Overview
Patients can use Affirm for in-office purchases, but only by completing checkout in the Patient App. Affirm is not available for transactions processed outside the app — for example, at a front-desk terminal or through a non-app payment flow.
This article is for front-desk staff, managers, and admins who help patients finance treatments during an office visit.
Before You Start
The patient must have the Patient App installed and be signed in.
Cart totals must be $50–$30,000 USD with no memberships for Affirm to appear.
Your team walks the patient through checkout on their own device — there is no separate in-office Affirm terminal in RepeatMD.
For the full checkout path, see Help patients access Affirm as a payment option (Admin Panel).
Why It Matters
Many high-value sales happen during office visits. When your team knows the in-office Affirm rules, you can:
Close treatment plans on the spot by helping patients finance through the app.
Avoid false expectations that Affirm works like a traditional in-office POS financing terminal.
Reduce checkout errors by confirming cart eligibility before the patient reaches Affirm.
Keep transactions in RepeatMD so orders, redemptions, and reporting stay accurate.
How It Works
App-only requirement. Affirm is tied to the Patient App checkout flow. Whether the patient is in your office or at home, they must:
Add eligible items to their cart in the app
Select Affirm at checkout
Complete Affirm’s application and confirm a payment plan
There is no Affirm option outside the Patient App.
In-office vs. remote. Location does not change the rule. A patient sitting in your waiting room uses the same app checkout flow as a patient buying from home. The difference is that your staff may assist with navigation and cart setup in the office.
Cart eligibility. The same rules apply in-office:
Cart total $50–$30,000 USD
No memberships in the cart
No restricted items that block Affirm for the entire order
After purchase. The patient manages installment payments through Affirm, not through your front desk.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Help a patient use Affirm during an office visit
Confirm the patient has downloaded and signed in to your Patient App.
Help the patient find and add the recommended treatments, packages, or products to their cart.
Verify the cart total is between $50 and $30,000 USD and does not include a membership.
Have the patient tap Checkout on their device and select Affirm.
Let the patient complete Affirm’s application and choose a payment plan on their phone.
Confirm the order appears in RepeatMD after Affirm approval.
Remind the patient that future installment payments are managed in their Affirm account.
When a patient asks for Affirm outside the app
Explain that Affirm is available only through the Patient App.
Offer to help them download or sign in to the app if needed.
Walk them through in-app checkout using the steps above.
If they cannot use the app, offer alternative payment methods (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay).
Best Practices and Pro Tips
Have patients download the app before treatment when you know they may want financing.
Assist without taking the phone unless the patient asks for help, they must confirm the Affirm plan themselves.
Check the cart before checkout to avoid a missing Affirm option caused by membership items or cart size.
Discuss financing before or after treatment, not while the patient is in the treatment area.
Do not process the sale outside the app and expect to add Affirm later, payment method cannot be changed to Affirm after purchase.
Common Mistakes and FAQs
Q: Can patients use Affirm at the front desk without the app?
A: No. Affirm requires checkout in the Patient App.
Q: The original article said “No” for in-office Affirm. Is that correct?
A: Affirm works in the office when the patient checks out in the app. It does not work for non-app, front-desk-only payment flows.
Q: Can staff complete Affirm checkout on the patient’s behalf?
A: The patient must confirm their Affirm payment plan. Staff can guide navigation and cart setup on the patient’s device.
Q: What if the patient does not have their phone?
A: Affirm is not available without the Patient App. Offer card or other in-app payment methods when the patient can access the app later, or reschedule checkout.
Q: What if Affirm does not appear at checkout?
A: Check cart total, remove memberships, and verify item eligibility. See Finance a purchase with Affirm (Patient App).
Next Steps and Support
Should your patient have any additional questions not covered above, we recommend they contact Affirm Customer Care Team at 855-423-3729