Deposits, pre-orders and charges
Protect covers with a deposit taken up front or a cancellation charge held against the card, and let guests pre-order from a menu before they arrive.
When you'd use it
For high-demand services, events, large parties, or any slot where no-shows cost you covers. Pre-orders suit set menus and occasions where the kitchen needs to prepare ahead.
How it behaves
A booking type uses one of three protections: a deposit, a cancellation charge or full payment. A deposit is taken at the time of booking and can be redeemed or refunded against your rules. A cancellation charge authorises the card at booking and is only taken if the guest cancels late or does not show.
Full payment charges the whole amount for the booking rather than a deposit, on booking types, events and special dates. The guest pays now or settles the balance later, and staff can see what each booking still owes and request payment.
Either can be a flat rate or per cover, with a minimum party size that triggers it and a free-cancellation window before the booking. A deposit can be split into a payment now and a balance due closer to the date, and where payment is not made in time an auto-cancel policy can release the table. The team can also take a deposit or charge manually against a booking, and payment reminders chase an unpaid balance.
For pre-orders, attach one or more menus to a booking type. Guests choose dishes during booking, the order is captured against the booking, and the kitchen sees it ahead of service. Optional upgrades let guests add extras such as a bottle on arrival. Booking payments go to Stripe, or to a Square account and location you choose: deposits, cancellation charges, payment links, guest pre-orders and event tickets alike.
When booking payments go to Square, guests pay by Square card at checkout and on deposit and enquiry payment links. Staff taking a card over the phone use the same Square card form, and a guest whose Square deposit is declined is sent straight to a link to try another card.
A pre-order can cover the whole party. The person who booked shares a link, each guest picks their own food from the same menu guests order from at the table, and the menu decides whether it is paid on the day, paid ahead by the lead, or paid ahead by each guest. See group pre-orders.
Configuration and options
- Charge type
- A deposit taken up front, or a cancellation charge held on the card.
- Amount
- A flat rate or a per-cover amount.
- Party-size trigger
- The minimum party size that triggers the deposit or charge.
- Free-cancellation window
- How long before the booking a guest can cancel free.
- Split payment
- A payment now and a balance due closer to the date.
- Manual payments and reminders
- Staff take a deposit or charge by hand; reminders chase a balance.
- Pre-order menus
- Menus attached to a booking type for order-ahead.
- Who pays for a pre-order
- On the day, the lead ahead of time, or each guest for their own food.
- Upgrades
- Priced extras a guest can add, such as a bottle on arrival.
- Payment processor
- Stripe, or a Square account and location you choose, for deposits, charges, pre-orders and tickets.
- Full payment
- The whole amount charged instead of a deposit, paid now or as a balance later.
Good to know
A booking type uses a deposit or a cancellation charge, not both.
A no-show can trigger the cancellation charge, following the rules you set.
At a Square venue, a paid deposit comes off the bill when the booking is marked Seated. See what syncs with Square.