Everything you need to know

Most restaurants are live within 5–10 days of signing up. We handle the POS integration, deliver your custom-branded QR table units, and configure your account. Your staff doesn't need training—their workflow doesn't change.

Everything. Full POS integration, custom-branded QR table units for up to 20 tables at one location, real-time analytics dashboard, email and SMS receipts for diners, and dedicated support. You get the exact same product as paying customers. The 30 days starts from your first live transaction—setup time doesn't count. We do a mid-pilot check-in at Day 14 and a full data review at Day 30. No credit card required, no commitment. If it doesn't work for you, walk away.

No. TabSettle is entirely software-based. There are no tablets, kiosks, or card readers to purchase. We provide custom-branded QR table units as part of onboarding—they're included in every plan. Your diners use their own phones.

No. There's no software to install on your terminals—ever. We have direct integrations with Square and Clover that connect through their official APIs. But TabSettle works with any POS system using our built-in OCR and PWA dashboard, so you're not limited to those two. Custom API integrations are also available upon request. Talk with our team to learn more about what works best for your setup.

No long-term contracts. After your free pilot, TabSettle is month-to-month. We just ask for 30 days' notice if you decide to cancel. Annual plans are available at a discount (2 months free) but entirely optional. We'd rather earn your business every month than lock you in.

Diners scan the QR code at their table and see the full itemized bill. Each person taps the items they ordered to claim them. Tax and tip are calculated proportionally for each person. Everyone at the table sees the same bill updating in real-time—who's claimed what, who's paid, and what's still open. It's collaborative, like a shared document, not a static page each person views separately.

Real-time collaboration. Most pay-at-table products let each diner view the bill independently and pay their portion. TabSettle syncs every device at the table using WebSocket technology, so all guests see the same live view simultaneously—instant updates as items are claimed and payments are made. No double-claiming, no confusion, no one accidentally paying for someone else's lobster.

Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major credit and debit cards. Diners don't need to download an app or create an account. They scan the QR code, and the payment interface works right in their phone's browser.

The bill stays open until all items are claimed and paid. Your servers can monitor payment status in real-time on the POS, so they know exactly which items are still unpaid—just as they would with a traditional check. TabSettle gives your staff more visibility, not less.

Yes—positively. When large groups split evenly, research shows tip percentages drop significantly (from ~19% at solo tables down to ~11% at tables of 4–6). TabSettle eliminates that dynamic by letting each diner pay and tip individually for exactly what they ordered. Individual tipping tends to produce higher tip averages than group splitting.

TabSettle has direct integrations with Square and Clover. But you're not limited to those—TabSettle works with any POS system using our built-in OCR and PWA dashboard. Custom API integrations are also available upon request. If you use a different POS, reach out and we'll walk you through your options.

Payment status shows up in your POS in real-time. When all items on a check are settled, the transaction is automatically reconciled. Your servers can also see partial payment progress (e.g., "4 of 6 paid") so they always know where a table stands without having to ask. No workflow changes required.

Payments are processed through Stripe Connect and deposited directly to your bank account. Standard Stripe processing fees apply (paid by your restaurant directly to Stripe, same as any card transaction). TabSettle does not add any additional fee on top of processing. Your existing credit card processing for non-TabSettle payments stays completely unchanged.

Refunds can be initiated through your TabSettle dashboard. The refund is processed back through Stripe to the diner's original payment method. We're also working on POS-initiated refund support for an even smoother workflow.

No. TabSettle processes split payments through Stripe Connect, which operates alongside your existing processor. Your regular credit card transactions continue to flow through your current processor as they always have. TabSettle only handles the transactions where diners choose to split via QR code.

A flat monthly subscription based on your restaurant size. Starter is $99/month for up to 15 tables. Standard is $199/month for up to 40 tables. Enterprise pricing is custom for 40+ tables or multi-location groups. Annual plans save you 2 months (Starter: $990/year, Standard: $1,990/year). No transaction fees from TabSettle—ever. Standard Stripe processing fees apply, same as any card payment you already accept.

No. TabSettle does not charge any per-transaction or percentage-based fee. Your only cost from us is the monthly subscription. Payment processing goes through Stripe at their standard rates—the same you'd pay on any card transaction.

Stripe's standard processing fee is paid by your restaurant directly to Stripe, just like any other card payment you accept today. TabSettle does not add any fee on top of Stripe's processing. We're transparent about this because we think you should know exactly where every cent goes.

Our Founding Partner program is open to any restaurant that signs up before July 2026. You get founder pricing locked for 12 months: Starter at $79/month (instead of $99) and Standard at $149/month (instead of $199). This includes the 30-day free pilot. After your first year, you move to the standard rate. Founding partners also get priority input on our product roadmap. No long-term contract—30-day cancellation notice at any time.

Yes. Industry standards define card-present as swiped, dipped, or NFC-tapped. QR code and browser-based payments are classified as card-not-present. However, when diners pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or through 3D Secure, your restaurant receives the same fraud liability protection as a chip-card transaction. We believe the operational benefits—faster table turns, higher tips, less staff friction—far outweigh the small rate difference.

Yes. TabSettle is built on SOC 2 and ISO 27001-certified infrastructure through Stripe, Supabase, and Railway. All payment data is handled by Stripe (a PCI Level 1 certified processor)—we never store card numbers on our servers. All connections are encrypted via TLS, and we use row-level security on all database access.

Chargebacks on digital payments authenticated through Apple Pay, Google Pay, or 3D Secure are significantly less frequent than traditional card swipes. The authentication layer provides strong fraud protection, and the digital paper trail for each split payment makes disputes easier to resolve.

We collect only what's needed to process the payment: name, email or phone (for receipts), and payment info (handled entirely by Stripe). We're CCPA/CPRA compliant, we don't sell diner data, and diners can request deletion at any time. Our full privacy policy is available at tabsettle.com/privacy.