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Payment methods determine which payment options are available during checkout. Configure accepted payment types, set defaults, and use quick presets for common configurations.

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Overview

BMS POS supports three primary payment method categories:
  • Cash - Physical currency payments
  • Card - Credit and debit card payments
  • ETF/Digital - Electronic fund transfers and digital wallets
You can enable any combination of these methods based on your business needs and available payment processing infrastructure.

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Configuring payment methods

Navigate to Manager Dashboard → System Settings → Payment Methods to configure payment options.
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availablePaymentMethods
string
default:"Cash,Card,ETF/Digital"
Comma-separated list of enabled payment methodsFormat: Enter payment methods separated by commas, exactly as you want them to appear in the POS interface.Examples:
  • Cash,Card,ETF/Digital - All methods enabled
  • Cash - Cash only
  • Card,ETF/Digital - Cashless only
  • Cash,Card - Traditional methods only
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defaultPaymentMethod
string
default:"Cash"
Payment method selected by default at checkoutMust be one of the available payment methods configured above. This method is pre-selected when the cashier navigates to the payment screen, saving time for the most common payment type.
The default payment method must exist in the available payment methods list. If you remove the default method, remember to set a new default.

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Quick preset configurations

Use preset buttons to quickly configure common payment method combinations:

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Standard (all methods)

Cash,Card,ETF/Digital
Best for:
  • General retail stores
  • Businesses with full payment processing capabilities
  • Maximum customer convenience

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Cash only

Cash
Best for:
  • Small businesses without card processing
  • Temporary or mobile setups
  • Businesses in cash-preferred markets
Cash-only businesses may limit customer convenience. Consider offering digital payment options to accommodate customer preferences.

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Digital only (cashless)

Card,ETF/Digital
Best for:
  • Modern retail environments
  • Reducing cash handling overhead
  • Enhanced security and transaction tracking

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Payment method details

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Cash payments

Features:
  • Manual change calculation
  • Cash drawer integration
  • Denominations tracking
  • End-of-day cash counting
Configuration:
  • No additional setup required
  • Works immediately when enabled
Best for:
  • Small transactions
  • Customers without cards
  • Backup payment option

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Card payments

Features:
  • Credit card processing
  • Debit card processing
  • Card reader integration
  • Digital receipts
Configuration:
  • Requires card reader hardware
  • Payment processor integration
  • Merchant account setup
Best for:
  • Medium to large transactions
  • Customer convenience
  • Reduced cash handling
Card payment processing may require additional hardware and payment gateway configuration. Contact your payment processor for setup instructions.

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ETF/Digital payments

Features:
  • Electronic fund transfers
  • Digital wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.)
  • QR code payments
  • Mobile payment apps
Configuration:
  • Requires compatible payment terminal
  • Digital payment gateway setup
  • Mobile payment enablement
Best for:
  • Tech-savvy customers
  • Contactless transactions
  • Fast checkout experience

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Payment workflow

When processing a transaction:
  1. Cashier scans items and completes the sale
  2. POS displays total amount and available payment methods
  3. Default payment method is pre-selected
  4. Cashier can switch to another enabled method if needed
  5. Customer completes payment
  6. Receipt is printed/emailed

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Custom payment method names

You can customize payment method names to match your business terminology: Standard: 
Cash,Card,ETF/Digital
Custom examples: 
Cash,Credit Card,Mobile Payment
Cash,Debit/Credit,E-Wallet
Cash Only,Card Payment,Digital Wallet
Keep payment method names consistent and clear. Avoid using special characters or overly long names that may not display properly on receipts.

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Payment method reporting

Payment methods are tracked in sales reports:
  • Daily sales by payment method - See which methods are most popular
  • Transaction counts - Track number of transactions per method
  • Payment reconciliation - Match physical cash to cash sales
  • Digital payment tracking - Monitor card and ETF transaction volumes

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Security considerations

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Cash handling

  • Train staff on proper cash handling procedures
  • Use cash drops for large bills during busy periods
  • Perform regular cash counts and reconciliation
  • Secure cash drawer when not in use

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Card and digital payments

  • Use PCI-compliant payment terminals
  • Never store full card numbers
  • Enable transaction receipts for dispute resolution
  • Monitor for suspicious transaction patterns

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API configuration

Payment methods are configured through the System Settings API: 
POST /api/system-settings
Example request: 
{
  "availablePaymentMethods": "Cash,Card,ETF/Digital",
  "defaultPaymentMethod": "Cash"
}
Validation rules:
  • availablePaymentMethods cannot be empty
  • defaultPaymentMethod must exist in availablePaymentMethods
  • Payment method names are case-sensitive

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Common configurations by business type

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Pet store (standard)

Available: Cash,Card,ETF/Digital
Default: Cash

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Small retail shop

Available: Cash,Card
Default: Cash

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Modern cafe/restaurant

Available: Card,ETF/Digital
Default: Card

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Farmers market vendor

Available: Cash
Default: Cash

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Online pickup location

Available: Card,ETF/Digital
Default: Card

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Troubleshooting

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Payment method not appearing

Check:
  • Method is spelled correctly in available payment methods
  • No extra spaces before/after commas
  • Settings have been saved

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Default method not pre-selected

Check:
  • Default method exists in available methods list
  • Default method name matches exactly (case-sensitive)
  • Browser cache has been cleared

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Card/ETF payments not processing

Check:
  • Payment terminal is connected and powered on
  • Payment gateway credentials are configured
  • Network connection is stable
  • Payment processor account is active

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Best practices

  • Enable multiple methods - Offer customers payment flexibility
  • Set appropriate default - Choose your most common payment type
  • Test all methods - Verify each payment method works before going live
  • Train staff - Ensure cashiers know how to process each payment type
  • Monitor usage - Review payment method reports to optimize offerings
  • Update regularly - Add new payment methods as technology evolves

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Next steps

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