Require a Card on File for Online Booking & Intake Forms
Ask pet parents to securely save a payment method before completing Online Booking or new-client Intake.
Card on File requirements help your business keep a valid payment method available for future charges. The setting is configured per location and can be used independently from deposits.
Configure Card on File for Online Booking
1. Open Online Booking Settings for the location.
2. Find the Card On File setting.
3. Turn the setting on to require a valid credit or debit card before an Online Booking can be completed.
4. Save the location settings.
Settings copy: “Require clients to securely add a credit or debit card when completing their online booking.”
What Pet Parents Experience in Online Booking
No saved card and no deposit — the Payment Info step requires a valid card. The card is saved on file and is not charged.
Existing saved card and no deposit — the requirement is already satisfied, so the pet parent does not need to enter another card.
Card on File + Deposit — the same payment flow satisfies both requirements. A newly added card can pay the deposit and be saved on file, or the pet parent can select an existing saved card for the deposit.
Deposit only — the existing deposit flow continues to work as before when Card on File is not required.
Pet parent copy: “A valid credit or debit card is required to complete your booking. Your card will not be charged at this time.”
Configure Card on File for Intake Forms
1. Open the Intake Form configuration for the location.
2. Enable Card On File.
3. Save the setting.
When enabled, new clients completing the Intake Form must add a valid credit or debit card before they can finish registration. The card is saved securely and no payment is collected during Intake.
Intake copy: “A valid credit or debit card is required to complete your registration. Your card will not be charged at this time.”
Things to Know
Card on File is configured per location.
The default is off for locations that have not enabled it.
For Online Booking, Card on File and Deposit are separate settings. A location can require neither, Deposit only, Card on File only, or both.
In this release, the Online Booking Card on File requirement applies to all service categories for that location.
The Intake Form requirement applies to new clients completing Intake.
Saving a card during a Card on File-only flow does not create a charge.
Summary
Enable Card on File when you want pet parents to securely save a payment method before completing Online Booking or new-client Intake. Deposits remain separate, and Cuddles avoids asking for the same card twice when both requirements apply.