Best Payroll Software for Restaurants in 2026

Toast Payroll is the natural pick for a restaurant already running Toast point of sale. Sales, tips, hours, and schedules feed into payroll without manual re-entry, which cuts errors on tip reporting and overtime. Team management tools cover hiring, scheduling, and shift swaps in the same system.

Pricing varies by employee count, so get a quote for your team size, and note that POS plan costs are separate. If you do not use Toast POS, the integration advantage fades, and a standalone payroll tool may be cheaper. For Toast restaurants, though, the joined-up flow is a real time saver.

Square Payroll suits small cafes and quick-service restaurants already on Square. Timecards import from Square, tax filings are automated, and labor-cost reports help you see cost per shift. Pricing is listed at $35 per month plus $6 per team member for employees, with a separate contractor rate, which makes budgeting simple.

It is less of a full HR suite than Paycor or ADP, so larger teams may need extra tools for benefits and compliance depth. For a small team that wants payroll done cleanly without a large monthly fee, Square Payroll is a strong best payroll service for restaurants pick.

Gusto is a popular general payroll tool that works well for independent restaurants, especially those that want benefits, onboarding, and HR basics in the same place. Payroll runs are simple, tax filings are automated, and employees can access pay stubs and tax forms online. Pricing starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person in recent listings.

Tip handling and POS integration are less native than Toast or 7shifts, so you may need to import tip and time data carefully. If your restaurant values simple payroll plus benefits over deep POS integration, Gusto is an excellent, friendly choice.

Homebase is built for hourly teams, which makes it a natural fit for restaurants. You can schedule shifts, track time, message the team, manage tips, and run payroll from one app. A free plan covers basic scheduling and time tracking for small teams, with payroll on paid plans.

Paid tiers add cost as you add locations and features, so check what payroll actually includes at your tier. Reporting is also lighter than Restaurant365 or ADP. For a single restaurant that wants scheduling and payroll together without a large upfront fee, Homebase is a strong starting point.

7shifts started as a scheduling tool for restaurants and has grown into payroll and team management. Scheduling, labor-cost tracking, and tip pooling are its strengths, which matters for teams with rotating roles and shared tips. It integrates with common POS and payroll systems, and it offers its own payroll option in recent listings.

Check the current plan details, since scheduling, engagement, and payroll features sit on different tiers. For a team where the schedule drives everything, and tips are pooled, 7shifts is one of the best restaurant payroll software options to test first.

Restaurant365 suits multi-unit operators who need payroll, accounting, and inventory in one system. You can track labor cost by location, compare food cost, and roll reports up across units, which is hard to do with a payroll-only tool. POS integrations bring sales and labor data together for each site.

Pricing is quoted, and the system is larger than a small cafe needs. Setup also rewards time spent on chart of accounts and location structure. For a growing restaurant group, Restaurant365 can replace several separate tools and give a clearer view of profit by location.

ADP RUN is the payroll arm of ADP for small to mid-size businesses, with strong tax filing, compliance, and HR support. It suits restaurant groups that operate in several states, hire often, and need help with garnishments, benefits, and labor rules. Support and compliance resources are a real strength here.

Pricing is quoted and can be higher than Gusto or OnPay for a small single site. The system also covers a lot of ground, so small teams may find it more complex than needed. For a growing group that wants a well-known compliance partner, ADP RUN is a safe, capable choice.

Paycor offers payroll, HR, time, and scheduling tools for larger restaurant groups. It covers hiring, onboarding, time tracking, and payroll in one system, with reporting that helps managers track labor cost and compliance. That breadth suits a group with several locations and a dedicated manager team.

Pricing is quoted, and the system is sized for larger operations. A single small restaurant will likely find it too large and too costly. For a group that needs HR depth alongside payroll, Paycor is a strong contender against ADP RUN.

OnPay is praised for transparent pricing: $49 per month plus $6 per person in recent listings, with no tier maze to decode. Payroll, tax filings, and employee self-service are covered, and setup is simple for a small restaurant team. That clarity makes budgeting easy.

Benefits, HR, and POS integration depth are thinner than larger rivals, so check what you actually need before you choose on price alone. For an independent restaurant that wants honest pricing and clean payroll, OnPay is a strong value pick.