This support article explains how to set up the prepayment feature so that you can start taking pre-payments/deposits when customers book a table at your restaurant. This feature set up is super easy and takes just a few steps. The following guide will illustrate what the feature looks like from a guest view, as well as from a restaurant view.
How to activate the pre-payment feature
To activate the prepayment feature at your restaurant you have to do the following:
- Go to Settings→ Opening hours → Edit opening hours → Activate prepayment. You can activate pre-payment for specific opening hours e.g when you are at your busiest, and not activate it for the rest of the opening hours. When activating prepayment in your settings, different settings will show up.
- Choose if you want to require a prepayment amount from a booking made or charge the amount for each guest on the booking.
- Choose the minimum number of guest for requiring pre-payment can also be set
- Choose a cancellation that suits your restaurant best. Having it close to the reservation time might attract more guests, but setting it further away would make it easier for you to quickly make the table available again.
Read more about the pre-payment feature, and how it can help you minimize no-shows 
Check the status of the pre-payment
Once the prepayment feature is activated (for the opening hours you selected) guests must now pay a prepayment amount when booking a table. Sometimes, a guest might reconsider their booking during the prepayment process and interrupt the payment. You can always check if the prepayment is settled or if it is pending by going to Bookings → List view. A yellow envelope indicates that the prepayment for the booking hasn’t been made, and the status is therefore pending. A white envelope indicates a settled prepayment. You can also click on a specific booking with a prepayment, to see the status.
Settling a prepayment as a guest
When requiring a pre-payment for table bookings, a notice will show up on the booking page based on your settings. The notice clarifies that a pre-payment is required. At the end of the booking flow, the guest must settle the payment within 10 minutes, or else the bookings is removed automatically. Once settled, simply lean back and enjoy reducing no-shows, as well as maximizing the capacity in the restaurant.
Read also about how you can minimize no-shows with fees and flagging bad guests 
Need any help with the pre-payment feature for your restaurant?
Please, let us know at [email protected] if you have questions about the prepayment feature. We at team resOS are always happy to help you!