Complete Setup Guide
This guide covers everything you need to take Tablekard from registration to a fully live, accepting QR orders at every table in your restaurant. The entire process typically takes under 15 minutes for a standard restaurant. Follow the steps in order for the smoothest experience.
Step-by-Step Setup
Register Your Account
Go to tablekard.com and fill in the registration form with your name, restaurant name, and phone number. Our onboarding team will contact you within a few hours to verify your account and walk you through the next steps. Alternatively, you can self-serve through the admin dashboard immediately after submitting the form.
Create Your Restaurant Profile
Log in to the Tablekard admin dashboard and fill in your restaurant profile: name, description, cuisine type, operating hours, address, phone number, and logo. This information appears on the customer-facing QR menu, so take care to make it accurate and appealing. Your restaurant will be assigned a unique URL: tablekard.com/r/your-restaurant-name.
Build Your Digital Menu
Navigate to Menu → Categories in the sidebar. Create your first category (e.g., "Starters", "Main Course", "Drinks"). Then add items within each category. For each item, you can specify: name, description, price (₹), veg/non-veg indicator, a photo, and availability status. We recommend starting with your 10–15 best-selling items and adding the rest later. Pro tip: Restaurants with photos on menu items consistently see 30% more orders.
Set Up Your Tables
Navigate to Tables → Manage Tables. Enter the number of dine-in tables in your restaurant. Tablekard will automatically generate a unique QR code for each table. You can give each table a custom name (Table 1, T-01, Window Table, Patio 3, etc.) and set the seating capacity. Once created, a visual grid shows all your tables with their corresponding QR codes.
Print & Place Your QR Codes
Click Download All QR Codes to get a print-ready PDF with all your table QR codes formatted on standard A4 sheets, clearly labeled with the table name. Print them on any inkjet or laser printer. You can laminate them, put them in a table tent holder, or simply stick them directly on the table surface. Each code is high-resolution and scans reliably in both bright and dimly lit environments.
Enable Online Payments (Optional)
Go to Settings → Payments and connect your Razorpay account. You will need your Razorpay API Key and Secret Key — these are available from your Razorpay dashboard. Once connected, customers can pay online via UPI, cards, or net banking directly from the ordering interface. You can leave this step for later and operate with "Pay at Counter" in the meantime.
Invite Your Staff
Navigate to Settings → Staff Management and add your team members by email. You can assign roles: Admin (full access), Manager (no billing access), or Kitchen Staff (view-only order dashboard). Each staff member receives an email invitation with a unique login link. You can revoke access at any time.
Go Live — You're Ready!
Place the QR codes on your tables. From this moment, any customer who scans a code at a table will be taken directly to your digital menu in their browser, with no app download required. New orders will appear in real-time on your admin order dashboard. You will receive an audio alert and a visual notification for every new order. That's it — your restaurant is fully live on Tablekard.
Managing Orders Day-to-Day
Real-Time Order Dashboard
Every order placed by a customer appears on your dashboard the moment it is submitted — no page refresh needed. Orders are displayed as cards with the table number, item list, and total amount. Accept an order to send it to the kitchen, then mark it as "Ready" when preparation is complete. Completed orders move to your order history automatically.
Updating Menu Availability
If an item runs out mid-service, go to Menu → [Category] and toggle the item to "Unavailable". It will be grayed out and unorderable on the customer menu immediately. Toggle it back to "Available" when it is back in stock. This prevents the frustration of customers ordering items that cannot be fulfilled.
Viewing Analytics
The Analytics section shows you daily and monthly revenue, order volume over time, your top-selling items, and your busiest hours. Use this data to make smarter stocking and staffing decisions. Pro and Enterprise plans include weekly PDF reports emailed directly to you.
Handling Customer Queries
If a customer has a special request not captured in the ordering flow, they can add a note to their order in the "Order Notes" field. These notes appear prominently on the order card in your dashboard, so your kitchen staff can accommodate customizations without any verbal communication.