How To Split a Check

Splitting a check means dividing the payment owed between multiple options - this can be between guests, or payment types, and can be done at any point during service. See also Splitting a Check.

 

To split checks at the beginning of service:

You will need to open a new check for each guest as you take their order. The new check is a separate open check and is treated as such during payment. It is assumed that you have already opened at least one check for the table (if not please see How To Open a Check or Create or Open a Check for more details).

Under Checks (left hand side of Restaurant Check page) click the NEW button.

Checks section with New button highlighted

This will generate a new check with a check number displayed below the NEW button. You can repeat this as many times as you need checks. Each one will be given a different number. Click between them to post items to each check - the currently picked check is displayed in dark blue, the others are in white.

Checks section showing multiple checks open

You can click on the currently displayed check button (in dark blue) to change the name, if you wish to label the checks in a way to remind you which goes with which seat.

Check Naming screen

NOTE: While this process creates a holding place for a new check, the check itself is not officially "open" until a menu item is posted to the check. If you close out of the Restaurant Check screen before posting a menu item, you will need to create a new check for each customer's order.

The new check is a separate open check and is treated as such during payment. See Applying Payments to an Open Check or How To Take a Payment in your Point of Sale (POS)

 

To split the check during or at the end of service:

Click on the items already posted (right hand side) on the current check that will go on the (new) individual check. Click on the first line containing the items to be moved - only need to click on the first line and all associated lines will transfer.

Under Checks (left hand side of Restaurant Check page) click the NEW button.

OR if there is a check already open, click on the check to transfer it to.

This will remove all the selected items from one check and place them on a new check.

Again, the new check is a separate open check and is treated as such during payment.

 

To split a check between multiple payment types: See also How To Take a Payment in your Point of Sale (POS)

The Payments tab in the Restaurant Check page has several fields and allows you to apply customer payments to the open check.

Paymet tab, Payment Type detail

As can be seen in the Payments tab field, there are four buttons across the top with percentages. These allow the option of paying the check in one (100%) or splitting the check evenly. (50% button will pay half the current check balance, 33% a third, or 25% a quarter).

Note: If a check is split evenly, any payments posted subsequent to the first are considered separate and therefore 100% of that payment. (For example, a check is divided evenly between three people. The first payment is 33% of the total posted. The second payment is 50% of the total remaining, and the third payment is 100% of the total remaining balance, to bring the check to zero balance). The buttons calculate the amount automatically.

Recommended Practice:Apply credit card or room charge payments before applying Cash payments.

Select the Payment Type of the first payment.

Edit the Amount field to be the amount to be paid in the first payment.

If using the % buttons to split the check evenly, the amount will be automatically displayed in the Amount field. If not, the amount can be entered manually by clicking within the field. A numerical keyboard will display in place of the posting list that can be used, or it can be typed directly from the keyboard.

Enter the other required information, determined by payment type.

Note: Although there is a field in this tab for gratuity, the gratuity field on the payment screen is only used with credit card payments. In all other cases the Gratuity/Misc $ tab should be used. See Applying Discounts or Gratuities to an Open Check.

Click Post to apply the partial payment to the check.

NOTE: You must click Post to apply each payment type to the check. This is particularly important if the payment is split between credit and cash or between immediate payment and charge to the room.

Repeat these steps until the check is at a zero balance and can be closed.

 

Date Updated August 12, 2020