Toast Payroll Pricing: Cost, Features & Why Restaurants Choose It
Is Toast Payroll Worth the Cost for Your Restaurant?
Managing restaurant payroll is complicated—hourly wages, shift differentials, tip distribution, and compliance make it a time-consuming process. Toast Payroll & Team Management simplifies this by integrating payroll, taxes, and employee scheduling directly into the Toast POS system.
But is it worth the price? Let’s break down Toast Payroll pricing, features, and how it stacks up against other payroll solutions.
Toast Payroll Pricing Breakdown
1. New Restaurants Plan (Best for startups opening with Toast POS)
📌 Cost: $110/month + $4 per employee
📌 Includes:
- Full Toast POS software
- Lite versions of Toast Payroll & Toast Scheduling
- Business insurance & 401(k) options
💡 Best for: New restaurants that want one bundled system for POS + payroll. (Full pricing details)
2. Payroll Add-On for Existing Toast POS Users
📌 Cost: Custom pricing based on employee count
📌 Includes:
- Full-service payroll management (direct deposit, tax filing, W-2s, 1099s)
- Time tracking integration with Toast POS
- Automated tip distribution
💡 Best for: Restaurants already using Toast POS that want seamless payroll automation. (See more)
⚠️ Important: Toast Payroll is NOT included with standard Toast POS plans—it’s an add-on that increases overall costs.
Key Features of Toast Payroll
What makes Toast Payroll different from other payroll systems?
✅ Automated Payroll Processing → No manual calculations, no errors.
✅ Tip Distribution & Tax Compliance → Easily handles tip pooling and tax reporting.
✅ Integrated Scheduling & Time Tracking → Syncs with Toast POS to track shifts.
✅ Employee Self-Service Portal → Staff can access pay stubs & update details.
✅ Built for Restaurants → Unlike generic payroll software, Toast Payroll is designed specifically for hourly workers & tipped employees.
💡 Why it matters: Toast Payroll eliminates the hassle of managing restaurant-specific payroll complexities like overtime, shift swaps, and tip reporting.
How Toast Payroll Compares to Other Payroll Solutions
| Feature | Toast Payroll | Gusto | ADP | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for restaurants? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Integrates with POS? | ✅ Yes (Toast POS) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Square POS) |
| Automated tax filing? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Tip management? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Pricing | $110/mo + $4/employee | $40/mo + $6/employee | Custom pricing | $35/mo + $5/employee |
💡 Key Takeaways:
- Best for Toast POS users? → Toast Payroll wins (seamless integration).
- Cheaper for small businesses? → Square Payroll is more affordable.
-
Best for companies without a POS system? → Gusto or ADP are better options.
The Hidden Costs of Payroll & Why Protection Matters
🔍 Beyond payroll costs, hardware replacement is a major restaurant expense. If your Toast POS device is damaged, you’ll pay out-of-pocket for replacements—Toast’s warranty DOES NOT cover accidental damage. (Toast Warranty Info)
💰 Replacing a Toast Go 2 handheld costs $627 or more PER DEVICE.
🛡 Prevent this with: ✅ Shockproof Toast Go 2 Cases → Protects from drops & spills. (Shop now) ✅ Shatterproof Screen Protectors → Prevents cracked screens & costly repairs. (Get one here)
💡 Smart move: While automating payroll saves money on admin time, protecting your Toast POS devices saves you from expensive replacements.
Final Thoughts: Is Toast Payroll Worth It?
✅ If you’re using Toast POS already: YES—Toast Payroll makes managing wages, tips, and taxes effortless. ✅ If you’re a new restaurant: The $110/month plan may be a great all-in-one solution. ✅ If you’re looking for a budget option: Consider Square Payroll or Gusto instead.
🚀 Before upgrading, protect your Toast hardware from expensive repairs! Shop Toast POS Accessories