Authorize Card Payments in Sparkforge Websites (V2)

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

On the V2 website builder, open the order form's product, scroll to Additional Options, set a Custom Authorization amount, and save. Sparkforge holds and refunds the amount to verify funds before the plan starts.

Card authorization on Sparkforge Version 2 websites verifies a customer's funds before their subscription or payment plan begins. Sparkforge places a hold for the authorize amount, then refunds it once approved.

If you're using Version 1 of the website builder, use the V1 instructions instead.

How authorization works

Authorization is off by default — enable it per plan.
Sparkforge debits the authorize amount, then credits it back after approval.
Customers without sufficient funds can't complete the form.
Trial days start as soon as the card is authorized.
Refunds can take up to 5 business days to land back in the customer's account.
Works only with Subscriptions and Payment plans.

For multi-plan order forms, repeat the setup for every plan you want to authorize.

Set up authorization (V2 websites)

Open the website step containing the order form and click the three dots.
Click Products. Add products first if none are attached.
Click the Edit icon on the plan you want to authorize.
Scroll to the bottom and expand Additional Options.
In Custom Authorization, enter your amount.
Click Save.

Amount rules

Must be at least 1.
Maximum two decimal places.
Must be positive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What dollar amount should I authorize?

$1 is the common default. The amount is held and refunded, so a small value verifies funds without disrupting the customer.

Why doesn't authorization work on one-time products?

The flow is built around recurring billing. Subscriptions and Payment plans only — single-charge products process the full amount directly.

Will customers see the hold on their statement?

Yes. The authorization appears as a pending charge for the authorize amount, then drops off once Sparkforge issues the refund.

Can I disable authorization later?

Yes. Open the same plan, clear the Custom Authorization field, and save. New checkouts skip the hold.