Restaurant Owners’ Guide to HR Software: How to Manage Hiring, Payroll, and Compliance with Ease

Main image courtesy of Chattanooga.

The restaurant scene is always booming no matter where you go. Whether it’s a chain restaurant, or even a small mom and pop diner, many people are willing to go out and spend money on good food for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For the employees that work for these restaurants, there are many ways to work hard and progress from a hostess, waitress, or even owning your own business. No matter what role you have in the restaurant business, it’s important to have a reliable HR software program to focus on customers’ happiness and the overall service and product.

Aiken House offers a wide variety of services to help small businesses get their start where we have over 17+ success stories to share. We’ll help you navigate through the many HR software programs for restaurants with important features including:

• Covers key HR pain points and how software can solve them
• Comprehensive guide that breaks down different software options
• Positions Aiken House as experts in small business success

The Restaurant Owner’s Checklist: Must-Have HR Software Features

The restaurant industry is always fast-paced, whether you’re running a small family-owned diner or a growing chain. With long hours, high employee turnover, and ever-changing labor laws, managing a restaurant team can be just as demanding as running the kitchen. In fact, the restaurant industry has an average turnover rate of 75%, meaning restaurant owners are constantly hiring, training, and onboarding new staff. On top of that, keeping up with payroll, scheduling, and compliance can feel like a never-ending task. That’s where having the right HR software can make all the difference—helping you stay organized, reduce errors, and keep your focus where it matters: on great food and service.

When looking for the best HR software for your restaurant, here are some key features to consider:

• Payroll Management – Automates wage calculations, tax filings, and direct deposits.
• Employee Scheduling – Helps create and adjust schedules, track shift swaps, and prevent staffing gaps.
• Time & Attendance Tracking – Lets employees clock in/out easily and integrates with payroll.
• Onboarding & Training – Simplifies paperwork, training modules, and compliance forms.
• Labor Law Compliance – Keeps you updated on minimum wage, overtime, and tip distribution rules.
• Benefits & Tip Management – Handles employee benefits and tip pooling for accurate reporting. Performance Tracking – Helps monitor employee progress and keep teams motivated.
• Mobile-Friendly Access – Allows employees to check schedules, request time off, and access HR tools from anywhere.
• Integration with POS & Accounting Systems – Syncs workforce and financial data for smooth operations.
• Affordability & Scalability – Fits your restaurant’s budget while growing with your business.

With the right HR software in place, restaurant owners can spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time focusing on what really matters—delivering great food and service every day.

10 HR Software Programs That Make Managing a Restaurant Easier

Finding the right HR software for your restaurant can save you hours of administrative work while ensuring your employees are paid accurately, scheduled properly, and on boarded seamlessly. Whether you’re running a single-location café or expanding into a multi-unit chain, the right HR solution will help keep things running smoothly.

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Here are 10 of the best HR software options designed to make managing a restaurant team easier.

1. Homebase

Website: Homebase

Homebase is a great all-in-one HR solution for restaurants, especially for small businesses looking for an affordable way to manage scheduling, payroll, and compliance. It offers a free plan that covers basic scheduling and time tracking, making it a solid choice for restaurants on a budget. The software allows restaurant owners to create schedules with a simple drag-and-drop interface while also giving employees mobile access to view their shifts, request time off, and swap schedules. Homebase also integrates with popular payroll providers, making it easy to process wages, calculate taxes, and ensure employees are paid on time. Its hiring and onboarding tools help restaurant owners bring new staff on board quickly, while compliance features ensure labor laws are followed.

2. 7shifts

Website: 7shifts

Built specifically for restaurants, 7shifts focuses on labor management and scheduling. With features that optimize labor costs, prevent overstaffing, and track overtime, restaurant owners can ensure they’re making smart scheduling decisions. Employees can easily swap shifts, check their schedules, and provide feedback on their work experience, improving engagement and team morale. The software also integrates with payroll providers like Gusto and ADP, streamlining payment processing. Compliance tracking tools help restaurant owners stay on top of labor laws, ensuring that overtime and break requirements are met. With its mobile-friendly interface, 7shifts makes scheduling and communication simple, keeping both managers and staff aligned.

3. Toast Payroll & Team Management

Website: Toast Payroll & Management Team

Toast Payroll & Team Management is an excellent choice for restaurants already using Toast POS, as it integrates seamlessly with the point-of-sale system. This software automates payroll, ensuring accurate tax calculations and direct deposits, while also simplifying tip pooling and distribution for fair payouts. Its onboarding tools allow new employees to complete necessary paperwork digitally, reducing administrative work for managers. By tracking labor costs in real-time, restaurant owners can make informed scheduling decisions and optimize staffing to align with peak business hours. Additionally, compliance features help restaurants keep up with wage laws and labor regulations, ensuring they stay in good standing with local and federal requirements.

4. Gusto

Website: Gusto

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Gusto is a well-rounded payroll and HR solution that works well for restaurants needing more than just scheduling and time tracking. It offers full-service payroll with automatic tax filings, making payday stress-free for restaurant owners. Gusto also includes benefits administration, allowing restaurant employees to access health insurance, 401(k) plans, and other perks. The onboarding process is streamlined with digital contracts and tax form completion, so new hires can start working with minimal paperwork delays. Additionally, Gusto integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, ensuring restaurant finances stay organized. With tip reporting features built-in, restaurants can remain compliant with wage laws and ensure employees are properly compensated.

For us at Aiken House, we love Gusto’s services that make our HR tasks so much easier. Sign up for Gusto using our link to get $100 off your first payroll!

5. Paycor

Website: Paycor

Paycor is designed for restaurants looking to scale, making it a strong choice for businesses with multiple locations or franchises. Its payroll and tax filing services are comprehensive, handling everything from direct deposits to automated tax calculations. Paycor also includes recruiting and onboarding tools that simplify the hiring process, helping restaurant owners bring in new talent quickly. One of its standout features is workforce analytics, which provides insights into labor costs and employee performance, enabling restaurant managers to make data-driven decisions. Compliance tracking ensures that restaurants meet wage and hour regulations across different states, making Paycor a great option for multi-location businesses.

6. ADP RUN

Website: ADP RUN

ADP is one of the most well-known payroll and HR providers, and ADP RUN is tailored specifically for small to mid-sized businesses, including restaurants. This software makes payroll processing seamless, with tax automation and direct deposit options that reduce the risk of errors. ADP RUN also includes tip management tools, ensuring accurate tracking and compliance with minimum wage laws. Beyond payroll, the platform offers employee benefits administration, including health, dental, and retirement plans. Time and attendance tracking features allow restaurant owners to monitor shift hours and prevent overtime abuse. The scalability of ADP RUN makes it a solid choice for both independent restaurants and those looking to expand.

7. Deputy

Website: Deputy

Deputy specializes in employee scheduling and workforce management, making it perfect for restaurants with fluctuating staff and shift-based work. The software offers smart scheduling tools that take labor laws and sales forecasts into account, ensuring restaurant owners optimize staffing levels while keeping labor costs in check. Employees can clock in and out with the mobile app, while real-time attendance tracking helps managers handle last-minute scheduling changes. Deputy also integrates with payroll systems, streamlining wage calculations and reducing administrative work. The platform’s compliance tools help restaurant owners stay on top of overtime regulations and break laws, preventing costly fines.

8. Square Team Management

Website: Square Team Management

For restaurants using Square POS, Square Team Management is a natural extension of their existing system. This software simplifies employee scheduling, time tracking, and payroll processing—all from the Square dashboard. Employees can clock in and out directly through Square POS, and managers can monitor labor costs in real-time. The software also handles tip and commission tracking, ensuring that staff receive accurate payouts. With automated payroll processing, Square Team Management helps restaurant owners stay on top of tax calculations and direct deposits. For small restaurants already using Square’s ecosystem, this software is a seamless way to integrate HR functions with daily operations.

9. BambooHR

Website: BambooHR

BambooHR is a full-service HR software that goes beyond payroll and scheduling, making it a great fit for restaurants focused on hiring, training, and employee development. Its onboarding tools allow new hires to complete paperwork electronically, reducing the burden on managers. Performance management features help restaurant owners track employee growth, set goals, and provide feedback. Time tracking and payroll integration ensure accurate wage calculations, while compliance tools help keep restaurants aligned with labor laws. For growing restaurant businesses looking to build strong teams, BambooHR offers a robust solution.

10. Workforce

Website: Workforce

Workforce is a powerful HR software designed for businesses that need advanced workforce management tools at an affordable price. It offers smart scheduling features that analyze historical sales data to help restaurant owners optimize labor costs. Automated time tracking ensures that employee hours are accurately recorded, reducing payroll discrepancies. The software integrates with payroll systems to streamline wage processing while ensuring compliance with labor laws. Workforce analytics provide detailed insights into staffing trends, helping restaurant owners make data-driven hiring and scheduling decisions. Workforce.com is an excellent choice for multi-location restaurants and growing franchises looking for an efficient, scalable HR solution.

No matter the size of your restaurant, having the right HR software can help streamline operations, save time on administrative tasks, and ensure compliance with labor laws. Whether you need an affordable solution like Homebase, a restaurant-specific tool like 7shifts, or a full-service HR platform like Gusto, there’s an option that fits your needs. The next step? Finding a growth partner that helps you manage not just HR, but the future of your business—which is exactly where Aiken House comes in.

Aiken House: More Than Software—A Growth Partner for Your Business

Getting started with your restaurant business, or startup of any sorts can seem like an intimidating task, but it’s important to know that there are people to help you throughout the process–like Aiken House! Our team at Aiken House can help you with everything your business needs from website development, branding, marketing, software design, or even for some friendly advice.

If you want some help on getting your business started, consider scheduling a consultation with us today!

While you’re waiting, check out the top ten best HR software programs that help restaurants to run smoothly!