Account Setup

Set up your Caramel account properly from the start. This comprehensive guide covers everything from initial registration to advanced configuration.

Account Creation

Sign Up

Visit joincaramel.com/signup and provide:
- Business email address (recommended: admin@yourrestaurant.com)
- Restaurant name (your public-facing brand name)
- Phone number (for account security and support)
- Secure password (minimum 8 characters, mix of letters/numbers/symbols)
Email Verification

Check your inbox for a verification email from noreply@joincaramel.com
- Click the verification link
- Link expires in 24 hours
- Check spam/junk if not received within 5 minutes
- Resend from login page if needed
Initial Login

After verification, log in and you’ll see the onboarding wizard.

Restaurant Profile Setup

Basic Information

Required Fields:

Restaurant Name: [Your Restaurant]
Legal Business Name: [LLC/Corp Name]
Business Type: Restaurant / Café / Bar / Food Truck
Cuisine Type: Italian / American / Asian / etc.
Website URL: https://yourrestaurant.com

Contact Information:

Primary Email: info@yourrestaurant.com
Phone: +1 (555) 123-4567
Support Email: support@yourrestaurant.com (optional)

Primary Location:

Street Address: 123 Main Street
Unit/Suite: Suite 100 (if applicable)
City: San Francisco
State/Province: California
Postal Code: 94102
Country: United States

Operating Hours:

Day	Hours
Monday	11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday	11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday	11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday	11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday	11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday	10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday	10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Tips:

Use 24-hour format for clarity
Mark closed days as “Closed”
Add holiday hours separately
Update for seasonal changes

Localization:

Primary Language: English
Secondary Languages: Spanish, French (optional)
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles (PST/PDT)
Date Format: MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY
Currency: USD ($)
Tax Rate: 8.5% (local sales tax)

Why this matters:

Email campaigns send in customer’s timezone
Receipts display correct currency
Tax calculations are automated
Gift card expiration dates are accurate

Brand Customization

Logo Upload

Requirements:

Format: PNG or SVG (PNG with transparent background recommended)
Minimum size: 500x500 pixels
Maximum size: 5 MB
Square or horizontal orientation

Best practices:

Use high-resolution version
Ensure good contrast on light/dark backgrounds
Test at small sizes (appears in emails)
Keep file size under 1 MB for fast loading

Brand Colors

Primary Brand Color:

Your main brand color (used for buttons, links, accents)

Hex: #FF6B35
RGB: 255, 107, 53

Secondary Color (optional):

Complementary color for variety

Hex: #004E89
RGB: 0, 78, 137

Color picker tool available in dashboard

Images & Photos

Upload high-quality photos of:

Restaurant exterior
Interior/ambiance shots
Signature dishes
Chef or team (optional)

Image specifications:

Format: JPG or PNG
Minimum: 1200x800 pixels
Aspect ratio: 3:2 or 16:9
Maximum: 10 MB per image

Used for gift card backgrounds and marketing materials.

Custom Fonts

Typography Settings:

Choose from preset font pairs or upload custom fonts:

Headings: Montserrat, Playfair Display, etc.
Body Text: Open Sans, Lato, etc.

Custom Font Upload:

Format: WOFF, WOFF2, or TTF
License required for commercial use
Fallback fonts recommended

Payment Integration

Stripe Setup

Caramel uses Stripe for secure payment processing.

Navigate to Payment Settings

Dashboard → Settings → Payments → Connect Stripe
Create or Connect Stripe Account
- New Account
- Existing Account
If you don’t have a Stripe account:
- Click “Create new Stripe account”
- You’ll be redirected to Stripe.com
- Fill in business information
- Add bank account for payouts
- Verify identity (instant or 1-2 day review)
- Return to Caramel dashboard
Information Needed:
- Business legal name and EIN/Tax ID
- Bank account and routing number
- Business owner details and SSN (for verification)
- Business address
If you already use Stripe:
- Click “Connect existing account”
- Log into your Stripe account
- Authorize Caramel access
- Select which Stripe account to connect (if multiple)
- Confirm connection
Permissions Granted:
- Process payments
- Issue refunds
- View transaction data
- Create customer records
You maintain full control and can disconnect anytime.
Configure Payout Settings

In your Stripe dashboard:
- Payout Schedule: Daily, weekly, or monthly
- Bank Account: Where funds are deposited
- Statement Descriptor: What appears on customer credit card statements
Recommended:
```
Payout Schedule: Daily automatic
Statement Descriptor: YourRestaurant* (22 character max)
```
Test Payment Processing

Use Stripe’s test mode to verify:
- Gift card purchase flows correctly
- Payments are captured
- Refunds process properly
- Webhooks are working
Test Card Number:
```
Card: 4242 4242 4242 4242
Expiry: Any future date
CVC: Any 3 digits
ZIP: Any 5 digits
```

Payment Settings

Accepted Payment Methods

Enable payment options for customers:

✅ Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)
✅ Debit Cards
✅ Apple Pay
✅ Google Pay
⬜ ACH Bank Transfers (US only, 3-5 day clearing)
⬜ International Cards (higher fees)

Recommendation: Enable all digital wallet options for better conversion.

Tax Configuration

Sales Tax Setup:

Tax Rate: 8.5%
Tax ID: [Your state/federal tax ID]
Tax Inclusive Pricing: No (show tax separately)

Multi-location tax rates:

Set different rates per location
Automatic tax calculation based on customer address
Downloadable tax reports for filing

Gift cards: Most regions don’t tax gift card purchases, but consult your accountant.

Refund Policy

Configure Refund Rules:

Gift Card Refunds: Allowed within 14 days
Partial Refunds: Enabled
Restocking Fee: None
Refund Method: Original payment method

Options:

Full refund anytime
Time-limited refunds (7, 14, 30 days)
Store credit only
No refunds

Currency Settings

Primary Currency:

Currency: USD ($)
Display Format: $10.00

Multi-currency Support:

Enable if you have international customers
Automatic conversion at checkout
Fixed exchange rates or dynamic
Supported: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, and 30+ others

Pricing Example:

$50 USD = €46 EUR = £41 GBP (dynamic rates)

Team Management

Adding Team Members

Navigate to Team Settings

Dashboard → Settings → Team Members → Invite Member

Enter Team Member Details

Email: manager@yourrestaurant.com
First Name: John
Last Name: Smith
Role: Manager (select from dropdown)
Locations: All locations or specific locations

Select Permissions
Full Access (only assign to trusted individuals)
✅ All permissions ✅ Add/remove team members ✅ Access billing and payments ✅ Delete campaigns ✅ View all analytics ✅ Modify account settings

Operational Control
✅ Create/edit campaigns ✅ View analytics ✅ Manage customers ✅ Process refunds ✅ Access team settings ❌ Modify billing ❌ Delete account

Limited Access
✅ View campaigns ✅ Process gift card redemptions ✅ Look up customer information ✅ View basic analytics ❌ Create campaigns ❌ Access settings ❌ View financial data

Read-Only
✅ View campaigns ✅ View analytics ❌ Make any changes ❌ Access customer data ❌ Process transactions
Use case: Accountants, consultants, investors
Send Invitation

Team member receives email with:
- Link to create password
- Account access details
- Quick start guide
Invitations expire in 7 days.

Managing Permissions

Granular Permission Controls:

Campaign Permissions

Create campaigns
Edit campaigns
Delete campaigns
View campaign performance
Export campaign data

Customer Permissions

View customer list
Edit customer details
Export customer data
Send customer messages
Delete customer records

Financial Permissions

View revenue data
Process refunds
Access billing
Download reports
Modify payment settings

Settings Permissions

Edit restaurant profile
Manage team members
Configure integrations
Access API keys
Modify brand assets

Security Settings

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Enable 2FA

Settings → Security → Two-Factor Authentication → Enable
Choose Method
Recommended Method
- Download Google Authenticator or Authy
- Scan QR code in dashboard
- Enter 6-digit code to verify
- Save backup codes
Most secure option - works offline, not vulnerable to SIM swapping
Text Message Code
- Enter phone number
- Receive 6-digit code via text
- Enter code to verify
Pros: Easy to use, familiar Cons: Vulnerable to SIM swapping, requires cell service
Email-Based Code
- Use primary account email
- Receive code in inbox
- Enter to verify
Least secure - only use if other methods unavailable
Save Backup Codes

Critical: Download and securely store 10 backup codes

Use these if you lose access to your 2FA device:
```
1. ABCD-1234-EFGH-5678
2. IJKL-9012-MNOP-3456
... (8 more codes)
```
Each code works only once. Store in password manager or safe location.

Session Management

Configure session security:

Session Timeout: 30 minutes of inactivity
Remember Me: 30 days (optional)
Maximum Active Sessions: 3 devices
Require Re-authentication for: Sensitive actions

Active Sessions: View and revoke access from:

Settings → Security → Active Sessions

See all logged-in devices:

Device type (iPhone, Chrome on MacBook, etc.)
Location (approximate)
Last active time
Revoke access remotely

IP Restrictions

Advanced Security (optional):

Restrict account access to specific IP addresses:

Allowed IPs:
- 192.168.1.100 (Office)
- 10.0.0.50 (Restaurant POS)
- 172.16.0.25 (Manager Home)

Use case:

High-security requirements
Prevent access from public WiFi
Limit to business locations only

Notifications & Alerts

Email Notifications

Configure what notifications you receive:

Gift Card Sales:

✅ Immediate notification for sales over $100
⬜ Daily sales summary
⬜ Every sale notification (can be overwhelming)

Redemptions:

✅ Weekly redemption report
⬜ Real-time redemption alerts

Thresholds:

High-value sale alert: $100+
Daily summary time: 9:00 AM
Weekly report day: Monday

SMS Notifications

Critical alerts only:

Failed payment processing
System downtime
High-value fraudulent transaction detected
Security breaches

Phone number: +1 (555) 123-4567

In-App Notifications

Dashboard badge notifications:

New customer messages
Team member requests
Pending approvals
System updates

Notification preferences:

Desktop push notifications: Enabled
Sound alerts: Disabled
Badge counts: Enabled

API & Integrations

API Access

Generate API keys for custom integrations:

Settings → Developers → API Keys → Create New Key

Name: POS Integration
Environment: Production
Permissions: Read/Write
Key: sk_live_abc123xyz789...

Security:

Never share API keys publicly
Rotate keys every 90 days
Use different keys for each integration
Revoke unused keys immediately

Rate Limits:

Free Plan: 1,000 requests/day
Starter: 10,000 requests/day
Growth: 100,000 requests/day
Enterprise: Unlimited

Set up webhooks for real-time events:

Webhook URL: https://yourserver.com/webhook
Events:
- ✅ gift_card.purchased
- ✅ gift_card.redeemed
- ✅ customer.created
- ⬜ payment.failed

Secret: whsec_abc123... (for verification)

Event payload example:

{
  "event": "gift_card.purchased",
  "timestamp": "2025-10-03T14:30:00Z",
  "data": {
    "amount": 50.00,
    "currency": "USD",
    "customer_email": "john@example.com"
  }
}

Testing:

Use webhook testing tool in dashboard
Verify signature validation
Check response times (under 1 second required)

Connect third-party applications:

Pre-built Integrations:

Mailchimp (email marketing)
Zapier (automation)
QuickBooks (accounting)
Square POS (point of sale)
Shopify (e-commerce)

Custom OAuth: Create OAuth application for custom integrations:

App Name: Custom POS
Redirect URI: https://yourpos.com/callback
Scopes: customers:read, gifts:write

View All Integrations →

Compliance & Legal

Privacy Settings

GDPR Compliance

European customers:

✅ Cookie consent banner
✅ Data processing agreement
✅ Right to be forgotten
✅ Data export functionality
✅ Privacy policy generator

Data retention:

Active customers: Indefinite
Inactive (no purchase in 3 years): Auto-delete
Deleted accounts: 30-day grace period

CCPA Compliance

California customers:

✅ “Do Not Sell” option
✅ Data disclosure
✅ Opt-out mechanisms
✅ Consumer rights portal

Annual disclosures automatically generated

PCI Compliance

Payment security:

Caramel is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant:

✅ Encrypted card data
✅ Secure tokenization
✅ No card data stored on your servers
✅ Regular security audits

You inherit compliance - no additional certification needed

Terms & Policies

Required legal documents:

✅ Terms of Service (auto-generated, customizable)
✅ Privacy Policy (auto-generated)
✅ Gift Card Terms (customizable)
✅ Refund Policy (customizable)

Customization:

Add specific terms
Modify as needed
Automatic version control
Customer acceptance tracking

Multi-Location Setup

For restaurants with multiple locations:

Add Additional Locations

Settings → Locations → Add Location

Location Name: Downtown Branch
Address: 456 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
Phone: +1 (555) 987-6543
Manager: Jane Doe
Operating Hours: [Configure separately]

Configure Location-Specific Settings
- Separate gift card campaigns per location
- Location-specific redemption rules
- Individual analytics tracking
- Different tax rates if applicable
Set Redemption Rules
Gift cards redeemable anywhere
Customer can use at any of your locations.
Pros:
- Better customer experience
- Higher perceived value
- Easier to manage
Cons:
- More complex accounting
- Location transfer reconciliation
Location-specific gift cards
Each location sells separate gift cards.
Pros:
- Simpler accounting
- Clear revenue attribution
- Location-specific offers
Cons:
- Less flexibility for customers
- Lower perceived value
Configurable options
Some cards work everywhere, others location-specific.
Example:
- Standard gift cards: All locations
- Special promotions: Single location only
- Corporate gifts: Redeemable anywhere
Location Analytics

Track performance by location:
- Sales by location
- Redemption by location
- Cross-location redemptions
- Revenue attribution

Backup & Data Export

Automated Backups

Your data is automatically backed up:

Frequency: Every 6 hours
Retention: 30 days of backups
Geo-replication: 3 data centers
Recovery Time: Under 15 minutes

No action required - backups are automatic.

Manual Data Export

Export your data anytime:

Settings → Data Export → Create Export

Customer Data

Includes:

Customer names and emails
Purchase history
Gift card balances
Loyalty points
Preferences

Format: CSV, JSON, or Excel

Transaction Data

Includes:

All sales records
Payment details
Refund history
Tax information

Format: CSV or QuickBooks-compatible

Campaign Data

Includes:

Campaign settings
Performance metrics
A/B test results
Email templates

Format: JSON or CSV

Complete Backup

Full account export:

All data types
Settings and configuration
Team member list
Integration details

Format: Compressed ZIP file

Processing time: 5-30 minutes depending on data size

Next Steps

Launch Your First Campaign

Create and launch a gift card campaign with our step-by-step guide.

Campaign Guide →

Set Up Automation

Configure automated customer journeys to boost sales on autopilot.

Automation Setup →

Integrate Your Tools

Connect Caramel with your POS, email platform, and other tools.

View Integrations →

Invite Your Team

Add team members and configure their access levels.

Team Management →

Need help with setup? Our support team is available 24/7. Contact Support →