Extra Protein That Never Rang: How to Find Missed Upcharges
A missed upcharge is an add-on the guest gets but the POS ticket doesn't charge for: double protein, extra cheese, guacamole, a bigger drink. To find them, compare what's added on the line with what's rung on the ticket. The camera over the make line shows the second scoop, and the ticket shows whether it was charged. Matching the two on every order shows how often it happens, on which items and at which stores.
Why it doesn't show up in your reports
A missed upcharge leaves no trace in the POS. Food cost runs a little high, and the variance report can't say why, because it blends in with waste, heavy portions and bad counts. It's rarely anyone trying to give food away. The line is moving, the guest asks for double, and the person at the register never hears it.
Where it happens most
- Double or extra protein added on the line after the order was rung.
- Paid add-ons like cheese, bacon, avocado or a premium sauce.
- Size upgrades handed out at the drink station.
- Free food given to make up for a slow order, with no comp rung.
Match the line to the ticket
A camera over the make line sees each scoop. The POS ticket for that order says what was charged. TableIQ lines them up and counts the orders where the line served something the ticket didn't charge for, by item, by store and by hour. Full-service bars use the same pairing of camera and POS to check comps and voids.
What to do with the count
Start with the item that misses most and fix the step where it slips: a button buried three screens deep on the POS, an add-on the line makes without calling it out, or a register too far from the line to hear. Then check the count again the next week.
FAQ
Is this about the crew doing something wrong?
Rarely. Most missed upcharges come from how the line and the register are set up, and the count points at the step to fix.
What does the camera need to see?
The make line, where add-ons go on. Many stores already have a camera over it. One small device connects to your recorder and takes 5 minutes to set up.
See it on your own floor.