Payments
Setting Up Stripe & Card Payments
Connect your bank account via Stripe, set up a card reader or Tap to Pay, and start accepting card payments in your salon. Setup takes about 2 minutes.
Last updated 17 July 2026
Connect your bank account through Stripe to accept card payments in person and online, then set up a card reader or use Tap to Pay on your phone.
Where to find it: Payments owns Stripe setup/recovery, balances, payout schedule, payouts, and transactions. Settings > Payment processing owns card-processing fee policy and payment-account disconnection. Settings → In-person payments owns Tap to Pay inventory, physical readers, Walk-out checkout, and external terminals. Existing
/card-paymentslinks remain compatible.
TL;DR
- Connect your bank account through Stripe in about 2 minutes, you need photo ID and bank account details; no separate Stripe account is required.
- A Stripe Terminal card reader is optional. Tap to Pay on your phone (no hardware) works in AU, NZ (Android only), and GB.
- Card readers must be registered with a pairing code accessed from the reader's settings menu using admin code 0-7-1-3-9.
- Disconnecting your Stripe account is permanent, any pending payouts are cancelled and you must re-verify to reconnect.
Overview
Setting up Stripe & card payments lets you:
- Connect your bank account to receive payouts from card payments
- Accept contactless and chip card payments using a Stripe Terminal reader
- Use Tap to Pay on your mobile phone, no hardware needed (AU, NZ, GB)
- Manage the permitted online international-card policy in Payments
- Track your payout balance, history, and transaction details
- Order a card reader directly through OpenChair
Note
Card payment processing is available on both FREE and PRO plans. Processing fees differ by plan, see the fee structure section below. Tap to Pay has no additional cost.
Step 1: Connect your bank account
Before you can accept card payments, you need to connect your bank account through Stripe. This is a one-time setup that takes about 2 minutes.
What you need
| Country | Documents required |
|---|---|
| Australia | Photo ID (driver's licence or passport), bank account details (BSB and account number) |
| New Zealand | Photo ID, bank account number |
| United Kingdom | Photo ID, bank account details (sort code and account number) |
On web
- Go to Payments in the sidebar.
- If you have not started setup, the page shows "Activate payments" with the message: "Connect your bank account to start accepting payments."
- Click "Connect your bank account".
- Complete the Stripe verification form that appears inline. This collects your identity, business details, and bank account.
- When finished, OpenChair syncs your account status. A green "Active" badge appears when everything is verified.
On mobile
- Go to More → Payments.
- The Bank account card shows "Setup required" in red.
- Tap "Connect bank account". This opens the setup form in your browser.
- Complete the verification steps and return to the app.
- Pull down to refresh, the status updates to "Active" when verified.
Skipping Stripe (cash-only)
If you only accept cash payments:
- In Payments, click "I only take cash payments" below the setup button.
- The page switches to "Cash-only mode" with the message: "Online booking payments are disabled for your venue. Clients can book appointments but cannot pay online."
- To reconnect later, click "Enable online payments".
Tip
You do not need a separate Stripe account. Everything is handled securely within OpenChair. Stripe runs in the background.
Step 2: Set up a card reader (optional)
A Stripe Terminal reader lets you accept tap, chip, and swipe payments at your front desk. If you prefer, you can skip this step and use Tap to Pay on your phone instead.
Ordering a reader
If your bank account is connected and you have no readers registered:
- Go to Settings → In-person payments on web.
- The Card readers empty state offers exactly two actions: Order a reader and Register existing reader. Tap to Pay has its own separate section.
- Click Order a reader.
- In the order sheet, enter your shipping name, address, and postcode.
- Select the reader model from the dropdown.
- Click "Order & Pay" to complete the purchase through Stripe.
An order tracker shows the delivery status: Processing → Ordered → Shipped (with tracking number) → Delivered.
Registering a reader
Once your reader arrives (or if you already have a compatible Stripe Terminal reader):
- Go to Settings → In-person payments on web and scroll to Card readers.
- Click "Register existing reader".
- On your reader device, access the settings menu (swipe right from the left edge) and enter the admin code 0-7-1-3-9 to generate a pairing code.
- Enter the pairing code in the "Registration Code" field (placeholder: "e.g. banana-apple-pear").
- Optionally enter a Label (e.g. "Front Desk", "Station 1").
- Click "Register".
The reader appears in the Connected Readers list with a status indicator:
| Status | Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Green dot | Reader is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi |
| Offline | Red dot | Reader is not reachable, check power and Wi-Fi |
| Unknown | Grey dot | Status could not be determined |
Removing a reader
- Click the trash icon next to the reader.
- Confirm by clicking "Remove" in the dialog.
The reader is unregistered from your venue. You can re-register it later using its pairing code.
Tap to Pay (mobile)
Tap to Pay turns your phone into a contactless card reader, no hardware needed. Customers hold their card near the top of your phone to pay.
Shared workstation payments
A claimed web workstation can take cash or use a physical reader already registered to the venue. A claimed native iOS or Android workstation can also use Tap to Pay when it is supported and enabled. Reader registration and Stripe account settings still require a personal Owner account.
The operator who starts a provider payment attempt owns it until the result is known. Resume or reconcile an uncertain attempt before taking another payment. See Checkout for the recovery rules.
Availability
| Country | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | Yes |
| New Zealand | No (Apple restriction) | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
How to use Tap to Pay
Set up the phone you are holding from the mobile Tap to Pay settings flow. Venue Owners can then review its evidence row under Settings → In-person payments on web or mobile.
- Complete a booking or start a walk-in checkout on the mobile app.
- Select "Tap to Pay" as the payment method.
- The screen shows: "Hold the customer's card near the top of your phone."
- The customer taps their card. Status updates: "Preparing Tap to Pay..." → "Hold card near your phone" → "Confirming payment..." → "Payment Successful".
On Android, the app requests location permission the first time you use Tap to Pay (required by Stripe for reader discovery).
Tap to Pay is available on both FREE and PRO plans at no additional cost beyond standard processing fees.
Tap to Pay inventory
The Owner inventory prefers a nickname, then falls back to the platform plus a stable shortened installation ID. Each row shows the latest captured activity at an exact venue-local time and the authenticated actor when known; older nullable evidence shows Unknown honestly. Archiving removes the row from the active inventory but does not sign out the phone, revoke payment authority, or remove access. Later setup or payment activity can reactivate the same row. Authorised members retain the separate device-local setup and checkout journey.
External card terminals
You can also list a non-Stripe terminal under Settings → In-person payments, even when Stripe is not ready. OpenChair records the tender and optional receipt or batch reference for checkout records; OpenChair does not process, settle, refund, or reconcile the payment through that external provider. Generic provider suggestions such as Card are not promoted.
Processing fees
OpenChair deducts processing costs from venue revenue for Stripe Terminal and Tap to Pay transactions. Neither card-present method adds an OpenChair customer surcharge, regardless of card origin or venue country.
Owners manage the fee policy in Settings > Payment processing, not In-person payments. Only eligible online international-card payments can use Pass international card fees only. The retired Pass all fees to customer option is not offered, and old-client writes are normalised safely by the server. See Fees and Processing for rates and the full country/date/channel matrix.
Payouts
Once your bank account is connected, OpenChair collects card payments and pays them out to your bank account on a schedule.
Payout schedule
| Plan | Options |
|---|---|
| FREE | Monthly (1st of each month) |
| PRO | Monthly or Weekly (every Monday) |
To change your schedule, open Payments on web or mobile. Weekly scheduling requires the applicable PRO access shown in the app.
Minimum payout amount
A minimum balance is required before a payout is triggered:
| Country | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Australia | $50 AUD |
| New Zealand | $50 NZD |
| United Kingdom | £50 |
If your balance is below the minimum, a warning appears: the funds accumulate until the threshold is reached.
Viewing your balance
The Balance card in Payments shows:
- Available: funds ready to pay out
- Pending: funds being processed (typically 2 to 7 business days)
- Next payout: the scheduled date
Payout history
The payout history table shows past payouts with their date, status, and amount. Status badges indicate: Paid (green), In transit (blue), Pending (orange), Cancelled (grey), or Failed (red).
Walk-out checkout (card on file)
Walk-out checkout charges an eligible customer's saved card when their appointment ends — one tap, no checkout queue. It is available on all plans and has no PRO requirement.
To enable walk-out checkout, your venue must have Stripe Connect configured with charges enabled. The toggle appears under Settings → In-person payments.
For full details on how walk-out checkout works during the payment flow, see Checkout.
Disconnecting Stripe
Disconnecting Stripe permanently closes your payment account and cancels any pending payouts.
- Go to Settings > Payment processing on web or mobile.
- Open Payment account.
- Click "Disconnect".
- Confirm in the dialog. The message warns: "This will permanently close your Stripe account and cancel any pending payouts. This cannot be undone."
Warning
Disconnecting your Stripe account is permanent. Any pending payouts are cancelled. If you reconnect later, you will need to complete the full verification process again.
Account status reference
The payment account card shows one of five status badges indicating the current state of your Stripe Connect account.
| Status | Web badge | Mobile badge | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | "Active" (green) | "Active" (green) | Charges and payouts enabled, fully operational |
| Setup in progress | "Setup in progress" (grey, spinning) | - | Stripe account created but verification incomplete |
| Pending verification | "Pending verification" (amber) | "Pending verification" (amber) | Details submitted, Stripe reviewing (1 to 2 business days) |
| Not connected | "Not connected" (amber) | "Setup required" (red) | No Stripe account, setup has not started |
| Cash-only | Card title: "Cash-only mode" | "Cash only" (grey) | Owner chose to skip Stripe |
Role access
Only Owners can manage Stripe setup and settings; all team members can accept payments at checkout.
| Action | Owner | Manager | Stylist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect bank account (Stripe setup) | Yes | No | No |
| Register / remove card readers | Yes | No | No |
| Change fee absorption setting | Yes | No | No |
| Change payout schedule | Yes | No | No |
| View payout balance and history | Yes | No | No |
| View transactions | Yes | No | No |
| View or create payment issues | Yes | Yes | No |
| Approve or execute a payment issue | Yes | No | No |
| Enable / disable walk-out checkout | Yes | No | No |
| Disconnect Stripe | Yes | No | No |
| Use Tap to Pay at checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Process card terminal payment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Platform differences
Stripe setup and reader management are web-only; Tap to Pay and payments are available on mobile.
| Feature | Web | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe Connect setup | Inline embedded form in Payments | Opens browser to web Payments |
| Card reader registration | "+ Add Reader" with pairing code form | Not available, web only |
| Reader status | Connected Readers card with online/offline dots | Reader selector in checkout (status shown) |
| Hardware ordering | Order a reader in Settings → In-person payments | Not available; web owns ordering |
| Tap to Pay | Venue inventory in Settings → In-person payments | Local setup plus Owner inventory |
| Fee policy | Settings > Payment processing | Settings > Payment processing |
| Payout schedule | Managed in Payments | Managed in Payments |
| Balance and history | Full table in Payments | Summary cards + history list |
| Walk-out checkout toggle | Settings → In-person payments | Settings → In-person payments |
| Disconnect Stripe | Settings > Payment processing | Settings > Payment processing |
Troubleshooting
Common Stripe setup and card payment issues and their solutions are listed below.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Not connected" or "Setup required" status | You have not completed Stripe Connect setup. Go to Payments on web and click "Connect your bank account". |
| Setup completed but still showing "Pending verification" | Stripe is reviewing your details. This usually takes 1 to 2 business days. On mobile, pull down to refresh the status. On web, the page syncs automatically. |
| Cannot register a card reader | Only venue Owners can register readers. Ensure your Stripe account is active (charges enabled). The pairing code expires quickly, generate a new one on the reader and enter it immediately. |
| Card reader shows "Offline" | Check that the reader is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Press the refresh button in the Connected Readers section. If the reader remains offline, restart it and ensure it is on the same network. |
| Tap to Pay not appearing at checkout | Tap to Pay requires a supported device in Australia, New Zealand (Android only), or the United Kingdom. Ensure your venue has Stripe Connect active. On Android, grant location permission when prompted. |
| "No readers registered" at checkout | Go to Settings → In-person payments on web → Card readers → Register existing reader. Alternatively, use Tap to Pay or Cash. |
| Cannot change fee policy | Only venue Owners can change it. Open Settings > Payment processing; the available options follow the venue country, date, and payment-channel rules. |
| Payouts not arriving in my bank account | Check the minimum payout threshold. If the balance is below it, funds accumulate until the next scheduled payout date. View the balance in Payments. |
| Weekly payout option is disabled | Weekly payouts require a PRO subscription. FREE plan venues are limited to monthly payouts. |
FAQ
How do I connect my bank account?
Go to Payments in the sidebar, click Connect your bank account, and complete the Stripe verification form. You need photo ID and bank account details. The process takes about 2 minutes and no separate Stripe account is required.
How do I set up a card reader?
Go to Settings → In-person payments on web, scroll to Card readers, and click Register existing reader. On your reader, swipe right to access settings and enter admin code 0-7-1-3-9 to generate a pairing code. Enter the pairing code and click Register.
What is Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay turns your phone into a contactless card reader using NFC, no hardware needed. Customers hold their card near the top of your phone to pay. It's available in Australia, New Zealand (Android only), and the United Kingdom at no additional cost beyond standard processing fees.
Can I use OpenChair without Stripe?
Yes, click I only take cash payments in Payments to enable cash-only mode. Online booking payments are disabled, but clients can still book appointments. You can reconnect Stripe later by clicking Enable online payments.