How Do Points Work?

A basic guide to the math behind Points

Michael Corson avatar
Written by Michael Corson
Updated over a week ago

Scenario 1

  • Servers Points of (3), Bartenders points of (1).

  • 1 Server and 1 Bartender working.

  • $500.00 tip.

There are 4 total ‘points’ in this pool. So, we would divide 500 into 4 portions and then multiply that number by the points for each job code. 500/4 is 125. Servers get 3 x 125 = 375. Bartenders get 1 x 125 = 125.

As you can see, the individual server is taking 3 times as many tips as the individual bartender.


Scenario 2

  • Servers points at (3), Bartenders points at (1).

  • 2 Servers and 1 Bartender working.

  • $500.00 tip.

Now there are 2 servers in the pool each with points of 3, which gives us 7 total points in the pool. Each server gets 3 points, and the bartender gets 1. So, we would divide 500 into 7 portions and then multiply that number by the points for each job code. 500/7 is 71.42. Servers get 3 x 71.42 = 214.28. Bartenders get 1 x 71.42 = 71.42.

As you can see here, each individual server is still taking 3 times as many tips as the individual bartender.


Scenario 3

  • Servers points of (3), Bartenders points of (1).

  • 3 Servers and 1 Bartender working.

  • $500.00 tip.

Now there are 3 servers in the pool each points of 3, which gives us 10 total points in the pool. Each server gets 3 points, and the bartender gets 1. So, we would divide 500 into 10 portions and then multiply that number by the points for each job code. 500/10 is 50. Servers get 3 x 50 = 150. Bartenders get 1 x 50 = 50.

As you can see here, our 3 to 1 ratio still holds true. Each individual server is still taking 3 times as many tips as the individual bartender.


Each time you add a person to that pool the math will readjust to make sure that the 3 to 1 ratio stays intact. It is important to remember that in a real scenario, this would all be calculated based on minutes worked.

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