Quick Setup (2–5 minutes)
If you’re short on time, this is all you need to get started:
- Create your account: www.cohart.com
- Link your bank account for payouts with Cohart Connect (for faster payouts)
- Note: You can still process sales without pre-linking your bank — we’ll follow up after your first sale to collect payout details (standard payouts take 5–10 days).
- Download the Cohart Business app for iPhone | Android (view step-by-step instructions here)
- Log in to Tap-to-Pay using your account details: Your phone will become your card reader (no hardware needed).
- Start selling: Use “Custom Item” to enter artwork title + price on the spot
-
US sales: To have Cohart manage sales tax, add the venue zipcode in the app (or under Edit Profile → Sales Tax). Tax will auto-apply at checkout and we’ll file it for you.
That’s it — you’re ready to accept payments at the fair!
📋 Full Setup Checklist
Follow this 10-step checklist if you want everything prepared ahead of the fair:
|
Step |
Action |
Where |
|
1 |
Create your account |
|
|
2 |
(Optional) |
Reduced fees apply for partner fairs! |
|
3 |
(Recommended) |
|
|
4 |
(Recommended) |
|
|
5 |
Add bank details for payouts |
Link your bank account(s) via Cohart Connect if you wish to sell and receive payouts in your local currency. |
|
6 |
Option 1: Enable Tap-to-Pay (Business Cohart) for your sales |
|
|
7 |
Option 2: Print artwork QR codes for your sales |
Inventory → Select artworks → Export As - Labels & QR Codes |
|
8 |
Set up sales tax (U.S. only) |
(app) Hamburger icon on top right (desktop) Profile → Edit Profile -> Sales Tax |
|
9 |
Print portfolio QR (collect emails for future outreach) |
Portfolio → QR icon |
|
10 |
Need help? |
lauren@cohart.com |
📖 Detailed Instructions
1. Create Your Cohart Account
Create your free account to start selling and managing inventory.
Sign up: www.cohart.com
2. Join a Subscription Plan (If Needed)
Upgrade to unlock additional tools, storage, and lower processing fees.
We offer special fair partner discounts when applicable — email hello@cohart.com to learn more.
3. Complete Your Profile (Recommended)
Set up your profile for a polished, professional presence.
Add:
• Profile photo
• Username
• Address
• At least one artwork (to earn Verified badge)
Onboarding Guide - Build a Profile (Step-by-Step)
4. Upload Your Fair Inventory (Recommended)
💡 Uploading in advance makes checkout faster — but it’s not required. You can always use Custom Item during checkout to enter title + price on the spot.
You can create listings for the artworks you’ll have on-site (plus any additional available works) in your Inventory Dashboard.
White-glove migration is available on select subscription plans.
For Gallerists Uploading Multiple Artists
You can either add your artist name to the listing as the creator or include your artist name in the title for easy search when reviewing your inventory.
When creating a listing (Premier option only) - video guide:
- Click into the Name field
- Type the artist’s name (Premier option only)
- Manually enter their name
- Click the dropdown to save changes
Onboarding Guide - Upload Your Inventory (Step-by-Step)
5. Add Your Bank Information
Standard sales
Required for payout release. Submitting your bank details ahead of time ensures faster payouts. You can still process sales without this information; our logistics manager will be in touch after your first sale to request this information.
To add Bank Details: Profile → Edit Profile → Bank Details
Submit Your Tax Form
Prefer digital? Email hello@cohart.com and our Payments Team can generate a DocuSign.
Multi-currency
Our multi-currency feature allows users to set a global default currency for sales and payouts and requires sign-up for Cohart Connect, eliminating the need for W forms and resulting in faster payouts. Users must complete Cohart Connect before they can fully use multi-currency features.
The seller’s connected bank account currency determines the payout currency: The buyer pays in their preferred currency and the seller receives payout in their connected currency.
-> Learn more at Multi-Currency Payouts and Tools.
6. Sales Processing via Tap-to-Pay (Option 1)
We have two great on-site methods for collecting payments and processing sales - Tap-to-Pay or artwork QR codes. You can use one method or both.
Tap-to-Pay (Business Cohart) - most flexible
Accept card payments directly on your phone — no reader required.
Best for:
• Custom sales
• Multiple pieces
• Fast, flexible checkout
• Not uploading inventory in advance (use “Custom Item” to enter title + price on the spot)
Download the Business Cohart app - iPhone | Android
-> For step-by-step instructions, visit Cohart In-Person Sales Processing Tools.
7. Sales Processing via QR Codes (Option 2)
Upload artworks in advance and generate individual QR codes. Collectors scan and purchase on their own device.
Best when:
• The artwork price is fixed
• Buyers are browsing independently
• Self-service purchases
Each artwork listing must include a price. You can bulk-download QR codes for printing.
To access QR codes: Visit your Inventory → Select artworks → Export As - Labels & QR Codes
Note: Downloading QR codes is available only on paid plans.
-> For step-by-step instructions, visit Cohart In-Person Sales Processing Tools.
8. Set Up U.S. Sales Tax (U.S. Only)
As an online platform, Cohart can automatically calculate and file U.S. sales tax for you — no additional setup or seller’s permit required for sales processed through the platform. Sales tax is added on top of the artwork price (your payout is based on the pre-tax amount) and paid for by your buyer. If your sale takes place outside the U.S. (and is not being shipped to the U.S.), sales tax does not apply.
For in-person fair sales (where the buyer takes the artwork with them), sales tax is based on the location of the event.
To set this up:
- Go to Profile → Edit Profile
- Scroll to Sales Tax
- Enter the ZIP code of the fair location
- Click Save
This will automatically apply the correct local sales tax to your checkouts. You can remove this post-fair if this isn't your usual zip code.
If preferred, artists and galleries can manage their own sales tax by toggling off the option when checking out or entering 00000 at checkout so that sales tax is not calculated.
→ Learn more: How Sales Tax Works on Cohart
9. Print Your Portfolio QR Code
Replace your physical guestbook and collect subscribers digitally. All subscribers are automatically added to your Contact Management dashboard — perfect for post-fair follow-ups and email campaigns.
To access your own downloadable QR code, visit the Portfolio tab and click the QR icon to download.
10. Need Help?
We’re here to support you before and during the fair.
Contact: lauren@cohart.com
Click below for more step-by-step instructions and FAQs: