Payments
Mobile Checkout & Tap to Pay
Last updated 22 May 2026
Mobile Checkout & Tap to Pay
Process payments on your phone or tablet using Tap to Pay (no hardware needed), cash, External card, or a card reader, all from within the mobile app.
Looking for unbound sales? The dedicated Take Payment surface handles walk-in services, retail products, gift cards, and custom amounts in a single multi-add cart. This doc covers the post-charge mobile checkout flow that both Take Payment and booking checkout open.
TL;DR
- Mobile checkout opens inline from any booking detail or from the Walk-in button for ad-hoc sales.
- Tap to Pay uses your phone's NFC chip, available in AU, NZ (Android only), and GB with no hardware required.
- Use External when the customer pays on a separate EFTPOS or card provider outside OpenChair.
- Once any portion of a split payment is recorded, the split cannot be cancelled, you must complete the order.
- On Android, the app requests location permission the first time you use Tap to Pay, this is a Stripe requirement.
Overview
Mobile checkout lets you:
- Accept contactless card payments with Tap to Pay, no card reader required
- Record cash payments with quick preset denominations
- Record external card payments taken on a separate provider
- Process payments through a Stripe Terminal card reader
- Split a payment across multiple methods (e.g. part cash, part card)
- Send a receipt by email or SMS after payment
- Handle walk-in sales with no prior booking
Note
Tap to Pay requires a connected Stripe account and a supported device. It is available in Australia, New Zealand (Android only), and the United Kingdom at no additional setup cost beyond standard processing fees.
Opening Checkout
Checkout opens inline from any booking detail or from the Walk-in button for ad-hoc sales.
From a booking
- Open the booking detail, tap the booking on the Schedule tab or the Today tab.
- The checkout section appears inline below the booking information.
- Tap a payment button (Cash, External, Tap to Pay, or Card) to start collecting payment, or review the order first and then tap "Complete Payment : $XX.XX" once the balance is ready.
The booking's service is pre-loaded in the order. You can add items, apply a tip, or redeem a gift card before taking payment.
Walk-in sale
Tap the Walk-in button to open a blank checkout screen for a customer with no prior booking. Add a customer name and phone number at the top, then build the order from scratch.
The Tap to Pay Nudge Banner
If your device is eligible for Tap to Pay and you have not yet used it, a banner appears at the top of the checkout section:
"New: Accept card payments with just your phone. Tap to Pay is ready on this device."
Tap the banner to begin a Tap to Pay payment. Tap the ✕ button on the right to dismiss it permanently for this venue.
The banner only appears once per device per venue. If you have already used Tap to Pay, or dismissed the banner, it does not reappear.
Accepting a Tap to Pay Payment
Tap to Pay uses your phone's NFC hardware to accept contactless card payments. No card reader is required.
Before you start
- Your venue must have a connected Stripe bank account. If the banner reads "Your venue hasn't connected a bank account yet", go to More → Payouts and complete setup, or ask your venue Owner.
- Tap to Pay is only available in Australia, New Zealand (Android only), and the United Kingdom.
- On Android, the app requests location permission the first time you use Tap to Pay (a Stripe requirement for reader discovery).
Steps
- On the checkout screen, tap "Tap to Pay".
- The screen shows: "Hold the customer's card near the top of your phone for $XX.XX."
- The customer holds their contactless card (or phone/watch) near the top of your phone.
- The status updates automatically:
- "Preparing Tap to Pay..."
- "Hold card near your phone"
- "Confirming payment..."
- "Payment Successful : $XX.XX paid via Tap to Pay"
The checkout advances to the success screen automatically. No button press is needed after the card is presented.
Tip
The NFC reader is at the top of the phone. Ask the customer to hold their card near the top edge, not the centre or bottom.
Accepting a Cash Payment
Cash payments are processed immediately on the checkout screen with preset denomination buttons.
- Tap "Cash" on the checkout screen.
- A payment screen shows the amount due with preset denomination buttons.
- The first button shows the exact amount owed with an (exact) label, tap it for a straight cash sale.
- Additional buttons show common denominations (e.g. $20, $50, $100).
- Tap a preset or enter a custom cash amount received.
- The change due is calculated and displayed.
- Tap "Record" to record the payment.
Cash payments are recorded immediately without any network connection required.
Accepting an External Card Payment
External card records a card payment taken through a separate EFTPOS or card provider outside OpenChair.
- Confirm the customer's payment is approved on the separate card terminal.
- Tap External on the checkout screen.
- The payment is recorded against the order.
External card does not create a Stripe charge and does not settle in your Stripe payout.
Accepting a Card Reader Payment
A Stripe Terminal card reader must be registered to your venue before using this method. See Setting Up Stripe & Card Payments for reader setup.
- Tap "Card" on the checkout screen.
- The screen shows: "Present card to the reader for $XX.XX."
- The customer taps, inserts, or swipes their card on the reader.
- The status updates:
- "Waiting for tap or insert..."
- "Processing payment..."
- Payment completes automatically.
If the reader does not respond within 2 minutes, a "Payment Timed Out" message appears. Check that the reader is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi, then try again.
Splitting a Payment
To accept payment across multiple methods (e.g. $50 cash and the remainder by card):
- On the checkout screen, tap "Split between methods" below the payment buttons.
- The split payment panel opens with a method selector such as Cash, External, Tap to Pay, and Card, depending on your device and setup.
- Enter the partial amount for the first method.
- Tap "Record" to log that portion. The payment ledger updates with a checkmark and shows the remaining balance.
- Select a different method, enter the remaining amount, and tap "Charge $XX.XX" to complete.
Once any portion of a split payment has been recorded, the split cannot be cancelled, you must complete the order.
Completing the Order and Sending a Receipt
When the full balance is covered, the checkout screen shows a success state with a green checkmark. Tap "Send Receipt" to send a receipt to the customer.
Receipts can be sent via:
- Email: if the customer has an email address on file
- SMS: if the customer has a phone number on file
The receipt includes the venue name, customer name, order reference (RCT-XXXX), itemised list with prices, subtotal, tax, tip, discount, and total.
Tap "Done" to close the checkout and return to the booking or calendar.
Tap to Pay Availability
Tap to Pay is available by country and device type as shown below.
| Country | iPhone | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | Yes |
| New Zealand | No (Apple restriction) | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Role Access
All team members can process payments, record External card, and use Tap to Pay; only Owners and Managers can apply discounts.
| Action | Owner | Manager | Stylist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open checkout and pay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Add/remove cart items | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apply discount | Yes | Yes | No |
| Change item price freely | Yes | Yes | No (range-limited) |
| Redeem gift card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Add tip | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use Tap to Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use card reader | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Send receipt | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Void a completed order | Yes | Yes | No |
Troubleshooting
Common mobile checkout and Tap to Pay issues and their solutions are listed below.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Tap to Pay is not showing as an option | Tap to Pay requires a supported device in Australia, New Zealand (Android only), or the United Kingdom, and an active Stripe connection. Check More → Payouts to confirm your account status. On Android, ensure location permission has been granted to the app. |
| "Your venue hasn't connected a bank account yet" | Your venue Owner needs to complete Stripe setup. Go to More → Payouts on the mobile app and tap "Connect bank account", or open the web app and go to Payouts to complete the inline verification form. |
| "NFC isn't available for Tap to Pay on this device" | Your device does not support NFC, or NFC is turned off. Check your device settings to confirm NFC is enabled. If your device does not support NFC, use the Card reader or Cash instead. |
| "No readers registered" when tapping Card | No Stripe Terminal reader is linked to your venue. Register a reader on the web app at Payouts → Connected Readers → "+ Add Reader". Alternatively, use Tap to Pay or Cash. |
| Card reader shows "Payment Timed Out" | The reader did not respond within 2 minutes. Confirm it is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Tap "Go Back" to return to the payment screen and try again. |
| Tap to Pay processing screen is stuck on "Preparing Tap to Pay..." | Check your internet connection. If the issue persists, tap "Go Back" or "Try Again", then restart the checkout. |
| Unpaid balance warning when closing the booking | The order was not fully paid. Either continue paying or close, the order remains open and you can return to it later. |
| Cannot apply a discount | Only Owners and Managers can apply discounts. Ask your venue manager to apply the discount before completing the checkout. |
FAQ
What devices support Tap to Pay?
Tap to Pay is available in Australia (iPhone and Android), New Zealand (Android only), and the United Kingdom (iPhone and Android). Your device must support NFC and your venue must have Stripe Connect active. On Android, grant location permission when prompted.
How do I accept a Tap to Pay payment?
On the checkout screen, tap Tap to Pay. The screen shows "Hold the customer's card near the top of your phone." The customer taps their card near the top edge of your phone and the payment completes automatically, no button press is needed.
How do I split a payment on mobile?
Tap Split between methods below the payment buttons, enter the partial amount for the first method, tap Record, then select a different method and tap Charge to complete the remainder. Once any portion is recorded, the split cannot be cancelled.