March 2022 – Page 4 – Management Library

March 3, 2022November 23, 2022

The 8 Best Restaurant Payroll Software Options in 2023

Person looking at a payroll software on a tab device

One of the biggest expenses for any restaurant is payroll. Modern payroll software platforms for restaurants include features that do the math for you, file your taxes, manage benefits, and even help with hiring new workers. Check out our list and see which of the best restaurant payroll software can help you save money in 2023.

8 Best Restaurant Payroll Software – Quick View

Best Overall – OnPay
Best Full-Service Platform – Gusto
Best for Small Businesses – Paychex
Best for Worry-Free Taxes – Quickbooks Payroll
Easiest To Use – Square Payroll
Best for Large Businesses – ADP Run
Best Option for HR – Paycor
Best Value – Wave Payroll

OnPay

$36/month + $4/employee

E-file and pay

Custom reports, export reports to PDF, spreadsheet, or accounting software

All options included in plan

Library of support docs, plus business-hours phone, chat, and email support

Gusto

Core – $39/month + $6/employee per month

Complete – $39/month + $12/employee per month

E-file and pay

Custom reports, Workforce cost totals, Anonymous feedback surveys

Next-day direct deposit, paycards, and Gusto Cashout

Guides, tutorials, and phone support

Paychex

Paychex Flex Essentials – $39/month + $5 per employee.

Inquire for other plans

Pro and above can calculate, file, and pay taxes

Standard payroll analytics

Direct deposit

Phone support

Quickbooks payroll

Core – $45/mo + $4/employee

(Discounts often available)

E-file and pay

Some reports

Direct deposit and checks

Phone, chat, docs

Square payroll

Employees and Contractors – $35/month + $5/employee
Contractors only – $5/employee per month

E-file and pay

Basic reports

All options

Live support + docs

ADP Run

Starts at $59/month + $4 per employee

E-file and pay

Create your own reports

Paycards extra

Support docs

Paycor

Basic – $99/month + $5/employee

E-file and pay

Create your own reports

Direct deposits and paycards

Phone, chat, docs

Wave payroll

$20/month + $6/employee or contractor

Some states E-file and pay

Basic reports

Direct deposit and check

Chat and docs

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – OnPay. The service offers a straightforward price plan and a complete slate of features. It does that while also offering great customer service. It’s a hard combo to beat, making it the best payroll software for restaurants.

The 8 Best Payroll Software for Restaurants

Let’s take a look at some of the best restaurant payroll software options out there.

OnPay

From $36/month

★★★★★

4.6

Visit

OnPay provides both HR and payroll software for a single rate, one of several payroll providers who do so. On offer are a standard slate of features, like unlimited pay runs, services to manage payroll taxes, and direct deposits.

Reporting tools are also available, as is the ability to export payroll data. Additionally, OnPay has several tools aimed specifically at restaurateurs such as minimum wage tip makeup and overtime calculations.

Accurate tip calculations, even with OT.
Free help setting up integrations and migrating.
HR and business management tools included.

Short list of integrations.

Gusto

$6 to $149

★★★★★

3.8

Visit

Gusto isn’t solely a piece of restaurant payroll software, but it does offer many helpful payroll features, such as automatic payroll tax calculations. Support for all 50 states is offered, as well as multi-state payroll processing. Also, even the most basic service level comes with unlimited pay runs.

With Gusto, you’ll also get a number of other useful features. It can help you manage your employees’ benefits, as well helping you hire new employees. Gusto can also help you distribute and evaluate satisfaction surveys. If you’re interested in Gusto, see our review on Gusto for more information on its features and pricing.

Unlimited payroll runs.
Overtime alerts.
Slate of tools for easy hiring.

More expensive option.

Paychex

$39

★★★★★

2.4

Visit

Paychex offers a wide range of subscription levels, with specific features added at an individual cost. Features that come at an additional cost include tax management tools, wage garnishment services, and state unemployment insurance. Some features, like paycards for your employees, can be added without additional cost.

Unlike some other options, Paychex doesn’t come with tools for time tracking and benefits. However, it does integrate with apps that can help. Additionally, you can find help at physical locations around the United States.

Find help nationwide at brick-and-mortar locations.
Run payroll from the mobile app.
Find tax credits for a percentage of return.

Lots of features have additional fees.

Quickbooks payroll

$45 to $125

★★★★★

3.2

Visit

Intuit has been around for decades and many people are familiar with its accounting or tax software platforms. Quickbook is not specifically restaurant payroll software, but it does provide many useful features, like automated payroll processing, tax management, and a guaranteed accurate payroll.

Part of a wider suite of accounting tools.
Expert-assisted setup available.
Lots of nice features included with Core package.

Some features reserved for other Quickbook products.

Square Payroll

From $35

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

Square payroll offers a standard menu, including things like payroll tax payments, and the ability to manage benefits. The software also helps restaurant owners, in particular, address a common headache: there are several options for common tip-splitting arrangements.

There’s really only one tier of service, so everyone gets the same access to Square’s customer support team. Square offers other products for accounting, reporting, and a variety of other functions, but these aren’t included in their payroll software. Read our Square payroll review for an in-depth analysis of this software.

Single, low fee for all features.
Live support for account setup.
Several options for tip-splitting.

Some features saved for other Square products.

ADP Run

From $59

★★★★★

3.3

Visit

ADP may be familiar to restaurant owners, as well as other business people, as a well-known provider of financial tech. They offer a slate of payroll features, with a menu of add-ons that can be matched to your specific budget. For example, time tracking isn’t included with the basic payroll software, but is available with the Workforce Management add-on.

ADP Run is not specifically restaurant payroll software, but it may work well for larger businesses. In particular, the web-based payroll service means it’s easy to run payroll for multiple locations.

Tax filing error detection and alerts.
Tailored plan and price.
Automated reporting of new hires.

Pricing is not transparent.

Paycor

$99 to $199

★★★★★

3.4

Visit

Paycor offers bundles of business software, not just payroll software. As a result, it offers a lot more than just payroll management, potentially including help with onboarding, a range of analytics options, and other HR functions.

It does offer a lot of payroll tools, too. The software will help with payroll taxes, garnishments, and provides an employee self-service portal. It can also provide things like a FICA credit tip report, to help you find tax savings.

30+ years serving restaurants.
Employee self-service portal
In-app prompts for regulatory support.

Expensive option.

Wave Payroll

$20 to $35

★★★★★

2.6

Visit

Wave payroll software offers many of the same features other options do, though in some ways it’s a bare-bones payroll solution. It does offer full-service payroll in some states, including tax calculations and filing. In most of the US, however, you’ll have to file for yourself, though the service has a correspondingly lower price.

Wave doesn’t have some fancier features, like running a FICA tip credit report to look for additional savings or the ability to pay employee wages using a card. However, overall you get everything you need at an affordable price. Read the Wave payroll review for more information.

Less expensive option.
Pairs with free invoicing and accounting software.
Employee self-service portal.

No auto-filing taxes in most states.

Choosing the Best Restaurant Payroll Software

The restaurant industry is always demanding, but the last few years have been particularly tough. A robust payroll software system can help you pay employees, of course, but the best restaurant payroll software can do a lot more.

A full-service payroll solution will calculate and fill all your payroll-related taxes for you, for example, saving time and money. The software can also help you manage employee benefits, hiring, and even help you find tax credits and other savings.

Managing Payroll Taxes

One of the most important functions restaurant payroll software fulfills is payroll tax calculation and management. Tax filings are complex and payroll software can help sort through them, as well as automatic, electronic tax payments, which can free up a manager’s time.

‘Full-service’ tax services usually include automated payroll tax filing of tax forms for both state and federal taxes. Some options will also take care of new hire reporting for you, as well as calculating taxes owed on credit card tips, or ways to free up money like FICA tip credit reporting.

Time Tracking

There are a few options that offer everything, including restaurant payroll software, time tracking, employee scheduling, and more. It may be more common for a payroll system to integrate with other apps. One thing to note is that an online payroll service may help you store employee hours and payroll records.

Benefits Management

Restaurant payroll is more likely to include a need to manage employee benefits than in the past, so it can be wise to find software that includes tools to help. Many options will include health benefits administration as an optional add-on, though you can find it included in the base price of some platforms.

Hiring and Onboarding

Many options for payroll software also include HR software. Some software may fulfill a few HR functions, like notifying government agencies of new hires. Others also include tools for training new employees, as well as advertising and hiring new talent.

Read: Best applicant tracking systems for small businesses

Payment Management

Obviously, the most important task of the restaurant payroll system is payroll management, making sure everyone gets the money they earned, with the correct deductions. Employee payroll has multiple aspects, from getting employees’ actual pay to them, to managing child support wage garnishments and other special situations.

There are a number of features that are more or less standard, such as a direct deposit into a bank account. Customizable payroll plans include multiple pay rates, a selectable pay period, and even the ability to run mobile payroll. Most options will also offer minimum wage alerts, to notify you if an employee drops under minimum wage requirements, particularly useful for restaurants.

Other options that are available, but not standard, include things like an employee self-service portal, where employees can fill out paperwork, see online pay stubs, and more.

Analytics and Reporting

There are many reporting tools that can be considered part of payroll management to help you reduce costs or identify payroll problems. Most restaurant payroll software includes some basic reporting options, or the opportunity to build your own reports. The best payroll system for your business will include all the analytics reporting options you need to be a success.

Read: How to conduct a payroll audit

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Restaurant Payroll Software

How Do Restaurants Do Payroll?

Restaurant payroll software has to be fairly sophisticated in some ways, mostly because of the complexity of paying servers in the US. Tipping is considered income, of course, so it has to be taxed. Additionally, it can also count toward a worker’s minimum wage requirements. Tipped employees can be paid less than the minimum wage, as long as the difference is made up by the tips they make.

As a result, the best payroll software for restaurants includes things like alerts about minimum wage earnings, or help finding tax credits, like with FICA tip credit reports.

What Types of Software Are Used in Restaurants?

Many different types of software may be used in a restaurant. There is the point-of-sale system used for placing orders and taking payments. As we’ve seen, there can be a range of different types of payroll software, as well programs helping with tax management, time tracking, or accounting software. Most restaurants are small businesses, so everything has to be handled in-house.

What Is the Most Popular Payroll Software?

There are a wide range of options and it’s hard to say which is the most popular or best restaurant payroll software. Some are better options for small business owners, while others cater to franchises. Also, not all payroll software is suitable for restaurants. Even the best free payroll software may not have all the necessary features

What Percentage Should Payroll Be in a Restaurant?

The cost of labor in a restaurant can vary widely, with payroll usually making up 25% to 40% of revenue. Your payroll system may be able to help you save some money, but if you’re not sure how to do payroll, find an accountant to help.

Conclusion: Best Restaurant Payroll Software

Every moment you spend in the back running payroll is time you’re not on the floor making sure things are running smoothly. Find the right restaurant payroll software for your needs so you can spend more time putting out fires and less time doing paperwork.

March 3, 2022November 23, 2022

How To Start an Online Store in 2023

Thanks to modern technology, starting an online store has never been easier. Shipping companies make it possible to get products anywhere in the world in a flash. Web hosting platforms educate even the untrained in how to build the website of their dreams. Follow the steps below to learn how to start an online store yourself.

Step 1: Choose Your Concept/Product

Before you start building your ecommerce business, you need to have something to sell. It’s essential to approach your online store with a unique selling position. What is it about your merchandise that will stand out among the competition? Of course you’d rather sell products you’re excited about, but you don’t want your business to get lost in the vast reaches of the internet.

When choosing what you want your own products to be, consider the following questions:

Are you going to sell something physical or offer a digital product?
If you’re making it yourself, can you keep up with demand?
Can you locate a quality manufacturer for components or the product itself?
Do you have the space to keep inventory if you have multiple products?
How narrow or broad will your product category be?
Is this a product you’ll still be excited about down the road?

Before spending any money on your online business, make sure that you’ve researched and tested your concept. Don’t hesitate to bounce the idea off a few friends or others who will give honest feedback.

Step 2: Create a Business Plan

As you’re working through the details of your store, you’ll need to make a business model that encompasses the costs that will appear along the way. A sound business strategy goes a long way toward lessening bumps down the road.

Register Your Business

Depending on the state (or country) you’re setting up in, check to see if there are any business or sales tax licenses. Each region can have very different regulations when it comes to ecommerce stores and how you store inventory.

Should you bring a never-before-seen product to the internet, you’ll want to see if there’s anything patentable. Don’t let your great idea get ripped off because you didn’t take the time to protect it.

Whether you’re starting out solo or with a friend, you’ll need to define your business structure. For example, sole proprietorships link your business and personal assets together, whereas a limited liability company (LLC) lets you keep the two separate.

Partnerships are set up for two individuals starting a business together. Within a partner agreement, you’ll define each of your roles and responsibilities. If this process seems daunting, consider bringing in a business lawyer to help with the fine print.

Count the Costs

Your product is going to come from somewhere. Even if you make it with your own two hands, there will be costs associated with the materials you’ll need for a finished item.

Dropshipping or shipping (if you don’t pass costs to the consumer)
Domain name
Web hosting platform
Sales tax and income tax
Salaries for additional help

After you’ve chosen a shipping method, there may be fees for a dropshipper or even to send directly if you don’t pass along those costs to the consumer.

There will be recurring fees to keep your domain name and hosting platform up and running. These costs depend on the plans you choose for a site builder or web host you use to create your website.

Quarterly, you’re going to have to pay sales tax and income tax on what’s coming in and going out. Some tools can help you understand these expenses and keep you advised on what you’ll have to pay when the time comes.

You might be a one-person operation as you bring your own business online, but that may not always be the case. Should you hire additional help, you’ll need to budget for that as well.

Costs associated with starting an online store

Step 3: Come Up With a Name

Once you’ve worked out the details of what your online store is going to sell, you need to build the actual ecommerce website. To do so, you’ll need to create a business name that will represent you online. Make sure it’s something catchy and unique that will stick in a consumer’s head so they can remember it the next time they’re in the market for your product.

With a business name established, your ecommerce site will also need a domain name. This domain name is the unique access point to your own site and must be different from all other websites out there. Choose something that compliments your name and brand.

Since domain names have to be unique, your first choice may not be available. Should this happen, play with hyphens, move words around, or spell out numbers. Keep it simple, ideally to three words or less.

Step 4: Choose Your Online Platform

With a domain name in tow, you’ll need to make use of a web hosting service to turn your domain into a new online store. Some of the best Ecommerce platforms include a domain name with your plan, but you might prefer the do-it-yourself route.

Most website builders offer free trials, so you can try them before you buy. Each platform comes with different tiers of service, so study the features of each to determine which works best with your online store. Be sure to pick something that can grow with your small business.

Shopify

Shopify is a well-known ecommerce platform that doubles as an online store builder. Once you’ve created an account, you can choose from pre-constructed templates or build your own. Since you’re one of many online stores on Shopify, take the time to make yours stand out as much as possible.

WordPress + WooCommerce

WordPress, with the WooCommerce extension, is another website builder to consider. While the platform itself doesn’t cater solely to online shopping, WooCommerce adds all the tools you’ll need to create content for your online store.

Wix

Wix similarly has an ecommerce builder that online businesses can use to sculpt the site of their dreams. Although Wix is another hosting service that covers a range of niches, it has robust sales features for selling online.

Choosing the DIY method? Bluehost offers some of the lowest prices for web hosting–starting at $4.95 per month.

Step 5: Build Your Site

Your website speaks loudly to potential customers, and a successful online store will make it as appealing as possible. Give yourself a unique identity to share who you and your products are while increasing the customer experience. First impressions are crucial and help develop a sense of brand loyalty.

Don’t immediately shy away from paid templates or taking the time to build (or program) the site yourself. Any personal touches will go a long way toward that unique appeal you need to succeed.

When building your site, determine your target audience and work around that niche. This target market should be an area you’re familiar with that you can inject your own personality into.

Keep Mobile Users in Mind

There’s been a trend of more sales coming from mobile devices, and you don’t want to neglect this group of shoppers. Not every template or style available on your site builder will run or look good on a smartphone or tablet, so be sure to choose one that offers mobile-responsive sites, which automatically resize and optimize your site for mobile.

Add Products and Set Pricing

With a template created, it’s time to start building product pages. When users shop online, they want to be able to quickly navigate to whatever they’re looking for and then be on their way. This is an important point to remember when deciding on a layout.

Your product descriptions need to capture the essence of what you’re selling in a minimal number of words. You’ll be lucky if potential customers get through a paragraph or two of text before losing interest. To go along with your concise description, quality photos are essential since customers can’t view things on a rack or try them on.

When first starting out, it may be better to start with a small number of items to test the proverbial waters. This will also help with initial inventory management. As you find success, you can open up your site to a more diverse selection of wares.

Step 6: Set Up Payment Methods

Now that your online business is fleshed out with the items you’re going to sell, you’ll need to choose how you’ll be accepting payments. While often overlooked, set the currency to use for each purchase. Your e-commerce business may reach international shores, and you don’t want any confusion about pricing.

The online store builders referenced earlier provide ways for customers to pay you. Depending on which hosting plan you choose, you may be able to accept payments from a check or bank transfer directly from the platform.

Customers will likely prefer to use a credit or debit card for purchases, so having this option available is key. For credit card payments, you’ll want to link up your site to a secure payment gateway. These payment gateways add the security necessary to process card charges online.

The most popular options to consider are:

Stripe
Square
PayPal

It’s not a bad idea to give customers access to multiple payment gateways, as your clients may have a preference. Having multiple options is also a benefit in the event one of the gateways goes down. Be sure to verify that your hosting platform integrates with whichever gateways you choose.

Step 7: Think About How To Ship Products

If your ecommerce store is selling a physical item, you’ll want to work out shipping details for getting the product into your customers’ hands. There are two routes to pick from here.

Dropshipping

You can hire a dropshipping company to handle all your shipping for you. These businesses will take a portion off the top of each sale but will deliver your product for you. Alternatively, you can choose products from a marketplace, such as AliExpress, to sell in your online store and never have to store inventory.

Ship It Yourself

Should you wish to handle your deliveries yourself, you’ll need to be able to handle any and all demands. You’ll also have to set shipping costs and work with your preferred shipping provider to ensure items arrive at the right location and on time.

Step 8: Ready for Launch

With all these steps complete, your ecommerce website is finally on the verge of launch. Run through your links, check product descriptions, and make sure everything works as it should.

With one last click of a button, publish your online store. Congrats, your site is now live! You’re on your way to making your first sale.

Step 9: Create Online Marketing Strategies

Whether or not your products start flying off the shelves, you can’t rest on your laurels. You’ll need a good marketing strategy to retain existing customers and keep bringing in new ones.

Social Media Marketing

For new businesses, social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are the biggest paid marketing channels to promote through. Each advertising platform offers inexpensive ways to get the word out about your site. Strategic social media posts can pique interest in no time flat. Plus, you can sell products through your social media channels.

Offer Incentives

Shoppers will admittedly come and go, but don’t overlook what you can do with your marketing strategy. A structured email marketing campaign can remind people just what they’re missing. Getting the word out about daily deals or flash sales will likely bring clients back and boost the customer lifetime value (CLV) of your site.

Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Many customers will use search engines, such as Google or Bing, to find your site for the first time. Focusing on your site’s SEO can make all the difference between your site and a competitor’s simply because one of them is optimized in Google and the other isn’t.

Step 10: Allow for Customer Feedback

Customers are the lifeblood of your business, and a wise business owner will listen to what they have to say. Be sure to create a means to hear back from your shoppers, whether it be from a survey or a place for reviews. You may glean helpful tips to improve aspects of your business that would have gone otherwise overlooked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an online store?

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to begin your online journey for free, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either. If you’re willing to do all the work yourself, you can get by spending only the funds you need for a domain, hosting, and fees surrounding licensing and taxes.

How do I become a successful online retailer?

To be successful in the online world, you need to identify an untapped niche or find a way to set yourself apart from the competition. After building a unique space, a solid marketing strategy can bring in customers new and old.

How do I start an online store with no money?

Trying to start an online business with no money is a bit of a pipe dream, but there are ways to curb costs. Some hosting platforms offer a free service with limited functionality to help get things off the ground. You may even be able to get a free domain through the same platform.

Keep in mind that free may be beneficial in the short term, but you’ll be very limited in what you can do. This can have a dramatic effect on long-term potential and your ability to carve out a unique space.

How do beginners sell online?

It’s possible to sell just about anything on the market if you have the means to make it. Even someone lacking expertise in web design can build an ecommerce site with the help of templated hosting platforms. Pre-built marketing campaigns can elevate your success and keep customers coming back for more.

Final Thoughts on How to Start an Online Store

Ecommerce only continues to grow over time as more people turn to the internet for product consumption. The online space makes it possible for beginners to have success selling products without the need for a costly physical space.

Turning your business idea into a thriving online store isn’t an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be difficult either. If you’re willing to put in the work, the steps covered in this article can set you on the path to a profitable business in short order.

March 2, 2022February 9, 2023

All About Agile Project Management

Workflow strategy method illustrated by gears

Agile project management (APM) is a project philosophy that breaks projects down into iterations or sprints. The purpose is to produce bigger ROI, regular interactions with clients and end-users, and improved delivery of product features.

Today, Agile is used in virtually every industry from software development to real estate. Keep reading to learn more about Agile project management, how it can help projects succeed, and the different project management software that uses Agile today.

Key Takeaways: Agile Project Management

Agile project management (APM) offers a flexible and innovative approach to managing projects by breaking them down into sprints.
Agile projects help reduce risk and improve overall product quality by encouraging feedback at each stage of the process.
In 2001, Agile was started by a group of 17 software engineers who created the Agile Manifesto, a set of values and principles that govern Agile.
Agile project management has produced seven frameworks. They are Kanban, Scrum, Crystal, Lean, FDD, Extreme Programming, and the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM).
Of the seven Agile frameworks, Kanban and Scrum are the most widely used.

What Is Agile Project Management?

Agile project management (APM) is a project management method that divides work into sprints to help reduce risk and improve overall product quality with an open feedback loop between the project owner, team members, and customer.

Definition of APM

Used by product owners and managers worldwide, Agile project management offers a flexible and innovative approach to managing a project by breaking the project down into stages, also known as sprints. It is considered a flexible, iterative design and build process that does not rely on a pre-planned process, executed as the situation demands.

One major difference between the Agile framework and Agile workflow versus other methodologies is in its approach to adaptability to build projects and manage projects. Other project management methods conduct all planning before the project starts.

On the other hand, Agile project management methods rely on an iterative nature that accepts changes mid-way throughout the process with a face-to-face conversation between the project manager, scrum team, and clients.

How Does Agile Project Management Work?

In a typical Agile development cycle, there are several small cycles or sprints. Each phase contributes to project completion and comprises a product and sprint backlog. A sprint backlog consists of a list of tasks to be completed, revolving around planning, design, testing, and release. With every sprint, new features are added to each product.

According to VersionOne’s 13th Annual State of Agile Report, “97 percent of respondents reported that their organizations use Agile development methods—up from 80 percent in 2011”.

History of Agile

The earliest instances of Agile occurred around 1913, starting with Ford’s first Michigan automotive plant that reinvented the process of manufacturing with the first moving assembly line. The line assembled an entire vehicle from scratch, cutting the time spent building a car from half a day to less than two hours.

In the late 1970s with the advent of personal computers, consumer demand for electronic products hit an all-time high. This spurred the demand for effective project management systems for a customer’s competitive advantage. However, it continued to see a disparity between the client’s requirements and delivered projects with a nod to creating comprehensive documentation over client satisfaction.

In 2001, a group of 17 software developers led by Martin Fowler and Jim Highsmith created the Agile Manifesto, a document that drilled down four key values and Agile processes essential to project management and Agile projects.

In addition to the four key values, there were 12 additional principles based on customer satisfaction, streamlined delivery of the final product, dividing the project into sprints, and other Agile development methods its founders thought were critical towards completing a project.

Today, there are seven different Agile project management methodologies born out of Agile project management, which include Kanban, Scrum, Crystal, Lean, FDD, Extreme Programming, and the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM) based on Rapid Application Development (RAD).

Why Choose Agile Project Management?

There are four major reasons for managing projects using Agile:

High product quality.
High customer satisfaction.
Reduced risk.
Better and faster ROI.

High Product Quality

One of the major reasons for choosing Agile project management over other methodologies is high product quality. High product quality takes into account demands by all stakeholders. Regular quality control testing is done throughout the project development process.

High Customer Satisfaction

High customer satisfaction is another reason to choose Agile project management over other methodologies. This high customer satisfaction refers to periodic updates made to each customer, continuous and fast delivery of each sprint, and accepting change requests by the customer.

Reduced Risk

Using the Agile methodology in any project reduces the risk of exceeding budget and surpassing a deadline. This is done with improved communication between the project owner, stakeholders (developers), and the client. There are daily or weekly scrum meetings that have each team member asking what they have achieved since the last meeting.

Agile also encourages proper risk assessment and response. For example, many software development teams classified risk by assigning a value to each risk to determine which ones to prioritize. These are known as risk burndown charts or risk probability and impact matrices. There are also different response strategies depending on the risk, such as avoidance, exploitation, transfer/sharing, mitigating/enhancing, and accepting.

With Agile methodologies, collecting feedback early on and incorporating quality assurance testing throughout the project all contribute to reduced risk.

Better and Faster ROI

One of the biggest benefits of an Agile approach is turning in a better and faster ROI for all types of projects, including software development projects. A reason for this is due to Agile’s iterative process, where the first iteration or sprint can offer new functionality that increases ROI. This is in contrast to waiting until the end of the project to introduce a new feature.

In an Agile environment, better ROI also extends to reduced costs, defects and delays. Spring cycles make it easy to identify and repair defects before they make it onto production.

Principles and Values of Agile Project Management

According to the Agile Manifesto, the four key values for Agile management are:

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
A working product is more important than comprehensive documentation.
Customer collaboration comes before contract negotiation.
Responding to change is preferred over following a plan.

Agile project management focuses on the importance of client communication and keeping the customer involved in all project phases. This is in stark contrast to the Waterfall development method that allows customers to provide feedback before and after work is completed.

Read: Waterfall vs Agile Methodology: What’s Better for Your Project?

Agile processes harness change, and unforeseen circumstances could include a revision to the final project scope, demand for extra features, and other customer-led feedback that alters time, cost, and resources.

Popular Agile methodologies adhere to the following 12 principles:

Customer satisfaction through continuous delivery of the product.
Divide large chunks of work into smaller and achievable tasks for quicker completion and easier integration of changes.
Adhere to the decided timeframe for the delivery of a working product.
Stakeholders must collaborate frequently to make sure the project is moving in the right direction.
Create a supportive environment to motivate team members and encourage them to get the job done.
Prefer face-to-face communication over other methods.
Working software is the primary measure of progress.
Try to maintain a constant pace indefinitely for development.
Maintain the quality of the product by paying attention to details, leading to technical excellence.
Maintain simplicity.
Promote self-organization in the team.
Regularly reflect on your performance for continuous improvement.

All of these project management Agile principles pay a nod to disciplined Agile delivery over traditional project management methods, dividing large volumes of work into smaller, manageable chunks, and getting buy-in from all stakeholders. It also believes in a customer-centric approach that demands face-to-face communication and gives team members a platform to speak on proposed changes.

Despite the changes to work, the goal continues to be producing all final deliverables, as evident by its “working software is the primary measure of progress” principle.

Lastly, a key Agile methodology principle is continuous improvement through iteration, where all mistakes are recognized and learned from. Many project managers may decide to engage team members in one-on-one or group sessions for this purpose.

6 Phases of Agile Project Management

The six phases/stages of Agile project management are:

Concept.
Inception.
Iteration.
Release.
Maintenance.
Retirement.

Concept

The Concept phase of Agile project management refers to determining project scope. In this stage, the product owner discusses all requirements and deliverables with the client, prioritizing a list of features in order of most to least important. All time, resources, and costs are factored in with a thorough and detailed analysis.

Inception

Inception in Agile project management refers to assembling the right development team to proceed. Team members will be identified and given all the tools and resources added to start the design process. The design process can incorporate mock-ups and light sketches of product infrastructure, taking input from the product owner, team members, and client. Consider this stage the brainstorming section.

Iteration

Iteration is the longest phase in Agile project management. The first iteration or sprint will produce a bare-bones foundation, whereas future iterations will focus on additional features and improvements. Remember, the goal of Agile product development is to conduct work in short cycles or sprints, with each sprint allowing enough time to gather feedback, assess new risks, and guide future iterations.

Release

Release in Agile project management refers to quality assurance. All checks are in place to evaluate the product and check for bugs, defects, and effective code. During this stage, developers are hard at work clearing out bugs and creating documentation and user training. Once the release stage is complete, the product’s final iteration can be released to the wild.

Maintenance

Maintenance is the critical stage where the product is fully available to customers by a development team and self-organizing teams. During this time, all product end-users are engaged with incoming documentation and user training by product builders. With Agile methodology demanding a dynamic systems development method, new iterations may often occur to upgrade the existing product for early and continuous delivery.

Retirement

In Agile project management, retirement refers to the time a product becomes expired, soon to be replaced with new software, or phased out altogether due to new business demands, a lack of sustainable development, increased competition, etc. These result in “end-of-life”: activities by developments, including withdrawing all support and notifying end-users the product is no longer available.

APM Methodologies

One of the benefits of Agile is its flexibility. Five popular Agile methodologies or frameworks used in Agile project management are:

Scrum.
Kanban.
Extreme Programming.
Lean Development
Crystal.

All of these Agile methods and Agile project management practices have their own strengths and weaknesses connected with sprint planning and the composition of software teams.

Scrum

Scrum is a visual way of managing projects that groups tasks into columns based on progress. The technique helps teams work together and adapt to changes and problems by breaking the project up into chunks — these tasks are then worked on in sprints. With feature driven development, this allows only one sprint to be planned and managed at a time.

Kanban

Another one of the key benefits of Agile is powerful visualization tools. Kanban is a highly visual representation of projects that allows users to create a Kanban board and label tasks and subtasks into three key categories: “to do,” “doing,” and “completed.” Many popular project management tools like ClickUp and monday.com feature Kanban boards that use intuitive drag and drop functionalities to project cards. Consider the Kanban board a preferred choice for Agile team visual learners and designers.

Unlike Scrum’s Agile methodology, sprints are not planned and managed one at a time, but collectively.

Extreme Programming

Also referred to as XP, this framework works similar to Scrum but incorporates 12 supporting Agile approaches that are software-centric, which include:

Planning games.
Small releases.
Customer acceptance tests.
Simple design.
Pair programming.
Test-driven development.
Refactoring.
Continuous integration.
Collective code ownership.
Coding standards.
Metaphor.
Sustainable pace.

Lean Development

Lean development shares some of the same Agile project management methodologies as Agile with newer principles that include the following:

Eliminating waste.
Build quality in.
Create knowledge.
Defer commitment.
Deliver fast.
Respect people.
Optimize the whole.

Crystal

Started by Alistair Cockburn, one of the original Manifesto authors, for a 1991 IBM project, Crystal is an Agile project management process that focuses on individuals and interactions, not processes and tools.

It is based on two beliefs:

Teams can find ways on their own to improve and optimize their workflows.
Every project is unique and always changing, which is why that project’s team is best suited to determine how it will tackle the work.

Some family members of the Crystal methodology include Crystal Clear, Crystal Yellow, Crystal Orange, and Crystal Red.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Agile Project Management

What Is the Meaning of Agile Project Management?

Agile project management adheres to the Agile Manifesto, a set of values and principles that allow teams to work more effectively via product cycles or sprints. It emphasizes individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over documentation, improved change management, and customer collaboration over contract negotiation.

What Is Agile in Simple Terms?

In simple terms, Agile in project management is an iterative approach to delivering work, also known as sprints. This offers improved risk management, client/stakeholder/scrum master feedback, and overall team collaboration over other project development methods like Waterfall.

What Is Agile Project Management Examples?

There are seven Agile Project Management methods—Kanban, Scrum, Crystal, Lean, FDD, Extreme Programming, and the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM). All of these Agile tools and Agile processes vary in terms of the number of releases, length of development cycles, amount of customer collaboration, length of development process, and other sprint planning considerations while remaining tied to Agile values.

What Is the Difference Between Agile and Project Management?

The difference between Agile and project management is simple. According to the Project Management Institute, project management is the use of specific knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to deliver something of value to people. Agile is a methodology used in project management that delivers work using an iterative approach throughout the life cycle, seen vividly using a Kanban board.

Short, incremental sprint planning (iterative approach) allows the Agile community, Agile teams, and scrum teams to be flexible to changes and new developments and less time for upfront planning.

Final Thoughts on Agile Project Management

There are many APM projects that can be used. Some notable types of projects include small to large software development, product development, and virtually any business where the deliverable can be produced in incremental sprints. Consider Agile even valid for opening up a new book store or upgrading a new franchise location.

Remember, all products could benefit from feature-driven software development thanks to collaborative working, shorter development cycles, and Agile practices. All of this can be achieved with improved communication between project owners/developers/clients, more frequent reviews, two-way communication, and a more collaborative work environment that values feedback.

To become proficient in Agile Development methodologies, there are several certifications available. Some of the more notable ones include PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) and the APMG International Agile Project Management certification. Both require a secondary degree and several hours of Agile training in addition to thousands of hours of general experience on project teams. With heavy study and real-world experience, these certifications enable you to become a scrum master.

Anyone working on Agile teams or looking to understand and use Agile principles in project management is encouraged to obtain PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) or APMG International Agile Project Management certification. Many members of teams work with these certifications on hand.

March 1, 2022February 10, 2023

ClickUp vs Microsoft Project: The Best Project Management Software Comparison

Microsoft was once a disruptive business, but these days they are the establishment. It has had a formative effect on project management for decades, so how can a newbie like ClickUp compete with MS Project? You may be surprised. The ClickUp vs Microsoft Project review will surely help you pick the right software for your business.

Quick Comparison: ClickUp vs Microsoft Project

Budget Management

3/5

3.5/5

Collaboration

4/5

2/5

Portfolio Management

3/5

Resource Management

3/5

3.5/5

Milestone Tracking

3/5

Customer Support

4/5

2/5

Pricing

4/5

2.5/5

Pros

Lower cost
Better support options

Allows projections, baselines, and more
Review all your projects at once

Cons

Limited in some ways

Pricey

Overall Rating

3/5

★★★★★

2.5/5

★★★★★

ClickUp vs Microsoft Project

ClickUp is a cloud-based solution for project management software, one of a crop of similar options from a relatively small business. MS Project is a platform from a company that has been a powerhouse for decades.

In some ways, those differences don’t matter much. Project managers require some resources to keep things organized, regardless of their approach. As a result, both software options share many key features.

However, there are significant differences. They play out in many ways, from bringing in integration to how team members will work together. Keep in mind that Microsoft Project is actually several different products. They include cloud-based solutions, as well as on-site solutions. They don’t all have the same options or functionality.

Budget Management

One of the primary concerns of a project manager is managing the budget, finding ways to complete projects while also staying profitable. Tools to help manage logistics, employees’ time, and other concerns are critical. Comparing ClickUp vs Microsoft Project reveals two different ways of handling those issues.

ClickUp has some features for time management. We’ll discuss that in more detail when we get to resource management. Otherwise, ClickUp relies on its flexibility. Managing the budget is another task that can be assigned, have a due date set, and so forth.

Microsoft Project offers more tools designed for budget management. In fact, one tool allows you to analyze costs and make projections, as long as it’s set up correctly. There is also a whole set of tools for managing timesheets, sick leave, and more, as well as setting up a custom fiscal year.

Collaboration

Project management software has developed a key role in team collaboration. Employees on remote teams may never actually meet, so the only way to exchange ideas is cloud-based collaboration.

To aid in that process, ClickUp offers many tools. Users can assign comments on tasks and elsewhere, as well as chat in real-time with other team members, all in the app. You can also customize access so users focus on certain areas. Attaching files to tasks is straightforward and you can even proof them in ClickUp. You can also assign comments to employees to address specific issues.

Microsoft Project allows you to add comments and notes to tasks, but it doesn’t have much else to offer beyond the basics. Project is part of Microsoft Office, with other programs handling communication and collaboration. It does offer some nice streamlining features, like being able to virtually sign documents.

You can see how ClickUp compares to an app that’s similar in our ClickUp vs Monday.com review, or check out how Project measures up in our Microsoft Project vs Monday review.

Portfolio Management

A company project portfolio is all the projects they have underway or are considering starting. Project portfolio management is like project triage, deciding where you can most profitably put your time and interest.

ClickUp stays true to form by offering one tool that can be customized. The Portfolio Widget allows you to define some categories across all your projects, allowing you to produce reports, estimate due dates, track time actually spent, etc. It’s one of a few new features available in recent updates.

Microsoft Project can support a much more detailed approach to portfolio management. It offers a range of tools that allow you to analyze your portfolio according to your business goals.

Other tools include using task assignments to determine resource demands or compare multiple portfolio analyses. It might be the better choice for larger companies or those with bigger budgets.

ClickUp is fairly representative of how a lot of apps handle portfolio management. Read our ClickUp vs TeamGantt review to see another example.

Resource Management

This is another area where we’ll see two fairly different ways of approaching the issue.

ClickUp is focused almost entirely on tasks and the users working on them. As a result, the resources being managed mostly relate to workload. It’s possible to see all your team members’ projects and how they’re spending their time. You can access all that in the workload view.

As you might expect, Microsoft Project has a more comprehensive solution. It uses the portfolio analysis tools and the Resource center to gauge demands on your business and how projects can affect demand. Resource engagements are defined, which can then be associated with tasks. Workload and time tracking can be handled elsewhere or folded into the resource management software.

Milestone Tracking

Being able to track progress is essential when you organize a project. Project management software therefore often includes tools for comparing the actual completion date of a task to its due date.

It’s a more complicated process than it might at first seem. Both apps include methods for managing milestone tracking. Gantt charts, a classic method of tracking tasks, progress, and dependencies, are available with both options.

Microsoft Project uses a system of baselines to compare projected progress to actual performance. The number of variables and processes that have to be set up properly is a sign of the complexity of the system. Additionally, exporting the information to create effective presentations probably requires another MS product, like Excel or PowerPoint.

ClickUp has a similar but less complex system using milestones. They are used to mark significant tasks, for example, the shift from planning to development project phases. Milestones is a ClickApp, an additional feature that can be toggled on or off. Free users have limited uses, while any paid plan has unlimited uses.

As Milestones is less complicated, it’s also less powerful and doesn’t offer the task analysis options Microsoft Project does.

Customer Support

ClickUp user reviews mention that there is a learning curve with ClickUp, though it didn’t seem to be a hindrance to many people. It’s adaptable, which means a certain amount of complexity is inevitable, but it didn’t stop users from utilizing the service. Microsoft Project, by comparison, is a high-powered piece of software that may require expertise to use well.

In either case, the ability to contact customer service, particularly a live rep, is important. ClickUp has a variety of ways to find help, though on-demand support is only available for the highest pay tiers.

Otherwise, there is a library of online webinars, documentation, videos, and more. You can also make an appointment with a coach for video chat training on a specific project management tool. If the software is really giving you trouble, you can also contact a paid consultant.

Microsoft Project is supported by docs and videos as well. It also offers the same sort of support any MS product would get. Some options are limited to admins, so employees in your company may not be able to access some help. It’s a complicated piece of project management software, a fact that can impact project progress.

Pricing

Both apps appear to have similar pricing models at first glance. There are several tiers of service with different levels of functionality. Like ClickUp, Microsoft Project can charge based on how many users are in your company.

ClickUp has a free tier that allows unlimited members, but limits projects. On the whole, however, it still offers a complete project management tool, tracking task progress, and more.

Microsoft Project has only pay tiers, generally for more money than ClickUp. Integration is only with other MS products, no other vendors, for an additional subscription. The tier system is only available for cloud-based options. There are also on-site options with a different pricing structure and somewhat different features.

Small businesses might benefit more from the simpler and less expensive plans from ClickUp, though Microsoft Project offers tools to grow.

Overall Winner

In either case, you’re getting some of the best project management tools available. However, ClickUp comes out ahead in a few areas that are key to project management software.

Many of the tools on offer are similar. Both use tasks to keep project managers organized, with lots of features to modify a task. Microsoft may appeal in some ways. Its project portfolio management tools allow for projecting into the future. The option to have it fully installed on-site means you don’t have to worry about your internet dropping.

However, ClickUp offers more flexibility and more features for a lower cost, no matter how many employees you have. The ability to integrate with other software vendors is also a plus.

Everyone has experience with Microsoft products and their difficulty in use, while ClickUp has lots of support options. A free tier doesn’t hurt either.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for ClickUp Vs Microsoft Project

Is Microsoft Project Outdated?

The most recent update to Microsoft Project was in 2019. While it’s been around for different platforms for nearly 40 years, that version is comparable to modern project management tools.

It does have some features of interest, but many competitors are less expensive. Check out our Microsoft Project vs Wrike review for more.

What Is Equivalent to Microsoft Project?

There are a number of different project management platforms available for all types of teams. Our Microsoft Project vs ClickUp review talks about some tools that are standard for most project management software. Other options include Wrike, Monday.com, Hive, Easy Project, Asana.

Is Microsoft Project Free?

While there are some free options out there, all of the Microsoft Project options have a cost. Microsoft Project is software marketed toward larger companies and teams, whereas other platforms include options for smaller teams.

Is ClickUp Really Free?

There is a free tier of ClickUp, though it’s limited and probably not workable for even a small company or team.

Final Thoughts on ClickUp Vs Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project has some appealing features, particularly if you need powerful tools for analysis. However, ClickUp may appeal to nimbler companies with smaller teams. With a lower cost and greater flexibility, your project management software will take up less of your project management budget.

March 1, 2022November 23, 2022

SurePayroll Review: Great for Small Businesses and In-Home Help

SurePayroll is a payment processing app designed to take the stress and guesswork out of paying your employees. This SurePayroll review takes a look at the software’s top features and what makes it worth considering for your small business.

Our Verdict

SurePayroll

From $19.9

Visit

Designed for small to medium businesses, SurePayroll features the ability to auto-process payroll while dealing with the nuances of tax forms and state government submissions.

One of its most notable features is an entire service dedicated to payroll for in-home care. SurePayroll easily navigates all the pitfalls of payroll processing for these employees that often amount to penalties and headaches.

Unlimited payroll runs
2-month free trial
Can process and submit taxes

Struggles with employees who switch between hourly and salaried pay
App can be challenging to navigate
Long customer service hold times

SurePayroll at a Glance

Screenshot of SurePayroll website homepage

SurePayroll stands tall as one of the best payroll options for small businesses currently available. The product has three different tiers of service starting at $19.99 per month and working their way up to $49.99 monthly at the highest level.

All plans offer the option to perform payroll automatically, and payroll can be run an unlimited number of times per day without additional cost. The Full Service plan goes so far as to calculate and submit all payroll taxes alongside a guarantee that they will be filed correctly. Higher tier plans drop money into employees’ accounts two days after submission for prompt payment.

The payroll system has a feature tier specific to in-home care, such as nannies. This particular package contains all the payroll and tax info you need to avoid penalties and fees.

Screenshot of SurePayroll Nanny Payroll services page

SurePayroll extends its service to offer worker’s comp, 401(k) plans, health insurance, and pre-employment screening, though HR services aren’t included in any plan. Having these options available keeps everything under one roof while also meaning you don’t have to search around for them on your own.

Who SurePayroll is Best For

SurePayroll’s line of services are all set up specifically with small and medium businesses in mind. Pricing is reasonable at the onset but grows quickly for organizations with a large number of employees. Should you need to keep track of payroll for a household helper, SurePayroll has a feature set just for that.

Pricing

SurePayroll has three tiers of service to choose from, depending on your needs. The No Tax Filing plan costs $19.99 per month, plus $4 for each employee in your organization. The Full Service plan starts at $29.99 monthly but charges $5 per team member. Finally, the Household Payroll plan runs $49.99, including one employee. Additional employees will set you back $10 a month for each.

Price

$19.99/month + $4 per employee

$29.99/month + $5 per employee

$49.99/month (includes one employee)

$10 per additional employee

Free two-day direct deposit

File and deposit taxes

Unlimited payroll runs

Auto payroll

New hire reporting

PTO/sick time tracking

SurePayroll Features

SurePayroll’s suite of payroll handling tools center around making the process as simple as possible. It includes two-day direct deposit, which is faster than some big names in payroll that may take up to four days to deposit funds. The company also offers paid time off (PTO) and sick day time tracking without you having to integrate an app.

Free Two-Day Direct Deposit

SurePayroll provides the means to pay your employees through printed checks or via direct deposit. There’s no additional charge for either one outside of the costs you’ll incur for paper and ink for a printed option.

When it comes to direct depositing, SurePayroll lets you know once you’ve completed payroll when employees can expect the funds to reach their bank accounts. If you’ve signed up for the Full Service or Household Payroll plan, SurePayroll promises a two-day turnaround.

File and Deposit Taxes

Screenshot of Payroll processing, tax calculation on SurePayroll

Even with a small business, calculating and submitting payroll taxes and filings is quite the chore. In the Full Service and Household Payroll plans, SurePayroll will crunch the numbers and send everything off for you error-free.

Read: How to Avoid Common Payroll Mistakes

Even if you opt for the No Tax Filing plan, SurePayroll still runs calculations for you when it generates payroll information. That being said, it’s up to you to submit the paperwork and applicable fees on your own.

Unlimited Payroll Runs

Whenever the need arises, SurePayroll allows you to run an unlimited number of payrolls on any day at any time. Whether you need to add, change, or remove information, you can do it for no additional cost. Best of all, this feature is available at any price tier.

Auto Payroll

With Auto Payroll, you can set up a repeating day of the week and time that SurePayroll will run the numbers for you. The software will send you a reminder before payroll processing begins, giving you time to input salary numbers or hours worked for each employee. You can even have SurePayroll add in these values automatically if you’re sure they won’t change from week to week.

When the aforementioned day and time arrive, SurePayroll will run the payroll and prepare checks or send out direct deposits as instructed. The platform will inform you once the process is complete.

New Hire Reporting

Depending on your state, you only have so many days to report a new employee to the state government. SurePayroll can take the information for new staff entered into its payroll system and send the necessary details to the powers that be so you don’t have to.

PTO/Sick Time Tracking

Although only available in the Household Payroll plan, SurePayroll is able to keep tabs on days employees miss and track vacation days they can use this year. Since the Household Payroll plan is designed for nannies and other in-home services, you won’t be caught completely off guard by time-off requests.

Alternatives to SurePayroll

SurePayroll has several features at its disposal, but struggles with a difficult-to-manage app and lackluster customer service. While good at what it does, the software doesn’t offer much outside of payroll. If you’re looking for something a little different, here are some alternatives to SurePayroll that are also worth considering:

Gusto

Gusto is a modern payroll platform in the same vein as SurePayroll. Similar to SurePayroll, Gusto can auto-process payroll and run the numbers as many times as needed. Although comparable on payroll, Gusto adds time management and employee benefits to its package that SurePayroll does not have. If you’re interested in both software, see the Gusto vs SurePayroll review.

Still built for small to medium-sized businesses, Gusto does cost more because of its enhanced feature set. Plans start at $39 per month but can reach as high as $149. Read the Gusto review to learn more about it.

Wave

Wave has payroll with direct depositing and automation options alongside timesheets for either $20 or $35 per month, depending on the state your business is located in. What makes Wave stand out is the free accounting and invoicing software that you can use at any time.

Following the same trend as SurePayroll, Wave is best for smaller businesses without a massive number of employees to process payroll for. Wave is limited to automatic filing in only 14 states. Read the Wave payroll review if you’re interested in this software.

Payroll4Free

Payroll4Free boasts that its basic payroll software is entirely free for any business with fewer than 25 employees. These features include payroll processing, tax calculations, and reporting. Tools are more rudimentary than what SurePayroll offers, but the price is right.

If you want the software to process taxes and run direct deposits for you, this will cost $30 per month.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for SurePayroll Review

Should I Outsource Payroll?

Outsourcing payroll to a software service can save time and money in the long run. This allows you to use that time on areas of your business where it will be better spent.

What is the Average Payroll Cost Per Employee?

Finding the right payroll processing software can keep costs down to an absolute minimum for small businesses. The average platform costs $30 per month plus roughly $6 per employee. Even with five individuals on staff, you’re only looking at $12 per person per month.

Can I Do My Own Payroll for My Small Business?

There’s certainly nothing stopping you from doing your own payroll in your small business, but this may not be the most efficient use of your time. Processing payroll and the taxes that come with it is a timely process that could be used elsewhere.

Bottom Line on SurePayroll Review

SurePayroll is a stellar tool for small to medium businesses, offering the capability to automate payroll and tax submissions so you don’t have to. In addition, you can run an unlimited number of reports and pay your employees within a few days of payroll submission. Best of all, it is a very affordable solution even for new ventures just getting their feet off the ground.

March 1, 2022November 23, 2022

Best Restaurant POS Systems in 2023

Managing all the facets of a restaurant can be a tireless endeavor. Fortunately, point of sale (POS) systems exist to bring everything from payments to staff management together in one neat package.

This article looks at the top restaurant POS systems in the restaurant industry today and highlights those that stand out the most.

Quick View

Best Overall – Toast
Best for Small Restaurants – TouchBistro
Best Free POS System – Square for Restaurants
Best for Restaurants With Multiple Locations – Revel
Best for Integrations – Lightspeed Restaurant
Best for Quick-Service Restaurants – Clover

Toast

Free to $165 per month, custom options available

Accelerate service with accurate customer placement

Access to scheduling and payroll add-on

Commission-free channels for ordering and delivery

Detailed reports and analytics that can be accessed from anywhere

TouchBistro

Starts at $69 per month for a single POS terminal, with optional add-ons

Floor plan maker, table assignments, table monitoring

Simplify shift management, build payroll

Add-on feature, allows ordering from website

Over 50 reports that update in real-time

Square for Restaurants

Free to $60 per month per location, custom options available

Customizable floor plan, optimize layout, and monitor every seat

Scheduling, clocking in and out within the system

Free e-commerce site, integrations with third-party apps

View daily stat summaries, keep tabs on business trends

Revel

From $99 per month per terminal

Custom dining room layout, identify high and low volume areas

Create and modify schedules, unique passcodes for each team member

Fully integrated online order solution

Reporting for sales, inventory, labor

Lightspeed

$39 to $289 per month, additional terminals $39 per month. Custom options available

Adjust the floor plan on the app, check table stats

No staffing options, links to other software for accounting

Delivery and contactless online ordering

Advanced insights reveal successes and failures

Clover

Free to $69.95 per month

Guest seating, dynamic floor plans

Manage shifts and schedules

Customers can order from website, app, or a third-party

Robust point of sale reporting

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – Toast. Toast offers the best of everything from table management to online ordering and everything in-between. Best of all, the software is available at several different price points to accommodate any size business.

6 Best POS Systems for Restaurants

Here are the six best restaurant POS systems available with all the features you need to run your business efficiently.

Toast

Free to $165

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

If your restaurant management system uses only one or two POS terminals, Toast’s free plan contains a handful of restaurant-specific features to get you working efficiently. To build an online footprint, you will need to upgrade to the Essentials plan at $165 per month.

In either case, restaurant businesses will likely need to invest in Toast’s proprietary hardware to run the show. These restaurant computer systems do not come cheap, making the Toast POS system even viable for larger full-service restaurants.

The POS system makes it easy to develop a table service restaurant plan to optimize service and turnover rate. If you can get them in the door, Toast has email marketing and customer loyalty programs to keep them coming back for a nominal additional fee. Using the best VoIP app can help expedite communications to customers.

Toast’s interface allows restaurant owners to view sales across all locations. It’s also possible to watch which tactics are working and which areas could use improvement.

Free tier of service.
Commission-free online orders.
24/7 customer support.
Software built around Android platforms.

Proprietary hardware.
Limited options for reservations.

TouchBistro

Starts at $69

★★★★★

3.7

Visit

TouchBistro makes it easy for businesses to plug into its POS software with nothing more than an internet connection and a handful of iPads. These restaurant iPad POS systems tend to speak well to a small restaurant that could struggle with proprietary hardware fees.

Even at its most basic level, the restaurant POS software features floor plan and table management, menu management, inventory calculations, and the ability to handle employee scheduling. TouchBistro plays well with other apps to enhance accounting or help manage inventory, which makes restaurant payroll a bit easier. Payment processing has to be done through a third party, often resulting in extra fees.

With TouchBistro, you can build your website to handle reservation management to bring more customers inside your establishment. This service is one of many that comes with an extra fee. Online ordering and delivery is also an option but will set you back at least an additional $50 per month.

Over 50 different reports will help your restaurant manager level up the guest experience, streamline operations, and pull in employee insights.

Free demo.
Several integration options.
Menu management.
Runs on iPad devices.

Payment processing is handled through third-party integrations.
Many features have additional fees.

Square for Restaurants

Free to $60

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

Square is one of the few restaurant POS systems that offers a free plan for unlimited devices and locations. Most customer management tools are included, with only a few options left behind a $60 paywall for its premium plan.

The free POS software offers employee management tools that factor well into small counter service restaurants such as coffee shops or food trucks. If you do have a table service restaurant, you can use Square for Restaurants to create a custom layout and monitor what’s happening at every seat.

A nice bonus feature in Square’s repertoire is a free e-commerce site to create your brand around. It’s possible to handle reservation management and set up online ordering capabilities directly from the platform.

With all the free plan has, Square for Restaurants only gives 24/7 customer support to its premium members. A suite of built-in reporting tools should help you figure out what’s working and what’s not within your restaurant business all on your own.

Offers a free plan.
Includes a free e-commerce site.
No long-term contracts are required.
30-day free trial on premium plans.

Free plan does not have 24/7 support.
No employee management tools.

Revel

From $99

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

Revel’s restaurant POS software should appeal to franchise owners with multiple restaurants looking to keep tabs on each location. While it doesn’t do automated inventory management, Revel allows inventory tracking among different locations.

Quick or table service restaurants can make use of the fully integrated online order system to maximize profitability. There’s also a built-in full driver dispatch feature, and Revel can accept payments within its app.

For all it does, Revel is one of the more pricier restaurant POS providers at $99 per terminal. This doesn’t include payment processing fees or hardware such as a cash drawer.

Of the different point of sale systems for restaurants, Revel does a great job of intelligent reporting tools that let you track sales, inventory management, and even how your team is doing. Should you wish to customize things further, you can add in your own integrations with Revel’s open API.

Open API system.
Sleek and easy-to-use interface.
Runs off iPad devices.
Smart reporting.

Pricing is for a three-year contract.
Expensive.

Lightspeed

$39 to $289

★★★★★

3.2

Visit

Lightspeed Restaurant lists three pricing tiers and is designed to scale as a business grows. A $39 per month plan works best for new restaurants that utilize one terminal, while a $119 monthly plan was created with full-service restaurants in mind. At $289 per month, the pro plan contains advanced tools for larger restaurants.

Fees for payment processing are the same across the board and are a bit on the high side. The Lightspeed POS platform makes up for this with stellar internet-based ordering and a delivery service that works directly with the major apps.

While its most expensive plan offers advanced insights, Lightspeed’s reporting system isn’t as strong as other POS systems. You can still glean information from table placement and make adjustments on the fly to capitalize on opportunities.

When it comes to integrations, Lightspeed has you covered. If you already have a tool you prefer for employee management or accounting, the POS software likely works with it.

Integrates well with other software.
Free one-on-one onboarding.
Unlimited 24/7 support.
Built-in customer relationship management hub.

Some additional features are costly add-ons.
Lack of robust reporting tools.

Clover

Free to $69.95

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

The Clover POS system covers a multitude of pricing options that tend to cater to the quick-service crowd. Although its $69.96 per month plan offers table mapping and tableside ordering, all other plans focus on the terminal and online payments.

In fact, Clover has one of the nicest systems for ordering online. The POS software interfaces directly into your website, app, through Google, or through third-party delivery platforms. Customers can pay online, and as long as you use Clover’s hardware, fees for payment processing won’t break the bank.

Clover also has built-in staff management tools to keep your team running as efficiently as possible. Within the software, you can schedule staff hours and track their register usage on any given day.

Speaking of tracking, Clover offers some powerful point of sale reporting so you can find pinch points in your business. Real-time analytics allows you to make changes on the fly that could turn a bad day into a good one.

Robust online order and delivery service.
Affordable hardware.
Flat monthly rates.
No long contracts, can customize your plan from month to month.

Processing fees are higher for non-Clover hardware.

How To Choose a Restaurant POS System

When looking for the best restaurant POS software for your business, consider how the following points play into your organization:

Affordability.
Key features.
Flexibility.
User-friendliness.
Support.

Affordability

When it comes to restaurant POS prices, there is a vast range of options available. Just about every plan you’ll come across will have a monthly fee for using the software. Some features are considered add-ons and can come with additional costs.

Software aside, most POS systems have hardware that they recommend using. Hardware can be costly, but fees for payment processing are often higher if you use your own device.

Key Features

Maybe it goes without saying, but make sure the POS system you’re going to use has all the features you can’t live without. POS software can provide inventory, staff, menu, and even table management tools to make running things that much easier.

Furthermore, many of these systems incorporate e-commerce tools customers can use to order online for pick up or delivery. Platforms such as Square for Restaurants even give space to create a website. You may also be able to tie in your VoIP caller base for marketing purposes if you have it.

Flexibility

The best point of sale systems have the capability to grow with you as your restaurant grows. Whether it be additional terminals or enhanced features, the last thing you want is to get stuck in a contract that doesn’t work for you.

Some systems don’t require long-term contracts for software, making it easier to upgrade or switch as needed.

User-Friendliness

If you’ve picked up some software and your team is still asking “what is a POS system?”, chances are they can’t run it. The best software isn’t worth its digital weight if your team can’t make sense of what to do. Many point of sale systems offer demos for their paid services, so you can try before you buy.

Support

Point of sale software can effectively shut down your business if it’s not working as it should. When such situations arise, it’s essential that customer support is a quick phone call away, so you don’t lose business or patience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Restaurant POS Systems

What Is the Most Popular POS System for Restaurants?

In our humble opinion, Toast takes the cake as the best restaurant POS system currently available. The software covers a multitude of restaurant models and has the features you need to succeed. With several pricing options, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either.

Which POS Terminal Is the Best?

Hardware is an integral part of any point of sale system. Companies like Square pride themselves on having many terminal models to suit any restaurant.

What POS System Does McDonald’s Use?

McDonald’s uses a platform called NP6 for all their point of sale needs. Since the fast-food chain sees nearly 70 million customers daily across its 37,000 locations, the software is specifically designed to handle a large number of contact points—and fast.

Which POS System Is the Best?

We feel that Toast offers the biggest bang for your buck, but the answer to this question ultimately comes down to you. The best POS system will include all the tools you need to run a successful business while being affordable for you.

Conclusion: Best Restaurant POS Systems

Restaurant point of sale systems allow for efficient management of customers, payments, and more. Many of them extend their reach to online sales to maximize profitability and your restaurant’s footprint. Perhaps best of all, they can help you identify areas within your restaurant that need improvement.

No matter the size of your restaurant, we feel that the best restaurant POS system is Toast for all the features it offers. With several price points, it can cater to small or large businesses without blinking an eye. If you’re not a fan of Toast, chances are one of the other options on this list will taste just as good.

8 Best Restaurant Payroll Software – Quick View

Software

Price

Tax Filing and Payment

Analytics and Reporting

Direct Deposit, Parcards, Checks, etc.

Support

Quick Verdict

The 8 Best Payroll Software for Restaurants

Choosing the Best Restaurant Payroll Software

Managing Payroll Taxes

Time Tracking

Benefits Management

Hiring and Onboarding

Payment Management

Analytics and Reporting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Restaurant Payroll Software

Conclusion: Best Restaurant Payroll Software

Step 1: Choose Your Concept/Product

Step 2: Create a Business Plan

Register Your Business

Count the Costs

Step 3: Come Up With a Name

Step 4: Choose Your Online Platform

Shopify

WordPress + WooCommerce

Wix

Step 5: Build Your Site

Keep Mobile Users in Mind

Add Products and Set Pricing

Step 6: Set Up Payment Methods

Step 7: Think About How To Ship Products

Dropshipping

Ship It Yourself

Step 8: Ready for Launch

Step 9: Create Online Marketing Strategies

Social Media Marketing

Offer Incentives

Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Step 10: Allow for Customer Feedback

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on How to Start an Online Store

Key Takeaways: Agile Project Management

What Is Agile Project Management?

Definition of APM

How Does Agile Project Management Work?

History of Agile

Why Choose Agile Project Management?

High Product Quality

High Customer Satisfaction

Reduced Risk

Better and Faster ROI

Principles and Values of Agile Project Management

6 Phases of Agile Project Management

Concept

Inception

Iteration

Release

Maintenance

Retirement

APM Methodologies

Scrum

Kanban

Extreme Programming

Lean Development

Crystal

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Agile Project Management

Final Thoughts on Agile Project Management

Quick Comparison: ClickUp vs Microsoft Project

Key Features

ClickUp vs Microsoft Project

Budget Management

Collaboration

Portfolio Management

Resource Management

Milestone Tracking

Customer Support

Pricing

Overall Winner

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for ClickUp Vs Microsoft Project