How to run cashless concessions at school events (step-by-step)

Cash boxes slow down lines, walk out the door, and never match the spreadsheet at the end of the night. Running concessions cashless fixes all three — and with Admittee you can do it from an iPhone or iPad you already own. Here’s how to set it up, step by step.

Why go cashless

Lines move faster when buyers tap a card or phone. You capture every sale automatically, so there’s no end-of-night cash count and no missing money. And because concessions run through the same system as your tickets, every dollar ties back to the event.

What you’ll need

No special hardware. The Admittee Event Day App runs on iPhone or iPad. Use tap-to-pay on iPhone to accept cards and mobile wallets, or pair a Stripe reader if you prefer. That’s it — no dongles, no separate POS.

Step 1 — Build your menu

In your event, add your concession items and prices. Group them the way your stand is organized so volunteers can find items fast. Reuse the same menu across games, so setup is a one-time job.

Step 2 — Set up tap-to-pay

Open the Event Day App on an iPhone and enable tap-to-pay. Each volunteer can run their own station from their own device, so you can open multiple lines without buying multiple registers.

Step 3 — Sell on event day

Tap items to build an order, take payment with a tap, and move on. Buyers don’t need an account. The app works alongside ticket scanning, so the same phone can check people in and sell a hot dog.

Step 4 — Reconcile automatically

When the night ends, your concession sales are already recorded next to ticket revenue in reporting. No counting drawers, no reconciling apps — just a clear picture of what sold and how much you made.

Ready to ditch the cash box? Start free and set up your first event, or book a walkthrough to see it live.