Eliminate the wait: JoCo-based DashNow offers diners mobile pay, check-splitting tech

October 18, 2019  |  Anna Turnbull

Photo by Dan Gold

Joseph Layne was tired of waiting. Seated at a busy restaurant, he stirred the mental ingredients for DashNow, a mobile-based service allowing diners to pay-and-go without waiting on a server to swipe a credit card or make change.

DashNow

DashNow

“I realized I had been sitting there 10 minutes [waiting for the bill], while there was a whole bunch of people waiting for a table,” said Layne, president and founder of DashNow. “These people could have already been sitting down, having a drink, and putting in their order. That’s when the lightbulb went off.”

The new technology not only speeds business up, but also is an easy solution, Layne emphasized. 

“This is the best part: there is no equipment required [for the diner]. A piece of software is installed on the point of sale [at the restaurant],” he said. “There is nothing to purchase, no hardware purchase or setup cost.”

To partner with DashNow and set your restaurant up with the equipment, click here

“When the server brings the ticket, there is a QR code … It shows you your receipt,” said Layne, explaining the three-step process. “You can either pay the entire bill or you can split it with your friends … Your friends can scan the QR code as well and pay for their items. You select a tip amount and then you can submit the payment.”

The reports have been gratifying, reported Layne.

“The feedback has been absolutely tremendous,” he said. “Right now, we are seeing an average of about 16 percent utilization and that is only two weeks into it.”

DashNow's team

DashNow’s team

The swiftness of the process is not the only benefit that restaurants are experiencing, he added.  

“The servers are seeing higher tips … Our analysis is showing that the tip averages are going up pretty significantly,” said Layne. “That will really help drive adoption when servers realize that they can make more money by using DashNow to pay.”

The service has officially launched its first restaurant, Sombrero’s Mexican Cantina, and followed with Saints Pub.

The startup’s team is prioritizing the company’s long-term plan, noted Layne. 

“Every decision that we are making is focused on the scalability of the business,” he said. “We are working on taking it slow and taking one restaurant at a time. [We want] to make sure to button up the loose ends.”

Click here for more information on DashNow and how to download their app. 

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2019 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Scout charts pre-seed funding from Midwest investors at KCRise Fund, eGrowth Ventures

        By Tommy Felts | November 24, 2025

        The just-announced pre-seed round for an emerging innovator in veterinary medicine software is expected to help the Kansas City-built startup deepen its product capabilities, further strengthen its core technology, and strategically grow its team to meet rising demand. “Closing this round gives us the resources and momentum to execute on our mission,” said Dr. Gonzalo…

        Keystone launching corporate engagement accelerator to boost low-friction startup collabs

        By Tommy Felts | November 20, 2025

        Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem gets its fair share of positive press thanks to a decade of momentum, Kevin McGinnis noted, but the region’s ability to scale innovative ideas to their potential remains stalled because corporations and startups lack an easy on-ramp for collaboration. “We have been listening for years to the ecosystem, to the community,…

        Just funded: AltCap Your Biz cycles trio of winners from KC’s diverse hospitality scene

        By Tommy Felts | November 20, 2025

        Persistence pays off, said Ruben Alonso, celebrating a decade of the AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition and its role as an energy boost for Kansas City small businesses. The latest winning founders walked away with $60,000 in checks Wednesday at Union Station. Two of this year’s top three winners were returning finalists, the AltCap CEO…

        Innovation check(s): Angels scout potential KC investments at NXTUS nano-pitch event

        By Tommy Felts | November 19, 2025

        A startup showcase Tuesday in the heart of Johnson County’s innovation community put impact on display as NXTUS’ Accelerate Venture Partners organized a nano-pitch event for its network of angel investors amid Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City festivities. The Wichita-based entrepreneurial support organization — which has mobilized over $8.5 million for entrepreneurs in the Heartland since…