StarPay

StarPay: Merchant Overview Of A Multi-Cashless Payment Acceptance Platform

StarPay is a multi-cashless payment acceptance solution designed for merchants in Japan that want to support QR code payments, credit cards, electronic money, and common points under a single application and operational flow. StarPay can be used for in-store, face-to-face acceptance as well as for broader scenarios such as POS-linked acceptance and online payment use cases where an API interface is required.

StarPay Overview

StarPay is positioned as a “multi-cashless” solution that bundles multiple payment types and brands into one merchant onboarding and management experience. It supports more than 30 QR code payment brands, including domestic and overseas brands, and also supports credit cards, electronic money, and common points.

StarPay is operated by Netstars Co., Ltd. and is offered with a merchant portal called StarPay-Works for centralized operations and reporting.

Payment Acceptance Channels

StarPay supports multiple acceptance approaches so merchants can match deployment to store operations and hardware constraints:

• Dedicated Payment Terminals: StarPay offers dedicated cashless terminals, including SUNMI P2 PRO and SUNMI V2.

• Mobile App Acceptance: Merchants can use the StarPay app on iOS and Android devices.

• POS System Integration: POS integration is supported, but it may require system modifications and not all POS systems are supported.

• QR Display Model: StarPay also supports a model where a merchant displays a QR code and the customer scans it (useful where a POS or payment terminal is not desirable).

Supported Payment Types And Example Brands

StarPay supports multiple payment categories:

QR Code Payments

StarPay supports a broad set of QR code payment brands, including domestic and overseas services. Examples referenced in StarPay-related deployments and integrations include PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d払い, au PAY, メルペイ, WeChat Pay, Alipay+, UnionPay, GLN, JKOPAY, PromptPay, and additional overseas services connected through Alipay+ expansions.

Electronic Money

StarPay supports electronic money acceptance, including examples such as iD, nanaco, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy, and WAON, alongside other electronic money services referenced in StarPay’s supported lineup.

Credit Cards And NFC

StarPay supports credit card acceptance, and the SUNMI P2 PRO terminal is described as supporting card payments and NFC, alongside QR code payments.

Common Points

StarPay supports “common points” as a payment or benefit mechanism that can be managed in the same overall framework as other payment methods.

Merchant Operations With StarPay-Works

StarPay-Works is the merchant management portal provided for sales management, reconciliation, and operational controls. It supports common merchant workflows that typically become fragmented when multiple payment brands are accepted independently.

Key functions include:

• Dashboard: View notifications and transaction status.

• Transaction Management: Search transactions, download records, and initiate refunds.

• Order Management And Point Transaction Management: Functions for merchants that support point-based payments, including searching, downloading, and refunds where applicable.

• Data Analysis: Review trends and store-level transaction ratios.

• Deposit Tracking: Confirm deposit timing and download settlement-related documents.

• Aggregation And Downloads: View aggregated results and export data.

• User And Role Management: Manage users and permissions, supporting separation of duties (for example, allowing staff to view sales while restricting refund permissions).

• Support Center: Access user manuals and customer support pathways.

Settlement Timing And Reconciliation

StarPay uses a monthly settlement cadence:

• Settlement Cycle: Month-end close with transfer at the end of the following month.

• Deposit Date Visibility: Merchants can check the deposit date inside StarPay-Works under deposit search functions.

• Settlement Documentation: Merchants can download a settlement statement that includes fee amounts and the transfer amount.

This model is suited to merchants that prefer predictable monthly reconciliation processes, and it aligns naturally with accounting close cycles common in Japanese retail and multi-store operations.

Reliability, Security, And Support

StarPay highlights three operational assurances that matter to merchants running in-store acceptance at scale:

• Availability Commitment: 99.9% uptime guarantee on its infrastructure.

• Security Standard: PCI DSS is referenced as a security standard that has been obtained.

• Support Coverage: A support center is operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Merchant support is available via phone and a web inquiry form.

These elements are relevant for merchants with high transaction concentration during peak hours, or those operating extended hours where payment interruptions create immediate revenue and customer experience risks.

Hardware Options: SUNMI P2 PRO And SUNMI V2

StarPay provides dedicated cashless terminals with different operational profiles:

SUNMI P2 PRO

Designed for merchants that want one device to handle multiple payment types.

• Supports QR code payments, card payments, and NFC acceptance.

• Includes a built-in printer for receipt issuance.

• Supports dual SIM configuration for carrier switching.

• Includes integrated scanning capability for 1D and 2D codes.

SUNMI V2

Designed for QR-focused acceptance with a lightweight footprint.

• Focused on QR code payments, including inbound-oriented QR payment scenarios.

• Includes a built-in printer for receipts.

• Positioned as a simpler, lower-cost starting point for QR acceptance.

• Designed so that adding new QR payment services does not require new device-side configuration.

Commercial Terms And Pricing Considerations

For terminal-based usage, StarPay’s terminal terms describe a structure that includes:

• Monthly Terminal Service Fees: Applied based on what is confirmed and agreed during application.

• Billing Start Timing: Fees begin from the month of terminal delivery (or the following month if delivered mid-month), without proration.

• Minimum Contract Period: An initial contract period set at 24 months or longer, with early termination charges tied to remaining months.

• Transfer Fees: Bank transfer fees are borne by the merchant.

Onboarding Time And Practical Deployment Notes

StarPay supports online application via a dedicated application system, with onboarding as fast as one week in the shortest-case scenario. Actual go-live timing can vary based on the payment methods selected and the status of brand-specific screening.

Where StarPay Typically Fits

StarPay is suited to:

• Retail And Multi-Location Chains: Consolidated sales and settlement management across stores.

• Food Service And Cafes: In-store QR and card acceptance with receipt issuance.

• Unattended And Semi-Attended Environments: Vending machines, ticketing machines, lockers, and similar endpoints via API-linked acceptance.

• Inbound-Focused Merchants: Support for overseas QR payment services used by visiting customers.

Conclusion

StarPay is a consolidated multi-cashless acceptance platform for merchants that want to support QR code payments alongside credit cards, electronic money, and common points with unified application and back-office operations. Its main merchant-facing strengths are flexible acceptance options (app, terminals, POS integration, and QR display), centralized sales and refund management through StarPay-Works, a monthly settlement model, and operational assurances such as 99.9% uptime, PCI DSS alignment, and 24/7/365 support.