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Card Reader Setup

Overview

Take in-person card payments on a Stripe card reader. Petboost sends the amount to the reader and records the payment on the booking. New readers are the Stripe Reader S700. Stripe stopped selling the WisePOS E on 1 September 2026, and a WisePOS E you already own keeps working with Petboost. This guide covers ordering, setup and daily use.

What You'll Need

  • Business Pro, Business Flex, Business Max or Enterprise plan. Calendar Lite does not include the card reader.

  • Stripe Connect account connected to Petboost

  • A Stripe card reader. Order a Stripe Reader S700 from Stripe. A WisePOS E you already own also works.

  • Wi-Fi connection at your location

Ordering Your Card Reader

Order the reader from Stripe:

  1. Open the hardware shop in your Stripe Dashboard

  2. Order a Stripe Reader S700

Stripe shows the reader price in the shop.

Initial Setup

Step 1: Charge the reader

  1. Connect the reader to power with the USB-C cable and power adapter that come with it

  2. Charge the reader fully before you turn it on for the first time

Step 2: Turn on the reader and connect it to Wi-Fi

  1. Hold the power button until the screen turns on

  2. Swipe right from the left edge of the reader screen and tap Settings

  3. Enter the admin passcode. Stripe's default passcode is 07139

  4. Select WiFi settings, then choose your business network and connect

Step 3: Register the reader in Stripe

Register the reader to your own Stripe account before Petboost can use it.

  1. In your Stripe Dashboard, open Terminal readers and click Register reader

  2. If the reader screen does not show a pairing code, swipe right from the left edge of the reader screen, tap Settings, enter the admin passcode and tap Generate pairing code

  3. Enter the pairing code and click Next

  4. Optional: Enter a name for the reader

  5. Select your business location, or click + Add new to create it

  6. Click Register

Step 4: Connect the reader to Petboost

Petboost support connects the registered reader to your Petboost account. To request it, message the team from the chat bubble in Petboost.

When the reader is connected, In-Person Payments in Settings > Pricing & Payments shows its Reader ID, and Card Reader appears as a payment method.

Taking Payments

From an Appointment

  1. Open the appointment

  2. Under Payment Method, select Card Reader

  3. Click Take in-person Payment. The button shows the amount due, and Petboost sends that amount to the reader

  4. Ask the customer to tap or insert their card on the reader

  5. Wait for Payment Complete. Petboost marks the appointment paid

If the customer does not pay within 45 seconds, Petboost cancels the request. Click Resend to Reader to send it again. To stop a payment, click Cancel Reader Action.

Quick Sale (No Appointment)

  1. Open Quick Actions and click Quick Sale

  2. Select the pet, then click Continue to Sale

  3. Under Sale Items, click + Add Item and add a product, a service or a one-off item

  4. Select Card Reader as the payment method

  5. Click Record Sale on Card Reader and ask the customer to tap or insert their card

Petboost records the sale on the customer's account and opens a receipt PDF.

Package Purchase

  1. Open Purchase Package from the customer's profile, an appointment or Quick Actions

  2. Select the package

  3. Select Card Reader as the payment method

  4. Click Purchase on Card Reader and ask the customer to tap or insert their card

When the payment completes, Petboost adds the package to the customer's account and opens a receipt PDF.

Daily Operation

  • Leave the reader plugged in and switched on, overnight too, so it receives Stripe's software updates

  • When the reader is not on power, its screen turns off after 1 hour by default. Touch the screen to wake it

  • On a full charge, a Stripe Reader S700 runs for about 15 hours and a WisePOS E for about 8 hours

  • To turn the reader off, hold the power button until the power off option appears, then select it

Troubleshooting

The reader is offline

If a payment fails because the reader is not online:

  1. Check your business Wi-Fi is working

  2. On the reader, swipe right from the left edge of the screen, tap Settings, enter the admin passcode and select WiFi settings

  3. Reconnect the reader to your network

  4. Restart the reader and take the payment again

The Online and Offline badge in In-Person Payments shows whether in-person payments are switched on for your account. It does not show the reader's Wi-Fi status.

Payment Declined

The card was declined by the bank, not Petboost.

  1. Ask the customer to try a different card

  2. Or offer an alternative payment method (card on file, cash)

  3. The customer should contact their bank if the issue persists

Card Reader is missing from the payment methods

Card Reader appears only on Business Pro, Business Flex, Business Max and Enterprise, and only after a reader is connected to your Petboost account.

  1. Open Settings > Pricing & Payments

  2. Open Advanced options if In-Person Payments is not visible

  3. Check that In-Person Payments shows a Reader ID

If it shows Activate In-person Payments instead, no reader is connected. Contact Petboost support to connect your registered reader. Reconnecting Stripe removes the connected reader, so contact support after you reconnect.

Payment status unconfirmed

If Petboost shows Payment status unconfirmed, the reader may have taken the payment before Petboost received the result.

  1. Click Refresh on the message

  2. Check whether the appointment shows as paid before you take the payment again

Transaction Stuck

Payment started but never completed.

  1. Click Cancel Reader Action in the payment dialog, or open Manage on the invoice and click Cancel Reader Action

  2. Take the payment again

Customer wants a receipt

Petboost does not email a receipt for a card reader payment. To give the customer a receipt, open the appointment and click Download Receipt.

Tips for Smooth Payments

Position the reader

  • Place at a comfortable height for customers

  • Ensure good lighting so they can see the screen

  • Keep charging cable accessible but tidy

Communicate with Customers

  • "You can tap or insert your card"

  • "Just follow the prompts on the screen"

Handle Declines Gracefully

  • "That card didn't go through, would you like to try another?"

  • Never state the specific decline reason (privacy)

Security

Card Data Protection

  • Stripe card readers are pre-certified for PCI and EMV compliance

  • Stripe encrypts every card reader payment end to end, and Petboost never receives the card number

  • Stripe is certified as a PCI Service Provider Level 1

Physical Security

  • Keep the terminal in a visible, monitored location

  • Don't leave unattended in public areas

  • The reader's settings menu is protected by an admin passcode. Stripe recommends replacing the default passcode with your own

Costs & Fees

Reader cost

Stripe sets the reader price. It shows in the hardware shop in your Stripe Dashboard.

Transaction Fees

A card reader payment carries two separate fees:

  • Stripe's in-person processing fee, paid to Stripe

  • The Petboost booking fee for your plan, the same booking fee as an online card payment

For your rates, see Understanding Your Fees.

Common Questions

Q: Can I use my existing EFTPOS terminal instead?
A: Not connected to Petboost. Petboost connects to Stripe card readers only. You can keep another EFTPOS machine and record those payments as Other EFTPOS on the appointment.

Q: What happens if my internet goes down?
A: The card reader requires an internet connection. Have a backup payment method ready (cash, or use a mobile hotspot temporarily).

Q: Can I have multiple card readers?
A: No. Petboost sends every in-person charge to the one reader connected to your account.

Q: Does the terminal work with Apple Pay and Google Pay?
A: Yes. Stripe card readers accept contactless cards and NFC mobile wallets, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Q: Can customers add a tip?
A: Petboost does not add a tip step to card reader payments.

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