# Guest QR ordering

# Guest QR ordering & order settings

Guests can order from their own phone by scanning a **table QR code** — no account, no app install. Configure the whole flow at `/orders/settings`.

## Ordering modes

`orders_mode` decides what a guest's phone actually does:

| Mode | Guest experience |
|---|---|
| **Call waiter** | The phone only signals the table — staff takes the order in person. |
| **Shared list** | Guests compose a selection; the waiter sees it and confirms it into real lines. |
| **With approval** | Guests submit real lines; they park as `queued` on the [kitchen board](/docs/orders/kitchen-board) until staff approves. |
| **Straight to kitchen** | Guest lines fire immediately — no human checkpoint. |

The **guest QR toggle** (`orders_guest_qr`) turns the whole guest channel on or off. When off, scanning a QR still opens the menu but nothing can be submitted.

## Pausing intake

**Pause online orders** (`orders_paused`) in Ordering settings temporarily blocks new guest QR, member self-orders and storefront orders without changing the ordering mode. Intake starts enabled; clear the pause switch to resume.

Menus remain visible, open carts stay intact, and open pages refresh when the pause changes. Every new submission also checks the current database flag, so an old page cannot bypass the pause. Previously accepted submits replay without duplicate lines.

Staff and delivery-aggregator orders are unaffected. Existing tabs, kitchen preparation, collection and payments (including prepayment retries) remain available. This switch does not pause external marketplace listings.

## Table QR codes

The settings page lists every table with a printable QR pointing at `/o/t/{token}` — the token is a per-table capability URL: anyone holding it can open that table's page, so treat prints like keys. **Rotate** mints a fresh token and kills the printed one (lost/stolen QR, leaked photo). Member self-ordering in the [member app](/docs/app/member-app) uses the same tab underneath.

## Money settings

- **Service charge** — basis points applied on the subtotal (e.g. `1000` = 10 %), added to every tab total.
- **Tips** — a tip field on each payment leg when enabled.

Guests can pay their share online via Stripe Checkout when the venue has a connected account — the same split modes as the [order pad](/docs/orders/order-pad) apply.

## Permissions

Order settings live behind `companies.update` (venue settings permission). Staff-side ordering follows the [order pad permissions](/docs/orders/order-pad); guests need no account at all.


---
> Source: https://placeful-app.com/en/docs/orders/guest-ordering