diff --git a/backend/app/engines/order_router.py b/backend/app/engines/order_router.py
index 3eeaaaa..547b5c4 100644
--- a/backend/app/engines/order_router.py
+++ b/backend/app/engines/order_router.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def route_order(db, order):
         db.commit()
         return {"routed": False, "reason": "no eligible supplier for any item"}
 
-    order.status = "confirmed"
+    order.status = "pending_payment"
     db.commit()
     return {
         "routed": True,
diff --git a/backend/app/engines/suppliers/base.py b/backend/app/engines/suppliers/base.py
index a903f61..8b249c8 100644
--- a/backend/app/engines/suppliers/base.py
+++ b/backend/app/engines/suppliers/base.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def build_adapter(supplier, data_or_url=""):
     cls = ADAPTERS.get(supplier.adapter_type)
     if cls is None:
         # lazy-import concrete adapters so their @register_adapter side effects run
-        from app.engines.suppliers import csv_adapter, sample  # noqa: F401
+        from app.engines.suppliers import csv_adapter, printful, sample  # noqa: F401
 
         cls = ADAPTERS.get(supplier.adapter_type)
     if cls is None:
diff --git a/backend/app/engines/suppliers/printful.py b/backend/app/engines/suppliers/printful.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8eaa5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/engines/suppliers/printful.py
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+"""Printful supplier adapter — real dropshipping fulfillment via the Printful API.
+
+Docs: https://developers.printful.com — OAuth token or personal access token via
+env PRINTFUL_API_KEY. Without a key the adapter reports `configured=False` and
+create_order raises so nothing fake is ever placed.
+
+Catalog/product APIs require a Printful account; order placement is the critical
+real-money call and is fully implemented here.
+"""
+import os
+import urllib.request
+import urllib.parse
+import json
+
+from app.engines.suppliers.base import SupplierAdapter, register_adapter
+
+PRINTFUL_API = "https://api.printful.com"
+PRINTFUL_KEY = os.getenv("PRINTFUL_API_KEY", "")
+
+
+def _req(method, path, body=None):
+    if not PRINTFUL_KEY:
+        raise RuntimeError("PRINTFUL_API_KEY not configured")
+    data = json.dumps(body).encode() if body is not None else None
+    req = urllib.request.Request(
+        f"{PRINTFUL_API}{path}",
+        data=data,
+        method=method,
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {PRINTFUL_KEY}", "Content-Type": "application/json"},
+    )
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as r:
+        return json.loads(r.read())
+
+
+@register_adapter
+class PrintfulAdapter(SupplierAdapter):
+    adapter_type = "printful"
+
+    @property
+    def configured(self):
+        return bool(PRINTFUL_KEY)
+
+    def get_products(self):
+        """List catalog products (paginated). Returns normalized product dicts."""
+        if not self.configured:
+            return []
+        out = []
+        offset = 0
+        while True:
+            d = _req("GET", f"/store/products?offset={offset}&limit=100")
+            items = d.get("result", [])
+            for p in items:
+                out.append({
+                    "sku": str(p.get("id")),
+                    "title": p.get("name", "Untitled"),
+                    "description": "",
+                    "category": p.get("type", "printful"),
+                    "brand": "Printful",
+                    "cost": float(p.get("price") or 0),
+                    "inventory": 9999,  # print-on-demand: made to order
+                    "shipping_cost": 0.0,
+                    "shipping_time": "2-5 business days",
+                    "image_url": p.get("thumbnail_url") or "",
+                })
+            total = d.get("paging", {}).get("total", 0)
+            offset += len(items)
+            if offset >= total or not items:
+                break
+        return out
+
+    def get_inventory(self):
+        # Print-on-demand has no stock limits.
+        return []
+
+    def get_price(self, sku):
+        # per-variant pricing; catalog price is the base. Return None to keep cached cost.
+        return None
+
+    def create_order(self, items):
+        """Submit a real order to Printful. items = [{supplier_sku, qty, ...}]."""
+        if not self.configured:
+            raise RuntimeError("Printful not configured — cannot place a real order")
+        # recipient comes from the order; MVP uses a placeholder that the caller
+        # must override with real shipping data before go-live.
+        payload = {
+            "recipient": {
+                "name": os.getenv("PRINTFUL_RECIPIENT_NAME", "Polaris Customer"),
+                "address1": os.getenv("PRINTFUL_RECIPIENT_ADDR1", ""),
+                "city": os.getenv("PRINTFUL_RECIPIENT_CITY", ""),
+                "state_code": os.getenv("PRINTFUL_RECIPIENT_STATE", ""),
+                "country_code": os.getenv("PRINTFUL_RECIPIENT_COUNTRY", "US"),
+                "zip": os.getenv("PRINTFUL_RECIPIENT_ZIP", ""),
+            },
+            "items": [
+                {"sync_variant_id": int(it["supplier_sku"]), "quantity": int(it["qty"])}
+                for it in items
+            ],
+        }
+        d = _req("POST", "/orders", payload)
+        res = d.get("result", {})
+        return {"ref": str(res.get("id")), "status": res.get("status", "pending")}
+
+    def get_order_status(self, ref):
+        d = _req("GET", f"/orders/{ref}")
+        return d.get("result", {}).get("status", "unknown")
+
+    def get_tracking(self, ref):
+        d = _req("GET", f"/orders/{ref}")
+        res = d.get("result", {})
+        shipments = res.get("shipments", []) or []
+        if shipments:
+            s = shipments[0]
+            return {"tracking": s.get("tracking_number") or "", "carrier": s.get("carrier") or ""}
+        return None
+
+    def cancel_order(self, ref):
+        _req("DELETE", f"/orders/{ref}")
+        return {"status": "cancelled"}
diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index cec448b..fa79caa 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 
 from app.database import Base, engine
-from app.routers import admin, analytics, auth, customers, health, orders, products, suppliers
+from app.routers import admin, analytics, auth, customers, health, orders, products, suppliers, webhooks
 from app.version import VERSION
 
 # Idempotent — schema.sql is canonical and already applied; create_all only
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ app.include_router(orders.router, prefix="/api/orders", tags=["orders"])
 app.include_router(customers.router, prefix="/api/customers", tags=["customers"])
 app.include_router(admin.router, prefix="/api/admin", tags=["admin"])
 app.include_router(analytics.router, prefix="/api/analytics", tags=["analytics"])
+app.include_router(webhooks.router, prefix="/api/webhooks", tags=["webhooks"])
 
 
 @app.get("/")
diff --git a/backend/app/models.py b/backend/app/models.py
index c0d544d..cfc5c4b 100644
--- a/backend/app/models.py
+++ b/backend/app/models.py
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ class Order(Base):
     status = Column(Text, nullable=False, default="new")
     tracking = Column(Text)
     carrier = Column(Text)
+    btcpay_invoice_id = Column(Text)
+    supplier_order_ref = Column(Text)
     created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
     updated_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now(), onupdate=func.now())
 
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/orders.py b/backend/app/routers/orders.py
index f288931..4a36f7f 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/orders.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/orders.py
@@ -15,10 +15,11 @@ from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from app.database import get_db
+from app.engines.payments import btcpay
 from app.routers.auth import require_admin
 from app.engines.order_router import route_order
 from app.models import AuditLog, Customer, Order, Product
-from app.schemas import CustomerOrderOut, OrderCreate, OrderOut, TrackingIn
+from app.schemas import CheckoutResponse, CustomerOrderOut, OrderCreate, OrderOut, TrackingIn
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ def _new_order_number() -> str:
     return f"POL-{datetime.utcnow():%Y%m%d}-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:6].upper()}"
 
 
-@router.post("", response_model=OrderOut)
+@router.post("", response_model=CheckoutResponse)
 def create_order(body: OrderCreate, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
     email = body.customer_email.strip().lower()
     customer = db.query(Customer).filter(Customer.email == email).first()
@@ -69,14 +70,27 @@ def create_order(body: OrderCreate, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
         customer_id=customer.id,
         items=items,
         retail_total=retail_total,
-        status="new",
+        status="pending_payment",
     )
     db.add(order)
     db.flush()
 
     result = route_order(db, order)
+    if not result.get("routed"):
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="no eligible supplier for this order")
+
+    checkout_url = None
+    try:
+        inv = btcpay.create_invoice(float(order.retail_total), order.order_number)
+        order.btcpay_invoice_id = inv.get("invoice_id")
+        checkout_url = inv.get("checkout_url")
+        db.commit()
+    except Exception as e:
+        db.rollback()
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=502, detail=f"payment provider unavailable: {e}")
+
     db.refresh(order)
-    return order
+    return CheckoutResponse(order=order, checkout_url=checkout_url)
 
 
 @router.get("", response_model=List[OrderOut])
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/webhooks.py b/backend/app/routers/webhooks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46f0775
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/routers/webhooks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+"""BTCPay webhook router — advances orders through the money flow.
+
+POST /api/webhooks/btcpay  (signed by BTCPay)
+
+InvoiceSettled  -> order paid -> place supplier order -> status supplier_order
+InvoiceExpired  -> order cancelled (no payment)
+InvoiceInvalid  -> order cancelled (payment failed)
+"""
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Header, HTTPException, Request
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+
+from app.database import get_db
+from app.engines.payments import btcpay
+from app.engines.suppliers.base import build_adapter
+from app.models import AuditLog, Order, Supplier
+
+router = APIRouter()
+
+
+def _get_order_by_invoice(db: Session, invoice_id: str):
+    return db.query(Order).filter(Order.btcpay_invoice_id == invoice_id).first()
+
+
+def _place_supplier_order(db: Session, order: Order):
+    """Call the supplier's real create_order and store the reference."""
+    if order.supplier_id is None:
+        order.status = "supplier_order"
+        db.add(AuditLog(actor="webhook", action="no_supplier", entity="order",
+                        entity_id=order.order_number))
+        return
+    supplier = db.query(Supplier).filter(Supplier.id == order.supplier_id).first()
+    if supplier is None:
+        order.status = "supplier_order"
+        return
+    try:
+        adapter = build_adapter(supplier)
+        items = [
+            {"supplier_sku": it.get("sku"), "qty": it.get("qty", 1)}
+            for it in (order.items or [])
+        ]
+        result = adapter.create_order(items)
+        order.supplier_order_ref = str(result.get("ref", ""))
+        order.status = "supplier_order"
+        db.add(AuditLog(actor="webhook", action="supplier_order_placed", entity="order",
+                        entity_id=order.order_number,
+                        detail={"supplier": supplier.name, "ref": order.supplier_order_ref}))
+    except Exception as e:
+        order.status = "paid"  # paid but supplier order failed -> needs manual retry
+        db.add(AuditLog(actor="webhook", action="supplier_order_failed", entity="order",
+                        entity_id=order.order_number, detail={"error": str(e)}))
+
+
+@router.post("/btcpay")
+async def btcpay_webhook(request: Request, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    raw = await request.body()
+    sig = request.headers.get("btcpay-sig", "")
+    if not btcpay.verify_webhook(raw, sig):
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=401, detail="invalid signature")
+
+    payload = await request.json()
+    event_type = payload.get("type")
+    invoice_id = payload.get("invoiceId") or payload.get("id")
+    order = _get_order_by_invoice(db, invoice_id) if invoice_id else None
+    if order is None:
+        return {"ok": True, "matched": False}
+
+    if event_type == "InvoiceSettled":
+        order.status = "paid"
+        _place_supplier_order(db, order)
+    elif event_type in ("InvoiceExpired", "InvoiceInvalid"):
+        order.status = "cancelled"
+    db.commit()
+
+    db.add(AuditLog(actor="btcpay", action=event_type, entity="order",
+                    entity_id=order.order_number, detail={"invoice_id": invoice_id}))
+    db.commit()
+    return {"ok": True, "order": order.order_number, "status": order.status}
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas.py b/backend/app/schemas.py
index 2e62ff8..ba4f559 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas.py
@@ -131,6 +131,8 @@ class OrderOut(ORMModel):
     status: str
     tracking: Optional[str] = None
     carrier: Optional[str] = None
+    btcpay_invoice_id: Optional[str] = None
+    supplier_order_ref: Optional[str] = None
     created_at: Optional[datetime] = None
     updated_at: Optional[datetime] = None
 
@@ -147,6 +149,11 @@ class CustomerOrderOut(ORMModel):
     updated_at: Optional[datetime] = None
 
 
+class CheckoutResponse(BaseModel):
+    order: OrderOut
+    checkout_url: Optional[str] = None
+
+
 class TrackingIn(BaseModel):
     tracking: str
     carrier: Optional[str] = None
diff --git a/db/schema.sql b/db/schema.sql
index 31c0c46..0f1805a 100644
--- a/db/schema.sql
+++ b/db/schema.sql
@@ -77,9 +77,11 @@ CREATE TABLE orders (
     shipping_cost NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0,
     fees          NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0,
     profit        NUMERIC(12,2) DEFAULT 0,
-    status        TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'new',    -- new|paid|fraud_check|supplier_order|confirmed|shipped|delivered|cancelled|refunded
+    status        TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'new',    -- new|pending_payment|paid|fraud_check|supplier_order|confirmed|shipped|delivered|cancelled|refunded
     tracking      TEXT,
     carrier       TEXT,
+    btcpay_invoice_id TEXT,
+    supplier_order_ref TEXT,
     created_at    TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT now(),
     updated_at    TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT now()
 );
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 5e57442..0368c74 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ services:
       SECRET_KEY: ${SECRET_KEY:-polaris-dev-secret-change-me}
       ADMIN_EMAIL: ${ADMIN_EMAIL:-admin@polaris.local}
       ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${ADMIN_PASSWORD:-changeme}
+      BTCPAY_URL: https://10.30.20.140
+      BTCPAY_KEY: ${BTCPAY_KEY}
+      BTCPAY_STORE_ID: 3KJ1r5HK9MAiD5xvBapkv1iTHU1Ro9MdBc4XuPivQsev
+      BTCPAY_WEBHOOK_SECRET: polaris_btcpay_wh_9f3k2m8v7x
+      PRINTFUL_API_KEY: ${PRINTFUL_API_KEY:-}
+      STOREFRONT_URL: https://polaris.thetempleofdoom.com
     depends_on:
       postgres:
         condition: service_healthy
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Checkout.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Checkout.tsx
index 9a8b3ce..0d7142d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Checkout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Checkout.tsx
@@ -80,12 +80,17 @@ export default function Checkout() {
     setPlacing(true);
     setError(null);
     try {
-      const created = await api.post<Order>('/orders', {
+      const created = await api.post<any>('/orders', {
         customer_email: email,
         items: lines.map((l) => ({ product_id: l.product.id, qty: l.qty })),
       });
       clear();
-      setOrder(created);
+      // redirect straight to the BTCPay payment page so the customer actually pays
+      if (created?.checkout_url) {
+        window.location.href = created.checkout_url;
+        return;
+      }
+      setOrder(created.order);
     } catch (err) {
       setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to place order');
     } finally {