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Is your payroll process costing you more than just money?

Is your payroll process costing you more than just money?

Insights from 500+ operators reveal the blueprint for more efficient payroll:
Insights from 500+ operators reveal the blueprint for more efficient payroll:

Benchmark your payroll process against the industry

Learn to optimize payroll to boost profits

Cut time spent on payroll by up to 90%

Scroll down to preview key highlights!

Payroll isn’t just a task—it’s the promise you make to your team

But outdated processes are a strategic bottleneck that impact your profits, morale, and growth.

In fact, 67% of restaurant operators spend more than 100 hours each year on payroll, with nearly a third spending more than that.

The Restaurant Payroll Benchmark is a simple framework to help you assess your process, fix what's broken, and turn payroll into a strategic advantage.

How does your payroll process stack up?

The 4 stages of payroll operations

From our survey of 500+ restaurant pros, we spotted four clear stages of tech adoption in the industry

Stage 1
“My compliance system
is a sticky note on my monitor.”
Stage 4
“My systems run themselves so that I can focus on my team and my guests.”
Stage 3
“I’m starting to connect the dots, but I still have to double-check everything.”
Stage 2
“I use software, but nothing talks to each other.”

The 4 stages of payroll operations

The journey from manual methods to integrated efficiency is a common one. Based on our industry research, we've identified four distinct stages of payroll operations.

Stage 1
"My compliance system is a sticky note on my monitor."

This hands-on stage is built on paper timesheets and manual data entry, giving you total control but exposing you to high risks and errors.

Stage 2
“I use software, but nothing talks to each other.”

You've adopted disconnected digital tools, but data must be moved manually through spreadsheets, creating a bridge of tedious work between systems.

Stage 3
“I’m starting to connect the dots, but I still have to double-check everything.”

Your tools begin to sync and data transfers are semi-automated, saving time but still requiring you to manually verify everything for accuracy.

Stage 4
“My systems run themselves so that I can focus on my team and my guests.”

A fully connected system automates everything from time tracking to payroll, freeing you up to focus on your team, guests, and growth.

*hover to reveal

Reliance on manual processes

Reliance on manual processes

Reliance on manual processes

32% of restaurants still track time with paper timesheets or notebooks, and 24% of restaurants still use manual tracking for breaks.

Reliance on paper in operations

Track time with paper timesheets or written logs
0
%
Manual tracking for breaks
0
%

 Is your payroll silently stalling your growth?

Reclaiming time and building a happy, connected team

A smooth, modern, and reliable payroll experience is foundational to team morale.

A smooth, modern, and reliable payroll experience is foundational to team morale.

A smooth, modern, and reliable payroll experience is foundational to team morale.

When employees are paid correctly and have easy access to their work-related information, it builds the trust that leads to long-term retention. By automating manual tasks and consolidating tools, operators get hours back every week.

90%

Operators report cutting their payroll processing time by as much as 90%.

The right tools make a priceless impact

"The integration from time punching to time clocks to payroll, all in one place—one login—is a huge win."

"The integration from time punching to time clocks to payroll, all in one place—one login—is a huge win."

"The integration from time punching to time clocks to payroll, all in one place—one login—is a huge win."

Josh Bishop
Owner of Wildfire + Fork & Fire

Turn payroll into your strategic advantage

Turn payroll into your strategic advantage

Wherever you land in the Payroll Benchmark, the path to a more efficient and profitable operation is about moving forward one stage at a time. It’s about replacing manual work with trusted automation to gain more control and reclaim valuable time.

This transformation is about building a business with a stronger foundation—where payroll is a 10-minute task, not a multi-hour burden, and where you can build a team that sticks around.

Wherever you land in the Payroll Benchmark, the path to a more efficient and profitable operation is about moving forward one stage at a time. It’s about replacing manual work with trusted automation to gain more control and reclaim valuable time.

This transformation is about building a business with a stronger foundation—where payroll is a 10-minute task, not a multi-hour burden, and where you can build a team that sticks around.

Ready to learn more?

Ready to learn more?

Download the guide to help you assess your process, fix what's broken, and turn payroll into a strategic advantage.

Download the guide to help you assess your process, fix what's broken, and turn payroll into a strategic advantage.

About this report

About this report

We surveyed 521 restaurant professionals from quick service to fine dining to understand how they use payroll in daily operations. Our analysis revealed four clear stages of technology adoption, which we validated through interviews with successful operators to ensure our model reflects real-world challenges and what works in today's restaurant industry.

We surveyed 521 restaurant professionals from quick service to fine dining to understand how they use payroll in daily operations. Our analysis revealed four clear stages of technology adoption, which we validated through interviews with successful operators to ensure our model reflects real-world challenges and what works in today's restaurant industry.

Report by D.J. Costantino
Graphics by Cassie Cassell

Report by D.J. Costantino
Graphics by Cassie Cassell