Checkout Requirements for Google Merchant Center

A shopper who clicks your product should be able to buy it at the advertised price without surprises. Problems in the cart or checkout are a common, overlooked reason for disapprovals.

What to check

HTTPS everywhere, especially the cart, checkout and payment pages.
Same price in the cart as on the product page and in your feed.
No hidden fees appearing only at the last step — show shipping and taxes clearly.
Add to cart works for in-stock products, on mobile too.
Clear payment methods — show the options you accept; avoid stores that only accept unusual methods without explanation.
Checkout opens without forcing an account, or at least clearly offers guest checkout where possible.

How to test it

In a private window on your phone, open a product from your feed.
Add it to the cart and go to the checkout entry page.
Compare the price, currency and fees with the product page.
Check the padlock (HTTPS) on every step.

MerchantLion runs this test automatically — it adds one product to the cart and stops before any personal or payment details, without placing an order.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to accept credit cards?

Show the payment methods you accept clearly. Common methods build trust; offering only unusual methods without explanation can raise concerns.

Official sources

MerchantLion is independent and not affiliated with Google. Google’s documentation is the authoritative source; policies change, so check it before making decisions.

Related guides

Product data & mismatches