit to reserve, and the balance is only captured if the campaign hits its goal. Miss the goal and only the deposit is ever touched, which shrinks the refund (and the processing-fee cost) to a fraction. It is the closest thing to true Kickstarter mechanics a Shopify store can run, at a flat price with no percentage of your raise.
Deposits are planned for Fundcap Pro. If your next launch needs them, tell us about your product or email support@fundcap.app with the subject 'Deposits'. Interest directly decides how fast this ships.