Short answer: create a tip page in an app such as TipIns, print the QR code and put it on the bill folder or the receipt. Customers scan it with their phone camera and tip by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. They do not need an app or an account.
Card tips reach you through payroll, sometimes weeks later and sometimes after a deduction. When a table has prepaid, used a voucher or split the bill five ways, the tip is often dropped completely.
How a QR code tip jar works
You create a tip page once and get a personal QR code and link. A customer points their phone camera at the code, a secure payment page opens in their browser, and they pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. The tip shows in your balance straight away and is paid out to your bank account.
Where servers put the code
- On the bill folder or the receipt.
- On a table tent or the corner of the menu.
- On a card you leave with the mints.
- On your lanyard or apron badge at venues with no table service bill.
Size the code for the distance: a phone reads one from about ten times its width. The measurements are in how to make a tip jar QR code sign.
What to write on the sign
Enjoyed your meal? Tip your server directly. Scan to tip by card.
Put your own name where the brackets are. You can export a print-ready design from the app in business card, A5, A4 or A3 size.
How to mention it
When you drop the bill: "If you prefer, you can tip by scanning the code. It comes straight to us."
Your own code or a shared one
If the venue pools with the kitchen and bar, use a group with percentages. If servers keep their own tips, give each a personal code. See how to split tips fairly.
What customers usually tip a server
At a US sit-down restaurant, 15 to 20% of the bill before tax is standard, and 20% is now the common default.
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| $50 bill | $8 to $10 |
| $120 bill | $18 to $24 |
| Buffet or counter service | 10%, or a few dollars |
| Party of six or more | Check the bill: 18 to 20% is often added automatically |
Customers looking for the etiquette can read how to tip a server without cash.
What it costs
TipIns is free to download and has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus a small card processing fee, and by default the person tipping covers both, so you receive the amount they chose. Weekly payouts to your bank are free. The details are in the FAQ.
Common questions
Where should a server put a tip QR code?
On the bill folder or the receipt. On a table tent or the corner of the menu.
What should a server's tip sign say?
Try: "Enjoyed your meal? Tip your server directly. Scan to tip by card." Give a reason, show a large code and include your name.
Should I use a personal code or a team code?
If the venue pools with the kitchen and bar, use a group with percentages. If servers keep their own tips, give each a personal code. See how to split tips fairly.