Setup Wizard
Your first step - get your community configured
When you first log into the Business Portal at carefuldining.com/manage, a Setup Wizard will guide you through everything you need.
The wizard walks you through:
- Staff members - Add your dining staff with their login PINs
- Menu setup - Create categories and add your menu items
- Residents - Import or add residents with dietary restrictions
- Printers - Configure your kitchen ticket printers
Need to run it again? You can restart the wizard anytime from Settings in the Business Portal.
Your Credentials
Keep these safe - you'll need them to access the system
Community Code
[Your community code]
Used by staff to log into the POS app
Sample Staff (loaded with sample data)
1234
2345
5678
0000
Admin Login
Use the email and password you created during signup to access the Business Portal
Security tip: Change the default PINs after setup. You can manage all staff PINs in the Business Portal under Staff.
Accessing the POS
Three ways for staff to take orders
Choose the method that works best for your team:
Mobile App
Best for tableside ordering on tablets and phones
- Download from App Store or Play Store
- Search "Careful Dining"
- Or use the link emailed to you
Web Browser
Works on any device with a browser
- Go to carefuldining.com/pos
- Great for laptops and desktops
- No download required
Stationary Station
Dedicated ordering station
- Use the web POS on a fixed computer
- Bookmark the page for easy access
- Good backup option
Staff Login Process
How your dining staff will access the POS each shift
Each staff member uses a simple 4-digit PIN to log in:
Enter Community Code
Type in your community's code
Enter Staff PIN
Each staff member has their own PIN
Start Taking Orders
They're ready to go!
Training Mode
Practice the POS without affecting real data
Training mode lets new staff practice without creating real orders. Open the POS, enter your community code, then use one of these special training PINs:
Server Training
Learn to take orders, select residents, submit to kitchen
Training PIN:
5555
Manager Training
Learn reports, settings, and order management
Training PIN:
8888
Safe to practice: Training uses sample data. No real orders are created and nothing prints.
Printing Setup
Kitchen tickets and receipts
Compatible Printers
Epson thermal printers with network connectivity: TM-T88 series, TM-T82, TM-T20, or any ESC/POS compatible network printer.
Adding Printers
In the Business Portal, go to Printers and add each printer's IP address and role (Kitchen, Meal Receipt, or Bar Receipt).
Print Gateway
Since Careful Dining runs in the cloud, you need a gateway on your network to send print jobs to your local printers:
Built-in Mobile Gateway
In the mobile app, log in as manager, go to Settings, tap Print Gateway, toggle ON. Keep app open during service.
Desktop Gateway
Download the gateway script from Settings in Business Portal. Requires Node.js on a computer that stays on during service.
Troubleshooting
Quick fixes for common issues
Orders not printing
Check that the Print Gateway is running (mobile app or desktop), printer is on and connected to the network, and printer IP is correct in Business Portal settings.
Staff can't log in
Verify the community code is correct, check the staff PIN in Business Portal under Staff, and ensure each PIN is unique.
Residents or menu items missing
Add them in the Business Portal. Residents must be Active, and menu items must be assigned to a category. Pull down to refresh in the app.
App won't load
Check internet connection, close and reopen the app, or try a different WiFi network. Contact support if issue persists.
Need Help?
We're here to assist you
If you have questions or run into any issues, don't hesitate to reach out: