Accept cashless payments at a club event in Switzerland – QR code, terminal or smartphone?

Swiss clubs and associations can accept cashless payments at festivals and events without expensive infrastructure or lengthy contracts. The three most common methods are a printed QR code with a payment page (from zero francs in hardware costs), Tap to Pay on a smartphone (from 0.95% + EUR 0.15 transaction fee), and a mobile card terminal (from approx. 49 EUR in device costs or rental). Which option suits your club event depends on the number of visitors, the average amount, and the existing infrastructure.

This guide compares all three methods with specific Swiss costs, shows you step-by-step how to get ready in 30 minutes, and explains how the settlement afterwards flows cleanly into the club's bookkeeping.

1. Why cashless payment makes sense at club events

Payment behaviour in Switzerland has changed significantly. According to the Swiss Payment Monitor, the majority of the population prefers to pay cashless in everyday life – using debit cards, credit cards, TWINT, or mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. At typical club festivals, however, cash still dominates in many places: visitors have to go to an ATM beforehand, helpers juggle change, and the treasurer counts coins late at night.

For clubs, there are three distinct advantages to offering a digital payment option in addition to cash. Firstly, revenue increases because visitors without cash can still consume – experience shows 15–30% higher average amounts with cashless payments. Secondly, the effort is reduced: no organising change, no counting, no bank deposits. Thirdly, the club receives complete digital reporting – helpful for the auditing body and the general meeting.

Important: Cashless does not mean cashless-only. Most clubs fare best with a hybrid model – continuing to accept cash, but offering one or two digital payment methods in addition.

2. An overview of the three methods

For Swiss clubs, three practical methods can be considered for events. Each has its sweet spot – depending on budget, visitor numbers, and technical know-how.

2.1 QR code with payment page

A QR code leads the visitor to a mobile payment page where they choose their preferred payment method – TWINT, credit card, PostFinance, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. The club prints out the QR code and attaches it to the stall, the menu, or next to the checkout. Hardware costs: zero. Only prerequisite: the visitor needs a smartphone.

There are two variants. With a QR code with a fixed amount (e.g. "Beer EUR 5" or "Sausage EUR 8"), the visitor only taps "Pay". With an open-amount QR code, the visitor enters the amount themselves – more flexible, but slightly slower at the stall.

The crucial difference to a pure TWINT QR code: a payment page accepts multiple payment methods. Visitors without TWINT – such as tourists, older guests, or cross-border commuters – can still pay. Providers like Payrexx or other Swiss Payment Service Providers (PSPs) offer such multi-payment QR codes.

2.2 Tap to Pay (smartphone as a terminal)

Tap to Pay, also known as SoftPOS, turns an NFC-enabled smartphone into a card terminal. The helper enters the amount into the app, and the visitor holds their card or smartphone against the device. Accepted are credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), TWINT, as well as mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay). Additional hardware is not necessary – just the app on a compatible device.

Currently, several Swiss providers offer Tap to Pay solutions, including Payrexx (Android), SumUp, and Worldline. Availability for iPhone depends on whether Apple has enabled the NFC interface in Switzerland for the respective provider – this changes continuously. Check before the event whether your device is compatible.

2.3 Mobile card terminal

A classic mobile card terminal (e.g. from SumUp, Worldline, or via a PSP like Payrexx) accepts contactless and chip payments. The devices operate on battery and mobile network (4G/SIM) or Bluetooth to a smartphone. For clubs with high throughput – such as a festival catering area with several hundred guests – a terminal is often the most robust solution because it operates independently of the helper's smartphone and works reliably even with weak Wi-Fi.

Depending on the provider, hardware costs range between 29 and 399 EUR (purchase) or can be rented for individual events. Added to this are transaction fees of typically 1.3–1.7%, depending on the payment method and provider.

3. Comparison table: Which method suits your event?

The following table compares the three methods based on the key criteria for a typical Swiss club event.

Tip: The methods are not mutually exclusive. Many clubs combine, for example, a printed QR code (for donations and spontaneous purchases) with Tap to Pay at the main counter (for fast throughput).

4. Costs in detail: What a club event really costs

Clubs are cost-sensitive – every franc counts. Therefore, here is a realistic sample calculation for a typical village festival with 200 visitors, 80 of whom pay cashless, with an average amount of EUR 12 per transaction.

Note: The fees mentioned are indicative values for domestic Swiss transactions (as of 2026). The exact conditions depend on the provider, subscription model, and payment method. TWINT transactions usually cost between 1.3 and 1.5%, credit card payments are slightly higher. Check current fees directly with your chosen provider.

5. Ready to go in 30 minutes: Setup guide for your club event

Have you decided on a method? Then follow these step-by-step instructions – the process works similarly regardless of provider.

5.1 Setting up a QR code with a payment page

Register with a Swiss PSP that offers QR payment pages (e.g. Payrexx). Create a dedicated QR code for each product or price category: "Beer EUR 5", "Sausage EUR 8", "Custom donation". Download the QR codes as images, print them in a sufficient size (at least 5 × 5 cm) on paper or cardboard, and laminate them if necessary to protect against rain and beer splashes. Attach them visibly to the stall – ideally at eye level next to the price list. Before the festival, test with your own mobile phone whether the scan works and the payment page loads correctly.

5.2 Setting up Tap to Pay

Install the app of your chosen provider on the Android smartphones of the helpers who will collect payments at the event. Log in with the club account. Perform a test payment using a real card (a micro-amount, e.g. EUR 1, and cancel afterwards). Ensure that each device has sufficient battery life – plan for power banks. Tip: Set up a reference system (e.g. "Stall A – Drinks", "Stall B – Grill") so that transactions can be assigned later.

5.3 Setting up a mobile card terminal

Order the terminal in good time – at least 5–10 working days before the event. Charge the device fully and activate it according to the provider's instructions. Check the mobile connection at the venue (4G reception). If the area has poor coverage, choose a terminal with offline mode, which temporarily stores transactions and synchronises them later. Briefly instruct the helpers on how to operate it – enter the amount, hold the card, send the receipt via SMS or email.

6. Settlement and club bookkeeping

After the event, the treasurer will want to know: How much was taken in cashless payments, and how does the money reach the club account? With most Swiss PSPs, settlement works as follows.

All cashless transactions appear in an online Dashboard or an app. There you can see for each payment: amount, payment method, timestamp, and if applicable, a reference. Depending on the provider, collected amounts are paid out weekly or monthly to the club's IBAN account – minus transaction fees. You will receive a detailed payout summary via email or as a CSV export.

For the club's bookkeeping, it is recommended to keep the payout summary as a receipt. If your club works with club management software such as ClubDesk, Webling, or KLARA, you can usually import the exported transaction data directly. This eliminates manual entry, and the financial report for the general meeting is prepared faster.

Regarding tax: Revenue from club festivals is only taxable for most Swiss associations if the club operates a commercial business or exceeds the turnover thresholds for VAT (currently EUR 100,000 annual turnover). For a typical club event with a few thousand francs in revenue, nothing changes from a tax perspective, regardless of whether cash or cashless payments are collected.

7. Practical examples: How other clubs do it

Football tournament with catering

A regional football club organises an amateur tournament with 300 visitors. At the main counter (drinks and grill), two helpers use Tap to Pay on their smartphones. For the dessert counter, a printed QR code per product is sufficient. Result: Around 40% of payments are made cashlessly; the club saves on change and midnight coin-counting.

Concert by a music club with bar

A brass band organises an annual concert with 150 guests. At the entrance, a QR code hangs for voluntary donations ("Support our club – custom amount"). A mobile card terminal is placed at the bar because throughput during the intermission is high. The treasurer exports the transaction list the following day and books the revenue into the club's accounts.

Scout flea market and camp shop

A scout group runs a small stall with homemade products at a neighbourhood festival. Budget: virtually zero. The solution: Three laminated QR codes ("Large jar of jam EUR 7", "Small jar EUR 4", "Donation"). No terminal, no subscription, no fixed costs. The transaction fees for 50 sales and an average amount of EUR 6 amount to around EUR 19 in total – less than the costs for coin rolls and visiting the bank.

8. Checklist: Accepting cashless payments at club events

• Method chosen: QR code, Tap to Pay, card terminal – or a combination?

• PSP account opened and verified (at least 5–10 days before the event – factor in KYC verification)

• Club account (IBAN) configured for payouts

• QR codes created, printed, and laminated – checked with test scans

• Tap to Pay app installed on all helpers' smartphones and test payment performed

• Card terminal ordered, charged, and mobile connection tested at the venue

• Power banks organised for smartphones and terminals

• Helpers instructed on operation (a 5-minute briefing is sufficient)

• Signage at stall: "Cashless payment accepted – TWINT, Card, Apple Pay"

• After the event: export transaction list, reconcile with cash takings, file receipt for bookkeeping

Payrexx offers clubs an approach that combines all three methods in one account: QR codes with a payment page (TWINT, credit card, PostFinance, and wallets via a single QR code), Tap to Pay on Android smartphones, and card terminals.

The Free plan has no monthly fixed costs – the club only pays transaction fees when payments are actually collected. Recognised non-profit organisations receive a 50% discount on paid subscriptions. All transactions flow into a Dashboard with export functionality for club bookkeeping.