Pricing and Payments

Zettlor processes all payments through Stripe. Operators connect a Stripe account during onboarding, and the platform handles charging guests, deducting fees, and remitting the balance to your bank account automatically. Accepted methods include credit and debit cards, mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and contactless tap-to-pay in the browser. For in-person transactions, staff charge cards directly through Stripe's in-browser POS card form or let guests tap to pay on their phone via QR without needing a separate countertop reader.

Yes. You can connect an existing Stripe account or create a new one during setup.

Operators define their own cancellation and refund policies within the platform. Options include: Full refund if canceled before a cutoff window (e.g., 24 hours before the session) Partial refund or no refund for late cancellations Account balance credit instead of a monetary refund No-show policies that charge the full amount or a penalty fee Guests can cancel or reschedule through self-service pages. The system enforces the operator's policy automatically - no manual processing required.

Yes. Operators can enable tipping at checkout. Guests see suggested tip amounts or can enter a custom amount. Tips are processed through Stripe alongside the booking payment and are tracked separately in reporting so operators can distribute them to staff.

Yes. Operators can configure deposit-based booking where guests pay a percentage or fixed amount at the time of booking, with the remaining balance charged before or at the session. This is common for private buyouts, group bookings, and high-value reservations where a full prepayment might create friction.

Yes. Front-desk staff can charge cards in person using Stripe's in-browser POS card checkout or saved cards on file, and walk-in guests can scan a QR code at the counter to pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay on their phone without pairing a separate countertop terminal. See how POS card checkout works. In-person and online payments appear in the same reporting dashboard.

Yes. Because Zettlor processes payments through Stripe, operators can enable buy now, pay later (BNPL) methods including Affirm, Klarna, and Afterpay directly from their Stripe dashboard - no additional integration required. Guests choosing BNPL split their purchase into 4 interest-free installments or monthly payments up to 36 months. The operator receives the full payment upfront from Stripe; the BNPL provider handles collections and assumes the credit risk. BNPL is particularly effective for higher-ticket sauna purchases where price can create checkout hesitation: Private buyouts - A $400 private sauna evening becomes "4 payments of $100," removing sticker shock for group organizers Annual memberships - A $1,200/year membership is easier to commit to as "$300 every two weeks" for the first month Multi-session packages - Guests are more likely to buy a 10-pack or seasonal pass when the upfront cost is spread out Gift cards - Larger gift amounts ($200+) convert better when the buyer can pay in installments BNPL transactions carry a higher Stripe processing fee than standard card payments (rates vary by country and method; see Stripe's pricing page), and Zettlor's Pro or Max transaction fee still applies on top. Stripe's own data shows merchants offering BNPL see an average 14% increase in revenue and over two-thirds of BNPL volume comes from customers who would not have completed the purchase otherwise. For sauna operators, the higher per-transaction cost is typically offset by more private buyouts and premium package sales that wouldn't have happened at all without a flexible payment option.

Group bookings are purchased by a single booker who pays for the full reservation. Zettlor does not currently support splitting a single transaction across multiple payment methods at checkout. For group scenarios, operators can use credits or promo codes to offset individual contributions outside the platform.