Two features in TORO let you handle situations where a customer isn’t paying right now: Tabs and Placing Items on an Account. They sound similar, but they work differently and are built for different scenarios. Here’s how each one works and when to use which.
Tabs #
A tab works exactly like a bar tab. The customer is in the store, items accumulate throughout their visit, and they settle up before they leave. Think of it as a temporary parking spot for a transaction in progress.
Starting a tab:
- Ring up items as usual
- Tap Start Tab
- Enter the customer’s name — this is how the tab is identified in the list
- If your store uses a floor plan, you’ll pick their seat or table location
- If your store collects card info, you can note the card type
The screen clears and the tab appears in the Open Tabs panel on the right side of the main screen. You’re free to ring up the next person.
Adding more items to a tab:
- Select the tab from the Open Tabs list and tap Open Tab
- Everything comes back to the transaction screen — items, payments, customer, all of it
- Add more items, apply discounts, whatever you need
- Tap Update Tab to save and clear the screen again
If the customer already has an account attached, TORO will check if they have an existing open tab and offer to add the new items to it automatically.
Making a payment on a tab:
You can make partial payments while the tab is still running. Open the tab, add a payment, and update the tab. The tab viewer shows subtotal, discounts, tax, total, payments made, and amount still due.
Closing out a tab:
When the customer is ready to leave, open their tab and complete the transaction like any normal sale. Choose the payment method — cash, card, gift card, whatever — and you’re done. The tab closes out and becomes a completed transaction.
Tab Viewer:
The Tab Viewer button (on the main tabs page and the floor plan) opens a detailed view of any tab. From here you can:
- Edit the tab name, card type, assigned employee, location, and account — each has an edit button right next to it
- View and edit tab notes
- Send an SMS to the customer (if an account is attached and your store has the SMS module)
- Move selected items to a different tab — pick specific items, tap Move Items, and choose an existing tab or create a new one
- Print the tab receipt
Tab extras:
- If TORO shuts down at the end of the day with items still on screen, it automatically saves them as a tab so nothing gets lost.
- Any employee can open any tab, not just the person who started it.
- Tabs survive restarts. They’re stored in the database, not just floating in memory.
- Every store has a Floorplan button on the tabs page. Stores with a custom floor plan can browse tabs by table or section. If your store doesn’t have one yet, contact TORO to get a custom layout built.
Placing Items on an Account #
Placing items on an account is TORO’s way of saying “this customer is taking these items now and paying later.” It’s credit — the items leave the store, but no money changes hands yet. The balance sits on the customer’s account until they come back and pay it off.
Placing items on an account:
- Ring up items as usual
- Attach the customer’s account — this is required, since the items need somewhere to go
- Tap Add Payment and select Account Hold
- Done. The items are recorded on the customer’s account. TORO sends them an SMS letting them know what was placed and the total.
A few rules about account holds:
- Account Hold cannot be combined with other payment methods. It’s all or nothing — every item in the transaction goes on the account.
- Gift cards, virtual gift cards, and coupons can’t be placed on an account. If any of those are in the transaction, TORO will remove them and let you know.
- Each customer has an on-hold limit (a credit limit). TORO checks the limit before allowing the hold and warns you if they’re over.
When the customer comes back to pay:
If a customer with unpaid items on their account is attached to a future transaction, TORO immediately pops up a warning showing their balance. This way every employee knows to mention it — nobody wants to be the first person to bring it up three visits later.
To actually pay off the items:
- Open the Account Items screen (this shows all accounts with unpaid balances)
- Select the customer’s account
- You’ll see every unpaid item — what it was, when it was placed, and the amount
- Select the items the customer wants to pay for and tap Add Selected Items to Transaction
- Complete the transaction with whatever payment method they choose
You don’t have to pay everything at once. The customer can pick specific items to pay for and leave the rest for next time. There’s even a Randomly Select to Find Specific Amount button — if a customer says “I want to pay $75 today,” TORO will select a combination of items that gets close to that number.
Tabs vs. Placing Items on an Account #
Here’s how to think about it:
Tabs are for right now. The customer is in the store, they’re accumulating items during this visit, and they’ll pay before they leave. It’s a running total for the current session.
Placing items on an account is for later. The customer is taking the items home today and paying on a future visit. It’s store credit in reverse — they owe you.
| Tabs | Account Hold | |
|---|---|---|
| When they pay | Before they leave today | On a future visit |
| Requires an account? | No — just a name | Yes |
| Visible on main screen? | Yes, in the Open Tabs list | No — accessed through Account Items |
| Partial payments while open? | Yes | No — pay items off individually later |
| Credit limit? | No | Yes — each customer has an on-hold limit |
| Customer notified? | No | Yes — SMS sent automatically |
| Can add more items? | Yes — open tab, add items, update | Each time is a new account hold |
| Typical use | Lounge customers during a visit | Regulars who pay weekly/monthly |
The simplest way to remember: if the customer is sitting in your lounge right now, use a tab. If they’re walking out the door and paying next time, place the items on their account.
