# Accepting payments for pre-orders

To accept pre-order payments for product launches and events, you have two main approaches depending on your business needs:
## Option 1: Save payment method and charge later (SetupIntent)
Use a [SetupIntent](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/save-and-reuse) to save the customer's payment method upfront without charging, then create a [PaymentIntent](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-intents) to charge them when you're ready to ship. This approach is best when:
- The final amount isn't known at pre-order time
- You want to charge customers closer to fulfillment
- You don't need to hold funds in advance
- The time between pre-order and fulfillment may exceed card authorization windows
With this approach, you collect and save the payment method to a Customer object, then charge it later when you're ready to fulfill the order. For cards requiring Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), you may need the customer to authenticate again at the time of charge if the payment is considered high-risk.
## Option 2: Authorize now, capture later (PaymentIntent with manual capture)
Use a [PaymentIntent with manual capture](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/place-a-hold-on-a-payment-method) to authorize the payment upfront and capture funds when you ship. This approach is best when:
- You know the final amount at pre-order time
- You want to ensure funds are available before fulfillment
- You plan to capture within the authorization window (typically 7 days for most cards, though some card networks allow longer holds)
- You want to reduce the risk of payment failures at fulfillment time
With this approach, you place a hold on the customer's payment method immediately, then capture the funds when you're ready to ship. Be aware of authorization window limits — if you can't fulfill within the window, you'll need to cancel the authorization and create a new payment.
Alternatively, you can design your own payment flow. Since there are risks associated with pre-order campaigns, especially when manufacturing physical goods, we recommend considering how you'll handle surges or drops in demand for your product, as well as customer requests for refunds and cancelations. It is best practice to accept partial deposits, limit the number of orders you accept, finalize contracts with manufacturers as early as possible, and set realistic expectations for your customers as to when they are likely to receive their product. It's also important to make sure you always have adequate cash on hand to finance any refunds or disputes.