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Run the Payroll Fee Auditor →Blog · Payroll Management · Restaurant
Restaurants & Hospitality: New Hire Payroll Onboarding (2026)
New hire payroll onboarding at a restaurant is the W-4, the Form I-9 within three business days, new hire reporting inside the state deadline, the pay code for the role, and the restaurant checks this page cites before the first shift. BEG runs restaurant payroll for $45 per employee per month inside the payroll software you already use, all-inclusive, live in 3 to 5 business days.
Checks specific to hiring in restaurants
The federal onboarding sequence
Form W-4 (and the state equivalent) before the first check; Form I-9 section 1 on day one and section 2 within three business days; the new hire report to the state directory within its deadline, federal default 20 days and shorter in several states; the pay code, exemption status and direct deposit authorization on the employee record; and for servers and line cooks the pay basis documented so tip credit and tip pooling is taxed and counted for overtime correctly from the first run.
Read the full guide to how to onboard a new employee in payroll, and the rest of the restaurant payroll library.
Managed Payroll, Handled.
BEG manages payroll at $45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. Get an instant cost comparison for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast must a restaurant report a new hire?
Within the state's deadline, 20 days under the federal default and as short as 7 days in some states. The report goes to the state new hire directory, and a rehire after 60 days is reported again.
What does managed payroll cost for a restaurant?
$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive, inside the payroll software you already use, with no monthly minimum. Tip credit and tip pooling, high turnover and multiple pay rates are configured at setup, not billed as add-ons.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Restaurants & Hospitality. BEG manages payroll at $45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
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