--- title: 🎤 How to Run a Live Auction in ClickBid description: How to run a live auction in ClickBid --- [Skip to content](https://support.cbo.io/-how-to-run-a-live-auction-in-clickbid#main-content) ![clickbid\_logo\_22\_left\_0\_margin](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/clickbid_logo_22_left_0_margin.png?width=200&height=59&name=clickbid_logo_22_left_0_margin.png) - [Blog](https://blog.cbo.io/) - [ClickBid Admin](https://cbo.io/admin/login.php) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Blog](https://blog.cbo.io/) - [ClickBid Admin](https://cbo.io/admin/login.php) - [View our Training Videos](https://training.clickbidonline.com/all-courses/) [View our Training Videos](https://training.clickbidonline.com/all-courses/) Welcome to ClickBid's Knowledge Base - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [ClickBid How To Articles](https://support.cbo.io/?hsLang=en) 2. [FAQs](https://support.cbo.io/faqs?hsLang=en) 3. [FAQs](https://support.cbo.io/faqs?hsLang=en#faqs) # 🎤 How to Run a Live Auction in ClickBid A **live auction** is a high-energy part of your event where an auctioneer takes bids in real time, usually from a stage or podium. With ClickBid, you can prepare guests ahead of time, record winners easily, and manage payments efficiently afterward. --- ### 🛠️ Setting Up Live Auction Items Before your event begins, you'll want to get your live auction items ready for display: 1. Go to **Items** \> **Manage Items** in your ClickBid admin. ![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-08-10-5232-PM.png?width=326&height=267&name=image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-08-10-5232-PM.png) 2. Click **Add Item** and enter your auction details (e.g., title, description, fair market value).  ![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-09-18-8530-PM.png?width=470&height=145&name=image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-09-18-8530-PM.png) 3. Set the **Item Type** to **Live**. ![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-10-45-3383-PM.png?width=446&height=418&name=image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-10-45-3383-PM.png) 4. Add photos and a description to help guests preview what’s coming. Scroll down the page to the **Image Details**/**Description and Extras** sections.  ![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-11-36-4264-PM.png?width=410&height=315&name=image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-11-36-4264-PM.png) 5. You can group all live items into a “Live Auction” category to make them easy to find. - **Live items are always preview-only**: Guests will not place bids through their phones. - You can display them in advance so bidders can get excited before bidding starts. Live auction items help drive big fundraising moments when presented well. Use images and engaging descriptions! --- ### 🏷️ Letting Guests Preview Live Auction Items When guests are registered and logged in, they can: - View **Live Auction** items in advance from their mobile device. - Tap on each item for full descriptions, photos, and value. - Get excited and ready to bid when the auctioneer steps up. Use **Display Cards,** signage including **your event's QR code,** or emcee announcements to remind attendees to preview items before the live auction begins. --- ### 🎙️ Running the Live Auction Onsite During the live auction portion of your event: 1. The auctioneer presents each item one at a time. 2. Guests bid by raising their paddles or hands. 3. A **scribe** (someone on your team) notes the **winning paddle number** and **final bid amount**. We recommend having a scribe enter winning bids in real time, and a second person writing them down on paper for cross-referencing at the end of the event. --- ### 💻 Entering Winning Bids into ClickBid Once the live bidding ends for each item: 1. Go to **Event Central** \> **Butler,** or launch the butler directly by going to **http://cbo.io/butler** ![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-12-27-1547-PM.png?width=308&height=205&name=image-png-Feb-08-2026-01-12-27-1547-PM.png) 2. In the **Add a Bid / Multi Sale** section, enter: - The **item name or number** - The **paddle number** of the winning bidder - The **final bid amount** 3. Click **Add Bid** to save it. ![](https://support.cbo.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-11-2025-07-39-54-9301-PM.png?width=537&height=420&name=image-png-Jul-11-2025-07-39-54-9301-PM.png) ✅ The item will now appear in that bidder’s cart and can be paid for during checkout. --- ### 💰 Payment Options After the Live Auction Once all winners have been recorded, you have **three options** for processing payments. --- ### 📱 Option 1: Guests Check Themselves Out Guests can pay from their phones by: 1. Logging in to your ClickBid site. 2. Going to **My Cart** to view and pay for items. 3. Using a **credit card on file**, a **new card**, or **Apple/Google Pay**. Guests cannot choose **cash or check** payment methods on their own. These must be handled by your team (see Option 3).   --- ### 🔁 Option 2: Batch Process Credit Cards (Admin Only) To handle all payments in bulk: 1. Go to **Event Central** \> **Event Payments**. 2. Use the **Batch Checkout** feature to charge guests who have a credit card on file. This is a great option if you want to: - Confirm accuracy before charging - Avoid having guests check out manually - Move quickly at the end of the event Require a credit card for bidders and encourage guests to enter a credit card during registration or check-in to make batch processing smoother. To prevent double charges, **disable** guest checkout just before using batch checkout. --- ### 💵 Option 3: Staff-Handled Payments/Check Out Table 1. Go to **Event Central** \> **Butler**. 2. Find the guest’s name or paddle number. 3. Record the payment using the **correct payment method.** 📱 Guests cannot log their own cash or check payments. Only your team can do this from the admin side. --- ### 🔚 Wrapping It Up Running a live auction with ClickBid gives your team the tools to keep everything smooth, from bid recording to payments. Be sure to test a few items in advance and train your scribe or admin team before the big night. - [Account & Setup](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Users & Logging In](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#users-logging-in) - [Billing/Renewal](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#billing-renewal) - [Organization Account](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#organization-account) - [Event Settings](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#event-settings) - [Auction Settings](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#auction-settings) - [Welcome Page](https://support.cbo.io/account-setup?hsLang=en#welcome-page) - [Get Started](https://support.cbo.io/get-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Pre-Event Prep](https://support.cbo.io/get-started?hsLang=en#pre-event-prep) - [Creating a New Event](https://support.cbo.io/get-started?hsLang=en#creating-a-new-event) - [Event Day Toolkit](https://support.cbo.io/event-day-toolkit?hsLang=en#main-content) - 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