What does aconto mean?

“Aconto” (on account) is a payment term describing a partial advance payment for a product or service that has not yet been fully delivered. The customer pays an amount up front, and the final amount is calculated and settled later, once the whole delivery is complete. On-account payments are common in industries that sell goods or services delivered over time – for example bookings for private parties, catering or larger events, which usually require preparation and therefore costs ahead of the event itself.

On-account payments give the business more certainty that the customer will actually complete the purchase, while also providing cash flow to, for example, buy ingredients or schedule staff.

A practical example

Imagine a customer books a function room at a restaurant for a birthday party. The booking includes room hire, food, drinks and service. When reserving, the customer pays €500 on account as partial cover of the total price of €1,500. On the day of the party, the restaurant receives the remaining €1,000, and the on-account amount is deducted from the total in the POS system.

This way, the restaurant protects itself against cancellations and can cover any preparation costs.

Why are on-account payments important in a POS system?

When you run a restaurant or café, it is important to keep your finances in order and avoid losses from cancellations or discrepancies. A modern POS system should therefore be able to handle on-account payments and clearly show which amounts have been received and which are outstanding. This ensures transparency for both customer and business and makes it easy to follow up on reservations, catering and other pre-orders.

On-account payments are especially useful together with features such as prepayment and advance payment, which are also essential terms to know in the restaurant world.

How Flexybox handles on-account payments

The Flexybox till and booking system supports on-account payments, so you can easily create and register prepayments from customers. This means you can collect part of the payment at the time of reservation – for example when booking larger parties or events – ensuring the customer is committed while you get funds to prepare the event. Paid and outstanding amounts are clearly shown in the system, so you keep an overview and avoid misunderstandings.

Frequently asked questions

An on-account payment is a type of prepayment, but not necessarily the full payment up front. With aconto, the customer pays part of the amount and the rest later.

The business can choose to withhold delivery or collect the remaining amount. With a clear on-account agreement in the POS system, you can document the terms.

It is unusual, but possible. On-account payments are most often used for larger orders or events that require planning and preparation.

You can refund the on-account payment via the POS system, depending on the business's cancellation policy. Flexybox makes it easy to track and handle refunds.