Best Payroll Software for Family Entertainment Centers: Top Picks and Key Features [2026]
Family entertainment centers face unique workforce challenges: seasonal hiring spikes, teams that include minors requiring special labor law compliance, fluctuating foot traffic, and multiple revenue streams. Operators need a cloud-based payroll solution that handles complexity while remaining straightforward enough for managers during peak hours. The right software integrates scheduling, time tracking, and compliance into a single management system that controls costs and keeps operations running smoothly.
This guide evaluates top platforms focusing on youth labor law compliance, tip management, point-of-sale integration, and seasonal flexibility.
What should payroll software do for FEC teams?
Critical capabilities for FEC operations include:
Functionality
Why it matters
Youth labor law compliance
Centers employ minors subject to restrictions on hours and breaks. Automated compliance prevents costly violations.
Integrated scheduling and timecard tracking
Disconnected systems create errors. All-in-one platforms ensure hours flow directly into the payroll process.
Demand-based labor forecasting
Party bookings and seasonal patterns create unpredictable needs. Forecasting matches staff members to demand.
Tip management
Food operations require accurate tip pooling and distribution across roles and shifts.
Multi-location support
Multiple venues need centralized processing with local flexibility.
Point-of-sale integration
Sales data drives staffing decisions and streamlines workflows.
Overtime and break tracking
Prevents violations and ensures compliance, especially for young workers.
Seasonal flexibility
Easy onboarding for summer staff and managing varying headcounts.
Top FEC Payroll Software Compared
Our Top Five Picks: Quick Summary
Platform
Best for
Why it stands out
Workforce.com
Centers needing comprehensive scheduling and payroll in one system
Only platform purpose-built for hourly workforces with AI-powered labor forecasting, automated youth labor compliance, and tip management integrated with scheduling
Gusto
Small centers with straightforward needs and limited locations
Clean interface and transparent rates make it easy to use, though lacks advanced forecasting and industry-specific compliance features
Paychex Flex
Mid-size operations prioritizing dedicated support
Strong customer service with dedicated specialists, but can be expensive and lacks robust scheduling integration
ADP Run
Growing businesses planning multi-state or multi-location expansion
Scalable platform with deep compliance tools, though setup is complex and costs increase quickly with add-ons
7shifts
Centers with significant food and beverage operations
Restaurant-focused with good tip management and tracking, but limited HR features and weaker compliance for non-restaurant roles
#1 Workforce.com
Workforce.com is purpose-built for hourly workforces, making it ideal for entertainment centers needing more than basic payment processing. It integrates labor forecasting, scheduling, timecard tracking, HR, and payroll into one cloud-based system.
AI-powered labor forecasting: Uses historical sales, party bookings, seasonal trends, and weather to predict staffing needs. Build schedules that match demandâavoiding overstaffing on slow days and understaffing during peak rushes.
Automated youth labor compliance: Automatically enforces federal and state youth labor laws during scheduling and processing. Prevents scheduling minors outside permitted hours and tracks required breaks â critical when staff costs represent 29% of operating budgets and violations carry significant fines.
Comprehensive tip management: Handles tip pooling for FEC food, beverage, and event-based service, with automated splitting based on hours worked, roles, or custom rules. Tips are calculated automatically and flow accurately into payroll.
Shift swapping: Replace call-outs faster and prevent short staffing with automated, mobile-first shift bidding that engages staff and reduces admin work.
Pros
- All-in-one platform eliminates separate systems
- Real-time cost visibility prevents budget overruns
- Shift swapping reduces manager time on coverage gaps
- Dedicated implementation consultant ensures smooth setup
Cons
- Consolidating systems requires change management during implementation
- More robust than very small operations may need
- Learning advanced features takes time
Best for: Entertainment centers of all sizes wanting optimized costs, compliance, and streamlined operationsâespecially those employing minors, running food service, or managing multiple locations.
Pricing: Workforce.com provides quote-based rates tailored to each business. Speak with our team to learn more.
#2 Gusto
Gusto offers user-friendly processing with transparent rates for small businesses. It handles core functions wellâautomated tax filings, direct deposit, W-2/1099 generationâand includes basic benefits. The platform includes native shift scheduling, time tracking with Time Kiosk options, and timesheets that sync directly to payroll. For small, single-location operations with straightforward needs, it's a clean, approachable software solution.
The platform's modern design requires minimal training, and employee self-service allows staff to access documents and schedules independently through web or the Gusto Wallet mobile app. Gusto's scheduling can create shifts up to 6 months in advance, shows approved time-off to prevent conflicts, and allows managers to compare scheduled vs. actual hours.
However, while Gusto has scheduling capabilities, it lacks the advanced labor forecasting and demand-based scheduling that helps predict staffing needs based on historical sales, party bookings, or seasonal patterns. Youth labor law compliance must be managed manually during scheduling. Tip management exists but is more basic compared to hospitality-focused platforms.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
- Transparent rates with no hidden fees
- Strong benefits marketplace
- Unlimited runs included; native scheduling and time tracking
Cons
- Limited labor forecasting and demand prediction tools
- Youth labor compliance managed manually during scheduling
- Scheduling available only on Plus, Premium, or Time & Attendance add-on plans
- Becomes expensive as headcount grows
Best for: Small entertainment centers with fewer than 25 employees and less reliance on advanced labor forecasting or demand-based scheduling.
Starting at: $45/month + $6/employee (Core); $80/month + $8/employee (Premium); $125/month + $10/employee (Elite). Scheduling requires Plus, Premium, or Time & Attendance Plus add-on.
Note: For current details, refer to Gusto's official website.
#3 Paychex Flex
Paychex Flex combines processing with extensive HR services. Its standout feature is dedicated supportâeach client gets a specialist who knows your business. For owners valuing expert assistance over self-service, this provides peace of mind.
The platform offers robust benefits administration, retirement plans, and compliance dashboards tracking OSHA and workers' compensation. However, rates are opaque and typically higher than competitors, with many features as add-ons. User reviews note the interface can feel dated and cluttered compared to newer cloud-native platforms, and setup takes time with a learning curve for new users.
Pros
- Dedicated specialist provides personalized support
- Strong 401(k) and benefits options
- Comprehensive compliance tracking
- Scales for mid-size, multi-location operations
Cons
- Higher cost with rates requiring sales negotiation
- Interface can feel dated with some clunky navigation
- Limited scheduling integration
- Initial setup and onboarding takes time
Best for: Mid-size operations with 50+ employees prioritizing dedicated support and benefits options.
Starting at: Custom quotes required. Industry reports suggest ~$79/month base + $4-8/employee, increasing with add-ons.
Note: For current details, refer to Paychex's official website.
#4 ADP Run
ADP Run offers enterprise-grade infrastructure for businesses under 50 employees. Backed by ADP's decades of experience, it's strong for operations planning growth or multi-state expansion, with automated processing and comprehensive 50-state tax compliance.
ADP's compliance depth is keyâextensive labor law tracking, automated filings with guarantees, and a large HR document library. For expanding businesses, ADP handles varying local regulations without requiring expertise. The platform integrates with apps like ZipRecruiter, 7Shifts, When I Work, and others for scheduling and hiring. However, user reviews note the platform has a learning curve, especially for new users navigating advanced features.
Pros
- Extensive multi-state compliance support
- Enterprise-grade infrastructure and reliability
- Strong tax filing with accuracy guarantees
- Scales as business grows across states
Cons
- Learning curve for new users and advanced features
- Opaque rates requiring custom quotes
- Higher cost than competitors; many add-ons increase expense
- Limited integrations compared to some platforms; no native scheduling
Best for: Businesses planning rapid growth, multi-state expansion, or highly regulated operations needing strong compliance infrastructure.
Starting at: Custom rates. Industry estimates suggest ~$150-250/month for small teams, increasing with add-ons.
Note: For current details, refer to ADP's official website.
#5 7shifts
7shifts was built for restaurant operations, giving it strong capabilities in tip management, labor cost tracking as percentage of sales, and food service scheduling. It integrates with POS systems for sales-informed scheduling and simplified tip calculations.
For FECs where food service is significant, 7shifts offers valuable restaurant-specific functionality at accessible prices. However, it's focused on restaurants rather than comprehensive workforce management. FECs need to manage arcade attendants, party coordinators, maintenance staff, and attraction operatorsâeach with different needs. HR capabilities are limited, and labor forecasting is weaker for non-restaurant demand patterns.
Pros
- Excellent tip pooling and automated payout for food operations
- Strong POS integrations with sales data sync
- Labor cost tracking as percentage of sales
- Mobile-first staff interface with easy shift management
Cons
- Built for restaurants, not multi-department operations
- Limited HR functionality compared to comprehensive platforms
- Forecasting optimized for restaurant patterns, not venue-specific demand
- Not designed for non-restaurant roles and compliance needs
Best for: FECs where food/beverage is primary, or supplementary for food departments.
Pricing (as of 2026): Free Comp Plan for single locations up to 30 employees. Paid plans: Entree ($79.99/month), Gourmet (~$135/month) per location.
Note: For current pricing and features, refer to 7shifts' official website.
Other Notable Options
These platforms didnât make the top five, but they may still be worth exploring depending on your team size, industry fit, and budget.
OnPay
Best for: Small operations seeking straightforward, affordable processing with transparent rates.
Why consider it: OnPay delivers full-service processing and HR at $49/month + $6/worker with no hidden fees. Includes unlimited runs, multi-state support, garnishments, and benefits in the base plan.
Pros: Transparent rates; comprehensive base features; excellent support team; simple setup; multi-state without add-ons.
Cons: No native scheduling; limited labor forecasting; not built for hourly workforces; fewer integrations; weaker youth labor automation.
Deputy
Best for: Operations wanting integrated scheduling and time tracking with payroll integration.
Why consider it: Deputy focuses on scheduling and time tracking, integrating with payroll providers like ADP, QuickBooks, Xero, and Gusto. Works well for businesses keeping existing payroll processors while upgrading scheduling capabilities. Mobile-first platform with geofencing, shift swapping, and compliance tracking.
Pros: Strong scheduling for hourly teams; employee self-service; compliance tools for breaks and overtime; extensive integrations; automated notifications.
Cons: Doesn't process payroll itself; expensive with add-ons; setup can be complex; youth labor compliance requires manual configuration; integration can create syncing issues.
Pricing (as of 2026): $4.50-$6/user/month for base plans; add-ons priced separately. 31-day free trial available.
Note: For current pricing and features, refer to Deputy's official website.
What are common payroll challenges in family entertainment centers?
Entertainment venues face unique workforce challenges that generic software often fails to address effectively.
Highly variable demand: Unlike retail, venues experience dramatic swings based on weather, school schedules, party bookings, and seasons. Without sophisticated labor forecasting, operators overspend on overstaffing or frustrate guests with understaffing.
Youth labor law compliance: Venues rely heavily on young workers, requiring adherence to federal and state restrictions on hours, shift timing, and breaks. Managers must manually enforce dozens of rules. Automated compliance prevents violations before they occur.
Seasonal workforce scaling: Many venues double staff for summer, then reduce dramatically in fall, creating ongoing hiring and onboarding cycles. Streamlined seasonal management reduces administrative burden.
Multi-department operations: A single venue employs hourly arcade attendants, tipped food workers, commissioned party coordinators, and salaried managers. Payroll must handle multiple pay types, calculate tips, track commissions, and compute overtime across departments.
Real-time cost control: With payroll representing 29% of operating budgetsâthe largest expense for FECs according to IAAPA's 2025 Entertainment Center Benchmark Report â operators need real-time visibility into labor costs as schedules are built.
Workforce.com addresses these challenges with AI-powered forecasting, automated youth labor compliance, streamlined seasonal processes, sophisticated pay structure handling, and real-time cost visibility.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the right payroll software for your family entertainment center
Staffing represents 29% of operating budgets âthe largest expense. Getting it right requires more than accurate paychecks; you need a platform controlling costs, maintaining compliance, and running operations efficiently.
While Gusto, Paychex Flex, ADP Run, and 7shifts offer valuable capabilities, Workforce.com stands out as the most comprehensive solution purpose-built for family entertainment center operations. Its integration of AI-powered forecasting, automated youth labor compliance, tip management, and real-time cost visibility addresses venue-specific challenges. Rather than managing separate systems for scheduling, timesheets, compliance, and processing, Workforce.com provides a single platform streamlining workflows and controlling your largest expense.
For entertainment centers committed to optimizing costs, ensuring compliance, and delivering excellent guest experiences, Workforce.com offers the most powerful purpose-built solution available.
Ready to transform your operations? Schedule a demo to discover how Workforce.com can reduce costs, ensure compliance, and simplify workforce management.