Wrong items dispatched = expensive returns
Shipping the wrong product or size without a pre-dispatch check costs you time, money, and customer trust.
Dispatching before payment = chasing forever
Once the parcel leaves, your leverage is gone. Always confirm payment before the order ships.
Inventory not updated = overselling and disputes
Selling stock you no longer have creates fulfilment failures that damage your reputation.
Why retail and eCommerce operators lose margin at the fulfilment stage
For retail and eCommerce sole traders, the order fulfilment stage is where most preventable losses occur. Wrong items packed, payment not confirmed before dispatch, and inventory not updated after each order all create downstream problems that are far more expensive to fix than to prevent. This checklist gives you a 10-step post-order process: confirm order accuracy, inspect quality, confirm shipping details, finalise packaging, confirm payment via Sole and Worldpay, update inventory, dispatch, provide care instructions, and send a professional dispatch notification. Use the two AI prompts to run a final pre-dispatch check or generate a personalised dispatch message to send your customer.
What You Get
10-Step Post-Order Checklist
Confirm order accuracy, inspect product quality, confirm shipping address and method, prepare final packaging, confirm pricing and payment received, update inventory and notes in Sole, dispatch the order, provide care instructions, and send dispatch notification.
Order Dispatch Message Template
A ready-to-send dispatch notification for every order — professional, friendly, and includes a placeholder for tracking information.
2 AI Prompts for Retail Operators
Prompt A: 'What should I check before I dispatch?' — paste order details for a pre-dispatch gap check.
Prompt B: 'Write my dispatch message' — personalised for your product and customer.
preview
A preview of what's inside
Here are the first three steps from the 10-step Post-Project Checklist:
Confirm the order details — product, variant, quantity, and any custom specifications — against the original order.
Inspect the product quality before packaging — check for defects, damage, or anything that doesn't meet your standard.
Confirm the shipping address and selected delivery method before preparing the final package.
+ 7 more steps, dispatch message template, and 2 AI prompts — all inside the free download.
Who It’s For
Built for solo product sellers and small-scale manufacturers operating in Australia.
Online store owners
Market stall operators
Makers & artisans
Wholesalers
Micro-manufacturers
Handmade product sellers
ATO & Compliance Note
Important
All retail, eCommerce, and manufacturing income must be declared to the ATO. If your annual turnover exceeds $75,000, GST registration is mandatory. Keep records of all sales invoices, COGS, shipping expenses, and packaging costs in Sole. These records are essential for your quarterly BAS and annual income tax return.
Download your free checklist
Enter your details and we'll send the Post-Order Checklist for Retail & eCommerce straight to your inbox.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Should I always collect payment before dispatching an order?
Yes — without exception for retail and eCommerce orders. Once an order has been dispatched, your ability to withhold it as leverage is gone. Sole + Worldpay make it easy to confirm card payment or direct transfer before you pack the box. If the payment isn’t cleared, the order doesn’t ship.
How do I track inventory against my invoices in Sole?
Record your stock levels and Cost of Goods Sold in Sole’s expense and notes features. Each time an order is dispatched, update your stock count. This keeps your inventory accurate, prevents overselling, and gives you a real-time view of your margin on each product line.
What is the most common fulfilment mistake for small eCommerce businesses?
Dispatching without confirming payment is cleared. The second most common is skipping the order accuracy check — packing the wrong variant, colour, or size. Both are preventable with a simple pre-dispatch checklist run every time before you pack, regardless of how busy you are.