Guides · Updated 12 May 2026
Tipping at the terminal — how to set it up properly
Most UK terminals support tipping prompts, but the implementation makes a real difference to staff take-home. Here's what to look for and how to configure it.
Paul Walton
Founder, CardRate
Card tipping isn't optional in UK hospitality any more. The question is which provider's flow gets the most tips through to staff with the least friction — for guests and for the team.
Why the prompt matters
On a flow that prompts before the amount is shown, average tip percentages run 4–6% higher than a flow that asks after. The percentage suggestions also matter: 10/12.5/15 outperforms 10/15/20 in almost every UK venue we've looked at.
Tronc and the Tipping Act
Since the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, all card tips must be paid out in full to staff. If your provider doesn't show you per-day tip totals broken down by terminal, you'll struggle to run a defensible tronc. Worth checking before you commit.
Which providers do this well
Teya, Square, and Clover have configurable prompts and per-staff reporting. SumUp and Zettle have prompts but limited reporting. Worldpay and takepayments depend on the terminal model — ask before signing.
Need this filtered into a comparison? Pick ‘Take tips at the terminal’ in our wizard and we'll only show providers that support it.
Things to ask in the demo
Can I configure prompt order, percentages, and a custom-amount option? Can I see per-day, per-terminal, per-staff reporting? Are tips settled in the same payout as sales, or separately? Can I disable the prompt for specific transaction types (delivery, gift cards)?
Paul Walton
Founder, CardRate
Paul founded CardRate after years building hospitality tech at Seamless POS Ltd. He writes here about UK card payment pricing, contracts, and the comparison market — and only about things he'd recommend a friend's pub.