Configuring Tip Pool Distribution
The Problem
Your team pools tips, but you're not sure how BarSight calculates who gets what. Should it include cash tips only, or card tips too? How does the system know which employees get a share? What about employees who don't participate in tip pool?
The Solution
BarSight's Tip Pool Distribution settings control which tips are included in the pool, how they're split among employees, and which roles participate. Configure once, and the system automatically calculates daily tip totals and distributions based on your rules.
How to Configure Tip Pool Settings
Set Tip Pool Type
- Navigate to Settings → Locations
- Click on your location to edit
- Scroll to the Tips and Posting Hours section
- Find the Tip Pooling setting
- Select your tip pool type:
- Cash: Only cash tips are included in the pool
- Card: Only card tips are included in the pool
- Both: All tips (cash + card) are pooled together
- None: Tip pooling is disabled
- Click Save
Set Distribution Method
The distribution method determines how pooled tips are split among employees.
Default Method: Equally
All eligible employees who worked that day receive an equal share of the tip pool, regardless of hours worked.
Example: $120 in tips, 4 employees worked → Each receives $30
Note: Advanced distribution methods (weighted by hours, weighted by role, selected roles only) are planned for future releases.
How Tip Pool Works
Daily Tip Collection
BarSight collects tips from two sources:
- Employee-Reported Tips: Cash and card tips entered by employees when they clock out
- POS-Reported Tips: Tips synced from your POS system (if integrated)
Based on your tip pool type setting, the system totals:
- Cash only: Sum of all cash tips
- Card only: Sum of all card tips
- Both: Sum of all cash + card tips
Manager Adjustments
Managers can adjust the daily tip pool total in Logbook → Cash Transactions. Adjustments are tracked separately and added to the calculated total.
Tip Pool Payout
When you're ready to pay out tips:
- Navigate to Logbook → Cash Transactions
- Click Payout Tip Pool
- Review the total amount
- Click Confirm Payout
The tip pool is marked as locked and creates a "Tips Out" cash transaction, reducing your drawer balance by the payout amount.
Pro Tip
Choose Both for tip pool type if you want to pool all tips together—it's the most common setup. Use Card only if employees keep their cash tips but pool card tips. Use Cash only if your POS already distributes card tips automatically.
Learn More
For managing daily tip pools and payouts, see Managing the Daily Tip Pool. For recording tips when employees clock out, check out Recording Tips on the Punch Clock.