An independent restaurant with one location and about 15 employees, most of them tipped: tip handling, the tip credit and tax filing matter most.
The ranking
Gusto Payroll
By Gusto
Full-service payroll for small businesses, billed as a monthly base fee plus a fee per active employee, month to month. It files federal, state and local payroll taxes, tops up tipped pay to the minimum wage and documents the 2026 W-2 codes for tips and overtime.
RTC SCORE
8.2
#1 for Restaurants
Pros
- Month to month with no early termination fee, and its prices are published: $49 a month plus $6 per active employee on Simple.
- Tops up tipped employees' pay to the minimum wage automatically and alerts you to state and local minimum wage increases.
- Documents the 2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and the tipped occupation code) and for qualified overtime (code TT).
Cons
- It does not file Form 8846 for the FICA tip credit; it gives you a tips report for your accountant.
- Tips come in from SpotOn Teamwork and Lightspeed U-Series only; no integration with Toast, Square or Shift4 POS is listed, and Clover syncs only names and emails.
- On Simple, new accounts start on 4-day direct deposit, next-day pay costs $15 a month + $3 per person, and only one state is covered.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on tips imported from POS systems.
Square Payroll
By Square
Square's payroll, billed monthly plus a fee per person paid. It files federal, state and supported local taxes, pays its own filing errors, and imports tips from Square's POS.
RTC SCORE
7.4
#2 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price ($35 a month plus $6 per person paid), billed month to month, with unlimited pay runs.
- Square pays penalties caused by its own filing errors, in all 50 states and DC.
- Card tips and declared cash tips flow in from Square's POS, and employees can get paid early at no cost to you.
Cons
- Tips import only from Square's own POS.
- No documented tip credit make-up and no Form 8846 report.
- Live support only on weekdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
Roll by ADP
By ADP
ADP's chat-based payroll app for small teams: $39 a month plus $5 per person paid, with tax filing included and live chat support around the clock.
RTC SCORE
7.2
#3 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price: $39 a month plus $5 per person paid that month, with unlimited payroll runs.
- Files federal, state and local payroll taxes, and pays workers in all 50 states.
- Next-day direct deposit included and live chat support 24/7.
Cons
- No POS integration: tips are entered by hand.
- It doesn't document the tip credit, minimum wage make-up or the FICA tip credit (Form 8846).
- It doesn't publish who pays a tax penalty caused by its own error.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
OnPay Payroll
By OnPay
Payroll with one plan at $49 a month plus $6 per worker paid that month, with tax filings, multi-state payroll and year-end forms included, and documented restaurant features such as tip credit make-up and Form 8846.
RTC SCORE
7.1
#4 for Restaurants
Pros
- One published price: $49 a month plus $6 per worker paid that month, with federal, state and local tax filings, all 50 states and W-2 and 1099 forms included.
- Tip credit make-up is calculated automatically, and Form 8846 comes filled in for your tax return.
- Fields for qualified tips, tipped occupation codes and qualified overtime are already in each pay run for 2026.
Cons
- No POS integration: tips and hours are entered in each pay run or come from a time tracking app.
- No tip pooling and no early pay for employees.
- Direct deposit takes 2 to 4 business days depending on OnPay's risk review, with no next-day option.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
Homebase Payroll
By Homebase
Payroll added to Homebase's scheduling and time clock app, at $49 a month plus $6 per employee paid. It files federal, state and local taxes, and imports tips from Toast, Square and Clover through its Tip Manager.
RTC SCORE
7.0
#5 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price, unlimited pay runs and no setup fee; billed month to month.
- Scheduling, time tracking and payroll in one app, with live support 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central every day.
- Child support is remitted for you, and employees can cash out earned pay at no cost to you.
Cons
- Above 10 employees you also pay a team plan per location, and tip pooling is a $25 add-on per location.
- Tip credit make-up is a marketing claim without documented mechanics, and there's no Form 8846 report.
- No published guarantee for tax penalties caused by its errors.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on Tips.
7shifts Payroll
By 7shifts
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.
RTC SCORE
6.9
#6 for Restaurants
Pros
- 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.
Cons
- 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.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on who files payroll taxes, POS integrations, and published pricing. Weakest on 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on Tips.
Patriot Payroll
By Patriot Software
Online payroll with a published price: Full Service is $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid and files federal, state and local payroll taxes for you. It is billed month to month and has no tip credit calculation or POS integration.
RTC SCORE
6.5
#7 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price: Full Service is $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid, with unlimited pay runs and one state included.
- Files federal, state and local payroll taxes and the year-end W-2s with no extra fee, and covers penalties caused by its own errors.
- Month to month with no early termination fee, and you can still download your reports after you cancel.
Cons
- It doesn't calculate the tip credit or top pay up to the minimum wage, has no tip pooling and doesn't import tips from any POS.
- No POS integrations or scheduling; time tracking is an add-on at $6 a month plus $2 per employee with a time card.
- Direct deposit starts at four banking days; two-day deposit only on request after a clean history, and there is no same-day option.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
QuickBooks Payroll
By Intuit QuickBooks
Intuit's full-service payroll (QuickBooks Workforce), sold on its own from $50 a month plus $7 per employee or bundled with QuickBooks accounting, month to month. It files federal and state payroll taxes and W-2s; local taxes, same-day deposit and time tracking start on the Premium plan.
RTC SCORE
6.5
#8 for Restaurants
Pros
- Payroll is sold on its own, month to month and with published prices: $50 a month plus $7 per employee on Workforce Payroll, with no setup fee.
- Files federal and state payroll taxes, W-2s and new-hire reports, with unlimited 1099 e-filing and unlimited payroll runs.
- Next-day direct deposit is included, and employees get free on-demand pay through Clair.
Cons
- Tips are entered by hand on each paycheck: there is no documented tip import from any POS, no tip pooling and no automatic top-up to the minimum wage.
- Local taxes, same-day deposit, time tracking and scheduling start on the Premium plan, which costs more per month and per employee.
- Tax penalty protection whoever made the error is only on Elite; the base plan covers only penalties caused by Intuit's own errors.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
SurePayroll
By SurePayroll
Online payroll from a Paychex company: $29 a month plus $7 per worker, unlimited payroll runs, and year-end forms and multi-state payroll billed apart.
RTC SCORE
6.3
#9 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price: $29 a month plus $7 per worker, with unlimited payroll runs and no setup fee listed.
- Files federal, state and local payroll taxes, and its agreement says it pays penalties caused by its own breach.
- No minimum term and no early termination fee.
Cons
- Year-end forms cost $50 plus $5 per form, and local taxes and extra states cost more.
- Phone support only Monday to Friday.
- No POS integration, and the tip credit is only mentioned in marketing.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
Paychex Flex
By Paychex
Paychex's payroll and HR platform in four packages, from $65 plus $8 per employee as a starting price, with federal, state and local tax filing and unlimited payroll runs.
RTC SCORE
5.6
#10 for Restaurants
Pros
- Unlimited payroll runs and federal, state and local tax filing.
- Its standard agreement has no minimum term and pays penalties caused by its own breach.
- Earned wage access at no cost to the business, through Paychex Flex Perks.
Cons
- Only a starting price is public, without saying which plan or whether it is per month; every package is by quote.
- W-2 forms, garnishment payments and time tracking can cost extra depending on the package.
- It doesn't document the tip credit, minimum wage make-up or the FICA tip credit (Form 8846).
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and initial term.
Restaurant365 Payroll & HR
By Restaurant365
Payroll inside Restaurant365's back office for restaurant groups, priced by quote on a term contract. It files federal, state and local taxes, pulls hours and tips from dozens of POS systems, including Shift4 POS, and runs tip makeup rules per location.
RTC SCORE
5.5
#11 for Restaurants
Pros
- Hours and tips flow in from dozens of POS systems, including Toast, Square, Clover, Shift4 POS, SpotOn and Lightspeed.
- Tip makeup rules per location and built-in tip automation.
- Payroll posts straight to R365's restaurant accounting, and child support is remitted for you.
Cons
- Price only by quote, with a term contract you can't cancel early and 60 days' notice to avoid renewal.
- No dedicated FICA tip credit report and no published guarantee for tax penalties.
- Live support on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.
- Initial term
- Quote only
Strongest on who files payroll taxes, POS integrations, and tip credit and minimum wage make-up. Weakest on published pricing.
Justworks Payroll
By Justworks
Payroll at $50 a month plus $8 per active employee, with federal and state tax filings, multi-state payroll and W-2 and 1099 forms included, or a PEO from $79 per employee with HR and benefits. Tips go in as supplemental payments; there is no POS integration.
RTC SCORE
5.4
#12 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price: $50 a month plus $8 per active employee, with federal and state tax filings, multi-state payroll and W-2 and 1099 forms included, and no setup fee.
- Month to month with no published early termination fee.
- You can move to the PEO later ($79 or $124 per employee) for 24/7 support, HR consulting and group health benefits.
Cons
- No POS integration, no tip pooling and no documented tip credit make-up or Form 8846: tips are entered by hand.
- It charges for every active employee, even those not paid that month, which costs more with seasonal staff.
- Direct deposit runs on a 4-business-day timeline, with no faster option and no monthly pay schedule.
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
Toast Payroll & Team Management
By Toast
Toast's payroll, sold with its POS and priced by quote. It files federal, state and local taxes, calculates tip makeup by work week, pays out child support for you, and imports card and declared cash tips from Toast's POS.
RTC SCORE
5.2
#13 for Restaurants
Pros
- Tip makeup is calculated by work week, and card and declared cash tips flow in from Toast's POS.
- Gives you a FICA tip credit report for Form 8846 and has a written plan for the 2026 W-2 overtime amounts.
- Files local taxes and remits child support; employees can take PayOuts at no cost to you.
Cons
- Price, term and early termination fee come only with the quote; a 2023 public order form had 36 months.
- Billed per active employee, even if they aren't paid that month.
- Imports tips only from Toast's POS, and you file the 1099s for contractors yourself.
- Initial term
- Quote only
Strongest on who files payroll taxes, tip credit and minimum wage make-up, and time tracking. Weakest on POS integrations.
Hourly
By Hourly
Payroll with built-in time tracking and pay-as-you-go workers' comp. Gold costs $80 a month plus $12 per active employee.
RTC SCORE
5.2
#14 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published price: Gold is $80 a month plus $12 per active employee, with unlimited pay runs.
- Files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxes in all 50 states, and its terms say it pays penalties caused by its own errors.
- Time tracking with GPS, scheduling and a FICA tip report are in every plan.
Cons
- No POS integration: tips do not come in from your POS and have to be entered by hand.
- On Gold, direct deposit takes two to four days; faster deposit needs Platinum, 8 payroll runs and credit approval.
- Phone support is weekdays only, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific.
- Initial term
- 36 months
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing.
Paycor Payroll
By Paycor
Payroll and HR from Paycor, a Paychex company. Plans for businesses with under 50 employees start at $99 a month plus $5 per employee, with federal and state tax filing.
RTC SCORE
4.9
#15 for Restaurants
Pros
- Published plan prices: Basic is $99 a month plus $5 per employee, with no setup fee.
- Its terms say Paycor pays tax penalties and interest caused by its own filing errors.
- Earned wage access free for the employer, and a pay card with no monthly fee for employees.
Cons
- The term is set by your order: a public 2024 order had 36 months with an early termination fee, and the 50%-off offer ties you for 24 months.
- 60 days' notice to cancel.
- Local taxes, extra states and year-end forms appear as extras without a published price.
- Initial term
- Not published
Strongest on 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), who files payroll taxes, and published pricing. Weakest on POS integrations.
RUN Powered by ADP
By ADP
ADP's payroll for businesses with 1 to 49 employees, sold in four packages priced by quote, with tax filing, 24/7 support and a published guarantee to pay penalties caused by its own filing errors.
RTC SCORE
4.8
#16 for Restaurants
Pros
- Publishes that it pays the fines and penalties caused by its own tax filing errors.
- Files federal, state and local payroll taxes in all 50 states, including employees who work in more than one state.
- Payroll support by phone or chat 24/7 in every package.
Cons
- No published prices: every package is by quote, and each payroll run adds a processing fee.
- W-2 and 1099 forms cost extra, and time tracking is an add-on.
- It doesn't document the tip credit, minimum wage make-up or the FICA tip credit (Form 8846).
- Initial term
- Month to month
Strongest on who files payroll taxes, initial term, and live support hours a week. Weakest on published pricing.
Netchex
By Netchex
Payroll and HR for restaurants and other hourly teams, priced by quote, with tip data from 14 restaurant POS systems such as Toast, PAR and Aloha.
RTC SCORE
4.4
#17 for Restaurants
Pros
- Brings hours and tips from 14 restaurant POS systems, including Toast, PAR and Aloha, with tip pooling inside payroll.
- Files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxes, with unlimited pay runs in every package.
- Earned wage access and pay cards come in the basic Core package.
Cons
- No published prices: per-employee pricing by quote, with a monthly minimum.
- Leaving early costs all the fees left in the term, the agreement renews on its own and you must give 90 days' notice to avoid renewal.
- W-2s and 1099s cost extra each year: $100 base plus $8 per W-2.
- Initial term
- 12 months
Strongest on who files payroll taxes, initial term, and payroll in all 50 states. Weakest on POS integrations.
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This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.