Looking for the best restaurant payroll software? My guide compares features and pricing for the top 8 solutions for paying workers, taxes, and tips on time.
The best restaurant payroll software helps restaurant operators and managers process employee salaries accurately and on time while offering tools to manage payroll taxes, monitor attendance, and track tips.
It must also be easy to use, have good client support, and efficiently handle the complexities of paying restaurant staff. Pricing is also important, especially for small establishments, so a reasonably priced plan with unlimited payroll runs is ideal. Scroll through my evaluation of the eight best restaurant payroll services to find your next solution or see how your current solution stacks up.
| My score | Starting monthly price | Special contractor-only payroll | Multistate payroll | Health benefits available in 50 states | |
 | 4.64/5 | $6 per employee + $35 base fee | $6 per contractor monthly | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visit Square Payroll | |||||
 | 4.51/5 | $6 per employee + $49 per month | $6 per contractor + $35 base fee monthly | Included in higher tiers | ✓ |
| Visit Gusto | |||||
 | 3.96/5 | $50 per month + $6.50 per employee monthly | $15 monthly for 20 contractors; plus $2 per additional worker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visit QuickBooks Payroll | |||||
 | 3.85/5 | $6 per employee + $39 base fee2 | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Visit Homebase Payroll | |||||
 | 3.84/5 | $5 per employee + $39 base fee3 | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visit Paychex | |||||
 | 3.81/5 | $4 per employee + $20 base fee4 | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visit SurePayroll | |||||
 | 3.81/5 | $6 per employee + $49 base fee | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visit OnPay | |||||
 | 3.76/5 | $81.66 weekly to pay 25 workers + $1.89 per additional worker5 | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visit ADP Run | |||||
1At the time of this writing, QuickBooks was promoting 90% off for three months, for a starting price of $5 per month plus $6 per employee per month.
2Homebase’s payroll features are only available as an add-on for the price above. Homebase plans range from $0 to $120 per month per location.
3Based on third-party sources
4Doesn’t include tax filings
5Based on a quote I received for ADP Run’s Enhanced plan.
I compared 14 reputable payroll providers that, apart from processing employee payroll, offer attendance management and restaurant-specific solutions, such as time tracking and tip reporting. I rated each on a five-star scale designed to assess restaurant payroll services, narrowing my list to the top eight.
Not all payroll software will be right for your restaurant business. When thinking about payroll options, consider your budget against the software’s scalability, support availability, and more.
The restaurant payroll services I reviewed offer tip payment processing, tax filing services, year-end tax reports, and full-service payroll for employees and contractors.
Most restaurants use a payroll system that integrates with point-of-sale (POS) payment processing systems. A POS can help with order processing, payments, and inventory control. Because of this, a POS that offers a payroll option, like Square, is ideal for restaurants.
According to recent statistics, payroll and labor costs for restaurants should not exceed 25%-30% of their total revenue. For every $10 generated, no more than $3 should be spent on payroll, benefits, and required taxes. For this reason, depending on the size of your restaurant, it is important to keep payroll costs low.
The best payroll software for small businesses depends on your business’s size, the payroll features you are looking for, and your budget. Gusto, for example, is the best restaurant payroll software for essential features. Meanwhile, Square Payroll is ideal for bars and cafes already using Square POS.
When looking for software that processes employee salaries and taxes, it’s important to consider whether it has industry-specific payroll features that fit your business’s requirements. For restaurants, you need a solution that offers payroll and tax processing, time tracking, HR support, and tip reporting functionalities to help restaurateurs maintain compliance. Platforms should also be affordable if you’re running small restaurants.
For these reasons, I chose Gusto as a top restaurant payroll software. It provides the greatest balance among features and offers a variety of tools that address restaurants’ needs. It also has an intuitive platform and a budget-friendly full-service payroll option.
Ray Delucci is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelor’s in Food Business Management. He has experience managing restaurants in New York City, Houston, and Chicago. He is also the host of the Line Cook Thoughts Podcast, where he interviews and shares the stories of foodservice workers. Ray currently works in food manufacturing and food product development.
Restaurant HQ is your headquarters for restaurant business advice from industry experts. Learn how to start, run and grow any food and beverage business.
Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.
