Invoices for cafés and eateries
A café or eatery sells in a way all of its own: customers order several items, stay a while, and pay once for the whole table. The invoice has to gather many items onto one sheet and appear the moment they ask for the bill.
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Where it gets awkward when totalling the bill
- A customer orders several items and stays a while, so one gets missed when adding up
- Items have different prices and different quantities, which makes errors likelier
- Several tables ask for the bill at the same moment
- Handwritten bills are hard to read and customers query them
Gather the items on one sheet, with the total calculated
Each item is a row with a quantity and a unit price; line totals and the grand total work themselves out as soon as you change a quantity. At the end of the sitting, gather the whole table onto one invoice and print it, with no adding up in your head.
Why it helps
- Gather every item for a whole table onto one invoice
- The total is calculated, so nothing is missed when the place is busy
- The printed invoice is legible, unlike handwriting
- Add an item as another row instead of starting over
Features
Add items row by row
Each item is a row with a quantity and unit price, added or removed on screen.
Automatic totals
Change a quantity and the line totals and grand total update immediately, with no re-adding.
A one-page invoice
Laid out for A4, so what prints is ready to use with no cutting or taping.
Works on a phone
Open it in a browser on a phone or tablet while standing at the counter.
Who it is for
- A table asks for the bill after finishing their meal
- The café needs an invoice for a customer who booked ahead or ordered takeaway
- Reconciling the number of invoices issued at the end of the day
Frequently asked questions
A customer orders many items, how do I avoid missing one?
Record each item as its own row as the customer orders it, and let the total be calculated. That beats adding up in your head, because you can check each row against what they ordered, and adding an item later is just another row.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The page runs in a browser, so it opens on a phone or tablet, which is handy when you are standing at the counter. When you print, choose a printer connected to that device.
Does a small café need invoices?
Not for every sale, and it also depends on the rules that apply to your line of business. But an invoice helps you reconcile the takings at the end of the day and gives the customer a basis if they need one. Ask your accountant about your specific case.