Tap to Pay for home visits: Mobile payment for physio- and osteotherapy therapists in Switzerland

Physiotherapists and osteopaths who visit patients at home can accept payments directly on site using the Payrexx Tap to Pay app on an Android smartphone – without a separate card terminal. The Android device accepts contactless debit cards, credit cards, TWINT, and mobile wallets. iPhones are currently not supported by Payrexx Tap to Pay.

This guide shows you how Tap to Pay works during home visits, what requirements are needed, and how you can use TWINT as an alternative when the Android device has no network connection.

1. The Problem: Cash during home visits is unprofessional and cumbersome

Physiotherapists or osteopaths travelling to patients' homes often face an awkward situation after treatment: counting change, travelling to the bank, recording income. This neither matches a professional appearance nor does it allow for a relaxed end to a therapy session.

The previous alternative – a separate Lector de tarjetas such as the SumUp Solo Lite – partially solves the problem, but brings its own disadvantages: the device must be charged, transported, and paired separately with the smartphone. If the battery runs out or the device is left at home, the payment option is gone. With Tap to Pay on an Android smartphone, this hardware is eliminated completely.

2. What is Payrexx Tap to Pay and how does it work?

Payrexx Tap to Pay is a SoftPOS solution: the NFC chip in the Android smartphone takes over the function of a card reader. The Payrexx Tap to Pay app is installed on the Android device and connected to the existing Payrexx account. When taking payment, the amount is entered in the app, the patient holds their card, wallet, or smartphone against the Android device – the payment is confirmed within seconds and appears immediately in the Payrexx Dashboard.

Important for planning: Payrexx Tap to Pay works exclusively on Android smartphones with an NFC chip (Android 8.1 or higher) and Google Mobile Services. iPhones are currently not supported. Those who only have an iPhone available require a physical POS terminal for on-site payments or must use payment links exclusively.

3. Step by step: Setting up Tap to Pay

Setup takes about 10 to 15 minutes and requires no technical knowledge.

• Create or log in to a Payrexx account (free, 30-day trial period)

• Download the Payrexx Tap to Pay app from the Google Play Store onto the Android device

• Connect the app to the Payrexx account – enter login details

• Activate payment methods: cards, TWINT, mobile wallets

• Carry out a test payment using your own card

• Ready – enter the amount, the patient holds their card against the device

4. TWINT for home visits: Available directly in the app

Unlike some other SoftPOS solutions, Payrexx Tap to Pay supports TWINT directly in the app. Patients can pay via TWINT during a home visit by scanning the QR code on the therapist's Android device with the TWINT app. The transaction is processed via the Payrexx account and appears in the Dashboard.

As an additional backup – for example, in case of a poor mobile network – a printed static TWINT QR code (created via Payrexx QR Pay) is recommended: the patient scans the code, enters the amount, and the therapist confirms receipt later. For most home visits in urban areas with a good 4G network, this backup is not necessary.

5. Internet connection during home visits: What to do in case of poor network coverage?

Payrexx Tap to Pay requires an active internet connection on the therapist's Android device – either via a 4G/5G mobile network or the patient's Wi-Fi. In rural areas or in buildings with poor reception, this can be an issue.

6. Accounting: Recording home visits properly

All transactions via Tap to Pay appear in the Payrexx Dashboard with date, amount, payment method, and optional reference text. For accounting purposes, it is recommended to enter the patient ID or first name as a reference for each home visit – this makes it easy to assign all transactions to the correct treatments at the end of the month.

Physiotherapy is exempt from value added tax (VAT) in Switzerland, as is osteopathy if recognised by health insurance. For private services not covered by insurance, VAT may apply depending on the situation – this should be clarified individually with an accountant.

7. Checklist: Setting up Tap to Pay for home visits

• Check whether your Android device is NFC-enabled and running Android 8.1 or higher

• Create a Payrexx account with the InStore plan (no monthly fee)

• Download the Payrexx Tap to Pay app from the Google Play Store

• Connect the app to your Payrexx account and activate the desired payment methods

• Additionally create a TWINT QR code (via Payrexx QR Pay) as an offline backup

• Perform a test payment with your own card before you go to the first home visit

• Inform patients in the appointment confirmation: card payment and TWINT are now available

• Define a default reference text in the app for clean bookkeeping

Payrexx Tap to Pay is included in every plan. For mobile therapists without practice premises, the InStore plan without a monthly fee is the entry point (cards 1.65% + EUR 0.15, TWINT 1.30%); with the Better Fees add-on (EUR 9/month), fees decrease to 0.95% + EUR 0.15 for debit, 1.25% + EUR 0.15 for credit, and 1.25% for TWINT. Anyone wishing to additionally use payment links or online booking with payments from the same account should choose Omni Standard (EUR 19/month).