Payment Methods
Cash
Credit Cards
Debit Cards
Lunch Vouchers
Lunch Cards
Hotel Vouchers
Traveler's Checks
Invoice/Billing
Cash Payments: Physical money, foreign currency, bank cards, checks
Credit-based: Credit cards, lunch vouchers, agreement coupons, hotel billing
Cash Register Systems
- Can be complete payment systems or mobile card readers
- Battery-powered devices for portability
- Print receipts and store transactions in memory
- Wireless (WLAN) connection to main system
- Android-based systems with tablet interfaces
- Can connect to barcode scanners, card readers, kitchen printers
- Membrane keys for easy cleaning
- Touchscreen interfaces common in restaurants
Why do different restaurants have different cash register functions?
Sales Registration (Bongaus)
- Sales must be registered according to legislation
- Each product has its own code in the system
- Sales data goes to different sales accounts
- Alcohol sales must be itemized separately
- Prints order slips (bongis) for kitchen
- Separate printers for different kitchen sections
- Can split bills for customers sitting together
Requires bongaus keys - can be shared or personal. With shared keys, all users are responsible for base cash.
What problems exist with shared bongaus keys?
Card Readers & Payment Terminals
- Bank-approved devices connected to verification systems
- Detect stolen or expired cards
- Check spending limits and account coverage
- Automatic verification for purchases over €150
- Can be in docking stations for charging
- Portable terminals for tight spaces
1
Customer inserts card into reader
2
Selects debit/credit if combination card
3
Enters PIN code to authorize
4
Receipt printed for customer
How does contactless payment affect employee safety?
Contactless Payment
- Fast way to pay for purchases under €50
- No PIN required for small amounts
- Security: occasionally requests PIN to prevent misuse
- Stolen cards cause minimal damage due to limits
- Single tap method (2024): over €50 with PIN
- Increases safety in crowded bars
- Server can perform contactless with customer permission
Mobile payment uses phones instead of cards. All payment where person is identified by phone is mobile payment.
How does contactless payment increase card user safety?
Lunch Vouchers & Cards
- ~90,000 meals paid daily with lunch vouchers in Finland
- Requires agreement with service provider
- 2025 values: €13.00 and €13.70 per workday
- Can only pay for meals, not goods like alcohol, tobacco
- No change given from voucher payments
- Mark used vouchers with large X
- Lunch cards have chip and contactless features
- Identify participating restaurants by window stickers
How do different lunch cards affect restaurant pricing?
Kitchen Printer System
- Connected to restaurant's cash system
- Prints order slips (bongis) to kitchen
- Separate printers for cold and hot sections
- Additional info: meat doneness, dietary requirements
- Bongis placed in order rack in sequence
1
Server: "Table 7, ready to serve, please"
2
Chef: "Table 7, thank you"
3
Chef prepares food, announces when ready
4
Server checks order accuracy, serves to table
Why check kitchen printer function before restaurant opening?
Billing & Invoicing
- By law, customers must receive receipt for all sales
- Bill presented only when customer requests
- Items listed with unit prices and total
- Server must check bill carefully before presenting
- Customer keeps original bill and payment copy
- Post-billing (reskontra) for large events
- Hotel billing: services added to room bill
- Corporate billing for marketing or compensation
Why bring preliminary bill before final bill?
Settlement & Inventory
- Settlement ensures sales match cash
- Printed reports for different payment methods
- Personal sales combined into daily settlement
- Money and payment methods must match report
- Base cash counted after settlement
Inventory: Calculated monthly to determine actual stock value. Tracks usage, profit margins, and identifies losses or discrepancies.
Why must settlement match exactly?