Black Friday 2026 is coming…

Plan your cash flow. Keep funds available for refunds. Test your checkout.

Black Friday is one of the biggest sales opportunities of the year for ecommerce businesses, but it also brings a significant increase in payment activity. 

With Black Friday on 27 November 2026, followed by Cyber Monday on 30 November, now is the time to plan your cash flow, prepare for refunds and make sure your checkout is working as it should.

We asked our integration experts at Bob Pay for their top tips to help you prepare.

Plan your cash flow

Black Friday is followed by a weekend, so it’s important to plan ahead. While you can request a payout at any time, payouts are processed on business days. 

Consider scheduling weekly or monthly payouts with a minimum balance threshold to help you manage your cash flow.

Payouts may take longer if certain transactions or account information require additional review. Understanding how payouts work can help you plan for upcoming expenses and avoid unnecessary delays.

Keep a balance available for refunds

More sales usually mean more refunds and cancellations, so it’s important to plan for these as your order volumes increase. After a successful Black Friday, it may be tempting to move your entire available balance out, but we recommend keeping enough funds available to cover potential refunds.

Processing refunds promptly can help you avoid unnecessary customer frustration. Clear refund and returns policies, good communication and timely responses to customer queries can help reduce the risk of customers disputing transactions with their bank.

Before Black Friday, make sure your refund and returns policies are up to date and easy for customers to find. Planning ahead means you can handle refunds efficiently while keeping your customer experience on track.

Test your checkout

The last thing you want on Black Friday is to discover that your checkout or payment integration isn't working as expected. 

Before the big weekend, test your checkout from start to finish, including a live test transaction across each payment method you offer. Check that the payment is processed successfully, the order is created correctly, and the customer receives the right confirmation. It's also worth testing what happens when a payment fails or is cancelled.

Remember to test the experience on mobile, as many of your customers will be shopping from their phones.

We recommend avoiding major changes to your plugins, website theme or payment integrations in the two weeks before Black Friday. This gives you time to identify and resolve any issues before the rush. If you do need to make changes, make sure they are properly tested before going live.

Get ready before the rush

A little preparation can go a long way when Black Friday arrives. By planning your cash flow, keeping funds available for refunds and testing your checkout in advance, you can help your business handle the increase in orders and give your customers a smoother shopping experience.

Get your payments ready before the rush and make the most of Black Friday with Bob Pay.

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