Pre-Authorization Holds
Hold a card without charging it — release when the guest shows up, capture when they don't
A pre-authorization puts a temporary hold on the guest's card. No money moves, but the amount is reserved. The guest sees it as a pending charge. For you, it's an unmistakable signal that the booking is real.
When the guest arrives and is seated, the hold is released and the guest never pays. When the reservation is marked as a no-show, the hold is captured and you keep the money as compensation for the empty table.
This works with Stripe, which supports manual-capture payment intents. The booking form authorizes the card through Stripe at the time of booking. The operator app captures or releases based on what happens during service.
The result: no-show rates drop because guests know their card is on file. When someone does no-show, you're compensated instead of just staring at an empty table. Guests who actually show up pay nothing extra — the hold disappears on their statement.
Key benefits
Hold without charging
The guest's card is authorized, not charged. If they show up, no money ever leaves their account.
Captured automatically on no-show
When the reservation is marked no-show, the hold is captured. You keep the money as compensation for the lost cover.
Released automatically on seating
Guest arrives and is seated? The hold is released and the guest pays nothing extra. No awkward 'how do I get my hold back' conversation.
Cancellation inside the deadline
Guest cancels in time — hold released. Cancels after the deadline — hold captured. The deadline is yours to set.
Stronger commitment signal
A guest who consents to a card hold is a guest who plans to come. No-show rates drop because speculative bookings stop.
How it works
- 01
Connect Stripe and enable pre-auth
Pre-authorization runs on Stripe, which supports manual-capture payment intents. Stripe integration must be active on the venue.
- 02
Add a pre-auth rule to a time slot
In the slot rule scheduler, attach a pre-authorization rule — fixed amount or per person — to any shift where you want the commitment.
- 03
Guest authorizes at booking
When the guest books the slot, the form authorizes the card through Stripe. No money moves — the amount is held.
- 04
Service happens
Operator marks the reservation: Seated, Completed, Expired (no-show), or Canceled. The payment system reacts to the status.
- 05
Hold captured or released
Seated / Completed / Rejected → released. No-show → captured. Canceled inside deadline → released; after deadline → captured.
Make every booking count
Turn on card holds and stop losing revenue to guests who don't show up.
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