Rising Tides Live: Digital Tipping With Brian Hassan and Justin Roberts of Kickfin

Interview Takeaways

The State of Digital Tipping & Tipflation Trends – Tipping remains steady at 19%, with full-service restaurants averaging 20% and quick-service at 15%. States with strong tip credit systems, like Delaware and West Virginia, see higher tips (22%), while states without them, like California, report lower averages. Tipflation—where tipping prompts are everywhere—is causing consumer fatigue, but POS companies continue to push them for higher transaction fees.
How Kickfin is Changing the Game – Despite digital advancements, 90% of restaurants still use cash for tips. Kickfin eliminates this by automating gratuity payouts, instantly transferring earnings to employees’ bank accounts. This boosts transparency, efficiency, and financial security, especially for workers relying on tips for rent, bills, and daily expenses.
The Future of Tipping and Hospitality Management – Tip transparency is now a coaching tool, helping managers track trends, optimize upselling, and improve service. In quick-service restaurants, tipping happens before service, creating challenges in maintaining hospitality. Beyond restaurants, digital tipping is expanding into hotels, salons, and tour groups, showing the industry’s evolution.

In this episode of Rising Tides Live, the conversation explores the evolving landscape of digital tipping and its impact on the restaurant and hospitality industry, featuring insights from Brian Hassan and Justin Roberts of Kickfin.

Brian and Justin join host Shawn Walchef to discuss how digital gratuity solutions are transforming tip management, improving transparency, and streamlining operations for businesses. From the rise of ‘tipflation’ and consumer tipping trends to the benefits of instant payouts for employees, the episode unpacks key insights on the future of tipping. Together, they dive into industry shifts, the role of technology in financial transactions, and how restaurants can adapt to meet both employee and customer expectations in a digitally connected world. The Rising Tides community actively joined the discussion, sharing insights and asking questions about tipping culture, employee wages, and the broader impact of digital payment solutions.

Listen to the replay of the latest room where the participants discussed community service and follow Cali BBQ Media to keep up with the latest and join the rooms to tell your story and have your voice heard.

Every Wednesday and Friday at 10am PT, Shawn Walchef hosts the Rising Tides Live room streaming with Riverside on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. Leading voices in hospitality, and otherwise, from near and far join to discuss all things business and much more.

The Big Quote

Homework Assignment

For this week’s action item, take a moment to analyze your tipping structure. If you’re in hospitality, ask yourself: Do I know exactly how much I make in tips each shift? How are tips distributed, and is it clear to everyone? If you’re a business owner or manager, have a quick conversation with an employee about their experience with digital tipping and any improvements they’d suggest. For extra credit, share your insights with the Rising Tides community or in a LinkedIn post!

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Episode Links

Kickfin Online: https://kickfin.com/
Kickfin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kickfin/
Kickfin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kickfin2618
Kickfin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickfin/
Kickfin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickfin/
Brian Hassan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianhassan/
Justin Roberts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjustinroberts/

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About Cali BBQ Media

Digital Hospitality is an interview-based video podcast hosted by business owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) and produced by his Cali BBQ Media company. The weekly digital series explores the ways successful businesses and entrepreneurs have merged old and new with innovative digital strategies that harness the power of the Internet and social media. Shawn is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and creator of the Restaurant Influencers podcast on Entrepreneur Media.

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