Shift4 Dine POS Installation Checklist
Updated: May 15, 2026
Overview
This checklist will guide you through a successful Shift4 Dine installation from pre-install preparation through post-install support. Your role on install day is to serve as the installation overseer and liaison between the installer, merchant, and staff to ensure nothing is overlooked and all needs are addressed.
Your Responsibilities:
- Plan to stay from opening to closing to address initial questions and support the process
- Maintain professionalism throughout the day (avoid alcohol, do not expect free meals)
- Demonstrate excellent customer service and be willing to go the extra mile
- Use downtime to learn from the installer, but avoid interrupting them during active tasks
- Maximize your time by visiting 5 or more potential clients near the installation location
Working with Installers:
Installers vary in their approach and thoroughness. While many will cover items on this checklist, they are often multi-tasking and managing network issues, equipment setup, and employee questions simultaneously. Your job is to track what has been covered and fill any gaps to ensure the merchant receives complete training and setup.
Flexibility:
Install day is dynamic. You may need to train staff between taking orders or adjust settings on the fly. Complete checklist items as opportunities arise rather than strictly following the order listed.
Pre-Installation Tasks
β Gift Cards: If the merchant wants gift cards, order them as many days in advance as possible. Obtain an unmasked liability report (as current as possible) and follow the gift card help sheet. We recommend ordering for your merchant to ensure it gets done, but confirm their approval in writing.
β Partner Portal Verification: In the 5 days prior to install, verify the following:
β Equipment order details match expectations (cross-reference the email from install coordinator)
β Installation date and time is listed as confirmed
β Shift4 installer name and phone number (found under "Order" notes)
β UPS tracking number confirms equipment delivery (sign up for UPS updates)
β Site Survey: If possible, visit the merchant location before install day to check internet connectivity and confirm network cables (hardwired ethernet) are run to the proper locations.
β Merchant Confirmation: Confirm the install date and time with the merchant. Ask them to schedule employees for a basic Shift4 Dine training session.
β Training Resources: Text the merchant the YouTube training playlist a couple of days before install.
β Menu Presentation: Once the menu presentation is scheduled, confirm with the merchant that they will attend and that you will join (if able).
Key Information to Gather
Collect this information before or at the beginning of install day:
β What is the closing and batch processing time?
β What specific permissions should each staff role have?
β How are tips split and processed? (Manual or tip pooling? Paid daily or weekly?)
β Do employees (or specific employees) need to declare cash tips at end of day?
β Do they use employee banks or central cash drawers?
β Do they keep cash in the drawer? Do they want the same starting cash amount each day?
Point of Sale Setup and Settings
β Employee Setup: Tweak the "example" employee profile with all desired permissions. Ensure the merchant and managers know to duplicate this user for new hires (rather than creating a new user from scratch, which may result in missing permissions).
β Job vs Employee Permissions: Verify that both job permissions and individual employee permissions are configured as desired (they are separate settings).
β Tip Suggestions: Configure tip suggestion amounts and percentages according to merchant preference.
β Tip Credit Settings: Set up how tips are credited (manager mode vs cashier mode). This is criticalβhave the installer explain the different options to the merchant.
β Advantage Program: In Business Settings, ensure the Advantage Program is configured correctly. If using supplemental fee, rename it "Supplemental Fee."
β Sales Tax: Verify sales tax is applied correctly (exclusive vs inclusive). Most restaurants use exclusive tax.
β Liquor Tax: Enable liquor tax if applicable.
β Logo Upload: Upload the merchant logo in Shift4 Customer Hub to appear on receipts. Run a test print to verify.
β Cash Drawer Starting Cash: Configure starting cash settings according to merchant preference. Have the installer explain this to the merchant, as it can be complex.
Employee Training
You are responsible for ensuring staff are trained, whether you deliver the training directly or the installer handles it. Be present during training to confirm settings are configured correctly.
β Log In and Clock In/Out: Ensure employees understand not to clock out until the end of their shift.
β Break Tracking: Confirm whether the owner wants breaks enabled and train accordingly.
β Cash Drawer Management: Cover cash drawer selection and employee banks (if applicable).
β Host and Waitlist Tools: Demonstrate host station and waitlist management features.
β Order Entry: Walk through the order entry process.
β Splitting Tickets: Show how to split tickets among multiple payments.
β Seats and Tables: Demonstrate how to assign items and tickets to seats and tables.
β Tip Adjustments: Cover tip adjustments and end-of-day procedures, including printing shift reports.
β Cash Tip Declaration: If applicable, show employees how to declare cash tips.
Shift4 Customer Hub Setup
β Multi-Location Setup: For multi-location deals, ensure all locations are linked in Shift4 Customer Hub and show the merchant how to toggle between locations.
β Shift4 Customer Hub Basics: Show the merchant the core Shift4 Customer Hub functions:
β Employee management and user creation (including how to edit permissions for additional users)
β Reports (including how to set up report subscriptions)
β Loyalty program management
β Workforce Subscription: Cancel the Workforce subscription in Shift4 Customer Hub if the merchant does not want it.
Menu Management
In-Store Menu Editing
β Shift4 Dine vs Shift4 Customer Hub Editing: Show the merchant how to edit the menu in both theΒ Shift4 Dine and Shift4 Customer Hub. Explain the differences: display groups, department colors, and menu item button colors can only be set up in Shift4 Customer Hub.
β Display Groups: Ask if the merchant wants display groups and demonstrate how to set them up in Shift4 Customer Hub.
β Quantity Bar: Determine if the merchant wants a quantity bar enabled for certain items (such as drinks).
β Inactive Items: Remove inactive items from the online menu schedule.
β Menu Schedules: Create or verify menu schedules.
Online Ordering Menu and Schedules
Online menu editing is found in Shift4 Customer Hub > Marketplace tab > Menu Manager.
β Shift4 Dine to Online Sync: Ensure the merchant understands that when they add menu items to the Shift4 Dine, they must manually import them to the online menu using the button at the top right of online ordering settings.
β Online Ordering Schedules: Show the merchant how to create online ordering schedules and configure which items are available online and when.
β Pricing Review: Review the online menu for pricing issues (no items over $375 or $0).
β Third-Party Integrations: Set up third-party delivery integrations in Shift4 Dine Marketplace (DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub). Important: The moment you activate an integration, it will immediately override that platform's menu with the Shift4 Dine online menu. Ensure the online ordering pricing is correct before activating, or be prepared to edit all items immediately for any platform-specific pricing.
β Disable Old Integrations: Guide the merchant to disable or uninstall integrations in their previous SHift4 Dine system.
β Publish Changes: After making any online menu or schedule changes, click "publish." Ensure the merchant knows to do this after every change.
Shift4 Dine Online Tab Settings
Go to Marketplace > Shift4 Dine Online tab.
β Restaurant Settings: Verify restaurant settings are correct. Ensure the merchant's personal email is not listed for customer questionsβupdate this according to merchant preference.
β Payments Tab: Optimize all payment settings (e.g., do they want payments with gift cards? Do they want to allow unpaid orders?).
β Takeout/Delivery Tab: Enable this to activate online ordering.
β Text the merchant the online ordering link shown on this page. Help them add the link to their website or Google Business Profile.
β Add an "online ordering surcharge" (or "online ordering fee") so the merchant recoups credit card fees. We recommend setting this to match their processing rate (e.g., 4%).
β Apply sales tax to the surcharge amount (this will be wrapped into the overall tax, not shown as a separate line item).
β Configure other settings such as minimum order amount.
β Closures Tab: Inform the merchant they can create a blockout date for online ordering when they are closed or out of town, rather than creating a new schedule.
Mobile Device Configuration
If the merchant is using Shift4 Duo (handheld devices):
β Enable Cash and Loyalty: Enable cash payments and loyalty features on Shift4 Duo through Shift4 Customer Hub.
β Partial Payment Flow: Activate "partial payment flow" via Shift4 Customer Hub (Devices > Duo > Payments > Enable). This allows for Split Pay, which divides a payment into equal parts while keeping a single ticket.
β Pay with Cash: Enable the "pay with cash" option for mobile devices.
β Split Pay Testing: Confirm Split Pay functionality is working properly.
Air Device Configuration
If the merchant is using Handheld devices:
β Printer Hardwiring: Ensure the installer hardwires printers rather than connecting them via USB. Printers cannot be assigned to Air devices without hardwiring. Note: If the merchant prefers to print receipts from the Shift4 Dine (not the Handheld), that is acceptable, but tip suggestions (15%, 20%, 25%) will not be availableβonly manual tip entry. Tip suggestions can only be configured through an assigned printer's settings.
Support Resources
β 24/7 Support Access: Demonstrate how to access support via phone and chat at shift4.com/support.
β Zendesk Knowledge Base: Show the Zendesk Knowledge Base and provide practical examples during installation.
β MID Location: Show the merchant where the MID is printed on a sticker provided by the installer (usually affixed to the Shift4 Dine or nearby).
β Program Support Number: Add the Shift4 Dine support number to the merchant's phone. Explain what to contact you for versus what to contact support for.
End of Day Procedures
β End-of-Day Process: Ensure the merchant understands how to conduct end-of-day procedures (open tickets, tip adjustments, tip share, clock-out procedures, report printing).
β Report Comparison: Explain that end-of-day reports on the Shift4 Dine are less detailed than Shift4 Customer Hub reports.
β Shift4 Dine Power: Instruct the merchant to never turn off the Shift4 Dine.
Transaction Manager Setup
Transaction Manager allows merchants to adjust charges, modify tips, and issue refunds on already-batched transactionsβfunctions that cannot be performed through the standard Shift4 Customer Hub Transactions tab.
β LTM Setup: Help the merchant set up Lighthouse Transaction Manager during prelaunch or installation. Note that LTM login is on the Shift4 Customer Hub login page but uses separate login credentials. Call support to get the merchant verified and set up with Transaction Manager.
Additional Items
β Referral Program: Discuss the referral program ($2,000 incentive for same-day referrals).
β Shift4 Dine Updates: Warn the owner not to allow a Shift4 Dine update to process mid-shift. Updates should be performed at closing time (updates can prevent closing tickets and tip adjustments if they occur during service).
β Batch Processing and Funding: Verify batch processing time and funding schedule with the installer or support.
β InCharge App: Show the merchant how to install and log in to the InCharge app and demonstrate basic reports.
β For multi-location deals, call support to have them link all locations in the InCharge app.
β If each location has the same name and cannot be distinguished in Shift4 Dine Mobile App (or Shift4 Customer Hub), call support and have the merchant verify with their code to add a location tag (e.g., Taco Express - Nashville).
Critical: Network Configuration
We have lost 5 to 10 deals this year due to one recurring problem: failing to set up Shift4 Dine equipment on a dedicated local network. Every install, without exception, must be set up on a dedicated local network (ideally a TP-Link VPN router).
Double-check this at every installation. If the equipment is set up on the general building network (AT&T or other provider), every device in the building competes for bandwidth. This causes KDS misfires, failed updates, ghost tickets, and numerous other issues.
Do not skip this step.
