1. Decide where checkout should happen
At a staffed reception desk, taking payment at the counter gives one person a clear view of completed appointments and retail purchases. The trade-off is that customers may need to wait while reception handles calls or arrivals. Decide who takes over when the receptionist is unavailable.
Chair-side or treatment-table payments can avoid an extra stop at reception, but staff need a consistent way to confirm the final total and record completion. If you also work at temporary venues or customer appointments away from the salon, describe those locations when enquiring. Do not assume a terminal or connection suitable indoors will suit mobile work.
- Map the journey from finished treatment to confirmed payment.
- Choose a primary checkout location and name the person responsible.
- List any additional locations that need payment capability.
2. Check connections before choosing hardware
Ask which connectivity options the proposed terminal supports and what your salon must provide. Check the actual reception desk, styling area and treatment rooms rather than relying on a connection near the router. Walls and room layout can make different payment positions behave differently.
For portable use, ask about charging, expected operating requirements and what happens if connectivity drops. Confirm the supported cards and payment methods for your German business, including any methods customers commonly ask you about. NeroPay offers card terminals and payment services, but device availability and supported features must be confirmed with the team.
- Identify usable power and charging positions away from wet work areas.
- Discuss connection requirements and any backup options.
- Ask how to check payment status after an interruption before retrying.
3. Give staff one clear checkout routine
Agree how staff build the final amount: treatment, agreed extras and retail products. The customer should understand that total before payment starts. Separately decide how staff handle requests such as tips, split payments or refunds, and confirm what the proposed setup actually supports.
If you want booking or till software alongside payments, discuss that workflow before purchase. With an eligible NeroPay card terminal, NeroPOS, NeroWeb and NeroBooking software can be included without an additional software subscription charge. Terminal costs, payment processing charges, eligibility and applicable terms still apply. Confirm any required connection between systems rather than assuming appointment details or totals transfer automatically.
- Check the agreed total with the customer.
- Read the payment result before marking the appointment as paid.
- Follow the agreed receipt process and record any unresolved payment.
4. Clarify settlement and daily checks
A successful payment and money reaching your nominated account are separate stages. Before committing, ask about settlement timing, cut-off times, weekends, applicable deductions and how adjustments appear. Request the terms that apply to your business in Germany rather than planning around another market's arrangements.
Choose who compares completed appointments with payment records at the end of the day. Ask what reporting is available and how staff can investigate a missing, declined or uncertain transaction. A useful success check is that each completed appointment has an explained payment outcome and any difference has a named person following it up.
5. Rehearse a realistic salon checkout
Hypothetical example: a two-chair salon in Bernau bei Berlin normally takes payment at reception, but its receptionist also answers booking calls. The owner chooses reception as the main payment point and asks whether a supported portable terminal could provide a fallback at the styling chair.
Before launch, the owner rehearses a treatment plus a retail purchase, confirms the total, completes a provider-approved payment test and checks the resulting record. A second rehearsal covers an interrupted connection: staff practise checking the transaction status instead of immediately asking the customer to pay again. Any unclear result becomes a question for support before routine use.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Should every stylist have a separate terminal?
Not necessarily. Start with overlapping checkout times and staff responsibilities. Discuss additional devices if sharing would interrupt service; confirm their costs and reporting arrangements.
Can we take payments away from the salon?
Describe your intended mobile use to NeroPay. Suitability depends on the available device, connectivity, supported services and applicable terms.
What should we ask about settlement?
Ask when funds are expected, which deductions may apply, how non-working days affect timing and where to investigate a payment that has not appeared as expected.
