Three ways to split tips
Equal shares. The total is divided by the number of people. It is the simplest method and suits a small team who all worked the same shift.
By hours worked. Add up everyone's hours, divide the tips by that number to get the value of one hour, then multiply by each person's hours. With $486 in tips and 27 hours worked, an hour is worth $18, so someone who worked 8 hours gets $144.
By points. Each role is given a number of points, for example 10 for a server, 8 for a bartender and 5 for a busser. The tips are divided by the total points on the shift, and each person gets the value of their own points. If people worked different hours, multiply each person's points by their hours and enter the result.
Rounding and the money left over
Splitting to the cent always adds up to the exact total: the calculator gives the last few cents to the people whose shares were rounded down the most. If you pay out in whole notes or coins, round down to whole units or to the nearest 5 and the calculator shows what is left over. Most teams put that into the next shift's tips.
Keep it open
Arguments about tips are nearly always about not being able to see the sum. Agree the method before the shift, write down the hours, and send the team the link so each person can check their own share.
Who is allowed to share in tips
In the United States, federal law does not let employers, managers or supervisors keep any part of employees' tips. States, and other countries, add their own rules about tip pools and who can be in them, so check the rules where you work before setting one up.
Common questions
How do you split tips by hours worked?
Divide the total tips by the total hours everyone worked. That gives the value of one hour. Multiply it by each person's hours to get their share.
How does a tip point system work?
Each role is given a number of points. Divide the tips by the total points on the shift to get the value of one point, then multiply by each person's points.
What happens to the cents that do not divide evenly?
When you split to the cent, the calculator gives the spare cents to the shares that were rounded down the most, so the shares always add up to the total.
Can the team see how the split was worked out?
Yes. “Copy link” gives a link that opens this page with your numbers filled in. The numbers are held in the link itself and are not stored by TipIns.
Can tips be split automatically?
Yes. With a TipIns group, one QR code takes the tips, every tip is split as it arrives by equal shares or set percentages, and each person is paid into their own account.