When customers pay

Once payouts are Active, the Payments page shows When customers pay. This single setting changes whether money is collected before each kitchen ticket or once at the end of the visit.

Before you begin

Open Payments. You need Manage payments and an Active Stripe connection. You cannot change mode while the restaurant still has open table bills — settle or refund them first.

The two modes

Pay per round (default)

Each QR order is a paid round. The guest pays on the phone; only then is the order submitted to the kitchen. Adding more items later opens a new order/round. Staff refunds work on that order’s card payment.

Pay at end of meal

Guests (and staff) can send food to the kitchen without paying first. Everything on the table rolls into one table bill. Guests can pay the full bill, split it (equal ways, custom amounts, or by dish), add a tip, or staff can settle offline (cash, terminal, or comp).

Side-by-side

	Pay per round	Pay at end
Kitchen ticket	After successful card payment	When staff or guest submits the order
Guest pay UI	Checkout for the current cart / round	Pay the bill on the table bill
Multiple rounds	New paid order each time	Same open bill; more orders attach
Staff cash	Less central (card is the gate)	Settle cash / external card / comp on the bill
Refunds	Cancel & refund on the paid order	Refund the bill (or cancel & refund a paid order linked to the bill)
Stock (if tracked)	Deducts on paid submit	Deducts on submit/confirm, not on later bill pay

How to change the mode

1. Open Payments.
2. Confirm the top card shows Payouts active.
3. Under When customers pay, click Pay per round (default) or Pay at end of meal.
4. Wait for the success toast. The choice is stored on the restaurant and applies to new table activity immediately.

When customers pay: pick one mode. The selected option is highlighted.

When the toggle is locked

If you see a yellow notice such as You have N open bill(s). Settle them before changing payment mode, the CRM is protecting half-finished table money.

1. On the live floor map or table order panel, open each table that still has an open bill.
2. Either let guests finish card payment, or use Settle (cash / external card / comp), or Refund bill if you must reverse card shares.
3. When open bills reach zero, return to Payments and switch mode.

Caution

Switching mode does not convert historical orders. Finish service in the current mode, then change for the next service if you prefer a different style.

Which mode should you pick?

• Busy QR-first service, tight kitchen gate → Pay per round keeps unpaid carts out of the pass.
• Classic sit-down with one cheque → Pay at end matches how many dining rooms already work, and supports splits and cash.
• Mixed staff + guest orders on one table → Pay at end so CRM and QR lines share one bill.

Related

Table ordering (QR)Guest cart and kitchen flow under each mode.

Bills, splits & offline settleHow pay-at-end bills work in the CRM.

Ingredient stockWhen each mode deducts stock.