Bar Receipt Template
A bar receipt closes out a tab. It lists every round with the time it was served, the drinks and their prices, any happy hour rate applied, service charge, tip and total. Where a card was held to open the tab, the receipt should also show the pre-authorisation and the amount finally charged. You can make one free below.
Bar disputes almost always come down to the same thing. A customer remembers three rounds and the tab says five. Timestamps against each round settle it in about ten seconds.
What goes on a bar receipt
- Venue name, address and phone
- Date, tab or check number, table or bar position, and the server
- Tab opened time and closed time
- Each drink with quantity and price, grouped into rounds with a timestamp
- Measure where it affects price, such as single, double or a wine pour size
- Happy hour or promotional pricing shown as the discount rather than a quietly lower price
- Food items if the tab included any
- Subtotal, tax, service charge if automatic, and tip
- Pre-authorisation amount taken when the tab was opened
- Final amount charged, and the last four digits of the card
- Number in the party, where an automatic gratuity applies above a threshold
A tab over three hours
Tab 62, opened 20:14, closed 23:41, server Priya, party of six. Round one at 20:16, four draft beers at $7.50, $30.00, happy hour discount $8.00. Round two at 21:05, two house reds at $9.00 and three doubles at $12.00, $54.00. Round three at 22:38, six shots at $6.50, $39.00. Subtotal $115.00, tax at 8 percent $9.20, automatic gratuity 18 percent for parties of six or more $20.70. Total $144.90. Pre-authorisation $50.00 taken at open, final charge $144.90 on card ending 4407.
Pre-authorisation and why the final charge differs
When a bar holds a card to open a tab it usually takes a pre-authorisation, a temporary hold rather than a payment. The hold is released and the real amount charged when the tab closes, but the two can both appear on a customer statement for a few days. Showing both on the receipt saves the phone call. Automatic gratuity above a party size is the other line worth stating in words, because a customer who does not see it will tip again on top.
Close out a tab
Rounds, happy hour discounts and the gratuity all fit in the receipt generator. Print it at the end of the night.
Related receipt templates
- Restaurant receipt template
- Coffee shop receipt template
- POS receipt template
- Credit card receipt template
- General receipt template
- All free templates
Frequently asked questions
Why should each round be timestamped?
Because tab disputes are almost always about how many rounds were served rather than the prices. A time against each round resolves the question immediately and protects both the customer and the server.
What is the pre-authorisation on a bar tab?
A temporary hold placed on the card when the tab is opened. It is released when the tab closes and the real amount is charged, though both can show on a statement for a few days.
Should automatic gratuity be printed on the receipt?
Yes, stated in words with the party size threshold. A customer who does not notice it frequently adds a second tip on top, and that is a refund conversation nobody wants.