Toast Payroll: Employee Satisfaction, One Slice at a Time

Company Overview

Founded in Massachusetts in 2011 and rebranded as Toast in 2012, the company's headquarters are now situated in Boston. Toast acquired StratEx in 2019 and incorporated it into their payroll system, the Toast & Team Management software. Initially, they were established to help businesses of all kinds succeed, and since then, they have developed into a significant player in the restaurant technology sector.

Several important factors set Toast apart in the restaurant technology sector. Firstly, their platform covers a wide range of restaurant management areas of interest. The company's strong dedication to developing and supporting the sector showcases their deep passion for the restaurant industry. To further assist restaurants in thriving in a competitive market, Toast also customizes solutions that prioritize adaptability and flexibility.

Toast has been recognized for their efforts with awards such as the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the NEVY Awards, and many more. Furthermore, Toast also established the Toasty Awards, which honor outstanding restaurant leadership in the neighborhood.

By consistently reinventing management through quality and innovation and providing everything from comprehensive solutions to a commitment to the advancement of the sector, Toast's unique value proposition and position as an essential partner for restaurants are underscored.

Core Features & Services

Payroll software

The core of Toast's line of products is their robust payroll software, a whole package that goes beyond standard features. With a plethora of functionalities to improve and expedite your salary management procedures, Toast's solution is everything but check generators. The intuitive user interface simplifies the employee onboarding process and guarantees a seamless integration process. Additionally, you can manage payroll in all 50 states in only three steps.

The program integrates timesheets to compute time and attendance smoothly, making it easier to track PTO. You also have access to a wealth of extra HR resources when you sign up for Toast's payroll services, including templates for employee handbooks, frequent updates on regulations, and frequently asked questions about their service. Toast offers a complete package to improve your overall experience, not simply a payroll solution.

Additional features

• Toast tips manager: If you use Toast's POS, your customers can tip with cash or card. The most noteworthy aspect is the automated tip pooling calculation and synchronization with payroll software, which streamlines the distribution process. Customizable tip distributions provide even more flexibility and are factored in right away in payroll calculations for active employees. Following national labor laws, Toast's payroll software enhances payroll by providing efficient customization choices and seamless tip integration
• Toast PayCard: Employees can access their PayCard through the MyToast app, which streamlines the payroll process by allowing seamless integration of direct deposits and tips. By taking money out of ATMs, employees may conveniently access their wages, providing a convenient and effective method for them to handle their finances
• Tax filing and compliance: Toast’s tax filing and compliance feature provides an excellent evaluation of how you should handle everything from payroll taxes to legal compliance. It includes everything from payroll tax filing and remittance to new hire reporting, wage garnishment processing, and year-end tax forms
• Integrations: By integrating with a wide range of Toast products with ease, Toast POS elevates integration to a new level. Incorporating Toast's POS system, timesheets, Sling employee scheduling software, Toast Tips Manager, inventory management, xtraChef account payable software, online ordering, and other features is part of this
• Reporting and analytics: Before administering payroll, restaurateurs can preview a detailed analysis of multiple payroll custom reports. These include analyzing many customizable reports that give timesheet data, a payroll summary for a specific time period, a payroll exception that includes overtime and excluded employees, and an employee summary with the total number of staff members and hours paid. Toast also provides an accounting overview of employee earnings, total payments, and taxes

Toast Payroll Prices & Plans

Toast's price structure is flexible enough to meet a range of company requirements. Three of their pricing plans—the POS, the Essentials, and the Custom plan—offer payroll software as an add-on. The Essentials plan is $165 per month, while the POS plan starts at $69 per month. Pricing for the customized plan can be obtained by getting in touch with Toast directly to receive a custom quote.

Furthermore, Toast offers new restaurants a special deal that enables them to combine their payroll and POS systems. The monthly cost of this bundled package is $69 plus an extra $9 for each employee.

Toast does not, however, list the precise price of the software as an add-on. It is advised that you get in touch with Toast directly to discuss your specific requirements and obtain a customized quote.

Why Toast Is Beneficial

Scalability

All sizes of restaurants can benefit from Toast's scalability, which can meet the demands of both small businesses and large enterprises. Toast's modular design and various pricing options enable them to adjust to the changing needs of every restaurant, guaranteeing that their solutions expand with the business.

Industry specialization

Founded by individuals who have extensive experience with the demands and difficulties of the restaurant industry, their solutions are designed with restaurant owners' success in mind. Toast's sector specialty enables them to offer focused solutions that cater to the distinct requirements of restaurant operations, consequently enhancing productivity and profitability.

Customizable plans

With their customized plan, Toast gives restaurants the flexibility to choose the features that best fit their needs. This adaptability also extends to pricing, with alternatives specially designed to meet the particular requirements of each establishment. Toast guarantees that restaurants obtain customized solutions that meet their unique objectives and financial limits.

Unified dashboard

Toast's products and services work together harmoniously to give customers a smooth experience. The unified dashboard streamlines restaurant management tasks and improves operational efficiency by providing simple navigation and access to all their features.

Mobile app

Managers and staff can easily access payroll information with Toast's mobile application. Users may simply update, manage, submit, and monitor all their data with the help of the mobile app, which enables them to be productive and connected.

The Potential Downsides

Must have Toast POS

Customers must first buy the Toast POS system in order to utilize Toast's payroll software, which is exclusively available as an add-on. This restriction can discourage companies from looking for stand-alone payroll solutions.

Doesn’t offer many integrations

The lack of a list of third-party integrations on Toast implies that it is not as compatible with other hardware or software, which could limit the platform's adaptability for companies that need deep integrations.

Contractual obligations

Before using their services, customers must sign a contract, which could be problematic for companies hesitant to commit to a long-term arrangement. People looking for more accommodating options might view this restriction as excessive.

Reports of held funds

According to certain user reports, Toast has occasionally collected taxes but hasn't sent them to the appropriate authorities on time. Customers might get into debt due to this tax payment delay, which may also negatively impact their financial status with local authorities.

User Experience & Testimonials 

Regarding user feedback, Toast's payroll system lacks independent profiles on review sites such as BBB, TrustPilot, and G2. Nonetheless, Toast Inc., their parent company, does have an accredited BBB profile with a B rating. Similarly, they have received a relatively positive rating of 3.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot. Additionally, on G2, they boast a higher rating of 4.2 out of 5.

Positive reviews frequently focus on its robust reporting features, simple way to incorporate tips into payroll, and ease of use. One user even expressed pleasure with Toast's ecosystem, noting that they initially chose their POS system and eventually decided to incorporate payroll services and other solutions.

On the other hand, there have occasionally been negative reviews, with some customers complaining about unpaid taxes or Toast keeping their money. One customer stated that they had collected money from their account to pay for the quarterly taxes but had been holding funds. There are also complaints over inconsistent customer service, such as when requests are not promptly responded to or follow-up promises are not kept.

It's critical to approach customer reviews objectively because different people will have different experiences. Though they provide insightful information, it's important to remember that negative reviews are occasionally posted more than positive ones. As a result, it's essential to do extensive research, take into account several factors, and contact the provider directly. 

Customer Support & Resources

This provider offers a range of options for customer support. To contact their customer service team, simply give them a call at (617) 682-0225. In addition, when you purchase their services, you will be assigned a dedicated onboarding consultant who will assist you with the setup process and address any inquiries you might have.

Toast provides ongoing support through 'Toast Central,' a centralized hub where users can find answers and resources to help them with any assistance they need. In addition, a community center is available for users to connect with others, exchange ideas, and ask for guidance. They also offer 'Toast Classroom,' which provides live and on-demand training sessions to enhance user knowledge and proficiency in using their platform.

Conclusion

Toast Payroll provides restaurateurs looking to simplify their payroll procedures with a complete solution. They make payroll management easier with their intuitive design and powerful capabilities, enabling companies to process payroll in a matter of minutes. As this review has shown, Toast's industry-specific solutions, adaptable plans, and devotion to customer success demonstrate their commitment to the restaurant business. Although there are certain disadvantages, such as the need to buy their POS systems and occasional issues with tax payments, their scalability, sector specialization, and unified dashboard experience make them stand out in general.

Customer reviews highlight their advantages, such as their user-friendly interface, seamless tip integration, and reporting capabilities. They make sure that businesses have the help they need to succeed by providing a range of support alternatives, such as access to educational tools and dedicated onboarding consultants. Regardless of the size of your restaurant business, they provide the resources and adaptability you need to handle employee payments successfully.

If this provider doesn't seem like the right fit for you, explore our other reviews of payroll providers, compare them, and take a look at our blog page for additional insights into the industry.

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