Restaurant Receipt Template — Free Download
A restaurant receipt is one of the most common financial documents in daily life, yet many food and beverage businesses overlook the importance of getting it right. A clear, itemised receipt serves multiple purposes: it confirms what the customer ordered and paid, it provides a record for business expense claims (critical for the corporate dining market), and it demonstrates transparency about pricing, service charges, and VAT. For restaurant owners, well-structured receipts also support accurate end-of-day reconciliation and VAT reporting. In an industry where margins are tight and cash flow is king, every transaction needs to be properly documented. Whether you run a fine dining restaurant, a casual cafe, a food truck, or a catering business, a professional receipt template ensures consistency across all transactions. OwnedWork's restaurant receipt template handles itemised food and drink, service charges, tips, split bills, and VAT — everything a hospitality business needs.
What to Include in a Restaurant Receipt
Include your restaurant or cafe name, address, phone number, and website. Add your VAT number if registered — most restaurants turning over more than the VAT threshold will be registered. Each receipt needs a unique transaction number, the date and time, and the table number or order number for reference. The itemised section should list every dish and drink ordered with the quantity and price. Group items logically: starters, mains, desserts, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages. If different VAT rates apply (food is often zero-rated for takeaway but standard-rated for eat-in), this categorisation helps with VAT compliance. Show the subtotal for food and beverages separately if your POS system supports it. If you add a service charge, state it clearly as a separate line with the percentage. In the UK, you must inform customers that a discretionary service charge can be removed — many receipts include a note saying 'A discretionary 12.5% service charge has been added'. If no service charge is added but you accept tips, you might include a line for the customer to add a gratuity on card payments. Display the grand total prominently. For card payments, show the payment method and the last four digits of the card. For cash payments, note the amount tendered and the change given. If the bill is split, issue separate receipts for each paying guest if possible, or note the split on a single receipt. For business diners who need VAT receipts, ensure your receipt meets HMRC requirements: your business name and address, the date, the VAT number, the total amount, and the VAT amount. For orders over £250, you must also include the customer's name and address. If you offer loyalty programmes, note points earned. For delivery and takeaway orders, include the order number, delivery address, and any delivery charges. If the receipt doubles as a feedback request, include a short URL or QR code linking to your review page.