⏰ Est. reading time: 3 mins
💡 What you’ll learn:
- How paycards can save your restaurant time & money
- What to ask a potential paycard provider
- The benefits of a fee-free, flexible paycard for your business & team
In the restaurant business, time is money—and very often, managers and operators are left wishing there were more than 24 hours in a day. Luckily, streamlining the way you pay your team can save you time and boost employee satisfaction in the process. One simple way to do this? Using modern paycards for employees.
Paycards are prepaid or debit cards used to pay workers their wages, tips, and other earnings directly without traditional banking delays like ACH transfers or the hassles of cashing paper checks. They’ve become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to streamline payroll, save on paper check costs, and provide faster access to earnings.
While the paycards of yesterday may have come with fees or additional hoops to jump through, the modernized options of today can provide a truly seamless, digital process—as long as you choose the right provider. Here are five things to ask a potential paycard provider to ensure you’re getting the best solution for your business and your team.
1. What Fees Does It Come With?
A paycard’s fee structure depends entirely on the paycard provider. The right paycard should come with zero cost to your business—as well as provide plenty of fee-free options for your team. Above all, make sure your team isn’t charged to access their earnings.
What to look for
Look for a paycard provider that offers:
- No cost to your business
- No cost for employees to access their funds
- No overdraft fees or monthly maintenance fees
- Fee-free transfer options for employees, meaning there are ways employees can send money to another account for free
- Free in-network ATM withdrawals
These features ensure employees aren’t charged money to access their earnings, and that you aren’t left paying money to simply pay your people. Plus, a high quality paycard will allow employees to sidestep some of the more traditional banking fees they would run into with other debit cards or accounts, like overdraft fees or minimum balance requirements.
2. What Features Does It Have?
While the prepaid cards of yesterday may have been limited in their functionality, many paycards today are actual debit cards, allowing employees the freedom to save, spend, or send their money just like they would with any other card.
What to look for
When choosing a paycard provider, look beyond the ones with basic functionality and consider features that truly add value for your workforce. These include…
- Having a card that’s backed by an FDIC-insured bank account
- The option to have a digital wallet for added flexibility, so employees can use both their physical card or virtual account
- Additional benefits like cashback rewards or a savings feature that promote financial wellness
It’s also important to find a paycard that allows you to send any type of payment to employees, whether that’s wage, tip payouts, mileage reimbursements, bonuses, or beyond.
3. How Does Set-Up Work?
The right paycard provider should work with you to ensure both you and your employees have a smooth onboarding and implementation process, including providing integrations with existing software or tools when possible.
You want to find a paycard provider that feels more like a partner than another vendor; a team that doesn’t just get you up and running, but is there every step of the way if you have questions, comments, or concerns.
What to look for
Find a provider that:
- Offers an easy way for employees to self-onboard
- Allows workers to start getting paid day one on the job
- Gives you the freedom to send payments at whatever cadence you prefer, whether that’s bi-weekly, weekly, the end of each day, or multiple times a day
- Provides a seamless implementation process and integration with existing tools
4. Does This Work For Unbanked Employees and Minors?
For the hospitality industry especially, it’s critical to find a paycard solution that can work for more of your workforce—one that’s inclusive of everyone. The right paycard provider should be able to work for employees without existing bank accounts, those with limited documentation, and minors 14+.
What to look for
The right paycard provider should have an inclusive offering. This means:
- No need for employees to have an existing bank account
- Easy self-verification and self-onboarding
- Options for workers with limited documentation
- Options for minors 14+
The right paycard can make fast, flexible access to wages possible for more people—helping you feel good about the way you pay your team.
5. How Can I Be Sure My Team Will Use Them?
When they’re used to dealing with outdated processes like cash or paper checks, employees are usually more than happy to switch to fast, digital access to wages. Being able to get their tips the same day they work, or even take an advance on their earnings through earned wage access can be life changing for people—especially those who live paycheck to paycheck.
What to look for
When you’re rolling out a new paycard program, look for a provider that can help encourage adoption and make onboarding seamless for you and your team. Find a provider that:
- Offers employee training and communication
- Makes self-onboarding easy for employees
- Designates an account manager who’s with you every step of the way
- Provides multilingual materials and marketing support
The Bottom Line: The Right Paycard is a Win-Win
The hospitality industry thrives on speed, flexibility, and service—and how you pay your team should reflect that. Don’t let outdated myths keep your business from embracing a tool that can benefit everyone involved.
With the right paycard provider, you can save time and money on outdated processes and boost employee satisfaction in the process.
Branch Cards: An Inclusive, Cost-Effective Solution
With the Branch Card, your team can receive their earnings right away, at whatever cadence you prefer—without an existing bank account. Plus, Branch can support minors 14+ and workers with limited documentation. It works just like any other debit card; employees can use it to pay bills, shop, and withdraw cash.
Branch is free for companies and their workers; the only time an employee would be charged is if they want an instant transfer to another account. Otherwise, accessing their earnings and all regular transfers are free of charge.
We also provide:
- Fee-free in-network ATM usage
- 8 free ATM withdrawals per month
- No overdraft fees
- No monthly maintenance fees
- No account minimums
- Self-onboarding in 90 seconds or less for app users
You have enough on your plate; let Branch help you streamline payroll and give you back more hours in your day. Want to learn more? See what Branch Cards can do for you.
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