Journal · Eating out

Office lunches and group delivery orders, split fairly

Split delivery orders by item and share fees and discounts fairly across the office.

Someone in the office says "Let's order in," and twelve people add their dishes to one delivery order. Then come the delivery fee, the small-order fee, the platform fee and a discount code. Who pays what?

Split dishes by item

Everyone pays for what they ordered. That part is easy.

Split the fees fairly

The extra fees are shared costs. Two fair ways:

• Equally. Each person pays the same share of the fees. Simple, and fine when everyone ordered a similar amount.
• In proportion. Each person pays fees in line with their order. Fairer when one person ordered much more.

Share the discount too

If a promo code takes S$10 off, everyone should benefit, not just the person who placed the order. Share it the same way you share the fees.

A worked example

Four colleagues order lunch: S$12, S$14, S$9 and S$15, which is S$50 in dishes. Fees come to S$6, and a promo takes off S$4. Net extra: S$2.

Shared equally, each pays S$0.50 on top of their dish: S$12.50, S$14.50, S$9.50 and S$15.50. Total S$52.

Settle before the food arrives

The best time is right after ordering. The person who placed the order shares the totals, and everyone transfers their part straight away.

Rotate the job

Placing the order means a few minutes of work and carrying the cost until everyone pays. Take turns, so it is not always the same colleague.

Team treats

If the company or a manager is paying, make that clear at the start, so nobody pays twice.

With Perpax

Perpax, coming soon from Goldmend Money, will split items, share fees and discounts in proportion, and keep an office group tab.

General information, not financial or legal advice. Figures are examples. Check your receipt and official sources.

Next: How to split a restaurant bill fairly: equal, by item or by share