Requiring shoppers to create an account before checkout is an unnecessary hurdle to a purchase. It raises a red flag for privacy concerns, slows down the order completion process, and may cost you a sale. Allowing customers to complete purchases as a guest allows them to decide whether they want to create an account or not, giving them a feeling of control over the shopping experience.
To boost conversions, and reduce the abandoned cart rate, implement time-tested strategies to get more customers to complete the check-out process. Include a progress bar during the check-out process to let clients know how much more time or information will be required, be transparent about all costs, and update your site so that it works well and is mobile-friendly.