How to accept online payments for food orders
Short answer
To accept online payments for food orders, connect a card processor to your ordering page and collect payment when the customer orders — before you cook. Getting paid up front secures revenue, cuts no-shows, and confirms your count. PlateTicket supports card payments (via Stripe for US/global sellers) and local rails such as CXPay for the Caribbean, and lets you decide whether to absorb or pass on processing fees. You can also record cash at pickup.
Get paid before you cook
Up-front payment means ingredients are bought with the customer's money and no-shows nearly disappear. It's the financial half of selling before you cook.
Cards and local rails
US and international sellers take cards via Stripe. Caribbean sellers can use CXPay where Stripe isn't supported — see Caribbean payment options and supported payments.
Who covers the fees
Choose to absorb processing fees into your price or pass them through transparently — no dark-pattern tipping. Cash at pickup remains an option where you prefer it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I take card payments for food orders?
Connect a processor to your ordering page and collect payment at checkout when the customer orders. PlateTicket supports Stripe for US and international sellers and CXPay for the Caribbean, so you're paid up front — before you shop and cook — with cash-at-pickup available too.
Should I charge customers before or at pickup?
Charge up front, at order time. It secures the money before you buy ingredients and dramatically reduces no-shows compared with collecting at pickup. You can still offer cash at pickup for customers who prefer it.
Who pays the card processing fees?
You choose. PlateTicket lets you absorb the processing fee into your prices or pass it through to the customer transparently. There's no hidden or dark-pattern fee added on top.
What if cards aren't well supported where I am?
Use a local rail. In the Caribbean, where Stripe often isn't available to merchants, PlateTicket supports CXPay for card acceptance, and you can still take cash at pickup. See Caribbean food payment options for details.
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