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Payroll software review

Homebase Payroll

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.

By Homebase

RTC SCORE

7.0

#5 of 22 with enough data

Our verdict

A practical choice for small restaurants that want schedules, time clock and payroll in one app at a published price. Check the team plan you need and the tip add-on before you compare.

What we like

  • 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.

What to watch

  • 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.
  • New accounts get paid in three business days; next-day deposits cost extra.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score7.0out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness98%

We could verify 98% of the scoring data

Strongest points
12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant), Who files payroll taxes, Published pricing
Weakest point
2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on Tips

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%Strongest8.0 out of 10

    $2,028 over 12 months

  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%5.7 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%3.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%4.3 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%5.0 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%6.0 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%No data
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • 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%10.0 out of 10
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%10.0 out of 10

Current promotion

  • Discount

    $294Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab)$294 is the fixed part: 6 months of the $49 base fee. The $6 per employee is also free for up to 50 employees, and the Plus plan is free for 6 months.
    Conditions
    New customers who finish payroll setup by Dec 15, 2026 and run the first payroll between Sep 15, 2026 and Jan 20, 2027, after the 14-day trial with a valid card. 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$49/moSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Plus a team plan per location: Basic is $0 for one location with up to 10 employees; Essentials $30, Plus $70 and All-in-One $120.
Per employee$6Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Who counts as an employeeEach person paid that monthSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Per contractor (1099)UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't say whether a contractor paid through payroll counts toward the $6 per employee paid.
Published pricingPublishedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Setup fee$0 one-timeSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Year-end forms fee$0/yrSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)W-2s and 1099s are generated and delivered digitally within that price; Homebase publishes no year-end charge.
Each extra state$0Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Other feesNext Day Pay costs $49 a month plus $9 per person instead of the standard payroll price. Tip Manager: $25 per location a month. Instant Cash Out for employees has a fee that the employee pays.Source: Homebase (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: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)Homebase's payroll FAQ says payroll is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The help center page asks for a human verification step; we read its text in the search index and did not get around the check.
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsW-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Tax penalty guaranteeNo guarantee publishedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)We found no published guarantee to pay penalties caused by Homebase's errors on its payroll, tax or pricing pages.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingIncludedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Child support is sent to the agency for you; other garnishments (tax levies, student loans, consumer debt) are withheld and you remit them. New-hire reports are filed.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesWeekly, Every two weeks, Twice a month, MonthlySource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)Weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly. The help center page asks for a human verification step; we read its text in the search index and did not get around the check.
Unlimited pay runsYesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Fastest direct deposit includedThree or more business daysSource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)New accounts start on 3-business-day processing and move to 2 days after 10 successful payrolls. Next-day deposits cost extra ($49 a month plus $9 per person). The help center page asks for a human verification step; we read its text in the search index and did not get around the check.
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)Included at no cost to the employerSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Standard Cash Out is free for the employee; instant Cash Out has a fee the employee pays.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsClover, Square, ToastSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Tip pooling and tip-outsPaid add-on or higher planSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Tip Manager, $25 per location a month; it pools tips by hours.
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upClaimed, without documented mechanicsSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase says federal, state and local minimums apply with no manual adjustments, without documenting how.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Not supportedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase keeps the data and sends you to your tax adviser for Form 8846.
Declared cash tipsYesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Not confirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)We found no Homebase page that confirms code TP or the tipped occupation code on the 2026 W-2.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Not confirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)We found no Homebase page that confirms code TT on the 2026 W-2.
Service charges paid as wagesUnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't document how its payroll treats mandatory service charges.
State and local minimum wages built inYesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Marketing claim; Homebase doesn't publish how it keeps the rates current.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, PAR, OthersSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Others: GoDaddy and Shopify.
Time trackingIncludedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)The free Basic plan covers one location with up to 10 employees; above that, the team plan (Essentials or higher) is required and is included in the cost.
SchedulingIncludedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Accounting integrationsUnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase's QuickBooks integration syncs employees and hours into QuickBooks Online Plus (for running payroll there); it doesn't document posting Homebase Payroll to an accounting system.
Payroll engineCheck (a payroll infrastructure provider)Source: Check Technologies (opens in a new tab)
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsThrough a partner brokerSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Health, dental and vision options for teams under 50 through integrated partners.
Workers' compensationPay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial termMonth to monthSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Month to month.
Automatic renewalMonth to monthSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Billed month to month.
Notice to avoid renewal0 daysSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Early termination feeNoneSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Month to month: no term and no early termination fee.
Early termination clauseNo early termination fee.Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise pricesUnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase's terms of service didn't load for us (the page needs JavaScript); we couldn't read its price-change clause.
Your records when you leaveUnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't publish how long you keep access to payroll records after you cancel.
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Around the clock it's an AI chat; live people answer 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central.
Live support hours a week84Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab)12 hours a day, every day, per the payroll page and the help center (Mon to Sun). An older comparison table on Homebase's site says 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Dedicated specialistYesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishPartlySource: Apple App Store (listing by Pioneer Works, Inc.) (opens in a new tab)The App Store listing includes Spanish (a hint only). Homebase's help article on changing the language requires a login, and pay stubs in Spanish aren't documented.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Apple App Store (listing by Pioneer Works, Inc.) (opens in a new tab)Not documented on a public Homebase page; the language help article requires a login.
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Apple App Store (listing by Pioneer Works, Inc.) (opens in a new tab)Not documented.
Support in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't publish Spanish-language support on its public pages.
Contract or terms in SpanishNoSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase's terms are published in English only.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)joinhomebase.com has no Spanish version (the /es path returns 404).

More about Homebase Payroll

Head-to-head comparisons

How we score