--- title: "Take your first payment | Setting up your Helcim account" slug: "take-your-first-payment" description: "Learn how to take your first payment with Helcim, whether in person or online. This guide provides easy-to-follow steps and FAQs to help you get started." updated: 2025-08-25T19:38:48Z published: 2025-08-25T19:38:48Z canonical: "learn.helcim.com/take-your-first-payment" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.helcim.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Take your first payment with Helcim Congratulations on becoming a Helcim merchant! Now, let's get down to business and process your first payment. Whether you prefer to take payments in person or online, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to start accepting payments right away. | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/pencil-white.png) | **Did you know?** Helcim will waive the fees on your first $5 worth of transactions, so you can try out the platform risk-free. | | --- | --- | --- **In this article** - [Taking your first in-person payment](/v1/docs/take-your-first-payment#taking-your-first-inperson-payment) - [Taking your first online or keyed-in payment](/v1/docs/take-your-first-payment#taking-your-first-online-or-keyedin-payment) - [Next steps](/v1/docs/take-your-first-payment#next-steps) - [FAQs](/v1/docs/take-your-first-payment#faqs-troubleshooting) --- ## Video --- [YouTube video player](https://www.youtube.com/embed/KdTewSsTrZc?si=hrf-yyiWclmN8Max) ## Taking your first in-person payment --- To take in-person payments, you’ll need a mobile device or computer workstation, along with a way to accept a customer’s credit card. | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/sparkle.png) | If you haven’t explored your equipment options yet, you can visit our article on [ordering equipment](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/order-helcim-equipment) before proceeding. | | --- | --- | Select a payment method below to see steps on taking a payment. ****Using the Helcim Card Reader**** Before you start: - Download the [Helcim POS app](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/helcim-point-of-sale/id1499525440). - Enable Bluetooth on your device. Steps: 1. Open the Helcim POS app on your smartphone or tablet. 2. Turn on your Helcim Card Reader and connect it to your device via Bluetooth. 3. Enter the amount you want to charge in the Helcim Payments app. 4. Click **Charge**. 5. The Helcim Card Reader will prompt your customer for payment. 6. The customer can tap or insert their card to complete the transaction! | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/cursor.png) | For a full walk-through of the Helcim Card Reader, visit [this article.](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/using-helcim-card-reader) | | --- | --- | ****Using the Helcim Smart Terminal**** Before you start: - Make sure the Smart Terminal is fully charged. - Ensure the receipt printer is loaded properly (with the thermal coated side of the roll facing towards the terminal screen). Steps: 1. Turn on your Helcim Smart Terminal and connect to Wi-Fi or data. 2. Log into your Helcim account on the Smart Terminal. 3. Enter the amount you want to charge. 4. Click **Charge**. 5. The Smart Terminal will prompt your customer for payment. 6. The customer can tap or insert their card to complete the transaction! | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/cursor.png) | For a full walk-through of the Helcim Smart Terminal, visit [this article.](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/using-the-helcim-smart-terminal) | | --- | --- | ****Using Tap to Pay on iPhone**** Before you start: - Download the [Helcim POS app](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/helcim-point-of-sale/id1499525440). - Ensure your iPhone is running the latest compatible iOS version. To check, go to Settings > General > Software Update. - [Enable Tap to Pay on iPhone](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/tap-to-pay-on-iphone) through your merchant account settings Steps: 1. Open the Helcim POS app on your iPhone. 2. If you haven't enabled Tap to Pay on iPhone: - Navigate to **More** along the bottom navigation bar. - Go to **Settings > Merchant account settings > Tap to Pay on iPhone**. - Select **Enable Now**. 3. Enter a custom purchase amount or add an item to your cart. 4. Tap **Review** to view your cart. 5. Select **Tap to Pay on iPhone** and tap **Charge**. - If no Helcim Card Reader is connected, Tap to Pay on iPhone will be the default payment method on eligible devices. 6. Present your iPhone to the customer. 7. Ask the customer to hold their card horizontally, or their device at the top of your iPhone over the contactless symbol. 8. When you see the **Transaction Successfu**l checkmark, the payment is complete! | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/cursor.png) | For a full walk-through of Tap to Pay on iPhone, visit [this article.](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/tap-to-pay-on-iphone) | | --- | --- | ## Taking your first online or keyed-in payment --- Helcim offers a variety of tools to help you accept payments without a customer being in front of you. Since we’re just getting started, let’s focus on the most straightforward ways to take an online payment with Helcim. - **Virtual Terminal:** Key-in a credit card or process an ACH payment for a customer. - **Payment Request:** Send a request for payment to your customer through text, email, or link. - **Invoicing:** Create and send professional invoices to your customers for them to pay online. Select a payment method below to see steps on taking a payment. ****Using the Virtual Terminal**** 1. Log into your Helcim account 2. Select **All Tools**, and then **Virtual Termina**l. 3. Enter your customer's details and the amount you want to charge. 4. Select your preferred payment method and input the customer's card information. 5. Click **Charge Now**. | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/cursor.png) | For a full walk-through of the Helcim Virtual Terminal, visit [this article.](/v1/docs/using-the-helcim-virtual-terminal) | | --- | --- | ****Send a Payment Request**** 1. Select **All Tools >** **Payments > Payment Requests.** 2. Choose **New Payment Request**. 3. **Attach** a customer. - Search for an existing customer, or create a new one. 4. Enter the payment amount. 5. Optional: Add details. - Enter a custom invoice number or short description. 6. Select the payment method. - Choose Credit Card, ACH, or both. - Toggle [Fee Saver](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/helcim-fee-saver) (if applicable). 7. Choose how to send the request. - **Text:** Enter the customer’s phone number. - **Email:** Provide a valid email address. - **Link:** A link will be generated for you to send manually. 8. Send the request. | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/cursor.png) | For a full walk-through of Payment Requests, visit [this article.](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/how-to-send-payment-requests) | | --- | --- | ****Using the Invoicing tool**** Before you start: - [Customize your invoice](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/customize-your-helcim-invoice) with your company logo and business details. Steps: 1. Select **All Tools**, and then **Invoicing**. 2. Click on **New Invoice**. 3. Enter the customer's information. - You can select from saved customers or manually enter new customer details. 4. Add the products or services to the invoice. - You can select from your product list or manually enter product or service information. 5. Review the invoice details, including: - Discounts - Shipping - Taxes - Comments 6. Select **Actions**, and then one of the following: - **Send Pay Now Email:** email the invoice to the customer for payment - **Process Now:** manually process a payment through the virtual terminal | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/4e721329-1a9d-4ef0-8d2f-497e0c1f185a/Images/Documentation/cursor.png) | For a full walk-through of the Helcim Invoicing tool, visit [this article.](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/using-helcim-invoicing) | | --- | --- | Some other payment tools you may want to explore are: - [**Recurring Payments:**](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/using-helcim-recurring-payments) Automate your cash flow with Helcim’s robust subscriptions tool. - [**Payment Pages:**](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/using-helcim-payment-pages) Create a page that your customers can pay through in minutes, without any code. ## Next Steps --- Congratulations on taking your first payment with Helcim! **What happens next** The transaction will be added to a batch, which will typically settle automatically at the end of the day. Once the batch settles, the funds from your transaction will be deposited directly into your linked bank account, minus any processing fees. **More articles** - To understand deposit timelines for your first batch, visit [this article](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/bank-deposit-timelines-helcim). - For recommendations on what to explore next, visit [this article](https://learn.helcim.com/docs/after-your-first-payment). --- ### FAQs & Troubleshooting **What are the fees associated with taking payments?** Helcim offers interchange-plus pricing, which means you pay the wholesale cost of processing the payment plus a small markup. You can learn more about Helcim's pricing [here](/v1/docs/how-does-our-pricing-model-work). **What if I need to refund or void a payment?** You can easily issue voids and refunds through your Helcim POS app or Helcim dashboard. Learn how to by reading: [Processing a Refund or a Void](/v1/docs/processing-a-refund-or-a-void).