How to Set Up Thenks at Your Hotel in 15 Minutes

We say “15 minutes” and people are skeptical. “There’s no way setting up a payments system is that fast.” So let’s walk through it step by step, and you can time it yourself.

The Thenks setup has four stages: Account, Property, Staff, and QR Codes. Here’s exactly what each involves.

Stage 1: Create Your Account (3 minutes)

Go to thenks.co and click “Get Started.” You’ll be asked for:

• Your name and email
• Your role (General Manager, Owner, HR Manager, etc.)
• A password

That’s it. No credit card required to start. Email verification takes about 30 seconds.

Stage 2: Add Your Property (4 minutes)

After logging in, you’ll add your property details:

• Property name and type (hotel, lodge, resort, restaurant)
• Physical address
• Number of staff approximately (for sizing)
• Contact details

You’ll also upload a logo if you have one handy — this personalizes the tipping page guests see. If you don’t have it ready, you can add it later.

At this stage, Thenks does a quick verification of your property (public listing, website) to confirm it’s a legitimate hospitality operation. For well-known properties, this is often instant. For newer or boutique properties, it may take a few hours.

Stage 3: Set Up Your Staff Committee (5 minutes)

This is where Thenks differs from a simple payment link. You’re not just setting up a payment — you’re setting up a governance structure for your staff’s money.

You’ll designate:

1. Committee members (typically 3-5 staff representatives) — enter their names, roles, and phone numbers
2. Distribution frequency — how often do you want tips to be distributed? Daily, weekly, or monthly
3. Distribution rules — equal split, or weighted by role/department?
4. Staff list — add each staff member by name and M-PESA number

Adding 20-30 staff takes about 3-4 minutes if you have a list ready. You can import from a spreadsheet if you have staff data in that format.

Stage 4: Download and Print Your QR Codes (3 minutes)

Thenks generates your QR codes automatically once your property is verified and your staff are added.

You’ll get:

• A property-wide QR code that works for all tip types
• Department-specific QR codes if you want to separate housekeeping, restaurant, front desk, etc.
• Print-ready card templates in multiple sizes (bedside card, table card, badge card)

Download the templates (they’re PDFs), send them to any print shop, and you’re ready. Many properties use a home printer initially to get started quickly.

What Happens After Setup?

Once QR codes are in rooms and common areas, tips start flowing automatically. You’ll receive a notification for each tip received (or a daily summary — your choice).

The Staff Committee dashboard lets committee members see:

• Current TipJAR balance
• Individual tips received
• Upcoming distribution date
• Distribution history

Staff can check their personal earnings via a simple link (no app required).

Management sees a separate analytics dashboard with:

• Total tips by period
• Tips by department
• Guest feedback scores (guests can leave a message with their tip)
• Trend data over time

Common Questions at This Stage

“What if a staff member leaves?” Remove them from the staff list. Their share of any pending distribution goes back into the pool for the committee to reallocate.

“Can guests tip a specific person?” Yes, if you generate individual QR codes for staff members. This is popular for guides and concierge staff.

“What if I want to change the distribution rules?” The committee can update rules at any time. Changes apply to future distributions, not retroactively.

“Is there a minimum tip amount?” The minimum is KES 50 or equivalent in foreign currencies — enough to keep transaction fees reasonable for everyone.

The First Week

Most properties see their first tip within hours of placing QR codes. By the end of the first week, patterns become clear: which rooms generate the most tips, which guest demographics tip most, which departments are under-covered.

We recommend checking in with your Staff Committee after the first week to discuss whether the distribution rules feel right. It’s easy to adjust, and that early feedback loop is valuable.

---

Ready to try it? Start your setup or book a 30-minute demo with our team. We’ll walk you through it live and answer any questions specific to your property.