Creating and Managing Coupons
Coupons in AccuArk let you offer targeted discounts to customers through redeemable codes. Whether you distribute coupons in print, via email, or through social media, AccuArk provides a complete coupon management system that handles creation, validation, usage tracking, and integration with your promotions and marketing campaigns.
Coupon Types
AccuArk supports four coupon types, each suited to a different promotional strategy:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| one_time | Can be redeemed only once across all customers and all locations. Once used, the coupon is automatically deactivated. Ideal for unique giveaways or contest prizes. |
| multi_use | Can be redeemed multiple times up to an optional maximum usage limit. This is the most common type for general promotions like "10% off your next purchase." |
| percent_off | Applies a percentage-based discount to the invoice subtotal. The discount percentage is set in the coupon's value field. |
| dollar_off | Applies a fixed dollar amount discount to the invoice subtotal. The discount amount is set in the coupon's value field. |
The coupon type and discount method work together: you choose whether the coupon is single-use or multi-use, and separately choose whether the discount is a percentage or a fixed dollar amount.
Creating a New Coupon
To create a coupon, navigate to Marketing > Coupons > New. The coupon creation form contains the following sections:
Coupon Code
Every coupon needs a unique code that customers will enter at the Point of Sale. You have two options:
- Custom code — Type your own code (e.g., SUMMER25, WELCOME10, BDAY2026). Custom codes must be unique across all coupons in the system.
- Auto-generate — Click the Generate button and AccuArk will create a unique code using cryptographically secure random generation. Auto-generated codes are alphanumeric, easy to read, and guaranteed to be unique.
Coupon codes are case-insensitive at the Point of Sale, so "SUMMER25" and "summer25" are treated as the same code.
Discount Method and Value
Configure how the coupon reduces the invoice total:
- Discount method — Choose between Percent Off or Dollar Off.
- Discount value — Enter the percentage (e.g., 15 for 15% off) or the fixed dollar amount (e.g., 5.00 for $5.00 off).
For percent-off coupons, the discount is calculated against the invoice subtotal after any item-level pricing has been applied but before tax. For dollar-off coupons, the fixed amount is subtracted from the subtotal directly.
Minimum Spend Requirement
Optionally set a minimum subtotal that the invoice must reach before the coupon can be applied. For example, you might create a "$10 off when you spend $50 or more" coupon by setting the discount value to 10.00 and the minimum spend to 50.00. If the invoice subtotal is below the minimum spend, the coupon will be rejected during validation with a message explaining the requirement.
Start Date and End Date
Control when the coupon is valid:
- Start date — The earliest date the coupon can be redeemed. Attempts to use the coupon before this date will be rejected.
- End date — The last date the coupon can be redeemed. After this date, the coupon expires and is no longer valid.
Both dates are optional. If no start date is set, the coupon is valid immediately. If no end date is set, the coupon does not expire (unless manually deactivated).
Usage Limits
Control how many times a coupon can be used:
- Max total uses — The maximum number of times this coupon can be redeemed across all customers and all locations combined. Leave blank or set to zero for unlimited total uses.
- Max uses per customer — The maximum number of times a single customer account can use this coupon. This requires the sale to have a customer account attached. Leave blank or set to zero for unlimited per-customer uses.
Location Restrictions
By default, a coupon is valid at all locations. To restrict a coupon to specific locations:
- Enable the Restrict to locations toggle.
- Select one or more locations from the list.
When location restrictions are active, the coupon can only be redeemed at the selected locations. Attempts to use it at other locations will be rejected with a message indicating the coupon is not valid at the current location.
Linking Coupons to Promotions
You can associate a coupon with an existing promotion to create a more powerful discount workflow. When a coupon is linked to a promotion:
- Entering the coupon code at the POS automatically applies the linked promotion's discount rules instead of (or in addition to) the coupon's own discount value.
- This lets you use the coupon as a trigger mechanism for complex promotional logic like BOGO deals, tiered discounts, or bundle offers that would not be possible with a simple percent-off or dollar-off coupon alone.
To link a coupon to a promotion, select the promotion from the Linked Promotion dropdown on the coupon form. Only active promotions appear in the list.
Linking Coupons to Campaigns
Coupons can be grouped under a marketing campaign for budget tracking and performance analysis. When a coupon is linked to a campaign:
- Every redemption of the coupon contributes to the campaign's total discount amount and redemption count.
- Campaign reports show which coupons drove the most redemptions, revenue, and customer engagement.
- Budget tracking can alert you when total coupon discounts approach the campaign's budget cap.
To link a coupon to a campaign, select the campaign from the Campaign dropdown on the coupon form.
Managing Existing Coupons
The coupon management list under Marketing > Coupons shows all coupons with their current status, usage counts, and expiration dates.
Viewing the Coupon List
The list displays each coupon's code, type, discount value, usage count versus maximum uses, start and end dates, linked promotion (if any), linked campaign (if any), and active/inactive status. You can filter the list by status (active, inactive, expired) or search by coupon code.
Editing a Coupon
Click on any coupon to open it for editing. You can modify most fields on an existing coupon, including the discount value, dates, usage limits, and location restrictions. The coupon code itself cannot be changed after creation to maintain audit trail integrity.
Deactivating a Coupon
To stop a coupon from being used without deleting it, toggle the coupon's status to Inactive. Inactive coupons remain in the system for historical reporting but are rejected if a cashier attempts to apply them. You can reactivate an inactive coupon at any time by toggling the status back to Active.
Best Practices
- Use descriptive codes — Codes like SUMMER25 or WELCOME10 are easier for staff and customers to remember than random strings. Reserve auto-generated codes for single-use or high-security scenarios.
- Set end dates — Always set an expiration date unless you explicitly want a coupon to be valid indefinitely. Forgotten active coupons can lead to unexpected discounts.
- Combine with location restrictions — If a promotion is only running at certain stores, restrict the coupon to those locations to prevent cross-location misuse.
- Link to campaigns — Even if a coupon is not part of a formal campaign, linking it to one helps with reporting and makes it easier to track total discount costs over time.
- Monitor usage counts — Check the coupon list regularly to see which coupons are being redeemed frequently and which are underperforming.