A backorder is an order for a product that is temporarily out of stock but that the seller still accepts, with the promise to fulfill it once inventory is replenished. Instead of blocking the sale, you let the buyer commit now and ship later. On a quote, individual line items can be flagged as backordered and paired with an expected availability date so the buyer knows when to expect delivery.
How it works
When stock runs out, you have three choices: hide the product, mark it sold out, or accept a backorder. Accepting the backorder keeps the demand on your books. In Shopify, this maps to “Continue selling when out of stock” on a variant, which lets inventory go negative and the order proceed. On a quote, you note which lines are backordered, set an expected date, and the buyer accepts the full order knowing part of it will ship later.
Why it matters in B2B
B2B buyers often order in large volumes against production or project timelines, so a stockout does not mean the deal is dead. It means the buyer needs a firm commitment and a realistic date. A quote that clearly separates in-stock lines from backordered ones, with dates attached, prevents disputes later and keeps the order moving instead of sending the buyer to a competitor.
Example
A distributor requests 500 units of an item you have 320 of. You quote all 500, mark 180 as backordered with an expected availability of three weeks out, and note that the in-stock portion ships immediately. The buyer accepts and pays, and you fulfill in two shipments.
When you convert a quote request into a Shopify draft order, backordered lines carry through to the order, so fulfillment and buyer communication stay native. See the B2B quoting glossary for related terms, or pricing for plan details.