Black Friday payment strategies guide

Black Friday is an annual shopping event known for major discounts and sales. This year, in 2025, Black Friday will take place on 28th November.

Black Friday marks the start of the festive shopping season and giving both online and in-store retailers a major opportunity to boost revenue. It originally started in the US but is now observed in many countries. It aims to prepare consumers for the Christmas period. This event benefits businesses by driving high sales volumes, while consumers get the chance to stock up for the Christmas season affordably.

As Black Friday approaches, merchants across both online and physical channels must prepare their payment systems and operations to handle the surge of customers eager to secure the best deals.

It’s predicted that Brits will spend a total of GBP 3.9 billion while shopping in the 2025 Black Friday sales, GBP 100 million more than the expected spend of GBP 3.8 billion in 2024. The average person is planning to spend GBP 124, which is up just slightly from an average planned spend of GBP 122 in 2024. With anticipated higher sales, a crucial aspect that can impact customer satisfaction and overall sales success is the payment process. Offering the right payment options can streamline transactions, boost conversions and increase customer loyalty.

Developing a solid payment strategy well ahead of Black Friday is essential for merchants, as the entire month of November often features extended sales, giving customers more time to shop. As a result, merchants need an overarching payment strategy that ensures their systems are fully equipped to handle high transaction volumes and high value purchases smoothly. This means every element of the payment process, from the checkout experience to security measures, must be optimised so that when the surge in traffic arrives, the shopping experience remains seamless, fast, and secure.

This guide will dive into key payment strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, helping merchants maximise sales while providing a smooth, secure and convenient shopping experience for their customers.

*This period is called Black Friday Weekend where usually the main promotions take place.

Black Friday: The day after Thanksgiving, marking the start of the holiday shopping season with major in-store and online discounts. (28th November 2025)

Cyber Monday: The Monday after Black Friday, focused on online discounts, especially for electronics and technology devices. (1st December 2025)

Cyber Week: An extended discount period from Black Friday through the following week, with online and in-store deals. (28th November – 5th December 2025)

Black Friday Month: An extended promotion period starting 1st November, offering early Black Friday discounts all month to boost holiday sales. (1st November – 30th December 2025)

Here are six essential payment strategies to help your business manage high transaction volumes, improve customer experience and boost sales throughout the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period.

1. Streamline your checkout experience

One-click checkout

Integrating one-click checkout options simplifies and speeds up the checkout process by reducing the number of steps required to complete a purchase for online stores. In 2023, the usage of eWallets for Black Friday has surged by 54% in the US during Black Friday week, compared to 2022. This is crucial for Black Friday when shoppers are in a rush to secure deals.

A one-click checkout not only saves repeat customers time but also significantly lowers cart abandonment rates by making the payment process as convenient as possible. By offering tokenisation, where users can securely save their card details after the first payment, all subsequent transactions can be completed in just a few clicks, eliminating the need to re-enter payment information. In fact, Cornell University research shows that after signing up for an online retailer's 'one-click' checkout service, customers increased their spending by an average of 28.5% over time, highlighting the long-term benefits of a streamlined payment process.

Guest checkout

Offering a guest checkout option allows customers to complete their purchases without the need to create an account. Many customers, especially new ones, may be discouraged by the requirement to register before purchasing. By allowing guest checkouts, merchants can remove this barrier, making it easier for customers to complete their purchases and reducing cart abandonment rates. After the purchase, you can invite them to sign up, turning one-time buyers into potential loyal customers.

Mobile payments

Moreover, mobile devices drove 70% of Cyber Week orders in 2024. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure a smooth and fast payment experience on mobile devices. Mobile optimisation means adapting the checkout flow for smaller screens, ensuring that buttons are accessible and minimising the number of required fields. A mobile-friendly payment process can improve the customer experience, reduce frustration, and capture sales from on-the-go shoppers.

In-store payments

For brick-and-mortar store payments, mobile POS systems empower sales associates to move the terminal around the store and process transactions on the move, significantly reducing queue times and allowing a more personalised checkout experience. These handheld devices are especially helpful on Black Friday, as they enable staff to assist customers directly on the sales floor, streamlining the payment process and increasing checkout efficiency.

With an increased preference for quick, touch-free transactions, especially during busy shopping periods, contactless payment options can expedite in-store payments. By supporting Apple Pay, Google Pay and other tap to pay options, merchants can help customers complete their purchases faster, minimising wait times and creating a smoother, safer shopping experience.

2. Offer multiple payment options

Offering a range of payment methods accommodates different customer preferences. In addition to credit and debit cards, consider integrating digital, as well as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options. Debit cards remain the top payment choice for shoppers this season (65% in 2024, similar to 66% in 2023), followed by cash and credit cards. Gen Z and millennials, however, prefer mobile payment options like Apple Pay and PayPal. These alternatives allow customers to choose the payment method they feel most comfortable with, making it easier for them to complete their purchases and potentially increasing conversion rates.

3. Focus on fraud prevention and security

Consumers stated that during Black Friday, security concerns matter, where 77% are concerned about porch piracy and 50% take precautions to avoid theft while shopping online.

Working with the right payment service provider (PSP) is crucial to detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions in their tracks. The right PSP can analyse patterns and flag potentially risky transactions based on unusual activity, location mismatches or transactions that exceed set limits. By partnering with expert PSPs in fraud detection rules and transaction monitoring, merchants can minimise the risk of fraud while protecting customers’ sensitive data, fostering trust and security.

Furthermore, by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) and 3D Secure 2 (3DS2) for online payments, merchants can add an extra layer of security to customer transactions. 3DS2 requires 2FA, where customers must verify their identity using a second form of authentication, such as a code sent to their phone. This makes it harder for fraudsters to gain unauthorised access. It is essential for merchants to work with a PSP to set up 3DS2 and leverage exemptions where possible to balance security and customer convenience while preventing fraud.

Ensuring that online payment systems are compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) is essential for protecting customer information. The measures required for each PCI level differ based on the merchant’s handling of sensitive payment details. The right PSP can advise merchants on the measures they need to take, depending on the payment solution they will be using. For example, a web payment form (WPF) has a minimum PCI burden on the merchant compared to a hosted payment page or a server to server integration.

Point of sale (POS) encryption helps to secure transaction data from the point of entry until it reaches the payment processor. This prevents hackers from intercepting payment information, reducing the risk of breaches and protecting both the merchant and the customer.

4. Enhance data analytics and reporting

Utilising advanced reporting tools offered by emerchantpay enables merchants to gain valuable insights into payment activities with detailed analytics that allow businesses to spot trends, manage fraud risks and make informed decisions. This ensures a more seamless customer experience, reducing friction and increasing conversion rates during high-traffic periods like Black Friday.

For both physical and online store payments, collecting and analysing transaction data from purchases provides insights into peak shopping times, preferred payment methods and purchase trends. The in-store payment data enables merchants to get daily reports on the type of transactions (sale, refund, pre-authorisation), the card brand (Visa or Mastercard) and the purchased amount. This helps merchants analyse the basket amounts and get ready for the sales season. Furthermore, an eCommerce store's payment data gives information on customer behaviour, transaction success rates, and customer demographics. These insights set the stage to be able to improve strategies for the next Black Friday Cyber Monday sales season.

5. Provide clear payment descriptions

Clear and detailed payment descriptions on customers' card statements are essential for minimising chargebacks. When customers don't recognise a purchase on their statement, they may dispute the charge, leading to costly chargebacks for merchants. It’s important for merchants to ensure that the description of the transaction is accurate and easily identifiable. Merchants should work with their PSP to set up clear descriptors that will appear on customers' statements, helping to prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of chargebacks.

For in-store payments, the mobile POS systems should give a clear message on whether the transaction has been successful or not. Moreover, equipping staff with the knowledge to address payment issues, such as card declines, helps maintain a positive in-store experience. Quick and efficient problem solving reassures customers, keeping the checkout process moving smoothly.

6. Integrate promotions and discounts

Black Friday sales are driven by sales and promotions. According to a Deloitte survey in 2025, during the Black Friday period, 89% of consumers stated that they are seeking deals and 49% add items to their wish lists or online carts and wait for deals.

For eCommerce stores, it’s important to ensure that discount codes or promotions are easy to apply at checkout, reducing friction and encouraging customers to complete their purchases. A smooth, transparent discount application process creates a satisfying experience that can drive more sales.

In-store discounts that enable staff to apply Black Friday discounts or rewards programs directly at the checkout are crucial. This flexibility ensures that customers receive advertised savings, enhancing their shopping experience and encouraging in-store sales.

How can emerchantpay help your store during Black Friday?

In 2025, Black Friday and Cyber Monday will evolve as consumers worldwide respond to economic challenges by prioritising early deals and value driven spending. Retailers are encouraged to embrace digital payment solutions, optimising payment methods and security to enhance customer experience and build trust.

A trusted payment service provider like emerchantpay can support businesses in aligning their payment offerings with customer preferences, helping to boost profit margins and foster brand loyalty. With advanced technology and a customer-focused approach, emerchantpay enables brands to create seamless, engaging payment experiences tailored to their audiences.