Can a coffee shop owner take part in the tip pool?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, employers, managers and supervisors may not keep employees' tips. Owners who also work the bar should get advice for their specific situation and state.
Category
Staff & tips
Tipping, tip pools and running a fair bar.
1 article
- 1Tip pooling in US coffee shops: what the federal rules say
How tip pools work in US coffee shops under federal rules: who can share tips, the manager ban, tip credits, and how to record tips so payouts are clean. Not legal advice.
October 10, 2026 · 2 min
Staff & tips: common questions
Answered by the GetCafePOS team. Can’t find yours? Ask us.
Can baristas share tips with kitchen staff?
Federally, if you pay at least the full minimum wage and take no tip credit, a mandatory pool may include non-tipped staff such as cooks and dishwashers. If you take a tip credit, the pool may include only customarily tipped employees. State law may differ.
Run your cafe on GetCafePOS
Sign up, add your menu with its sizes and milks, and your register and online store are ready the same day.
30-day free trial · no card · no contract
