Delayed capture

Delayed capture splits a card payment into two steps — authorize now, capture later — so the platform reserves the buyer’s funds at checkout but only takes the money once the order is confirmed, shipped or completed.

How it works

• Authorization checks the card and rings-fences the amount without moving it.
• Capture is the step that actually pulls the funds, up to the amount authorized.
• Between the two, the platform can capture in full, capture less, or cancel and release the hold entirely.

The gap is the point: an authorization is a promise the money is there, while capture is the moment it leaves the buyer’s account and heads toward settlement.

Why it matters

Charging before you can deliver invites refunds and disputes; charging only on fulfilment keeps the buyer’s money and yours cleanly matched to real orders. For marketplaces with variable final amounts — final weights, add-ons, cancelled lines — capturing the exact figure later beats charging up front and refunding the difference, which is slow and drives chargebacks.

How Fynex does it

Fynex supports delayed capture as a marketplace building block — authorize at checkout, capture when your condition is met, or release the hold if the order falls through. It sits alongside escrow and reserves for platforms that need to align money movement with delivery. See delayed capture.