Accept In-Person Payments Without a Card Reader
Tap to Pay works two ways: as an Quick Action charge for walk-ins or any in-person payment that isn't tied to an existing appointment, or as the payment method when checking out a booked appointment from its Appointment Details page.
Before You Begin
Before using Tap to Pay, make sure:
Tap to Pay is available on your compatible device.
Mobile Pay is set up and approved.
You have a stable internet connection.
Your theCut app is up to date.
Step 1: Start the Charge
Ad Hoc Charge (Walk-Ins & Manual Charges)
From your Home screen, tap Charge under Quick Actions. This is the ad hoc route, since the charge isn't tied to an existing appointment — use it for walk-ins or any other in-person charge you need to collect on the spot.
Booked Appointment Checkout
If the client already has an appointment on the books, open it from Appointment Details and select Tap to Pay as the payment method at checkout instead. The service and price are already set from the appointment, so once you've made that selection you can skip ahead to Step 3.
Step 2: Enter the Payment (Ad Hoc Charges Only)
If you started an ad hoc charge above, choose how you'd like to build the transaction.
You can either:
Enter a custom amount, or
Select one or more services from your Service List.
Review the total before continuing.
Good to Know
The applicable client fee is automatically added to the total during checkout. You don't need to calculate or add it yourself.
Step 3: Choose Tap to Pay
When prompted to choose a payment method, select Tap to Pay — whether you started an ad hoc charge above or you're checking out from Appointment Details.
If you have multiple payment options available, you'll see:
Payment Method | Best For |
Tap to Pay | Accepting contactless payments directly on your phone |
Card Reader (legacy) | Barbers who enrolled before Card Readers were discontinued |
Card Readers are no longer available to new users — this option only shows up for barbers who enrolled before the program was discontinued. If you don't see it, or don't have a reader, select Tap to Pay to continue.
Step 4: Wait Until Your Phone Is Ready
Your phone will prepare to accept the payment.
Wait until the Tap to Pay screen fully loads before asking your client to tap their payment method.
Loading time may vary depending on your internet connection.
Step 5: Accept the Payment
When the Tap to Pay screen appears, your phone is ready.
Ask your client to hold their:
Contactless credit or debit card
Apple Pay device
Google Pay device
💡 Tip: Don't ask your client to tap until the Tap to Pay screen is fully displayed.
After Tapping, the next screen appears where the barber should hand the device to the client for them to adjust the tip and sign!
Step 6: Complete Checkout
After the payment method is accepted:
Hand your phone to the client to select or adjust their tip (if applicable).
Have the client sign if prompted.
Complete the checkout process.
Step 7: Wait for the Confirmation Screen
This is the most important step.
Always wait until you see the payment confirmation screen before considering the transaction complete.
The confirmation screen verifies that the payment was successfully processed.
If the app doesn't display the confirmation screen, there may have been a network interruption.
Before attempting the payment again, verify whether the original transaction was completed to avoid accidentally charging your client twice.
Troubleshooting
Tap to Pay isn't loading
Try the following:
Check your internet connection.
Wait a few moments for the reader to finish loading.
Update the theCut app to the latest version.
Restart the app if necessary.
My client's card isn't being recognized
Ask your client to:
Hold their card or device near the top of your phone.
Keep it in place until the payment is recognized.
Try another supported payment method if needed.
I didn't see the confirmation screen
Don't process another payment right away.
First, verify whether the original payment was successfully completed. Network interruptions can prevent the confirmation screen from appearing even though the transaction may have been processed.
Best Practices
For the smoothest checkout experience:
Make sure your phone has a reliable internet connection.
Wait until Tap to Pay is fully loaded before asking the client to tap.
Always review the transaction amount before collecting payment.
Wait for the confirmation screen before ending the transaction.
These simple habits help prevent payment issues and ensure a smooth checkout for both you and your clients.
Still Need Help?
If you're having trouble using Tap to Pay or aren't sure whether a payment was completed, our Support team is happy to help.
Contact us at **[email protected]** or in app under Help & Resources, and we'll get you the answers you need.