Skip to main content

How to Process a Sale Transaction

Updated

 

What Is a Sale Transaction?

A Sale transaction is a bundled transaction that both authorizes the customer’s card and captures the payment in a single step. Sale transactions are typically used when goods or services are provided immediately after the order is placed—for example, in retail or instant digital delivery scenarios. 

You can think of it as a combination of two actions:

  • Authorization (checking with the cardholder’s bank to make sure the funds are available), and
  • Capture (finalizing the transaction and moving the funds to your account)

With a Sale, both steps happen at the same time which allows you to complete a full payment transaction in a single request—making it the most common and efficient way to process payments.

✅ Use a Sale transaction when you’re ready to fulfill the order immediately and collect payment at the same time.

🔁 If you want to authorize a card but capture the funds later (for example, in a delayed shipping scenario), consider using the Auth → Capture workflow instead.

You can void (cancel) a sale before it settles, but once it is settled, it must be refunded to reverse it.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Processing a Sale

  1. Log in to the Merchant Portal
  2. Click on Credit Cards from the left menu and select Sale
    OR
    Use the Card Sale shortcut from the Home screen
  3. Enter transaction details into the form presented
    • Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*) and must be completed before submission
    • Ensure correct formatting for fields such as email (e.g., john@gmail.com, not john.gmail.com)
    • Hover over any tooltip icons next to fields for guidance on what to enter
  4. After entering all applicable information, click the Charge button at the bottom of the page

Once the form is submitted:

  • The Gateway sends the transaction to the Processor
  • The Processor response is displayed on the next page

Transaction Receipt Options (for Approved Transactions)

After a successful transaction, you will see a receipt page with the following options:

  • Void or Refund the transaction
  • Print or Email Receipt
  • Create Subscription
  • Create Order Template
  • Add to Vault (if this feature is enabled for your account)