Short answer: create a tip page in an app such as TipIns, add your IBAN, then print or show your QR code. Customers scan it with their phone camera and tip in euros by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no app on their side.
In France a 15% service charge is included in restaurant and cafe prices by law, shown as "service compris". A tip, the pourboire, is a small extra for good service: some coins on the table at a cafe, or a few euros after a meal. Because it was always coins, it is the kind of tip that card payment removes entirely.
What people tip in France
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Service is included; a few euros extra for good service |
| Cafes and bars | Small change |
| Taxis | Round up |
| Hairdressers | A few euros |
| Tour guides | €2 to €5 per person |
How QR code tipping works
- You show or print your QR code.
- The customer points their phone camera at it. A secure web page opens. They need no app and no account.
- They choose an amount in euros and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card.
- The tip appears in your balance straight away and is paid to your bank account.
Setting up in France
- Create your account. Download TipIns and choose a username. You are asked for your legal name, date of birth and address, because payments are processed by Stripe and anyone receiving card payments must be identified.
- Add your bank account. Enter your IBAN. Tips are paid out in euros.
- Print your code. Export a design in business card, A5, A4 or A3 size, or show the code on your phone.
What it costs in France
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Download and monthly fee | Free |
| Platform fee | 10% of each tip |
| Card processing | 1.5% plus €0.25 per tip for domestic cards. Cards issued abroad can cost more. |
| Who pays the fees | By default the customer covers them on top of the tip, so you receive the full amount. If they opt out, the fees come out of the tip. |
| Weekly payout to your bank | Free, once your balance reaches the minimum |
| Instant payout | 2% plus €0.25 |
Compared with what people use now
French card terminals increasingly offer a tip step, but the money then passes through the employer. A personal QR code on a card left with the bill reaches the server directly, and a visitor can pay with a foreign card.
Tips for a whole team
If tips are shared, create a group. The venue shows one QR code and each tip is divided between members, equally or by percentages the owner sets. With active shifts switched on, a tip is shared only between the people working when it arrives. Each person is paid to their own bank account, and every member can see how each tip was split. The methods are compared in how to split tips between employees fairly.
Tax and the law in France
Tips are income. France has applied temporary exemptions from tax and social charges to tips received by lower-paid employees in recent years, so check the current position before you rely on it.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with the tax administration (impots.gouv.fr) or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in France?
In France a 15% service charge is included in restaurant and cafe prices by law, shown as "service compris". A tip, the pourboire, is a small extra for good service: some coins on the table at a cafe, or a few euros after a meal.
How much does QR code tipping cost in France?
TipIns has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus card processing of 1.5% plus €0.25 for domestic cards. By default the customer covers these, so you receive the full tip.
What bank details do I need in France?
You need your IBAN. Tips are paid out in euros.
Are tips taxable in France?
Tips are income. France has applied temporary exemptions from tax and social charges to tips received by lower-paid employees in recent years, so check the current position before you rely on it.
Do customers need an app to tip by QR code?
No. They scan the code with their phone camera and pay on a secure web page with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card.