Enable and configure pre-authorisation for bar tabs
About pre-authorisation for bar tabs
Pre-authorisation gives you the ability to temporarily pre-authorise a payment card for a set amount to ensure a customer’s card is valid and able to pay for their bill when closing out their tab. Pre-authorisations typically last around 36 hours, but may vary depending on the customer’s card network and issuing bank.
Before you begin
If a card is pre-authorised through Square, customers may see 2–3 pending transactions depending on how their bank represents authorisations. Once the transaction is settled, any pre-authorisation charges will be consolidated into a single line item. This process can take up to 3–5 working days depending on the customer’s card network and issuing bank. If a customer runs into an issue with a long hold, they should contact their bank for additional support.
Learn how to understand bar tabs and pre-authorisation for Square customers.
Enable and configure a minimum pre-authorisation amount
Enable and configure a minimum pre-authorisation amount for each of your applicable locations. Pre-authorisation minimums can range from $0.01 to $250.
Sign in to your Square Dashboard and select Device Management > Service Settings > Bar tabs pre-auth.
Select Pre-Authorisation > Enable Pre-Authorisation.
Set a Minimum pre-authorisation amount.
Select Enable.
Pre-authorise a card
You can pre-authorise a card via the Checkout tab or the Orders tab on iOS devices, the Square Register and Square Terminal. Square will authorise the minimum pre-authorisation amount configured in your Square Dashboard or the value of items in the basket at the time of pre-authorisation, whichever is greater.
If the pre-authorisation is successful, the cardholder’s name will be added to the bill if the bill is unnamed. If the cardholder name cannot be read, the card type and last four digits will be added as the bill name.
From the Square Point of Sale app with full service, quick service or bar mode enabled or from the Square Restaurant POS app:
- From your point of sale app navigation menu, tap Checkout.
- Start a tab by:
- Tap, insert or swipe a card.
- Tap Add preauthorisation or the preauthorisation icon > tap, insert or swipe the card.
- Tap Save.
From the Square Point of Sale app with full service, quick service or bar mode enabled or from the Square Restaurant POS app:
- From your point of sale app navigation menu, tap Orders.
- Start a tab by:
- Tap, insert or swipe a card
- Tap the + icon to start a new order > tap, insert or swipe a card.
- Tap Save.
Manage pre-authorisations
You can manage any pending pre-authorisations with full service, quick service or bar mode enabled in the Square POS app or from the Square Restaurants POS app.
Complete a pre-authorised transaction
If a bill has a pre-authorisation associated, the pre-authorised card will be the first payment method listed during checkout. If the customer asks to pay their tab by using a split tender payment, the pre-authorised payment can only be used for one of the split payments. You can complete a pre-authorise transaction from the Square POS app with full service, quick service or bar mode enabled or from the Square Restaurants POS app.
From your point of sale app navigation menu, tap **Checkout**.
Tap Pay > choose the top **Pre-authorise [Card ####]** option.