Payment Pre-Approval

Payment pre-approval is a feature of the Pinch Payments platform that lets you securely collect customer payment authorisation in advance, so invoices can be paid automatically when they’re issued or fall due.
By setting up payment pre-approvals, you reduce payment delays, eliminate manual follow-ups, and gain confidence that invoices will be paid on time.

Get Started for Free

Pricing >

How Payment Pre-Approval Helps Your Business

Waiting for customers to manually action invoices is one of the most common causes of late payments. Payment pre-approval removes this uncertainty by confirming payment authorisation upfront.

With payment pre-approval, businesses can:

Reduce late and missed payments
Speed up invoice settlement
Improve cash flow predictability
Spend less time chasing customers for payment

Payment pre-approval is especially useful for service-based businesses, repeat customers, and organisations that issue frequent or low-value invoices.

Book a demo

Learn More >

Join 3,000+ Australian Businesses Using Pinch

How Payment Pre-Approval Works

Payment pre-approval is designed to fit seamlessly into your existing invoicing and payment workflows.

Secure Customer Authorisation

Customers provide payment authorisation once using a secure process. Their payment method is stored safely and used only in line with the agreed terms.

Flexible Pre-Approval Rules

Payment pre-approvals can be configured to suit your business, including:
- Charging only invoices under a set value
- Applying pre-approval to repeat customers
- Combining pre-approvals with payment plans or automated debiting

Automatic Payments on Invoices

Once a customer is pre-approved, payments can be collected automatically when invoices are issued or reach their due date — without customers needing to take further action.

Why Choose Pinch for Payment Pre-Approval?

Pinch Payments offers a practical and secure payment pre-approval feature built specifically for Australian businesses.

Built Into the Pinch Payments Platform

Payment pre-approval works seamlessly alongside invoice payments, automated debiting, batch payments, payment plans, subscriptions, and auto reconciliation.

Better Customer Experience

Customers only need to approve payments once, reducing friction while maintaining transparency and trust.

Reduced Admin and Follow-Ups

By automating payment collection for approved customers, businesses significantly reduce manual reminders and payment administration.

Secure and Compliant

Pinch follows Australian compliance requirements and PCI standards, ensuring customer payment data is handled securely.

Get Started

Easily Integrate with Accounting Software

Xero

QuickBooks

MYOB

Frequently Asked Questions

Can customers control or update their pre-approval?

Yes. Customers can update their payment details or manage their pre-approval at any time through a secure link. This ensures transparency and ongoing control.

When should I send a pre-approval request?

The best time to send a pre-approval request is during onboarding or before issuing your first invoice. Collecting payment details upfront helps ensure smooth, automated payments from the start.

Will customers still receive invoices?

Yes. Customers will continue to receive invoices as usual. The difference is that, with pre-approval in place, payments are automatically processed on the due date — so they don’t need to take any action.

Is pre-approval secure?

Yes. Pre-approvals are collected through secure, compliant payment systems. Customer payment details are safely stored, and authorisation is required before any payments are processed.

Can I customise the pre-approval request email?

Yes. You can customise the email your customers receive, including the subject line, messaging, and attachments such as terms and conditions. This helps you clearly explain how payments work and build trust.

How do I encourage customers to opt in to pre-approval?

You can increase adoption by clearly communicating the benefits, such as:

No need to manually pay invoices
Faster, hassle-free payments
Avoiding missed or late payments

Some businesses also choose to incentivise pre-approval by reducing or waiving payment fees.

What types of businesses benefit most from pre-approvals?

Pre-approvals are especially valuable for:

Service-based businesses
Businesses with repeat customers
Subscription or instalment-based models
Businesses issuing frequent or low-value invoices

Get Started With Payment Pre-Approval

Take the uncertainty out of payment collection by setting up customer payment pre-approvals.
Whether you’re managing repeat customers or frequent invoicing, payment pre-approval helps you get paid faster with less effort.