What Are Open Checks or Tabs?
An open check (also called an open tab) is a customer order that hasn’t been finalized or paid for yet. It’s most commonly used in settings where the customer continues to add items over time, like in restaurants, bars, or service-based retail environments.
Rather than creating a separate transaction for every new item ordered, staff can keep a single check open and add to it until the customer is ready to pay. This process not only simplifies the customer’s experience by allowing for a single payment at the end but also keeps operations organized and efficient during busy service hours.
How It Works in POS
The workflow for managing open checks is a core function of most modern Point of Sale (POS) systems:
- Check Creation: A new check or tab is created for a customer, a specific table, or a service area.
- Order Entry: Throughout the customer’s visit, new items are added to this single check. For example, a customer might order an appetizer, then an entrée, and later a dessert, with all items being added to the same running total.
- Check Management: The system lets staff easily track and manage these open checks. They can be labeled for easy identification—by table number (“Table 15”), customer name (“John’s Tab”), or a simple identifier (“Red Jacket”).
- Finalization: When the customer is ready to leave, the check is reviewed for accuracy, any final items are added, and the check is then closed with a payment.
POS systems often let you label open checks for easy tracking, by table number, customer name, or even a quick identifier like “Red Jacket.”
Open Checks/Open Tabs Use Cases
Open checks are a versatile feature used in many real-world scenarios:
- Dining: A couple orders drinks, appetizers, and entrées over a 90-minute period, with all items accumulating on a single check.
- Bars and Cafés: A guest at a bar opens a tab for the night, and the bartender keeps adding drinks until the customer is ready to close out and pay.
- Service-Based Retail: A salon client might have an open check for a hair cut and then decide to add a product or a specific treatment.
- Large Groups: A group of coworkers shares a meal, and a single check is kept open. When they are ready to leave, the check is split among them, with each person paying for their own share.
Management Features
The open checks feature is often paired with a suite of management tools that give staff and managers greater flexibility and control:
- Combine or Split Checks: Staff can easily merge multiple checks into one (for parties that decide to pay together) or split a single check into multiple payments (for groups paying separately).
- Transfer Checks: A check can be transferred from one server to another, which is essential for shift changes or for multi-area venues where a customer moves from one section to another.
- Void or Reprint: Managers have the authority to void items from a check, apply refunds, or reprint a check for a customer.
- Filtering and Reporting: POS systems allow staff to filter the list of open checks by status, table number, or server. Managers can also use this data to analyze service times and peak hours.
Open checks make the service process smoother by giving staff the flexibility to accommodate customer behavior and helping customers avoid making multiple payments. In high-volume environments, this feature is not just a convenience; it is a critical tool for maintaining order, accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
