The Check Arrives. Now What?

That moment of silence when the check hits the table. Everyone glances at it. No one reaches for it.

How you handle this moment depends on the situation. Let's break down your options.

Option 1: Ask for Separate Checks

Tell your server at the START of the meal that you'd like separate checks.

Pros:

• Everyone pays exactly what they ordered

• No math required

• Server handles it

Cons:

• Some restaurants don't allow it

• Can slow down service

• Doesn't work well for shared appetizers

Best for: Work lunches, casual dining, groups of 4 or fewer

Option 2: One Person Pays, Others Venmo

One hero puts the whole bill on their card. Everyone else pays them back.

Pros:

• Fast checkout

• Credit card points for the payer

• Works anywhere

Cons:

• Requires trust

• Someone has to do the math

• Risk of "I'll pay you later" → never

Best for: Close friend groups, when you have a bill splitting app

Option 3: Split Evenly

Divide the total by number of people. Everyone pays the same.

Pros:

• Dead simple

• Fast

Cons:

• Unfair if orders varied

• Breeds resentment over time

Best for: When everyone ordered similarly, or with close friends who rotate treating

Option 4: Itemized Split with an App

Scan the receipt, assign items, send payment requests.

Pros:

• Perfectly fair

• Fast (with the right app)

• Handles tax and tip correctly

Cons:

• Requires everyone to have Venmo (or similar)

Best for: Every situation, honestly

What About Tax and Tip?

This is where most manual splits go wrong.

Wrong way: Add up items, split tax and tip evenly

Right way: Split tax and tip proportionally based on what each person ordered

If you ordered 25% of the food, you pay 25% of the tax and tip. Apps like Checkify do this automatically.

Restaurant Etiquette Tips

• Tell the server early if you want separate checks

• Don't ask to split at fine dining restaurants (just don't)

• Tip on the pre-tax amount (or post-tax, but be consistent)

• Round up — nobody likes chasing down 37 cents

Conclusion

There's no single "right" way to split a check. But for the fairest, fastest, least-awkward option, let technology do the work.

Download Checkify → and split your next restaurant bill in under a minute.