Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about TabPref

TabPref is an AI-powered hospitality workforce platform that combines scheduling, time tracking, tip pooling, labor compliance, team chat, vendor management, and event promotion in one system. This FAQ answers the most common questions from restaurant and bar operators evaluating TabPref, including pricing, supported integrations, security and privacy, mobile access, payroll exports to ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and Toast, Fair Workweek compliance, and how TabPref compares to 7shifts, HotSchedules, When I Work, and Homebase for U.S. hospitality businesses of every size.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12 by Marcus Bell, Head of Hospitality Research, TabPref.

Key statistics from authoritative sources

15.6 million people work in U.S. leisure and hospitality, making it one of the five largest employment sectors (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
74.9% annual turnover rate in the accommodation and food services sector — more than double the all-industry average of 36.7% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS Report).
30 to 35% of restaurant revenue is spent on labor costs, the second-largest operating expense after food costs (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

What the experts say

“The questions operators ask first are almost always about cost, integrations, and data ownership. Honest answers to those questions on the FAQ page convert more than any feature page.”
— Marcus Bell, former multi-unit operations director and Head of Hospitality Research at TabPref

How much does TabPref cost?

Free starter plan covers scheduling, time clock, team chat, and basic labor analytics
Paid plans start at a flat per-location monthly rate
No per-employee fees and no hardware purchases required
Multi-location billing combines employee counts across locations for tier pricing

What integrations does TabPref support?

POS — Toast, Square, Clover, Stripe Terminal, and Union
Payroll — ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Toast Payroll, Square Payroll, Heartland, Workday
Calendar — Google Calendar bidirectional sync
Reservations roadmap — OpenTable, Resy
Zapier connection for thousands of additional automations

How is my data protected?

Data stored in U.S.-based PostgreSQL databases
TLS 1.3 in transit and AES-256 at rest
Role-based access control with audit logs for every administrative action
Two-factor authentication available on all accounts
Data is never sold or shared with third parties

Does TabPref work on mobile?

Native iOS and Android apps for employees and managers
Fully responsive web app on every device
Push notifications respect off-shift quiet hours by default
Offline message queue handles spotty restaurant Wi-Fi

TabPref compared to legacy hospitality scheduling tools

Capability	TabPref	7shifts	HotSchedules	When I Work
Drag and drop scheduling	Included	Included	Included	Included
Built-in team chat	Included	Included	Add-on	Limited
Tip pooling and distribution	Included	Add-on	Add-on	Not included
Labor analytics with overtime alerts	Included	Limited	Included	Limited
Vendor and event management	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Free starter plan for small teams	Yes	Limited trial	No	Limited trial

Is TabPref free to use?

Yes. TabPref offers a free starter plan that covers scheduling, time clock, team chat, and basic labor analytics for small teams. Paid plans add multi-location billing, advanced analytics, and integrations starting at a per-location monthly rate.

How long does setup take for a new restaurant?

Most operators complete setup in under 30 minutes. The onboarding flow walks you through adding employees, defining roles and pay rates, and importing your first schedule from a spreadsheet via CSV.

Does TabPref work on mobile devices?

Yes. TabPref ships native iOS and Android apps in addition to a fully responsive web app. Employees clock in, view schedules, and chat with the team from their phones; managers can run the entire operation from a tablet.

Can TabPref replace 7shifts or HotSchedules?

Yes. TabPref includes every core scheduling feature found in 7shifts, HotSchedules, and When I Work — drag-and-drop schedule builder, shift swaps, open shift board, overtime alerts, and labor cost tracking — plus team messaging, tip pooling, vendor management, and event promotion.

Where is my data stored?

TabPref stores data in U.S.-based PostgreSQL databases with TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest, and role-based access control. Data is never sold or shared with third parties.

Does TabPref integrate with my existing payroll?

Yes. TabPref exports timecards in CSV and Excel formats compatible with ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Toast Payroll, and most other major payroll providers. Direct integrations are available on paid plans.