Payments

How to Accept Payments with a Tap Using TacTile

A TacTile Payment Connector destination links your live Square or Stripe merchant account to your NFC card or QR code, so a tap opens a real checkout tied to your account — not just a redirect. In the app, select Payments, choose Connect, authorize Square or Stripe via OAuth, and your tap becomes a point of sale.

Create your payment connector free →

Time10-15 minutes (includes OAuth approval)

DifficultyIntermediate — requires an existing or new Square/Stripe account

PathsConnect only

Best forRegistered small businesses, retailers, pop-up shops, service providers taking card payments

Works withSquare, Stripe

What is a payment connector destination?

A Payment Connector destination is a live checkout gateway: TacTile authenticates directly with your Square or Stripe account via OAuth, so a tap or scan opens a real, itemized payment flow tied to your merchant account rather than a static personal link. Put simply: this is the destination type where the tap is the point-of-sale terminal.

75% of U.S. restaurant and retail operators now consider contactless ordering or digital payment "essential" to daily operations.

— EasyMenus, 2025

How to create a payment connector destination

Connect

Authorize your live Square or Stripe account via OAuth — the only path for this destination.Recommended

Open the TacTile app and tap Create.
On the category picker, select Payments — "Pay links or live checkout."
On the type picker, look for the Connectors section and choose Square or Stripe.
Tap Connect account. TacTile redirects you to Square's or Stripe's official OAuth login screen — you are authenticating directly with Square/Stripe, not entering credentials into TacTile.
Log in to your existing Square or Stripe account, or create one if you don't have it yet (Stripe and Square both allow account creation mid-flow).
Review the permissions TacTile is requesting (read business profile, create checkout links/charges) and tap Authorize.
You're returned to the TacTile app, which confirms the connection with a green "Connected" status badge.
Configure the checkout: set a fixed price, a "name your amount" tip-style field, or link to a specific Square/Stripe catalog item or invoice.
Name the destination (e.g., "Checkout" or "Pay In-Store") and tap Save.
Assign it to your NFC card, table tent, or QR code, then run a small test transaction to confirm funds land in your connected account.

Which path should I use?

There's only one path here, but the real decision is which destination type to pick in the first place. If you're an individual who just wants tips or casual payments with no card processing, Payment Link is faster and requires no merchant account. Payment Connector exists specifically for businesses that need to accept debit/credit cards, generate receipts, and reconcile sales through a real merchant dashboard.

Common use cases

Pop-up retail and market stalls

A vendor without a card reader sets an NFC table tent to their Square checkout so any customer can tap and pay by card.

Restaurants and cafés

A tap-to-pay table tent or till-side QR code opens a Square/Stripe checkout for the day's total, cutting down on line time.

Service businesses

Plumbers, mobile groomers, and contractors tap a client's phone on-site to close out an invoice through Stripe instead of chasing a check.

Event and festival vendors

Booth operators use one NFC card synced to Square for the entire event instead of carrying a separate card reader.

Studios and salons

Front-desk QR code lets a walk-in pay their invoice directly without waiting for a staff member to run a terminal.

Payment Connector + analytics

Because this destination is tied to a live merchant account, your most meaningful numbers actually live in Square or Stripe's own dashboard (completed transactions, revenue, refunds). TacTile still reports Total Views — how many taps/scans opened the checkout — which lets you calculate a rough view-to-transaction conversion rate by comparing it against your Square/Stripe sales count for the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Does TacTile ever touch or store my card data?

No. Card data and payment processing happen entirely inside Square's or Stripe's infrastructure via OAuth; TacTile only holds the authorization token needed to open the checkout screen.

Can I use Square and Stripe on different destinations at the same time?

Yes — you can create separate Payment Connector destinations for each and assign them to different cards, codes, or contexts (e.g., Square for in-person, Stripe for online invoices).

What if I don't have a Square or Stripe account yet?

You can create one during the Connect flow — TacTile hands off to Square's/Stripe's own signup, then returns you to finish the destination once your account exists.

Can customers pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay through this destination?

That depends on what payment methods you have enabled in your connected Square or Stripe account, since TacTile inherits whatever checkout options your merchant account supports.

Is there a transaction fee?

Any fees come from Square or Stripe's own processing rates, not from TacTile — check your merchant account's fee schedule.

What happens if I disconnect Square or Stripe later?

The destination stops accepting payments until reconnected; TacTile shows a "Disconnected" status so you know to fix it before your next tap.

Can I set a fixed price versus letting the customer choose an amount?

Yes — the builder supports both a fixed-price checkout and an open-amount field, useful for tips or variable invoices.

Do I need a physical card reader in addition to this?

No — the tap or scan replaces the need for a separate reader for these transactions, since the checkout page itself collects the card details.

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