After a jam-packed season of sporting events, concerts, and festivals, managers of event spaces, stadiums, and arenas are exhausted—and who has time to catch up on paperwork with the next set of events always just around the corner? 

You likely have a large roster of both permanent and temporary workers: W-2 employees, and additional seasonal 1099 workers that come on board to help with your busier periods. Add in the increased volume of tips that accompany a surge in business, and you could have a recipe for payroll chaos.

We’ll show you how to save time and reduce issues for your payroll team by eliminating cash and paper check payouts—and move to a platform that offers digital solutions instead. 

The Hidden Costs of Cash and Paper Checks

During peak event seasons, you likely don’t have much time to catch your breath and think about how you’re paying your people. You’re likely trying to hire and onboard seasonal staff (from bartenders and ushers to security staff and parking attendants) along with your regular full-time employees. But once you understand the true cost of using outdated payroll methods, you might realize it merits a second look.

Using outdated methods like cash or paper checks to pay employees can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. Let’s break it down:

Time. Cash tip payouts and paper checks are inefficient means of paying your people. Counting cash takes time, distributing it takes time, and reconciling that everyone has been paid accurately takes time. 

Plus, if you’re paying both W-2 and 1099 workers in different ways, you’re likely spending unnecessary time and hassle using multiple systems and processes.

These are all hours that could be spent improving the guest experience—or getting some much-needed rest.

Money. Issuing paper checks adds an unnecessary line item to your budget—as does having to re-issue checks or overnight them if something isn’t right. And unfortunately as we all know, payroll errors do happen—especially with more people on your payroll.

Peace of mind. Storing cash requires security, and without a paper trail of where those tip payouts go, your business is taking on unnecessary risk. Someone can easily misplace their envelope of cash, requiring you to reconcile what happened and potentially losing money in the process. 

Why Digital Payouts for Event Staff Are a Win-Win

Switching to digital payouts for event staff—whether it’s cashless tip payouts, regular wages or contractor disbursements, or offering earned wage access—lets workers enjoy fast flexible pay straight to their bank account or digital wallet. There’s no more stuffing envelopes; no more confusion or fear about theft or loss; and no more spending money to send money. 

Business benefits include:

• Speed and convenience. Wages, tips, or disbursements can be sent automatically at the end of each shift—or at whatever cadence you prefer.
  
  
• Time and money savings. These fast, flexible payouts can be sent at no cost. In addition to saving you money, this saves you time that would be spent stuffing envelopes with cash or cutting paper checks.
  
  
• Enhanced security. Easily verify and reconcile payments with a clear digital audit trail. Improve security by eliminating the need for cash on hand. 

Worker benefits include: 

• Increased transparency: Workers can track their earnings through an app, reducing the level of payroll disputes or involvement.
  
  
• Improved team morale. Faster, easier access to earnings leads to happier, more loyal staff.
  
  
• Better attraction and retention. Find the right talent and keep them happy with the fast, digital payouts today’s workforce wants. 
• Same Day Pay. Whether it’s for your bartenders looking for tips at the end of their shift, or seasonal workers working an event for a quick buck - you can pay them digitally with minimal effort from your managers.
  
  

A Full-Scale Payments Solution: Tips, Paycards, and Earned Wage Access

Offering a full suite of digital payout options for event staff means giving them the flexibility to manage their money more easily. Working with a payments platform like Branch, you can offer your workers any or all of these free features:

• Paycards. We offer a secure, reloadable Branch Card where wages and tips can be sent, allowing you to easily onboard and pay workers from day one.
  
  
• Cashless Tip Payouts. Easily send tip payouts, mileage reimbursement, or any other payments straight to workers after each shift.
  
  
• Contractor Payouts. Pay 1099 workers from the same centralized hub as your W-2 employees, making payroll a breeze for you and your staff.
  
  
• Earned Wage Access. Let W-2 employees access a portion of their earned wages before payday. This can be a lifeline for hourly workers between checks—and a differentiator for your venue in a competitive labor market.

Offering these options not only improves retention but also positions your space as a forward-thinking employer that values its people. 

Make The Next Big Event Easier—Starting Now

Hosting an event for tens or hundreds of thousands of attendees will never be predictable, but there’s one thing you can plan for: a smoother payroll experience to support the hundreds of workers that make each of your events a success.

You would never move back to collecting thousands of paper tickets—so why would you stick with loose cash and paper checks?

Digital payment solutions like modern paycards, daily tip payouts, contractor disbursements, and earned wage access can empower your staff in meaningful ways while reducing administrative hassle, saving you time and money.

If you’re ready to streamline paydays and say goodbye to outdated methods like cash and paper checks, we’re here to help.

Learn more about Branch for hospitality