Service charges in Papaya are a list you build once and then use wherever you need it. You can have more than one, each with its own name, its own rate or fixed amount, and its own tax treatment.
If you already charge a service charge, it carries on exactly as before — you only need this article if you want to add more, or change one on a bill.
How Papaya decides which service charge to apply
Three things combine, in this order:
Your outlet's default — applied automatically to every new order at that outlet
The charge's own channel rules — a charge can be limited to certain sales channels
What staff do on the bill — a charge can be added or waived on an individual order
Individual menu items can also be marked exempt so they never carry a service charge — see Service charge on your menu: exempt individual items.
Set up your service charges
Go to Settings → Service Charges. This is your full list — add, edit and archive charges here.
1. Create a charge
Click Add service charge and give it a name. Use a name that reads well on a receipt, because that is exactly where it appears — "Service Charge 10%", "Corkage", "Private room hire".
Then choose Calculation:
Percentage | A standard service charge — 10% of the bill |
Fixed amount | A flat fee — ฿500 corkage, ฿1,500 private room hire |
2. Choose how it is taxed
Apportioned | Splits the charge across the bill's items and taxes each at its own rate. This is how service charge has always worked in Papaya. |
Assigned | Taxes the whole charge at one tax rate you choose |
Non-taxable | Applies no tax to this charge |
If you are unsure, choose Apportioned — it matches how your bills already work. For how tax rates themselves are set, see Tax on your menu.
3. Limit it to certain channels
Leave Channels as it is and the charge applies everywhere it can. Narrow it to Dine-in, Prepay dine-in or Visual menu if you only want it in some places.
Takeaway, delivery and partner orders never carry a service charge, whatever you set here.
Set an outlet's default
Go to Settings → Outlets, open an outlet, and find Default service charge. Pick one of your charges, or None for no automatic charge.
Each outlet chooses its own, so a hotel restaurant and a takeaway counter under the same business can differ.
Add or waive a charge on one bill
On an open order, tap More actions → Service charges. Tick a charge to add it, untick one to remove it, then Apply.
You can apply more than one charge to a bill
The outlet's default can be waived here — nothing is deleted, and it can be put back
Changes are reversible until the bill is completed
Every change is recorded in the order's action log with the charge name and amount
Adding and removing service charges are separate staff permissions, so you can let managers waive a charge without giving everyone the ability.
On receipts and totals
Each applied charge prints as its own line, under its own name — so a bill with a 10% service charge and a ฿500 corkage shows both separately, not merged into one figure.
Archiving a charge
Service charges are archived rather than deleted, so past orders keep an accurate record of what was charged. An archived charge cannot be applied to new bills, and can be restored at any time.
Archived charges are hidden by default. Use Filters → Show archived to see them.
FAQ
Will my current service charge change?
No. Existing outlets keep charging exactly what they charged before, at the same rate, with the same tax treatment.
Can I charge service on takeaway or delivery?
Not currently. Takeaway, delivery and partner orders never carry a service charge.
Can I delete a service charge?
No — archive it instead. Deleting would change what past orders show they were charged.
Why can I not choose "Fixed amount"?
Fixed-amount charges are not available while an outlet is connected to Cloudbeds, because the Cloudbeds folio cannot represent them.
Can I apply two service charges to one bill?
Yes. Each appears as its own line on the receipt.