Security Payroll Services | Premier Payroll Solutions
Should You Consider Toast Payroll’s Services For Your Business
What Are Some Toast Payroll Alternatives
Considering Toast Payroll for your business? Before making a decision, compare it head-to-head with Premier Payroll, a leading alternative for small and mid-sized businesses across industries. While Toast Payroll is primarily built for restaurants and hospitality, Premier Payroll delivers transparent pricing, industry-wide coverage, and hands-on customer support designed for businesses that need more than a POS-linked solution.
Reviews Breakdown
Premier Payroll Solutions (NY)
Toast Payroll
5.0/5
NA
A+ Rating
A+ Rating
4.8/5
3.2/5
NA
Overall Review
4.8/5
3.6/5
About
Tax Hardship Center
Washington Tax Services
About Us - Years in Business
10
Doing Payroll for 6 Years
Service Areas
Claims nationwide coverage
Nationwide
Services
Tax Hardship Center
StopIRSDebt.com
Industry focus / strengths
Security, trucking, property management, restaurants/hospitality.
Restaurant-specific payroll/HR integrated with Toast POS; tip pooling/management.
Support
24/7 Live Support
5/5
Phone support 7 a.m.–2 a.m. ET, 7 days/week.
Pricing structure
Flexible Pricing based on needs
PEPM + base + monthly minimum
Time To Switch
Less than 24 Hours
NA
Compare Pros and Cons:
Premier Payroll vs Zuma Payroll & Processing
Pros
Premier Payroll Solutions
- Personalized, hands-on service. Clients report “prompt, friendly, informative” support and that “they always pick up… upfront, honest team.”
- Fast, accurate, and professional
- Recognized for excellent communication. Testimonials praise “accurate, timely communication” and willingness to “go the extra mile.”
- Rapid onboarding and responsive support, clients highlight smooth setup and fast turnaround (e.g., payroll by Tuesday or even same day).
TriNet
- Integrated directly with Toast POS, making it convenient for restaurants and hospitality businesses
- Built-in features for tip pooling, shift scheduling, and labor compliance that are tailored to food service.
- Backed by Toast, Inc. (established 2012, major POS provider).
Cons
Premier Payroll Solutions
- Smaller regional presence (Long Island-based), less brand recognition outside Northeast.
- Limited public pricing. Transparent quotes not readily available online.
- Requires a $295 upfront investigation fee
TriNet
- Designed primarily for restaurants; limited flexibility for non-hospitality industries.
- Pricing is not transparent: charges the greater of monthly minimum or PEPM fees, which can make costs unpredictable.
- Business owners report hidden fees and add-ons for HR, benefits, and integrations.
- Reviews are mixed: Trustpilot (~3.2/5) and Capterra (~3.6/5), with complaints about customer service wait times.
- Payroll product is relatively new (2019 via acquisition), less proven than established nationwide payroll specialists.
- Businesses with unique needs outside restaurants often find they must switch providers.
Premier Payroll Pros and Cons Summary
Premier Payroll Solutions (NY) provides transparent, flat-fee payroll services with no hidden costs, serving small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. Known for exceptional customer service, including 24/7 live support and a “No Voicemail” policy, Premier has earned high ratings across platforms and is trusted in industries such as security, trucking, property management, and construction. Their ability to onboard companies in less than 24 hours makes them a strong alternative to large national payroll providers. However, as a regional firm, Premier Payroll may not have the same brand recognition as larger competitors. For businesses seeking affordable payroll services, predictable monthly pricing, and personalized support, Premier Payroll consistently ranks as one of the best alternatives to Toast Payroll.
Toast Payroll Pros and Cons Summary
Toast Payroll & Team Management is designed primarily for restaurants and hospitality businesses, integrating directly with the Toast POS system. It offers industry-specific features like tip pooling, labor compliance tools, and shift scheduling, making it a popular choice for food service operators. Backed by Toast, Inc., the payroll platform has nationwide availability and 24/7 customer support. However, Toast Payroll’s pricing structure is not transparent, charging the greater of monthly minimums or per-employee fees, which can make budgeting unpredictable. Reviews are mixed, with many small business owners citing hidden fees, customer service delays, and limited flexibility outside of restaurants. While it works well for restaurants tied to the Toast ecosystem, businesses seeking simple, transparent, and all-industry payroll solutions often turn to alternatives like Premier Payroll.
Should I Pick Toast Payroll As My Payroll Provider? Which Is Better Between Premier Payroll and Toast Payroll
Pricing
Premier Payroll offers a budget-friendly, transparent flat-fee structure with no hidden add-ons, making it simple for small and mid-sized businesses to budget payroll costs. Toast Payroll, on the other hand, follows a PEPM (per-employee per-month) model combined with monthly minimums, which can result in higher, less predictable costs as teams grow. Reports from users highlight additional charges for HR, compliance, and benefits, which can drive up expenses over time.
For businesses that value predictable payroll pricing, Premier Payroll is the more cost-effective choice. Toast Payroll’s model may work for restaurants already tied into the Toast POS ecosystem, but it rarely delivers the same affordability for broader industries.
Service & Implementation
When it comes to implementation speed and onboarding, Premier Payroll stands out. Clients note that Premier can get payroll running in less than 24 hours, with hands-on support from real payroll specialists. Toast Payroll, while convenient for restaurants, has a narrower focus, and its integration is primarily beneficial only if you already use Toast POS.
Both providers cover nationwide payroll, but Premier Payroll serves a wide range of industries including security, trucking, property management, and construction, offering industry-specific solutions. Toast Payroll is highly tailored to restaurants, which limits its flexibility if your business is outside food service.
Overall Interaction and Experience
Premier Payroll is praised for its personalized service and direct communication. Clients regularly mention the ease of reaching a live representative without long wait times or tickets. Toast Payroll also advertises 24/7 customer support, but reviews often cite delays, inconsistent experiences, and a lack of flexibility for non-restaurant businesses.
If you want fast, personal, and responsive support, Premier Payroll is the stronger option. Toast Payroll works best if your business is a restaurant already dependent on Toast POS, but it comes with a more transactional feel.
Conclusion
Choosing between Toast Payroll and Premier Payroll depends on your industry and priorities.
- If you want transparent pricing, faster onboarding, and personalized support across industries, Premier Payroll is the better choice. It’s built for small and mid-sized businesses that need payroll done right, without hassle or hidden costs.
- If you operate a restaurant and already use the Toast POS system, Toast Payroll may provide convenience, but with limited flexibility and less predictable costs.
Overall, Premier Payroll is the better fit for most small and mid-sized businesses looking for affordable payroll services that scale without red tape, while Toast Payroll is best suited for restaurants already locked into the Toast ecosystem.
Toast Payroll
The Average Cost of Toast Payroll Services
Toast Payroll & Team Management operates on a pricing model that combines base monthly fees, per-employee-per-month (PEPM) charges, and monthly minimums. According to Toast’s billing documentation, businesses are billed whichever is greater between the monthly minimum or the combined PEPM + base costs. Unlike Premier Payroll, which offers flat-fee payroll pricing with no hidden costs, Toast Payroll’s structure can make it difficult for small and mid-sized businesses to predict monthly payroll expenses.
Many business owners report that additional charges for HR tools, benefits administration, and compliance add-ons increase the true cost of Toast Payroll services over time. For restaurants that already use the Toast POS system, the integration may feel convenient, but companies outside of the food service industry often find it expensive and restrictive. This lack of transparent payroll pricing is a common frustration for owners who want predictable budgets.
While Toast Payroll is positioned as a restaurant payroll and HR solution, its cost structure and POS dependence often make it more expensive and less flexible than regional payroll companies like Premier Payroll, especially for industries such as security, trucking, property management, and construction.
Toast Payroll Reviews
Toast Payroll reviews are mixed across platforms. On Trustpilot, Toast (the parent company) holds an average rating of 3.2/5, with many reviews citing customer service delays, billing confusion, and hidden fees. On Capterra, Toast Payroll specifically is rated 3.6/5, with some restaurant owners praising its tip management, shift scheduling, and compliance tools, but others noting that the service feels limited to hospitality and less adaptable for other industries.
By contrast, Premier Payroll reviews consistently highlight personalized support, clear communication, and budget-friendly flat-fee pricing. Small and mid-sized businesses often point out that Premier’s dedicated customer service and 24/7 live support provide a more dependable experience than Toast’s ticket-based system.
Overall, many businesses feel that Toast Payroll is best suited for restaurants already tied into the Toast POS ecosystem, while Premier Payroll is a stronger Toast Payroll alternative for small and mid-sized companies in diverse industries that want payroll done simply, quickly, and affordably.
Reviews Breakdown
Reviews Breakdown
NA
A+
3.2/5
NA
Overall Review
3.5/5
Toast Payroll Better Business Bureau
As of now, Toast Payroll does not have a separate BBB accreditation or rating; instead, the parent company Toast, Inc. carries an A+ rating. This makes it harder for prospective clients to evaluate Toast Payroll’s specific complaint history and overall service transparency. In comparison, Premier Payroll maintains its own A+ BBB rating, reflecting a long-standing commitment to resolving customer concerns and operating with integrity. This difference highlights Premier Payroll’s advantage in trustworthiness, transparency, and accountability compared to Toast Payroll.
Toast Payroll Alternatives
If you are searching for Toast Payroll alternatives that are more affordable, transparent, and small-business-friendly, Premier Payroll is a leading choice. Unlike Toast’s tiered and POS-linked pricing, Premier Payroll provides flat-fee, all-inclusive payroll services with no hidden costs. Businesses benefit from faster onboarding (often in less than 24 hours), 24/7 live customer support, and personalized service tailored to industries such as trucking, security, restaurants, hospitality, and property management.
While Toast Payroll may work best for restaurants needing POS integration, Premier Payroll is the better payroll provider for small and mid-sized businesses across industries. Companies that want predictable payroll costs, personalized support, and faster payroll processing consistently choose Premier Payroll over Toast Payroll.
FAQs
Yes. Toast Payroll is designed primarily for restaurants and hospitality businesses. If your company is outside of food service, Premier Payroll is a better alternative with industry-wide coverage.
Toast Payroll uses a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) pricing model with base fees and monthly minimums. This often makes costs unpredictable compared to Premier Payroll’s flat monthly fee.
Yes. Toast Payroll integrates seamlessly with the Toast POS system, which is its main advantage for restaurants. Non-restaurant businesses rarely benefit from this integration.
Business owners often report hidden fees, customer service delays, and limited flexibility for non-restaurant industries. Many switch to Premier Payroll for transparent pricing and better support.
It can be for small restaurants, but for non-restaurant small businesses, Toast Payroll often feels too restrictive. Premier Payroll is more flexible and cost-effective for SMBs across industries.
Premier Payroll offers flat-fee, all-inclusive payroll with faster onboarding and 24/7 live support. Toast Payroll is more expensive over time due to add-ons and is best suited only for restaurants.
Yes, Toast Payroll offers HR, compliance, and benefits administration add-ons, but they often come at extra cost. Premier Payroll includes compliance-focused support without surprise fees.
Technically yes, but it’s rarely recommended. Toast Payroll is built around Toast POS, making it less useful for businesses outside the restaurant industry.
Toast, Inc. (parent company) has an A+ BBB rating, but Toast Payroll is not separately accredited. Premier Payroll maintains its own A+ BBB rating with a proven complaint-resolution record.
Toast Payroll is almost exclusively used by restaurants, bars, and hospitality businesses. For industries like trucking, security, property management, or construction, Premier Payroll is a better fit.
Premier Payroll can often get businesses fully onboarded in less than 24 hours, making the switch from Toast Payroll quick and hassle-free.
Many users report unexpected charges for HR, benefits, and compliance add-ons. With Premier Payroll, there are no hidden costs — just flat, all-inclusive pricing.
Yes. Premier Payroll is consistently recommended as one of the best Toast Payroll alternatives thanks to its transparent pricing, faster onboarding, and personalized support for SMBs.
Toast offers 24/7 support, but reviews often mention long wait times and inconsistent service. Premier Payroll is praised for direct, responsive support with no voicemail or ticket delays.
Yes, especially for restaurant groups. However, if you manage a multi-location business outside of food service, Premier Payroll is the more reliable solution.