What is multi-currency selling?
Multi-currency selling means displaying product prices and accepting payments in more than one currency. For Cartva merchants in Haiti and the Caribbean, this often means pricing in HTG (gourdes) for local customers and USD (US dollars) for international buyers, diaspora shoppers, or export sales.
Showing prices in a customer's expected currency reduces confusion and can improve conversion for cross-border sales.
Why it matters
- Local customers think in gourdes
- Diaspora and international buyers expect USD
- Payment gateways settle in specific currencies — alignment prevents surprises
- A single store can serve both audiences without maintaining separate websites
How it works on Cartva
Currency settings are part of Settings under payments and store configuration.
Base currency
Your base currency is what you use when entering product prices in the dashboard. All reporting typically reflects this currency unless filtered otherwise.
Additional currencies
Enable secondary currencies for storefront display. Customers may see a currency selector or automatic detection based on location or preference.
Exchange rates
Converted prices depend on exchange rates you configure. Rates can be updated manually to reflect current market values. Displayed prices are indicative at browse time; the exact charge amount is confirmed at checkout based on the selected payment method and currency.
Payment method pairing
Not every gateway supports every currency:
- MonCash — Settles in HTG
- PayPal — Supports multiple currencies including USD
- Cash on delivery — Typically in the local currency you specify
Enable payment methods that match the currencies you offer.
Checkout behavior
At checkout, the customer pays in the currency supported by their chosen payment method. Order records store the amount and currency for accurate reporting.
Who it's for
Multi-currency is valuable when your customer base spans local and international markets.
Good fit:
- Haitian merchants selling to customers in Haiti and abroad
- Export-oriented businesses pricing in USD
- Brands with diaspora audiences who hold USD accounts
- Stores accepting PayPal from international buyers while serving locals with MonCash
Single currency is fine if:
- You sell exclusively to local customers who all pay in gourdes
- Your payment methods only support one currency
What you control vs what Cartva handles
| You control | Cartva handles |
|---|---|
| Base currency and enabled display currencies | Storefront currency selector or display logic |
| Exchange rates for converted prices | Price conversion at display time |
| Which payment methods accept which currencies | Checkout currency validation |
| Product prices in base currency | Order recording with currency metadata |
| When to update exchange rates | Consistent formatting of currency symbols |
You set pricing strategy and rate updates. Cartva applies conversions and enforces gateway currency rules at checkout.
Pricing model
Multi-currency display is included in your Cartva subscription. Financial considerations:
- Exchange rate risk — If you price in USD but costs are in HTG, rate fluctuations affect margin
- Gateway conversion fees — PayPal and others may charge for currency conversion at payout
- No Cartva per-currency fee — Standard plans do not charge extra per enabled currency
Monitor gateway settlement currencies to avoid unexpected conversion costs on payouts.