Term | Pronunciation | Definition | Context/Example |
Autograt | aw-toh-grat | Automatic gratuity added to the bill, typically for large parties | "Parties of 8 or more receive 20% autograt." |
Bank | bank | The starting cash float given to a staff member at the beginning of a shift for making change | "Your bank tonight is $100." |
Cash drawer | kash draw-er | The register compartment that holds cash for all transactions during a shift | "Count your cash drawer at the start of every shift." |
Cash out | kash owt | The end-of-shift process of settling and reconciling all cash taken | "Cash out with the manager before leaving." |
Chargeback | charj-bak | A payment disputed by a guest through their bank, reversing a card transaction | "We received a chargeback on table 12's card — follow up with management." |
Check average | chek av-er-ij | The average bill amount per table or per guest is used as a performance metric | "Our check average is up this month." |
Comp | komp | To remove a charge from the bill as a complimentary gesture, usually to resolve an issue | "Comp the appetiser for the wait." |
Contactless | kon-takt-les | A payment method using a card or device tapped over a reader without physical contact | "Most guests prefer to pay contactless now." |
Cover charge | kuhv-er charj | A fixed fee charged per guest for entry, entertainment, or a set experience | "There is a $10 cover charge for the live music tonight." |
Deposit | dih-poz-it | A partial payment taken in advance to secure a large reservation or event booking | "We require a deposit for groups of 10 or more." |
Discount | dis-kownt | A reduction applied to the bill for promotional, loyalty, or service recovery purposes | "Apply the staff discount to that order." |
Drop | drop | The act of taking excess cash from the till to the safe during a shift | "Do a drop when you have over $200 in cash." |
Fire | fyr | To send a course or order through to the kitchen via the POS | "Fire the entrées for table 7." |
Gratuity | gruh-tyoo-ih-tee | A tip or service payment made by the guest in addition to the bill total | "Suggested gratuity is 18 to 22%." |
House account | hows uh-kownt | A credit account held by a regular guest or corporate client is settled periodically | "Mr Davis has a house account — charge it to his tab." |
Itemised receipt | y-tem-yzd ree-seet | A bill broken down line by line, showing each item and its price | "Can I get an itemised receipt for the table?" |
Merchant copy | mer-chent kop-ee | The restaurant retained a copy of a credit card transaction receipt | "Keep the merchant copy for records." |
Modify | mod-ih-fy | To change or update an existing order item in the POS system | "Modify the burger — no onions." |
No sale | noh sayl | Opening the cash register without processing a transaction, typically to make change | "Hit no sale to get change." |
On account | on uh-kownt | Charging a bill to an existing account to be settled later | "Put it on account — the company will settle at month's end." |
Payout | pay-owt | Cash given out from the register for a specific approved purpose | "Do a payout for the delivery driver's tip." |
POS | pee-oh-es | Point of Sale system used to enter orders, manage tables, and process payments | "The POS is down — use paper tickets for now." |
Promo | proh-moh | A promotional price, discount, or offer applied to an order | "Apply the happy hour promo." |
Refund | ree-fuhnd | Returning money to a guest following a complaint, error, or returned item | "Issue a refund to the guest's card for the incorrect charge." |
Ring in | ring in | To enter an order into the POS system for the kitchen or bar | "Ring in table 4's appetisers first." |
Running a card | ruhn-ing uh kard | The process of processing a guest's credit or debit card payment | "I'm running your card now — just one moment." |
Service charge | ser-vis charj | An automatic percentage is added to the bill, common for large parties or set menus | "A 12.5% service charge is included for parties of six or more." |
Split check | split chek | Dividing a single table's bill among multiple guests paying separately | "They want three split checks at table 11." |
Tab | tab | An open running bill for a guest, most commonly used at the bar | "Start a tab for the gentleman at the bar." |
Tender | ten-der | The form or method of payment used to settle a bill | "What tender — cash or card?" |
Ticket time | tik-et tym | The time elapsed from when an order is placed to when it is delivered | "Keep ticket times under 15 minutes." |
Tip out | tip owt | The process of servers sharing a portion of their tips with support staff | "Don't forget to tip out your runner and busser." |
Void | voyd | To cancel or remove an item or transaction from the POS system | "Void the second beer — it was entered by mistake." |
X-out | eks-owt | A mid-shift register report showing current sales totals without closing the day | "Run an X-out to check today's sales." |
Z-out | zee-owt | The end-of-day register closing report that finalises and resets all sales totals | "Don't forget to Z-out before leaving tonight." |