Client tabs: who owes what, in one list
Paying on the day is the norm, but almost every shop has a few exceptions: the regular who settles up at the end of the month, the parent whose kids come in after school, the café owner next door. The trouble starts when those amounts live in someone's head or on the back of an appointment card. In Makastam, whatever isn't paid goes on the client's account as the ticket closes, and the list of balances is always current.
How something goes on a tab
When you close a ticket and the client hasn't paid in full, you record what they did pay; the rest is added to their account balance automatically. The quick sale screen also has an "On account" button. A client has to be selected for this to work. There's no such thing as an anonymous tab, because a balance always belongs to a person.
Select the client
Pick their client profile on the ticket or add a new one; a phone number makes them easy to find next time.
Enter what they paid
If they paid part of it, record that amount as cash, card or bank transfer.
Leave the rest on account
Close the ticket. The unpaid part goes on their tab and appears in the Tabs list.
The Tabs list
At the top of the Tabs screen you see the total outstanding and how many clients have a balance. For each client the list shows what they owe, how many tickets are on account, the date of the oldest unpaid amount and their last visit. Search by name or phone number, and use "Call" to ring the client straight from your phone. The oldest-balance date tells you which amount is starting to be forgotten.
Taking a payment
When a client comes in to pay, tap "Take payment" in the list and enter the amount and method. The payment goes into the till under that method and appears in the end-of-day report. Part payments work too: the balance simply drops by what they paid. If a client pays more than they owe, for example to put something towards their next visit, you can record the extra as credit on their account.
Reminders that stay polite
Nobody enjoys chasing money face to face. If you switch on balance reminders, clients who are connected to Telegram and have something outstanding get a friendly message once a week, on Monday morning. Anyone who has already had a reminder in the past week isn't sent another. You can edit the wording in the templates so it sounds like you. Reminders by WhatsApp are coming soon. Reminder settings are explained on the Telegram reminders page.
Balances correct themselves when a ticket changes
If a ticket with an amount on account is cancelled, or reopened and changed, the client's balance is adjusted automatically. No crossing things out in a notebook: the change stays on record with who made it and why. The client profile also shows the current balance and past tickets: Client profiles.
Who uses tabs?
- The local barber with regulars who pay weekly or monthly, and who doesn't want to lose track.
- The shop on a high street where neighbouring businesses and their staff run an account.
- The family salon where a parent pays for everyone: each person has their own profile, and the balance sits with whoever owes it.
- The client who likes to pay ahead: the extra sits as credit on their account, and anything later put on account is set against it.
Keep your tabs in your pocket.
Close your first ticket with an amount on account and the Tabs list builds itself.
Frequently asked questions
Does a client need a profile to run a tab?
Yes. A balance has to belong to someone, so you can't put anything on account without selecting a client. You can add a new client from the ticket screen in a few seconds.
What happens if a client pays more than they owe?
When you take the payment, you can choose to record the extra as credit; it shows on the client's account as money in their favour.
Are balance reminders sent every day?
No. They go once a week, on Monday morning, to clients who are connected to Telegram and have a balance. Anyone reminded in the past week is skipped, and you can switch reminders off altogether.
Can a stylist put something on a tab?
The stylist role can't take payments or close tickets, so putting amounts on account is for users with till access. See Staff roles and logins for who can do what.
Related pages
- FeaturesTill and expenses: your salon's money on one screenCash, card and bank transfer kept apart; rent, supplies and wages logged by category. An end-of-day report and owner summary make every cash-up quick and clear.
- FeaturesClient profiles: every client's history in one placeColour formulas, notes, past tickets, last visit, no-shows and balances on one profile, plus a we-miss-you message for lapsed clients and a birthday greeting.
- FeaturesTickets and quick sale for salonsService and product lines, each tied to the stylist who did the work. Cash, card, transfer, split payments and tabs, plus a quick sale screen for busy days.
- IndustriesMakastam for barbershopsBarbershop software for walk-ins and online bookings in one diary, a fast till, barber commission worked out per line and tabs for trusted regulars.