Overview
CaterZen offers several credit card processing workflows to help you manage deposits, final payments, and pre-authorized charges. This article gives a quick overview of the available options and helps you choose the right related article for step-by-step instructions. The current support articles describe separate workflows for manual processing, automatic processing, and pre-authorized charges.
Important to Know
Customers can manage some credit card-related email and receipt settings in the Admin section, including credit card report email notifications and automatic sales receipt emails. However, the actual credit card processing workflow settings for your account are managed by the CaterZen Team. If you need to change how your account processes credit cards, please contact CaterZen Support.
Credit Card Processing Options
Manual Credit Card Processing
With manual credit card processing, the Customer’s card is stored on file and your team decides when to charge it. Payments are processed later from the Accounting tab instead of being captured automatically. This workflow is commonly used if you take a lot of deposits, post-event payments, or orders that require internal review before charging the card.
Use manual processing when you want more control over when payments are captured.
Related article: Manual Credit Card Processing in CaterZen
Automatic Credit Card Processing
With automatic credit card processing, CaterZen charges the stored card on the order based on the payment timing assigned to your account. The current article explains that this timing may be set for the day of the order or a certain number of days after the event, and may also run at a specific time each day.
Use automatic processing when you want CaterZen to handle payment collection based on your account’s assigned schedule.
Related article: Automatic Credit Card Processing in CaterZen
Pre-Authorized Credit Card Charges
With pre-authorization, the system places a temporary hold on the card and then completes the final charge based on your account’s workflow. The pre-authorization article also explains that if additional amounts are added later, such as a tip, those changes may require a manual charge and settlement.
Use this workflow when your business pre-authorizes cards before the final charge is completed.
Related article: Manage Pre-Authorized Credit Card Charges in CaterZen
Related Credit Card Settings
Some credit card-related settings are still available to Customers in the Admin section. The current settings article includes these options:
- Manage email notifications for credit card reports
- Automatically send sales receipts to Customers
- Customize the sales receipt email
- Allow Customers to pay invoices online, if enabled on the account
Related articles: Manage Credit Card Notification and Receipt Settings in CaterZen
Which Option Should You Use?
The best processing workflow depends on how your team wants to handle payments:
- Choose manual processing if your team wants to decide when cards are charged.
- Choose automatic processing if you want CaterZen to charge stored cards based on your assigned timing.
- Choose pre-authorization if your workflow includes placing a hold first and capturing or settling the payment later.
Support
If you are unsure which setup is best for your business, the CaterZen Team can help - contact our CaterZen Support Team.
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