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Point of Sale Solution App Pre-Authorized Orders (Open a Tab)

May 18, 2026

Description

How to pre-authorize a card (open a tab) for an order and then finalize the order at a later time

What's in this article?

Software Plan: Starter | Growth | Pro
 

The Pre-Auth order feature allows you to take a card payment to open a tab. A pre-authorization places a hold on the card for a specific amount. When the pre-authorization is finalized, it will settle. You can start a tab at any time during the order process after adding an item to an order. A pre-authorization can be removed from the ticket by swiping left on the saved order. 

Enable the Pre-Authorization option in your Global Settings in Back Office. 

  • *music*
  • This video covers how to open a tab and finalize it in the Point of Sale Solution application.
  • Opening a tab or a pre-authorized order places a hold on the card for a specified amount, allowing items to be added until the tab is closed and the payment settles.
  • To open a tab, start an order by adding items, then tap Pre-Auth in the top right corner of the screen.
  • This display may vary depending on your settings. Either accept the default hold amount or edit the amount in the value field. Tap Continue.
  • To collect card information from the customer, tap Continue and follow the steps.
  • The ticket will automatically be saved. To recall the ticket, tap Table, then the Ticket icon to view your saved tickets.
  • Select the desired ticket number and tap Edit Order. Here you can add additional items and finalize the order.
  • To close the tab, tap the hold amount located in the order total details on the right side of the screen.
  • If you need to capture payment on a different card than the one originally collected, swipe left and tap the red button to void the hold.
  • To capture payment on the original card, swipe right and tap the green button.
  • Review the payment details and tap Continue.
  • *music*


To start a Pre-Authorization tab


  1. In the Orders screen, add an item to start an order then tap Pre-Auth. 


    Pre-Auth highlighted.
  2. (Optional) Edit the default hold amount. The default amount is set in the Back Office Global Settings.
  3. Tap Continue.

    Continue highlighted in the pre-auth value screen.
  4. Tap Continue and follow the prompts to capture the card information. Once the card information is captured, the ticket will automatically be saved to be recalled when additional items need to be added or to finalize the tab.
    Continue highlighted on Pre-auth screen.

To recall and finalize a Pre-Authorization tab


  1. In the Orders screen, tap Tables. If you are not using Table Management, tap Tickets to open the Saved Tickets view.
    Tables highlighted on Orders screen.
  2. Tap the Tickets icon to open the Saved Tickets view.

    Ticket icon highlighted on table layout screen.
  3. Select the desired Ticket number.


    Ticket number highlighted on Saved Tickets display.
  4. Tap Edit Order.

    Edit Order highlighted on ticket details screen.
  5. (Optional) Add any additional items to the order.
  6. Tap the hold amount under Paid.

    Dollar value highlighted under Paid row.
  7. Complete a tender processing action:
    • Capture: Swipe right and tap the green button to process the pre-authorization on the original card.
    • Void: Swipe left and tap the red button to void the pre-authorization and remove the hold on the card.
  8. Card tender details highlighted. Review the payment information and tap Continue to close the tab.

    Continue highlighted in final Payment information screen.

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