Purchase Order Gateway WooCommerce Plugin Review

While most WooCommerce stores focus on instant payments via cards or digital wallets, not all customers — especially business clients — prefer or can use those methods. In B2B, educational, or institutional transactions, purchase orders (POs) are the standard. That’s where the Purchase Order Gateway for WooCommerce Plugin comes in.

This plugin allows store owners to offer “Pay by Purchase Order” as a payment option at checkout. Instead of paying immediately, the customer submits a PO number, and the store can then review, approve, and fulfill the order while awaiting manual payment.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through how the Purchase Order Gateway plugin works, its top features, ideal use cases, how to set it up, and how it fits perfectly into a WooCommerce-powered B2B or invoice-based sales workflow.

What Is the Purchase Order Gateway for WooCommerce?

The Purchase Order Gateway plugin is a WooCommerce extension that adds a new payment method to your store: Purchase Order.

When enabled, this option allows customers to:

• Enter a purchase order number during checkout

• Submit the order without immediate payment

• Complete the transaction on credit (terms agreed in advance)

On the admin side, the store owner receives the order, verifies the PO details, and processes it just like any other WooCommerce order — with the option to mark it as paid when funds are received via bank transfer, check, or other offline method.

It’s ideal for B2B sellers, government vendors, wholesale platforms, and high-trust customers who operate on net terms (e.g., Net 30, Net 60).

Key Features of the Plugin

The Purchase Order Gateway plugin focuses on simplicity and seamless WooCommerce integration. Here are its core features:

1. Adds a “Purchase Order” Payment Option at Checkout

Once activated, the plugin adds a new option on the checkout page labeled “Purchase Order.” When selected, it prompts the customer to:

• Enter their PO number

• Place the order without paying upfront

This creates an order in “on hold” or “pending” status until you manually review or fulfill it.

2. Custom Field for PO Number Input

The checkout form includes a dedicated field for entering a PO number, invoice reference, or other internal tracking code. You can customize the label to match your process (e.g., “Reference ID” or “Invoice #”).

This field is stored with the order and included in:

• Order emails

• Admin panel view

• Invoices and packing slips (if integrated)

3. Easy Order Management

In the admin dashboard, you’ll see:

• Orders placed via the PO gateway

• PO number attached to each order

• The order status (e.g., pending, processing, completed)

You can:

• Mark the order as paid manually

• Change the status as needed

• Export the order for fulfillment or accounting

4. Restrict Access to Approved Customers (Optional)

While the basic plugin allows all customers to use POs, some enhanced versions or customizations allow you to:

• Limit PO payment to specific user roles (e.g., B2B customers)

• Whitelist individual customers based on prior approval

• Display the gateway only when certain conditions are met (e.g., minimum order amount)

This prevents abuse and ensures only authorized users can bypass immediate payment.

5. Seamless Integration with WooCommerce Templates

The PO gateway fits neatly into:

• The checkout flow

• Admin order screens

• Order confirmation and email templates

You don’t need to customize your theme or templates — the plugin uses native WooCommerce hooks and styling.

6. Optional Notes or Instructions

You can include custom instructions with the PO payment method:

• “We’ll review your PO and contact you within 24 hours.”

• “Send payment to [bank address].”

• “Please upload your purchase order after checkout.”

This helps align the store’s fulfillment policy with your customers’ expectations.

Why Use Purchase Orders in WooCommerce?

Most eCommerce stores are designed for direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales. But in the B2B world, payment often doesn’t happen at the time of checkout. Instead, companies issue purchase orders that reflect agreed terms and timelines.

Here’s why the purchase order model — and this plugin — makes sense:

1. Ideal for B2B and Institutional Clients

Many businesses, universities, and government departments operate through purchase orders. They expect to:

• Place an order with a PO number

• Receive goods/services

• Pay within 15–60 days (based on vendor agreement)

Without a PO option, these clients can’t transact with you.

2. Increases Trust and Flexibility

Allowing trusted clients to order on terms shows professionalism and builds long-term relationships.

You might require pre-approval for this privilege — but once granted, it can lead to large, recurring orders.

3. Simplifies Accounting and Reconciliation

POs make internal record-keeping easier for both sides. Each order has a clear reference number, agreed terms, and a paper trail — reducing confusion during invoicing or payment disputes.

4. Unlocks New Sales Channels

Offering a PO payment gateway allows you to serve:

• Wholesalers

• Bulk buyers

• Schools and universities

• Government agencies

• Corporate purchasing departments

These segments often have larger budgets and more consistent buying patterns.

Real-World Use Cases for the Purchase Order Gateway

This plugin is popular among store owners serving business and institutional clients. Here are a few examples:

1. Wholesale Suppliers

Allow retailers to place large product orders via PO and pay on Net 30 terms. Set up account manager workflows for invoicing and fulfillment.

2. Government & Educational Vendors

Enable schools, universities, or government offices to submit official PO numbers at checkout. Deliver products with invoices for later payment.

3. Service Providers

If you’re selling digital services, consulting, or design packages via WooCommerce, you can use the plugin to allow clients to book with a PO and pay after work begins.

4. Franchise or Multi-Location Brands

Let internal branches or partners place orders using PO numbers assigned by HQ, then settle balances via centralized finance teams.

5. Healthcare or Legal Practices

These industries often use POs for vendor purchases, software licenses, or printed materials — making a WooCommerce PO gateway very convenient.

How to Set It Up

Getting started with the Purchase Order Gateway plugin is fast and straightforward.

Step 1: Install the Plugin

• Purchase from WooCommerce.com or a GPL provider like Themexplug

• Upload the ZIP file via Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin

• Activate the plugin

Step 2: Enable the Gateway

Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments, and you’ll see a new method labeled Purchase Order.

• Enable the gateway

• Customize the title (e.g., “Pay by PO” or “Invoice My Account”)

• Add custom instructions or notes for your customers

Step 3: Configure the PO Field Label

Go to the plugin’s settings panel to:

• Change the PO input field label

• Decide whether it’s required or optional

• Determine if a default value is allowed

Step 4: Add Access Rules (Optional)

To restrict PO access:

• Use a role-based plugin like User Role Editor

• Combine with conditional gateway logic via code or third-party tools

• Display PO gateway only to approved users or email domains

This protects you from misuse by new or unverified customers.

Step 5: Test the Checkout Flow

• Create a test product

• Add it to the cart and proceed to checkout

• Select “Purchase Order” as the payment method

• Enter a test PO number

• Submit the order

You’ll see the order appear in WooCommerce > Orders with a PO number attached and a “Pending Payment” status.

Managing Orders with POs

After a customer places an order using the PO gateway:

• The order is held for manual review

• You can verify the customer’s account or PO number

• Once approved, fulfill the order and update the status

• Optionally mark the order as “Completed” or “Processing”

• Record manual payment when received (e.g., via bank transfer)

If integrated with a PDF invoicing plugin, you can automatically send professional invoices containing the PO number and total due.

Benefits of Using the Purchase Order Gateway Plugin

Let’s recap why this plugin is so valuable:

1. Enables B2B Sales with Professionalism

You can meet institutional purchasing requirements and serve a wider range of clients.

2. Improves Cash Flow Flexibility

Offering Net 30 or Net 60 payment terms can attract large orders that wouldn’t happen otherwise.

3. Reduces Payment Friction

Buyers don’t need a credit card to checkout. They can proceed with a PO — especially useful for internal buyers or staff members.

4. Integrates with Your Existing WooCommerce Workflow

No extra dashboards or tools. You manage PO orders like any other WooCommerce order.

5. Simple, Lightweight, and Reliable

The plugin avoids bloat and focuses on doing one thing well: enabling invoice-based payments in WooCommerce.

Limitations to Consider

Before using the plugin, consider a few limitations:

• Manual process: There’s no built-in invoicing or automatic payment handling.

• No credit checks or account approval workflows: You’ll need other tools or manual processes to vet customers.

• No recurring billing: Not ideal for subscriptions — it’s best for one-time or project-based orders.

• No automatic PO validation: The plugin doesn’t verify if the PO number is valid or funded.

Despite these, the plugin does exactly what most B2B stores need — add a PO field and checkout method.

Pricing Overview

You can find the plugin at:

• WooCommerce.com: $79/year for 1 site, including updates and support

• GPL providers like Themexplug (use at your discretion)

Includes:

• Full integration with WooCommerce

• PO number field and email support

• Unlimited orders and customers

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

If your store:

• Serves B2B, wholesale, education, or government clients

• Gets requests for purchase orders or Net terms

• Wants to expand into invoice-based sales

• Needs a lightweight way to enable PO checkouts

…then yes — this plugin is absolutely worth it.

It’s one of the fastest, safest ways to make your WooCommerce store business-ready without custom development.

Final Thoughts

Not every sale happens with a credit card.

By adding a Purchase Order Gateway plugin to your WooCommerce store, you make it easier for trusted clients to order without friction. You’ll unlock new B2B opportunities, streamline your internal workflows, and give buyers the confidence they need to complete larger, invoice-based purchases.

If you want to future-proof your WooCommerce store for B2B and institutional clients, this plugin is an essential upgrade.

Click here to get Purchase Order Gateway WooCommerce plugin now!