Susan Washington

As someone who’s sold art everywhere from galleries to pop-ups, art fairs, and in studio, I know how important that final moment of the sale is. You want it to feel seamless, professional, and trustworthy, for both you and the buyer.

That’s why I started using **[Tap to Pay on Cohart](https://support.cohart.com/tap-to-pay)**. No card reader. No awkward third-party apps. Just a modern, elegant way to collect payment on the spot and keep the sale moving. Whether you're using an iPhone or Android device, Tap to Pay turns your phone into a payment-ready tool, no extra hardware required.

Whether you're an artist managing your own business, a gallerist representing multiple creators, or someone selling work in person for the first time, this tool changes how you close the sale, and how confident you feel doing it. 




### Why Tap to Pay is Changing the Playing Field for Artists and Galleries

Buyers today expect frictionless checkout. The moment someone says “I’ll take it,” you don’t want to pull out a clunky card reader or fumble through apps asking, “Do you have Venmo?” That kind of delay interrupts the energy of the sale and can even cost you a collector.

With **Tap to Pay on Cohart,** you can:

- **Accept payment in person instantly**, right from your iPhone or Android
- Let buyers pay using **contactless credit/debit cards**, **Apple Pay**, or **Google Pay**
- Automatically **track the sale** and **update your inventory** in Cohart
- Instantly **send digital receipts** and **certificates of authenticity** to the buyer
- **Skip the hardware**, no Square readers or setup kits
- Deliver a payment experience that feels **elegant, modern, and secure**

It’s a professional solution that meets buyers where they are - tech-savvy, on-the-go, and often paying with their phone. And it’s designed for the reality of how art is sold: in-person, spontaneously, and often outside a traditional storefront. 


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### How It Works (Step-by-Step)

Tap to Pay is available directly in the **Quick Sell** flow in the Cohart app. You can access it while you're with a buyer, whether that’s at your studio, an art fair, or even a coffee shop.

Here’s what the process looks like:

1. **Create your invoice** using the **Quick Sell** button in your Cohart app. You can pull a piece from your inventory or create a one-off item for custom work.
2. Once the invoice is ready, select **Collect Payment.**
3. Choose **Tap to Pay**, and at that moment, your phone becomes the reader.
4. Hand your phone to the buyer, and they’ll t**ap their card, phone, or smartwatch** to the screen.
5. Done. The payment is processed, and the buyer receives an **instant receipt,** along with a **digital certificate of authenticity** linked to their purchase.

The whole experience takes less than a minute. It’s fast, intuitive, and feels premium. 




Cohart: How to Use Tap to Pay

### Important Setup Notes

Because Tap to Pay uses **NFC technology** to communicate with the buyer’s device, you’ll need to make sure a few permissions are enabled on your phone:
- **Bluetooth** must be turned on
- **Location services** must be enabled for the Cohart app

If you previously declined these permissions, you can update them in your phone’s settings:

**Go to Settings > Apps > Cohart → Turn on Bluetooth and Location**

When you first use Tap to Pay, you’ll also see a brief model that explains the feature and includes a link to Apple’s Tap to Pay platform terms. By proceeding, you’re agreeing to those terms if you’re using an iPhone.

Tap to Pay is compatible with most recent **iPhone models (XR or newer)** and a wide range of **Android devices**. It’s cross-platform, which means your buyers don’t have to worry about what device they’re using to pay.




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###  Is Tap to Pay Secure?

**Yes!  Every Tap to Pay transaction is encrypted and secure**. Your customer’s payment data is never stored or shared. It meets the same security standards as traditional card readers and contactless payment systems. This means both you and your buyer can feel confident in the transaction, no sketchy apps, no cash exchanges, no receipts lost in someone’s purse. 

###  Bonus Features: Shipping & Certificates Included

Cohart designed Tap to Pay to go beyond just the moment of payment. After a sale, you can:
- **Attach shipping info** to the invoice if the artwork needs to be sent later
- Use **Ship by Cohart** to create labels, add tracking, and handle delivery like a pro
- Include a **digital certificate of authenticity**, automatically generated and linked to the artwork

This means you’re not just accepting payment, you’re wrapping the entire post-sale process in one streamlined, professional experience. 

### Want Some Real Use Cases? 

Here’s where Tap to Pay really shines:
- **Art fairs and pop-ups:** Whether you are a gallery or an independent artist, when someone’s ready to buy, you close the sale on the spot, no fumbling and no reader required.
- **Collector previews or studio visits:** You’re showing art in person and want to capture momentum the moment a buyer says yes.
- **Commission deposits:** If you are an artist starting a custom piece or a gallerist facilitating a commission for your artist, Tap to Pay makes it easy to secure a non-refundable deposit in person.
- **Small works and impulse buys:** Sometimes buyers don’t plan to purchase, but the right piece moves them. Tap to Pay lets you say, “Let’s do it right now.”


### Why This Matters

A seamless payment experience signals professionalism and reinforces the value of the artwork. Whether you're an artist or a gallery, you've already invested time in creating and exhibiting the art, building interest, and cultivating the relationship. Don’t let the payment process be the weak point. With Tap to Pay on Cohart, you can close the sale with the same confidence and polish that defines your entire business.  

### Ready to Use Tap to Pay?

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- **A Cohart account**
- Your **iPhone (XR or newer)** or a compatible **Android device**
- **Bluetooth and Location Services turned on**
- A buyer who’s ready to collect your work

Try it at your next show, gallery opening or open studio.  You’ll never want to go back to links or hardware again.


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Learn how to use Tap to Pay on Cohart—a faster, smoother way to sell art, no card reader or extra hardware needed.

How to Use Tap to Pay: A Faster, Smoother Way to Get Paid on Cohart

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