Become an insider!
Get our latest payroll and small business articles sent straight to your inbox.
In this Article:
Let’s face it, managing your payroll each month can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially in the fast-paced world of restaurant management. From calculating wages for hourly employees to tracking tips and handling payroll taxes, restaurant owners face unique payroll challenges.
Luckily, technology has come to the rescue with plenty of software solutions that make payroll easier for the folks in the food service industry.
Whether you’re a small family-owned eatery or a bustling chain of restaurants, finding the best payroll software can streamline your operations, reduce errors and save you valuable time and resources.
Join us as we dive into the top contenders for restaurant owners, highlighting their features, benefits and how they can revolutionize the way you manage payroll in your restaurant business.
The best software for restaurants to consider
- Wagepoint – Best for franchises
- Rise People – Best for integrations
- Payworks – Best for basic HR features
- ADP – Best for complete business management
- Wave – Best accounting + payroll option
Benefits of using payroll software in a restaurant setting.
When the food orders start pouring in, every moment counts. You can’t be bogged down by administrative tasks when it’s all hands on deck at the pass or the POS system.
These are some of the main reasons why investing in payroll software just makes sense for restaurant environments:
- Accuracy and compliance. Calculating employee wages, taxes and tip distributions can be prone to human error when done manually. Payroll software helps reduce those errors by providing you with precise calculations. This means a lower risk of costly mistakes and a better chance you stay compliant with labour laws and tax regulations.
- Time savings. Completing pay runs manually eats up valuable hours that could be better spent refining that perfect recipe or delighting your customers. Having a payroll software handle the heavy lifting can help you free up so much time that you can spend on more strategic tasks.
- Streamlined record-keeping. Tracking payroll records, timesheets and tax documents can be a logistical nightmare if not done properly. Payroll software automates record-keeping, making it super easy to access historical data and generate real-time data when you need it.
- Efficient tip management. Restaurant employees rely on tips to bolster their income. With payroll software, restaurant managers can track tips, allocate them accurately and ensure they’re reported correctly, helping to simplify this often-complex process. For restaurants whose employee pay includes minimum wage tip makeup, be sure you choose a payroll software that’s equipped with top-notch tip management capabilities to keep your finances in tip-top shape.
- Data security. Data security in your restaurant’s payroll software is like a suit of armor for your business. Just think about all of the sensitive stuff in there! Employee names, addresses, social insurance numbers — it’s like a treasure trove for identity thieves. Keeping this data safe is crucial.
Key features for restaurant payroll software.
Managing payroll in the restaurant industry demands a specific set of features tailored to such a dynamic business. Let’s explore some key features that restaurant payroll solution should offer:
Automated payroll processing
Automated payroll processing is a fundamental that offers both convenience and efficiency in many crucial ways. One of those aspects is offering the option to pay your employees using direct deposit. This helps save valuable time while also getting rid of the need to use messy paper cheques.
The right payroll software should also be able to calculate wages effortlessly, handling different elements like hourly wages, overtime, employee benefits and specialized rates for different roles like servers and kitchen staff. It should also ensure accurate calculations for bonuses, commissions and tip distribution, guaranteeing precise compensation for all employees.
Payroll tax calculation and filing
Managing payroll taxes can often feel like trying to navigate a maze filled with rules, due dates and constantly changing rates. An effective restaurant payroll software helps simplify this process with automatic payroll tax calculations based on current tax codes and regulations. It should also help speed up the tax filing process, ensuring that you stay in compliance with all tax-related obligations.
Employee self-serve portal
Having an employee self-service portal can be a game-changer for both your HR team and your staff. Through this portal your staff members can gain access to different features that help increase convenience, efficiency and ultimately satisfaction.
The employee self-serve portal allows them to access their pay stubs online, whenever and wherever they are. Not only does this help promote environmental sustainability, but it also helps reduce costs associated with printing out physical pay stubs.
Now, let’s talk about another perk of having an employee portal, especially when tax season rolls around. It’s all about giving your team easy access to those crucial year-end forms. This means your employees can grab the important docs they need while at the same time taking this HR task off your team’s plate.
So, with these self-serve options, your restaurant can make things smoother behind the scenes and also let your employees take the reins when it comes to their payroll paperwork. It’s a win-win for everyone involved in the employee equation!
Integration capabilities
Another feature that’s crucial for any restaurant payroll software are integration capabilities. Say goodbye to the manual work spent on time-consuming tasks of entering data from one system into another.
Picture this: Your payroll software works hand-in-glove with accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero. But what does this mean? It means that your financial data flows automatically, making things like reconciling accounts and reporting a breeze. Accurate payroll meets accurate accounting.
Along with that, don’t forget about syncing up with your time and attendance systems. This will help you keep tabs on employee hours and shifts, making sure there are no slip-ups in the payroll process. In a nutshell, a top-notch payroll software brings all these features together and can totally transform the way you handle payroll in your small business.
Top payroll software for restaurant owners.
Alright! Let’s get into the meaty stuff! You know that finding the right payroll platform is a game-changer for your restaurant business. Now, we’re diving headfirst into the best Canadian payroll software companies that can make your life as a restaurant owner way easier.
Each of them will have its own special sauce, so to speak, that sets them apart. Let’s take a closer look at these payroll pros and why they’re perfect for the restaurant scene.
Wagepoint: Best for franchises
Wagepoint is a great match for franchise owners with payroll software that’s so easy to use, even your grandma could run your payroll each month. With no hidden fees, no contracts and no setup fees, Wagepoint offers honest and clear pricing for franchise businesses.
Wagepoint features:
- Automated payroll calculations: You put in the numbers, the software crunches them.
- Direct deposit payments: Easily get employees their pay on pay day.
- Automated tax calculation and filing: For accurate and on-time filing.
- Employee self-serve portal: Employee information and forms at their fingertips when they want it.
- Top tier customer support: Treating every franchise like their only customer.
Rise People: Best for integrations
Rise People is a good option for restaurant owners looking for payroll services that can integrate seamlessly with other platforms, like QuickBooks. This helps cut down on time spent entering data, because any changes you make will be reflected in other platforms.
Rise People features:
- Full-service payroll processing: They’ve got your payroll needs covered from start to finish.
- Comprehensive HR management: Managing your team has never been easier.
- Performance management tools: Keep your crew motivated and thriving.
- Automated calculations and remittances: Say goodbye to number-crunching headaches.
Payworks: Best for basic HR features
Payworks is a simple payroll solution that allows you to tailor your payroll software experience to your own needs. And if you’re looking for access to some basic HR management, then Payworks has you covered. You can add it to your plan, allowing you to only pay for the features you need.
Payworks features:
- Multiple payment methods: You’ve got options to pay your crew their hard-earned cash.
- Time and attendance tracking: Because time is money, right?
- Reports tailored to you: Customize reports to fit your unique business needs.
ADP: Best for complete business management
ADP, short for Automatic Data Processing, is a big shot in the world of payroll payroll software. While it caters to businesses of all sizes, its comprehensive features and direct deposit services make it a top pick for restaurant owners looking to streamline their payroll, HR tasks, time tracking and talent management.
ADP features:
- Speedy direct deposits: Want your team to get their hard-earned cash pronto? ADP delivers.
- All-in-one magic: ADP doesn’t just handle payroll. It’s got HR, time tracking and recruitment too.
- Customer love: When you need help, ADP’s customer support will have your back.
Wave: Best accounting + payroll option
Wave is best for smaller restaurants with a few employees on their roster who also want it built into an accounting software. It offers only a few features, but enough to run payroll each month alongside the free accounting software.
Wave features:
- A no-fuss interface: They’ve made it easy to set up payroll and accounting in one place.
- Pay everyone easily: Both employees and contractors can be in the mix.
- Free trial: They offer a free trial of their payroll software to go along with their 100% free accounting software, so you can try before you buy.
Get cooking with restaurant payroll software.
There you have it! We’ve simmered down the essentials of restaurant payroll software solutions to help you meet the specific needs of your eatery and your team. We’ve explored the important factors of automated payroll processing, precise payroll tax calculation and filing, the convenience of self-serve portals and the power of integration capabilities.
Now, it’s time to put these insights into action and take the hassle out of your restaurant’s payroll management. If you’re ready to experience the ease and efficiency of top-notch payroll software, Wagepoint has franchises and small businesses of all kinds covered with simple, stress-free software!
Get started on Wagepoint for your franchise today.
