Eliminate the wait: JoCo-based DashNow offers diners mobile pay, check-splitting tech
October 18, 2019 | Anna Turnbull
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.
“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
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.
2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Roo-Up with pulled pork or bite into Big Salvy: Ding Dong Dogs debuts at KC Streetcar’s mouthwatering last stop
Matt McLain longed for the hot dogs he grew up eating as a young baseball fan in Chicago. His just-off-the-roller, quick-serve hot dog restaurant near UMKC and the extended KC Streetcar line squirts a dinger of nostalgia in an emerging destination known for elevated fare. It’s an opportunity McLain relishes, the Ding Dong Dogs owner…
Beach volleyball heavyweights, Olympians hitting KC sand for George Brett showdown
Serial entrepreneur Lance Windholz hopes a high-profile weekend beach volleyball tournament — showcasing 24 professional players, including seven Olympians — will encourage more Kansas City athletes and enthusiasts to dig the sport he loves. The George Brett 4v4 Volleyball Showdown arrives Saturday, Sept. 13, at Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball. Two amateur teams are set to compete…
KC-built AI command center helps businesses gain superpowers without losing their tech stack
First envisioned as an AI-powered agent built to streamline operations at Kansas City-based Plexpod’s coworking spaces, Intuidy has evolved into its own operating system; one that is transforming the way companies operate, co-founder Grayson Smith said. Vantage — Intuidy’s flagship platform launched in early 2024 with the help of Smith’s brother, Gentry — is a…
Peek inside: This new coworking space on Troost opens doors to belonging (and a rooftop view)
A search for new office space turned into a bigger opportunity to connect for founder Jeff Wagner, who launched Belong Space as a coworking community within a resurgent hub along Troost. Its mission is in the name. “It’s very difficult to find office space that’s in a qualified HUBZone neighborhood,” said Wagner, founder and CEO…
