Group tabs enables guests to order together on one shared digital tab in me&u. The tab owner opens the tab from their phone, invites others to join, and everyone orders from their own device. Throughout the tab, both guests and staff can see spend update in real time.
Guests can choose between two ways to run the tab:
Pay at end
- The tab owner provides a card to secure the tab.
- A spend limit is required.
- A pre-authorisation hold is placed for that amount.
- The final tab total is settled in one payment when the tab is closed.
Pay as you go
- A card is saved to the tab
- Each order is charged as it’s placed.
- A spend limit is optional and can be added or adjusted later
The tab owner can share the tab via QR code or invite link, view who ordered what, and increase or decrease the limit if needed.
Topics:
Steps for guests to open and place orders on a tab
Steps for venues to manage group tabs in Manage
How to turn group tabs on/off in Manage
Steps for guests to open and place orders on a tab
- Scan the QR code at the table.
- Tap Open a group tab.
- Enter your name and email (you will become the tab owner).
- Choose how you would like to pay:
- Paying at end: Settle the tab when you are ready and pay the final tab amount in one easy payment. Set a tab limit and that amount will trigger a pre-authorisation hold.
- Paying as you go: You'll be charged for each order as it's placed. Add your card details and start ordering. A tab limit is not required but can be applied later.
- Now you are ready to place orders on the tab! Make sure to select the Tab on the payment screen.
Steps for venues to manage group tabs in Manage
Group tabs are self-managed by guests, but venues can easily monitor and review all activity within Manage. Both guests and venue staff can see spend, orders, and limits in real time, ensuring transparency throughout the tab.
What guests see
Guests can manage and tracking spend their tab from their phone at any time. This view updates instantly as orders are placed, so the tab owner in control of how much is being spent.
The tab owner can:
- View the current tab spend
- See how much is remaining on their tab
- See who has placed an order and the order details
- Set, increase or decrease the tab limit
- Close the tab
Note: For Pay at End tabs, a pending pre-authorisation may remain visible on the guest’s bank statement until their bank clears it. More details check out : Group Tabs Explained
What venues see (staff view)
All group tabs running in the venue can be monitored in Manage. Navigate to Manage, click on Orders and then the Group Tabs page in the left bar.
From here, staff can view:
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Open, Closed, and All tabs | Quickly switch between open and closed tabs |
| Tab owner details | Name + contact (if needed for follow-up) |
| Spend vs Limit | See when a guest is nearing their tab limit in real time |
| Payment type | Pay at end or Pay as you go, displayed per tab |
| Tab status | Open / Near Limit / Reached Limit / Closed |
Viewing orders linked to a tab
You can view all orders that have been placed on a tab. Clicking into the order will give you more detail into the line items and modifiers.
You can also see the same order information in:
Live orders (for active orders) and Orders & refunds (for completed or refunded orders)
How to turn group tabs on/off in Manage
Navigate to Manage, go to Orders > Group Tab Settings and toggle "Allow guests to create a group tab" and select Save.
Only Venue Owners and Venue Staff have permission to turn group tabs on or off in Manage.
Can group tabs be enabled for multi-vendor ordering (MVO)?
Yes. Just make sure group tabs is turned on for both the parent site and all child sites in your MVO organisation. Note that only Pay as you go is supported for MVO.
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