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Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations

Learn how to create and manage Shipping Profiles in GHL Customer Care to set accurate, product-based shipping rates and ensure smooth checkout for your ecommerce store.

4 min read965 words5 explained imagesUpdated Wed, 10 Jun at 3:25 AM
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On this page
  1. Key Benefits of Shipping Profiles
  2. General Shipping Profile
  3. Custom Shipping Profiles
  4. Checkout Logic
  5. How Shipping Options Display at Checkout
  6. How to Set Up Shipping Profiles
  7. Limit a Shipping Zone by ZIP/Postcode
  8. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. Related Articles

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Shipping Profiles in GHL Customer Care let you set flexible, product-specific shipping rates across your store. Use them to charge accurate shipping costs for different types of products or app integrations, while a General Profile automatically covers everything else.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What Are Shipping Profiles?

Shipping Profiles let you apply unique shipping rules to specific products, stores, or app integrations. They determine how much customers pay for shipping at checkout, based on zones and rate types.

If a product isn’t assigned to a custom profile, it automatically uses the General Shipping Profile—so every checkout always has a valid shipping rate.

Key Benefits of Shipping Profiles

  • Flexible control: Set different rates for bulky or lightweight products.

  • Custom pricing models: Choose between flat, weight-based, price-based, or free shipping.

  • App integrations: Automatically sync rates from third-party shipping apps.

  • Accurate checkout totals: Combine multiple shipping profiles into one seamless rate.

  • Fail-safe logic: Products not assigned to any profile automatically use the General Profile.

General Shipping Profile

The General Shipping Profile is automatically created for your store. It applies to all products that aren’t assigned to a custom or app-defined profile.

Use this as your fallback for standard shipping rates or when a third-party app doesn’t return rates.

General Shipping Profile (image 1 of 5) What this shows Use this as your fallback for standard shipping rates or when a third-party app doesn’t return rates. What this shows Illustrates the "General Shipping Profile" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". This screenshot appears in the "General Shipping Profile" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". The text alongside this image reads: Use this as your fallback for standard shipping rates or when a third-party app doesn’t return rates. Immediately after, the guide continues: Custom Shipping Profiles give you the flexibility to charge specific rates for certain products or groups. Image 1 of 5 What this coversUse this as your fallback for standard shipping rates or when a third-party app doesn’t return rates.
Buttons and menus referenced General Shipping Profile
Next stepCustom Shipping Profiles give you the flexibility to charge specific rates for certain products or groups.

Custom Shipping Profiles

Custom Shipping Profiles give you the flexibility to charge specific rates for certain products or groups.

Each profile can:

  • Apply to one or more stores.

  • Include selected products.

  • Define zones by country, region, or province.

  • Use any combination of rate types (flat, price-based, weight-based, or free).

Products can only belong to one custom profile at a time—reassigning a product overrides the old profile.

Custom Shipping Profiles (image 2 of 5) What this shows Products can only belong to one custom profile at a time—reassigning a product overrides the old profile. What this shows Illustrates the "Custom Shipping Profiles" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". This screenshot appears in the "Custom Shipping Profiles" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". The text alongside this image reads: Products can only belong to one custom profile at a time—reassigning a product overrides the old profile. Immediately after, the guide continues: When customers buy items from multiple profiles, GHL Customer Care automatically calculates a combined total. Image 2 of 5 What this coversProducts can only belong to one custom profile at a time—reassigning a product overrides the old profile. Next stepWhen customers buy items from multiple profiles, GHL Customer Care automatically calculates a combined total:
All 4 steps in this procedure
  1. Apply to one or more stores.
  2. Include selected products.
  3. Define zones by country, region, or province.
  4. Use any combination of rate types (flat, price-based, weight-based, or free).

Checkout Logic

When customers buy items from multiple profiles, GHL Customer Care automatically calculates a combined total:

  • If profile names differ, checkout shows a single line called “Shipping.”

  • If profile names match, the rates combine and appear under that shared name.

This ensures accurate, transparent shipping costs for mixed-cart orders.

How Shipping Options Display at Checkout

When checkout shows multiple shipping options, GHL Customer Care sorts them by price (lowest first) and preselects the lowest-cost option. If Free Shipping is available, it appears first and is selected. If rates recalculate due to address or cart changes, checkout reapplies sorting and the default selection.

How Shipping Options Display at Checkout (image 3 of 5) What this shows When checkout shows multiple shipping options, GHL Customer Care sorts them by price (lowest first) and preselects the lowest-cost option. What this shows Illustrates the "How Shipping Options Display at Checkout" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". This screenshot appears in the "How Shipping Options Display at Checkout" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". The text alongside this image reads: When checkout shows multiple shipping options, GHL Customer Care sorts them by price (lowest first) and preselects the lowest-cost option. If Free Shipping is available, it appears first and is selected. If rates recalculate due to address or cart changes, checkout reapplies sorting and the default…. Immediately after, the guide continues: Follow these steps to create a new profile and define your shipping rates. Image 3 of 5 What this coversWhen checkout shows multiple shipping options, GHL Customer Care sorts them by price (lowest first) and preselects the lowest-cost option. If Free Shipping is available, it appears first and is selected. If rates recalculate due to address or cart changes, checkout reapplies sorting and the default selection.
Buttons and menus referenced Free Shipping
Next stepFollow these steps to create a new profile and define your shipping rates:

How to Set Up Shipping Profiles

Follow these steps to create a new profile and define your shipping rates:

  1. Go to Payments → Settings → Shipping & Delivery → Custom Profiles.

  2. Click Add Custom.

  3. Enter a unique profile name (this is for internal use only).

  4. Select the store(s) this profile applies to.

  5. Choose the products or product groups to include.

  6. Click Add Zone and select the countries or regions you deliver to.

How to Set Up Shipping Profiles (image 4 of 5) What this shows Go to Payments → Settings → Shipping & Delivery → Custom Profiles. What this shows Illustrates the "How to Set Up Shipping Profiles" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". This screenshot appears in the "How to Set Up Shipping Profiles" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". The text alongside this image reads: Go to Payments → Settings → Shipping & Delivery → Custom Profiles. Click Add Custom. Enter a unique profile name (this is for internal use only). Select the store(s) this profile applies to. Choose the products or product groups to include. Click Add Zone and select the countries or regions you…. This part of the guide covers 5 fields, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: For each zone, add one or more rate types: Click Save when done. Place a test order to confirm the correct rates display at checkout. Image 4 of 5 Where to goGo to Payments → Settings → Shipping & Delivery → Custom Profiles. Click Add Custom. Enter a unique profile name (this is for internal use only). Select the store(s) this profile applies to. Choose the products or product groups to include. Click Add Zone and select the countries or regions you deliver to.
Fields in this part of the guide For each zone, add one or more rate types:Flat rate (e.g., $5)Price-based (e.g., Free over $50)Weight-based (e.g., $10 for 0–10 lb)Free shipping
Buttons and menus referenced Add Custom.unique profile namestore(s)products or product groupsAdd ZoneSave
Next stepFor each zone, add one or more rate types: Click Save when done. Place a test order to confirm the correct rates display at checkout.
All 6 steps in this procedure
  1. Go to Payments → Settings → Shipping & Delivery → Custom Profiles.
  2. Click Add Custom.
  3. Enter a unique profile name (this is for internal use only).
  4. Select the store(s) this profile applies to.
  5. Choose the products or product groups to include.
  6. Click Add Zone and select the countries or regions you deliver to.

  1. For each zone, add one or more rate types:

    • Flat rate (e.g., $5)

    • Price-based (e.g., Free over $50)

    • Weight-based (e.g., $10 for 0–10 lb)

    • Free shipping

  2. Click Save when done.

  3. Place a test order to confirm the correct rates display at checkout.

Pro Tip: Start by creating your General Profile first, then layer in Custom Profiles only for products or regions that require unique shipping rates.

Limit a Shipping Zone by ZIP/Postcode

When creating or editing a shipping zone, you can restrict the zone so it only applies to specific ZIP/postcodes. This supports hyper-local delivery coverage and prevents a zone from applying to unwanted areas.

Enable ZIP/Postcode Restriction

  1. In your shipping zone, enable Limit Shipping to Specific ZIP/Postcodes.
  2. Enter one or more ZIP/postcodes using any of the following formats:
    Single code (example: "100210")

    Comma-separated codes (example: "100210,122021")

    Wildcard prefix (example: 46* to match all ZIP/postcodes starting with "46")
Limit a Shipping Zone by ZIP/Postcode (image 5 of 5) What this shows In your shipping zone, enable Limit Shipping to Specific ZIP/Postcodes. What this shows Illustrates the "Limit a Shipping Zone by ZIP/Postcode" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". This screenshot appears in the "Limit a Shipping Zone by ZIP/Postcode" section of "Shipping Profiles: Custom Shipping Rates and App Integrations". The text alongside this image reads: In your shipping zone, enable Limit Shipping to Specific ZIP/Postcodes. Enter one or more ZIP/postcodes using any of the following formats: Single code (example: "100210") Comma-separated codes (example: "100210,122021") Wildcard prefix (example: 46* to match all ZIP/postcodes starting with "46"). Immediately after, the guide continues: Wildcards are allowed only as a **trailing asterisk (`*`)** (example: `56*`). The zone cannot be saved if ZIP/postcode restriction is enabled but **no valid entries** are provided. Invalid or duplicate entries are blocked during input. Image 5 of 5 What to fill inIn your shipping zone, enable Limit Shipping to Specific ZIP/Postcodes. Enter one or more ZIP/postcodes using any of the following formats: Single code (example: "100210") Comma-separated codes (example: "100210,122021") Wildcard prefix (example: 46* to match all ZIP/postcodes starting with "46")
Buttons and menus referenced Enable ZIP/Postcode Restriction46*Validation Rules
Next stepWildcards are allowed only as a **trailing asterisk (`*`)** (example: `56*`). The zone cannot be saved if ZIP/postcode restriction is enabled but **no valid entries** are provided. Invalid or duplicate entries are blocked during input.
All 2 steps in this procedure
  1. In your shipping zone, enable Limit Shipping to Specific ZIP/Postcodes.
  2. Enter one or more ZIP/postcodes using any of the following formats: Single code (example: "100210") Comma-separated codes (example: "100210,122021") Wildcard prefix (example: 46* to match all ZIP/postcodes starting with "46")

Validation Rules

  • Wildcards are allowed only as a **trailing asterisk (`*`)** (example: `56*`).
  • The zone cannot be saved if ZIP/postcode restriction is enabled but **no valid entries** are provided.
  • Invalid or duplicate entries are blocked during input.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can two custom profiles share the same name?

No. Each profile must have a unique name to prevent checkout confusion.

Q: How do live shipping rates work for Printful products?

When you connect the Printful integration and sync Printful products, the system automatically creates a Printful shipping profile to support live rates at checkout.

Key behaviors:

  • The Printful shipping profile is system-generated to ensure rates calculate correctly. Manual edits are not recommended.
  • Products must remain assigned to the Printful profile to receive live rates at checkout.
  • If you remove products from the Printful profile, shipping rates are disabled for those products.
  • If you delete the Printful shipping profile, it is not recreated automatically. Reinstall the Printful integration to restore it.

Q: What happens if I delete a custom profile?

Products in that profile automatically return to the General Profile.

Q: How are shipping rates calculated for mixed carts?

Rates from all applicable profiles are added together and displayed as one combined shipping line.

Q: Can I override rates from an app integration?

Yes. Create a custom profile for the same products to override app-defined rates.

Q: What happens if an app fails to return rates?

GHL Customer Care automatically applies the fallback rate from the General Profile.

Q: What happens if a customer ZIP/postcode does not match my restricted zone?

That shipping zone does not apply at checkout if the customer ZIP/postcode does not match any configured entry or wildcard pattern.

Q: How do I enter a ZIP/postcode range?

Use a wildcard with an asterisk (" * ") at the end of the entry. For example, 56* matches any ZIP/postcode that starts with `56`.

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