There are multiple ways to handle multiple guest checks. Outlined below is a correct way as well as two incorrect ways.
Correct: Server opens a table with 6 guests, rings in items so that all 6 guests have a beverage and correct food item(s). When closing the checks, server touches “close check”, then “select guest”, then selects guest 1 and 2 and touches “done”. The system will display a new total at the bottom for the sum of guest 1 and 2’s checks, as well as new fast cashout buttons for that total. Server swipes the credit card (no need to touch the card type (Visa etc) or takes a cash payment. This closes out guests 1 and 2 with a single payment and without relocating items or requiring manual calculations (such as adding up G1 and G2’s totals and then touching visa and then swiping the card and then entering the amount from the manual calculation) etc. Then, server touches “close check”, then “select guest” and then touches guest 3 and 4, then touches done. The system will display a new total at the bottom for How to handle multiple guest checks the sum of guest 3 and 4’s checks, as well as new cash out buttons. Payment is then taken for this new total, which closes out guest 3 and 4. Guests 5 and 6 are the only guests left, and since they are paying together, there is no need to select guests or anything, you can just take payment for the rest of the table as if the whole table is paying together (ex. Just swipe their card).
Incorrect: The server comes to the table of 6 and takes the drink order and asks how the checks will be split. Guests indicate there are 3 couples and each couple will be paying together (3 different checks). Server opens table in POS with 3 guests and rings in each couple’s food on a single guest’s seat within the system.
Incorrect: Server opens the same table with 6 guests, rings in food so that each guest’s food is associated with the appropriate guest # in the system. (Correct procedure so far) Then, before closing the check, server transfers guest 2’s food to guest 1’s seat, guest 4’s food to guest 3’s seat, and guest 6’s food to guest 5’s seat, basically consolidating the food to 3 guests within the POS system, resulting in one guest per check, also resulting in one guest per couple. The server prints the checks for guests 1 (couple 1), 3(couple 2), and 5(couple 3). The server then closes these 3 seats/guests accordingly.
The bottom line is that the correct guest count should ALWAYS be reflected in the POS system.