Product Variants & Optional Add-ons
Variants let one product come in several options, such as sizes, flavours, or extras, without creating a separate product for each. A Single variant is a dropdown where the customer picks one option. A Multiple variant is a list of checkboxes, and it is optional by default, so customers can add extras or skip them. Tick Required on a Multiple variant when they must pick at least one.
1. Add a variant to a product
Open a product from Products, scroll to the variants section, and click Add variant. Give it a title the customer will see, such as Size or Add-ons, then add its options.
2. Single or Multiple?
- Single: a dropdown. The customer must pick exactly one option. Use it for size, flavour, colour, or anything where one answer is needed. It is always required.
- Multiple: checkboxes. The customer can tick none, one, or several. Use it for add-ons, toppings, sauces, gift wrapping, or extras.
3. Optional or required
When the type is Multiple, a Required checkbox appears next to it. It is unticked by default, which means the customer can leave every box empty and still add the product.
- Unticked (optional): add-ons such as extra cheese or a gift box. Nothing to pick is fine.
- Ticked (required): choices the customer has to make, such as "choose your sides". They must tick at least one option before adding to the cart.
The setting is per variant, so one product can have a required Single variant (Size) and an optional Multiple variant (Add-ons) together.
4. Options: price, stock, image
Every option has a name and an extra price (use 0 for no extra charge). The extra price is added to the product's price, and every ticked add-on adds its own. You can also give an option a quantity, so it sells out by itself, and an image, which replaces the product photo when the customer picks it.
5. What your customers and staff see
- Online shop: the product page labels each variant "Select one", "Select at least one", or "Optional, select any". A missing required choice shows an alert naming it.
- QR menu: the add-to-bag button stays disabled until every required variant is chosen, and the message names what is missing, for example "Please select: Size".
- POS: the variant window follows the same rules. If nothing is required, the cashier can add the product without ticking anything.
Existing add-ons
Multiple variants you created before this setting existed are optional. To keep one mandatory, open the product and tick Required on that variant.
Related reading
For the basics of products and categories see Products & Categories, and for how the POS handles variants see the POS guide. Two articles go deeper: optional vs required product options and setting up add-ons and extras on a restaurant menu.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Single and a Multiple variant?
A Single variant is a dropdown where the customer picks exactly one option, such as a size. A Multiple variant is a list of checkboxes where the customer can tick as many options as they like, such as extra toppings or add-ons.
Can a customer skip a variant, such as add-ons?
Yes, for a Multiple variant. Multiple variants are optional unless you tick Required on that variant in the product editor. A Single variant is always required, because the customer has to pick one option.
How do I make a Multiple variant required?
Open the product, set the variant's type to Multiple, and tick the Required checkbox that appears next to it. Customers then have to tick at least one option before they can add the product to the cart.
Does the Required setting apply to the shop, the menu, and the POS?
Yes. The online shop product page, the QR menu, and the POS variant window all follow the same setting. A required variant blocks adding to the cart or order until something is chosen, and the message names the variant that is missing.
Can an option change the price?
Yes. Each option has its own price that is added to the product's price. A Large option at +$2 makes a $5 product cost $7, and each ticked add-on is added on top.
Can options have their own stock and image?
Yes. Each option can have a quantity, so it can run out on its own, and an image that replaces the product photo when the customer picks it.
What happens to my existing add-ons?
Existing Multiple variants are optional. If you want any of them to stay mandatory, open that product and tick Required on the variant.