Restaurants

Payroll services for Restaurants

Running a restaurant is a non-stop job. You've got staff to schedule, tables to turn, and tips to track. Payroll shouldn’t slow you down. SurePayroll can help restaurant owners and managers handle payroll,
taxes, and tipped wages without the guesswork.

Whether you're managing multiple roles, sorting out tip credits, or adding new hires fast, we help make it easy. It only takes a few taps to pay your people and calculate your taxes.
SurePayroll can help take the complexity out of payroll with an easy-to-use, full-service platform that handles W-2s, 1099s, tax filings, and direct deposits automatically.

No stress. No spreadsheets. Just payroll on easy mode— built for organizations doing meaningful work.

Get started

Small business owner carefully stirs food in a pot in the kitchen of his restaurant.

Payroll built for speed and accuracy—just like your restaurant

Support for tipped wages and FICA tip credits

From tipped wages to tax filing, we’ll help make sure your reporting is in order so you can maximize your credits.

Multiple pay rates made simple

No spreadsheets or manual overrides. Pay employees different rates for different roles.

Payroll in your pocket

Run payroll in just three taps, right from your phone. You’re always in control, even on the go.

Restaurants

Payroll in restaurants isn’t simple—but it should be.

Between high turnover, variable schedules, tipped wages, and ever-changing labor laws, payroll in the restaurant world can feel like a second full-time job. You need more than just software—you need a payroll solution that understands how you actually work.

Here’s what most restaurant owners are up against:

Constant staffing changes

From front-of-house servers to back-of-house line cooks, onboarding never stops. You need tools that keep up.

Tipped wage challenges

Tip reporting, minimum wage alerts, and tip-to-wage reconciliation are high-stakes and high-effort. Get them wrong, and you risk costly errors.

Multiple pay rates

Bartenders picking up serving shifts? Line cooks working OT? You need flexible tools that don’t make payroll more complicated.

FICA tip credit confusion

The credit can help reduce your tax liability—but only if you calculate it correctly and file it properly.

Tight timelines

You don’t have time to sit at a desk for hours. You need payroll you can run from your phone—between lunch and dinner service.

Our Solution

SurePayroll is payroll for the real world—your world.

We don’t just support your business…we get it. That’s why we’ve built a restaurant-ready payroll solution that’s simple, affordable, and stress-free.

Here’s what you get with SurePayroll

Payroll should be stress-free. So we make sure it is.

See all features

Real stories from real SurePayroll customers

“Easy peezy! I was very fearful of changing from old payroll system, but I felt I had to get away from them. So did some research and arrived at SurePayroll. It was a breeze setting everything up ... I just processed my first payroll and it was great!”

Donna C.

SurePayroll Customer

“I have used SurePayroll for ten years. Their online program is excellent and very easy to use. It literally takes me one minute each week to enter my payroll data.”

Donald H.

SurePayroll Customer

25+ years

Trusted by small business owners across the U.S.

Make payroll easy for as little as $1 per day

Billed monthly. Cancel anytime.

Create your account in 30 seconds

You can get started right now! Just answer a few quick questions to get the ball rolling.

Set up your business (we can help!)

Add your company, employee, bank, and tax information. (Need help? We’ve got your back. And onboarding support is always free.)

Run payroll for free on alternate months

During your first 12 months with SurePayroll, every alternating month will be free. And since there’s no commitment, you can cancel anytime.

Get started

Frequently asked questions

Do employers pay taxes on tips?

Yes. Employers are required to pay their share of FICA taxes on reported tips. SurePayroll can help employers calculate payroll taxes and handle the filings for you.

What payroll system do restaurants use?

Restaurants typically use payroll systems that can handle tipped wages, variable pay rates, and shift work. SurePayroll can help with all of that—and it’s designed to be easy for small business owners to use.

Can SurePayroll handle multiple pay rates for one employee?

Yes. If, for example, someone works as both a host and a server, our system can support multiple roles and pay rates.

What should payroll cost be in a restaurant?

Payroll costs vary by location, team size, and business model, but many restaurants aim to keep payroll between 25%–35% of their gross revenue.

How do restaurants pay their employees?

Most restaurants pay hourly wages and distribute tips either nightly or with regular paychecks. SurePayroll can help you report tips and handle direct deposit or paper checks.

Related resources

Three colleagues use a tablet to review payroll services for their restaurant.

Get fast, easy payroll for your restaurant

Let SurePayroll help you handle paperwork. From tips to tax filings, we’ve got your back—so you can get
back to dinner service.

Get started in 30 seconds

Payroll services for Restaurants

Payroll built for speed and accuracy—just like your restaurant

Support for tipped wages and FICA tip credits

Multiple pay rates made simple

Payroll in your pocket

Payroll in restaurants isn’t simple—but it should be.

Constant staffing changes

Tipped wage challenges

Multiple pay rates

FICA tip credit confusion

Tight timelines

Here’s what you get with SurePayroll

Unlimited, fast payroll runs

Free direct deposit & automatic payroll scheduling

Reports and paystubs online 24/7

Payroll taxes filed and deposited—automatically

“Easy peezy! I was very fearful of changing from old payroll system, but I felt I had to get away from them. So did some research and arrived at SurePayroll. It was a breeze setting everything up ... I just processed my first payroll and it was great!”

“I have used SurePayroll for ten years. Their online program is excellent and very easy to use. It literally takes me one minute each week to enter my payroll data.”

Trusted by small business owners across the U.S.

Make payroll easy for as little as $1 per day

Create your account in 30 seconds

Set up your business (we can help!)

Run payroll for free on alternate months

Frequently asked questions

Do employers pay taxes on tips?

What payroll system do restaurants use?

Can SurePayroll handle multiple pay rates for one employee?

What should payroll cost be in a restaurant?

How do restaurants pay their employees?

Related resources

How to Switch Payroll Providers Mid-Year

What is FICA Tax? Rates & Limits

If Payday Falls on a Holiday, When Will I Get Paid?

Get fast, easy payroll for your restaurant

Payroll services for Restaurants

Payroll built for speed and accuracy—just like your restaurant

Support for tipped wages and FICA tip credits

Multiple pay rates made simple

Payroll in your pocket

Payroll in restaurants isn’t simple—but it should be.

Constant staffing changes

Tipped wage challenges

Multiple pay rates

FICA tip credit confusion

Tight timelines

Here’s what you get with SurePayroll

Unlimited, fast payroll runs

Free direct deposit & automatic payroll scheduling

Reports and paystubs online 24/7

Payroll taxes filed and deposited—automatically

“Easy peezy! I was very fearful of changing from old payroll system, but I felt I had to get away from them. So did some research and arrived at SurePayroll. It was a breeze setting everything up ... I just processed my first payroll and it was great!”

“I have used SurePayroll for ten years. Their online program is excellent and very easy to use. It literally takes me one minute each week to enter my payroll data.”

Trusted by small business owners across the U.S.

Make payroll easy for as little as $1 per day

Start today to claim special offer.*

Create your account in 30 seconds

Set up your business (we can help!)

Run payroll for free on alternate months

Frequently asked questions

Do employers pay taxes on tips?

What payroll system do restaurants use?

Can SurePayroll handle multiple pay rates for one employee?

What should payroll cost be in a restaurant?

How do restaurants pay their employees?

Related resources

How to Switch Payroll Providers Mid-Year

What is FICA Tax? Rates & Limits

If Payday Falls on a Holiday, When Will I Get Paid?

Get fast, easy payroll for your restaurant