Overview

The Restaurant Service Fee is a default fee that automatically applies to all orders at a specific restaurant location. You configure it once per location and CaterZen handles the rest. It can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage, and it calculates on the order subtotal only — not on delivery fees or other Service Fees. The fee is editable at checkout time, and is calculated as "an addition to" any other fees you may have specified for individual menu items.


This is the most basic Service Fee in CaterZen and a good starting point if you want a consistent fee across all your orders. If you need different fees for different types of orders, you can build on this by setting up Custom Order Type Service Fees that override this one when needed.


Not sure which fee type is right for you? See Understanding Service Fees in CaterZen for a full overview of all fee types and how they work together.

How to Access

  • Go to Admin
  • Scroll down to the Restaurant Locations section
  • Click the bubble for the location you want to configure
  • Click Service Fee

Step-by-Step Instructions

  • Enter the Service Fee Amount: Type either a percentage (e.g., 10%) or a flat dollar amount (e.g., $25.00). The fee calculates on the order subtotal only.
  • Give it a Custom Name: (optional) By default it displays as "Restaurant Service Fees." If you'd like Customers to see something like "Admin Fee," or "Catering Fee," enter that name here.
  • Click Save This Information.

Overriding the Restaurant Service Fee on an Individual Order

If you need to adjust the Service Fee for a specific order without changing your location settings, you can do that from the Order Entry screen.

  • Open the order in Order Entry
  • Click on the new Service Fee amount
  • Type the new value
  • Press Enter on your keyboard to save

Important: Press Enter, not Tab. Pressing Tab will move your cursor without saving the change.

Important Notes

  • The Restaurant Service Fee applies to all orders and all payment types at that location by default.
  • Each restaurant location has its own Service Fee setting. If you manage multiple locations, configure this separately for each one.
  • If an order uses a Custom Order Type that has its own Service Fee, that fee will apply instead of the Restaurant Service Fee. The two do not stack.
  • If you use CaterPay and have the Catering Packaging Fee enabled, that fee will calculate on top of this one.
  • Leaving the fee amount blank and saving will remove the fee from orders.

Next Steps

Once your Restaurant Service Fee is saved, place a test order to confirm it appears correctly. If you manage multiple locations, repeat these steps for each one. If you need different fees for different types of orders, your next step is setting up Custom Order Types with their own Service Fees.

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Support

For additional help, refer to the CaterZen Support Center or contact our CaterZen Support Team.


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