8:55 PM · table 12 wants separate checks
A split check POS that splits it three ways in three taps
A split check POS ends the stand-off at the end of a big table's meal. Restaurant POS Studio splits a check evenly, by seat, by item or by amount, and takes several payment methods on the same bill. The server settles a ten-top in a few minutes instead of twenty, the table turns sooner, and the totals still match at close.
CHECK #1240 · TABLE 12
- S1Bulgogi platter$24
- S2Phở tái$15
- S3Tacos al pastor$14
- —Dumplings$11
- S2Lemonade$5
- S3Flan$8
Check total
Split check methods and when to use each
| Split method | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evenly | Total divided by the number of guests | Groups who shared everything | Guests who ordered much less may object |
| By seat | Each seat pays for items rung to it | Plated sit-down meals | Only works if items were rung to seats |
| By item | Move each item to the guest who pays | Tables that did not seat items | Slower for very large tables |
| By amount | Each guest pays a fixed amount | One guest covers a set sum | Last payment must cover the rest |
| Shared items split | A shared plate split between some guests | Family-style, barbecue, hot pot | Agree who shared before splitting |
| Mixed payment methods | Card, cash, wallet and gift card on one bill | Any split where guests pay differently | Wallets run through your processor |
How do split checks work in Restaurant POS Studio?
Open the table's check and choose how to split: evenly across a number of guests, by seat, by item, or by a fixed amount. Each part becomes its own payment. You can take a card for one part, cash for another and a second card for the rest. Auto-gratuity for large parties applies before the split.
Splitting by seat is the cleanest method for a sit-down room. If servers ring items to seats as they take the order, the split at the end is one tap: seat 1 pays for seat 1. If items were not seated, split by item and move each dish to the guest who ordered it. For shared plates, split those items evenly between the guests who shared.
Several payment methods on one bill is the part guests notice. A table of four can pay with two cards, cash and a gift card. Each payment is recorded against the same original check, so the sales report shows one table and one total, and the tip on each card lands on the server who took the table.
- Split evenly, by seat, by item or by amount
- Several payment methods on one bill
- Auto-gratuity for large parties, set by house rule
- Tips on each card recorded to the server
- One original check in the sales report
Who needs split check features, and when does it matter most?
Every sit-down restaurant splits checks, but it matters most for groups: birthday tables, office dinners, families sharing plates, and friends who each want to pay their own. It hurts most on a Friday rush, when a slow split at one table holds the server away from five others and keeps the next party waiting at the door.
A ten-top that splits by calculator can take a server fifteen or twenty minutes. During that time other tables are not being checked on, drinks are not being refilled, and the host cannot seat the table. A fast split is not only a nicer moment for guests. It is table time you get back.
Some menus make splitting harder. Family-style and shared-plate restaurants, Korean barbecue, hot pot and dim sum often have dishes no single guest ordered. Splitting shared items evenly between the guests who shared them is the method those menus need, and it is one of the reasons owners switch away from basic counter systems.
- Large parties and celebrations
- Shared-plate menus: barbecue, hot pot, dim sum, mezze
- Business dinners where each guest needs a receipt
- Rush hours when every minute at a table counts
What does split checks cost to run?
Split checks are included from the Counter plan. Splitting by seat, item or amount and taking several payment methods on one bill have no add-on fee. Full Service adds coursing, unlimited kitchen screens, tip pooling and bookings. Card payments run through your own processor, so each card on a split follows your processor's pricing.
Splitting a check does not change the total you pay to process cards, though more card payments can mean more per-transaction fees if your processor charges them. That cost sits in your processor's contract, not in ours. We do not add PCI or statement fees on top. Ask your processor how it prices each payment.
The cost worth counting is the time. Every minute a server spends at a calculator is a minute not spent on the rest of the station. Plan prices are on the pricing page, per location per month, month to month. Try a few big-table splits during the 14-day free trial before you decide.
- Included from Counter, no split-check add-on
- Card fees per payment follow your processor's contract
- No PCI or statement fees from us
- 14-day free trial, no card required
Why split in the POS instead of on a calculator or one card at a time?
A calculator split is slow and easy to get wrong, especially with tax and gratuity. Running one card at a time for the full amount and then refunding parts creates messy reports. Splitting in the POS keeps one check, divides tax and gratuity correctly, and gives every guest a clear receipt for their part.
When servers split by hand, they usually split the subtotal and forget the tax, or divide the tax but not the auto-gratuity. Guests notice when the numbers do not add up, and so does your bookkeeper. The POS divides each line, including tax and service charges, by the method you chose, so every part adds back to the total.
Splitting in the POS also keeps your reports honest. The table report shows one check for one party. The payment report shows each method used. The server's tip report shows each card tip. Nothing needs to be corrected the next morning, which is often when split mistakes are found. Your bookkeeper will thank you.
- Tax and gratuity divided correctly in every part
- Every guest gets a receipt for their share
- One check per party in the table report
- No refunds needed to fix a split
How servers split a check
- Ring items to seatsTrain servers to assign items to seat numbers as they take the order. It makes splitting by seat one tap at the end.
- Set auto-gratuityDecide your house rule for large parties, such as a set percentage above a party size, and set it before go-live.
- Choose the splitAt the end of the meal open the check and choose evenly, by seat, by item or by amount, as the guests ask.
- Take each paymentTake each part with the method the guest wants: card, cash, wallet through your processor, or gift card.
- Print receiptsPrint or send a receipt for each part, then close the table so the host sees it free on the floor plan.
What can go wrong — and the fix
Servers never ring items to seats, so splitting by seat is impossible at the end.
Make seat numbers part of order-taking from day one, and check a few orders at pre-shift until it becomes habit.
Tax is split on the subtotal only, and the parts do not add up to the total.
Split in the POS, not on a calculator. The POS divides tax and service charges with each part so the numbers match.
Auto-gratuity is added after the split, so some guests pay it and others do not.
Set auto-gratuity by party size so it applies to the whole check before you split, and explain it on the receipt.
A server charges the full check to one card and then refunds parts to others.
Train servers to split first and pay each part, so reports stay clean and no refunds are needed.
Split check questions
Onboarding desk · usually replies within a business day
Can one table pay with cards, cash and a gift card together?
Yes. One bill can take several payment methods. Each guest pays their part with a card through your processor, cash or a gift card. The check stays as one table in your reports.
How do I split a shared appetizer between three people?
Split that item between the guests who shared it, and leave each person's own main on their seat. The shared plate is divided between them. It is the method most family-style and barbecue restaurants use.
Does splitting a check change the tax?
The total tax stays the same. The POS divides it with each part so every guest's share includes the right tax. That is why splitting in the POS is safer than splitting by hand.
Can I add an automatic gratuity for large parties?
Yes. Set auto-gratuity by your house rule, such as a percentage for parties above a set size. It is added to the check before any split. Show it clearly on the receipt so guests know.
What if a guest wants to pay a fixed amount, like $50?
Use split by amount. That guest pays the fixed sum and the rest of the check stays open for the other guests. The last payment covers what remains.
Can I split a check after part of it has been paid?
Yes. Paid parts stay recorded and the remaining balance can be split again by any method. This helps when one guest leaves early and the rest pay later. The table closes when the balance is zero.
Do guests get separate receipts?
Each part of the split can have its own receipt, printed or sent. Business guests often need this for expenses. The receipt shows their items or their share, tax and payment method.
Is split check available on the Counter plan?
Yes. Split checks are included from Counter, the entry plan. Full Service adds coursing, unlimited kitchen screens, tip pooling and bookings. You only need to move up for those features.
Can a split check be done at the table on a tablet?
Yes. Any tablet signed in to the location can open the check and split it. Many servers split at the table so guests can confirm their part. Card payment then runs on your processor's terminal.
How do split checks show up in my reports?
The table report shows one check for one party. The payment report shows each method used. The service-staff report shows each card tip to the right server, so close-of-day numbers match.
Split it three ways in three taps.
Start the free trial or see split checks live on a 30-minute demo.