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Payroll software review

7shifts Payroll

Payroll inside 7shifts, the restaurant scheduling app: $39.99 per location plus $6 per employee paid, on top of a paid 7shifts plan. It calculates tip credit make-up and imports tips from several POS systems, including Shift4 POS.

By 7shifts

RTC SCORE

6.9

#6 of 22 with enough data

Our verdict

A strong fit for tipped restaurant teams that already schedule in 7shifts, especially with a POS outside Toast or Square. Add the plan per location to the payroll price when you compare.

What we like

  • Automatic tip credit make-up when your POS sends the tips, with tip pooling built in.
  • Imports tips and hours from Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, Heartland, Shift4 POS and others.
  • Files federal, state and local taxes in all 50 states and DC, with unlimited pay runs and no setup fee.

What to watch

  • You also need a paid 7shifts plan per location, and its price wasn't readable on the site.
  • No published guarantee for tax penalties and no Form 8846 report.
  • New accounts get paid in three business days, and there's a list of per-event fees.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score6.9out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness77%

We could verify 77% of the scoring data

Strongest points
Who files payroll taxes, POS integrations, Published pricing
Weakest point
2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on Tips

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%No data
  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%Strongest8.6 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%10.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%8.6 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%10.0 out of 10
  • Live support hours a weekWeight 5%3.9 out of 10
  • Payroll in all 50 statesWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • Time trackingWeight 4%10.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Early termination feeWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Unlimited pay runsWeight 3%10.0 out of 10
  • Fastest direct deposit includedWeight 3%2.0 out of 10
  • Tax penalty guaranteeWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Accounting integrationsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%No data
  • Garnishments and new-hire reportingWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Declared cash tipsWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • State and local minimum wages built inWeight 2%No data
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%No data

Current promotion

  • Discount

    $119.97 per locationSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)3 months of the $39.99 location fee; the $6 per employee is also free for those 3 months. Early cancellation in that period can cost $39.99 per location per month.
    Conditions
    First-time payroll buyers; the location must run its first payroll by Jan 30, 2027. Not counted in the 12-month cost.
    Valid until

Counts in the RTC Score only if our reference restaurant qualifies.

The switching or signing incentive is one of the criteria with the most weight in the RTC Score. We count a promotion only while it's current, with a fixed published amount and conditions our reference restaurant meets. "Up to" amounts, buyouts of your current contract and unpublished amounts don't count. The cost calculator subtracts one only when your numbers qualify.

Check it with your numbers

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Pricing
Data pointValue
Base fee$39.99/moSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)Per location. Payroll is an add-on to a paid 7shifts plan, billed per location. 7shifts's plan prices load only with JavaScript and we couldn't read them; a third party (July 2026) lists Essentials at $44.99 a month per location, not verified.
Per employee$6Source: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Who counts as an employeeEach person paid that monthSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Per contractor (1099)UnconfirmedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)7shifts doesn't say whether a contractor paid through payroll counts toward the $6 per employee paid.
Published pricingPublishedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)The payroll add-on price is on the payroll page; the required plan's price is on 7shifts's pricing page.
Setup fee$0 one-timeSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Year-end forms fee$0/yrSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Digital W-2s and 1099s are free; paper copies mailed cost $3 per document.
Each extra stateUnconfirmedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)7shifts's fee list has no charge for an extra state, but no page says so explicitly.
Other feesAmended tax return: $175 per return. Next-day pay on a 2-day account: $0.65 per employee. Paper W-2 or 1099: $3 each. Failed employee payment: $25. Wire funding: $25. Payment reversal: $75. Late filing or refiling caused by the employer: $200. Failed funding: $125.Source: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Taxes and forms
Data pointValue
Who files payroll taxesThe provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Taxes are calculated and filed by 7shifts with its payroll partner, Check.
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)The list covers forms for all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsW-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)W-2s and 1099s are generated and delivered digitally at no charge.
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)7shifts documents adding and paying 1099 contractors in 7shifts Payroll.
Tax penalty guaranteeNo guarantee publishedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)We found no published guarantee to pay penalties caused by 7shifts's errors; its fee list only says late-filing fees apply when the employer is at fault.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingIncludedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Child support is remitted for you; other deductions are withheld and you pay them.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesWeekly, Every two weeks, Twice a monthSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Monthly payroll isn't documented.
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Fastest direct deposit includedThree or more business daysSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Three business days for new accounts; two after 10 successful fundings. Next-day pay on a 2-day account costs $0.65 per employee.
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)UnconfirmedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)7shifts documents employer-paid advances, not an earned wage access feature for employees.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsToast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, Heartland (Genius), Shift4 POS, TouchBistro, OthersSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Others: Union and Revi. With Shift4 POS it requires Shift4 processing and only card tips come through, not declared cash tips.
Tip pooling and tip-outsBuilt inSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upCalculated automaticallySource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Automatic with 7shifts Payroll, as long as your POS sends the tips.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Not supportedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)7shifts says it has no built-in FICA tip credit report.
Declared cash tipsYesSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Not confirmedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)We found no 7shifts article that confirms code TP or the tipped occupation code on the 2026 W-2.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Announced or partly documentedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)It calculates qualified overtime since January 1, 2026.
Service charges paid as wagesUnconfirmedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)Not documented.
State and local minimum wages built inUnconfirmedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)7shifts documents tipped minimum wage structures for tip credit, not whether state and local minimum wages come built in.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Toast, Square, Clover, SpotOn, Heartland (Genius), Shift4 POS, TouchBistro, OthersSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)The same POS integrations that send tips also send time punches. With Shift4 POS it requires Shift4 processing.
Time trackingIncludedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)Time clocking is part of the 7shifts plans that payroll requires.
SchedulingIncludedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Accounting integrationsQuickBooks OnlineSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Payroll engineCheck (a payroll infrastructure provider)Source: Check Technologies (opens in a new tab)
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsThrough a partner brokerSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)
Workers' compensationPay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Not available in Washington, Wyoming, Ohio or North Dakota.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termMonth to monthSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)Monthly or annual subscription; we count the monthly option.
Automatic renewal1 monthSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)Renews for the same period: monthly, or yearly on an annual plan.
Notice to avoid renewalUnconfirmedSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)The terms don't set a notice period to avoid renewal.
Early termination feeNoneSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)For the monthly subscription, the terms set no early termination fee; an annual plan is paid in advance and isn't refundable. During the first 3 free months of payroll, canceling can cost $39.99 per location for each month active.
Early termination clauseNo early termination fee on a monthly plan; fees already paid aren't refunded. During the 3 free months of payroll, canceling can cost $39.99 per location for each month active.Source: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise prices7shifts can change fees with at least 30 days' notice, and can raise them once a year by inflation (CPI) without notice.Source: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Your records when you leaveLimited or lost access after you leaveSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Around the clock it's an automated chat for common questions; live chat runs on set hours.
Live support hours a week66Source: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Chat 10 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central on weekdays).
Dedicated specialistYesSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)For the switch and setup.
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishPartlySource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)The mobile app is localized; pay stubs in Spanish are not documented.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishYesSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)The web dashboard is available in English, French and Spanish.
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)Not documented.
Support in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: 7shifts Help Center (opens in a new tab)7shifts doesn't publish Spanish-language support.
Contract or terms in SpanishNoSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)The terms are published in English.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: 7shifts (opens in a new tab)The /es path of 7shifts.com shows the English site.

More about 7shifts Payroll

How we score