7shifts Shift Scheduling Tool: Overview & Setup Guide

7shifts Scheduling Tool Key Takeaways:

• Purpose-built for restaurants — 7shifts delivers scheduling, labor forecasting, tip pooling, and compliance tools tailored to foodservice operations.
• Boosts efficiency with POS integration — syncing sales data to schedules helps control labor costs and improve shift coverage accuracy.
• Scales with your business — flexible plans from free to enterprise-grade make it suitable for single-location eateries and multi-unit chains alike.

What Is 7shifts?

7shifts is a cloud-based, restaurant-specific workforce management platform that unifies scheduling, communication, time tracking, payroll integration, tip management, and labor compliance into one system. It’s designed to meet the fast-moving needs of U.S. restaurant operations.

7shift Scheduling Core Features

These features make 7shifts more than just a roster builder—it’s a complete labor management tool that keeps schedules accurate, teams informed, and labor costs under control.

• Drag-and-Drop Schedule Builder: Quickly build and modify rosters using an intuitive interface; leverage templates and weather-aware tools to adapt for rushes or slow shifts.
• Real-Time Communication & Notifications: In-app messaging and broadcast announcements keep staff informed. Shift updates appear automatically in the mobile app.
• Time Tracking with Accuracy Tools: Supports geofencing, facial recognition, and integration with the 7Punches app for secure clock-ins, reducing time theft.
• Labor Budgeting & Sales Forecasting: Link POS systems to align staffing with expected sales and manage labor costs effectively.
• Tip Pooling & Payroll Integration: Automate tip calculations from POS data and simplify payroll with streamlined integrations.

7shifts Scheduling App Pricing Plans Overview (2025)

7shifts offers tiered plans to fit various business sizes and needs:

7shifts Scheduling App Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. Sign Up & Pick Your Plan: Start with the free plan to explore core features, then upgrade when ready—Entrée gives you forecasting, The Works adds compliance and payroll.
2. Set Up Locations & Departments: Define your locations and teams (e.g., kitchen, front-of-house) to organize scheduling and permissions.
3. Add Team & Roles: Invite staff, assign roles, and ensure availability settings are in place to later match shifts effectively.
4. Connect POS & Time Tools: Link your POS (like Toast or Clover) for labor forecasting and tip tracking. Set up 7Punches or POS-based clock-in options.
5. Build & Publish Schedule: Use drag-and-drop or templates, review labor vs. sales projections, then publish to notify your team.
6. Enable Shift Swaps & Open Picks: Allow employees to request swaps, open shifts, and take over shifts—all pending your approval for flexibility.
7. Monitor Attendance & Overtime: Track punches tied to shifts and use tools like the Weekly Overtime Report or Log Book to spot risk areas.
8. Manage Tips & Payroll: Automatically manage tip pooling and push timesheet data into your payroll system for simplified wage processing.
9. Utilize Reporting & Feedback: Gather shift feedback, monitor labor cost adherence, and track employee engagement to cut turnover and operate smarter.
10. Deploy MFA for Security (if using pay tools): Enable mandatory multi-factor authentication on any payroll or tip payout functions for enhanced protection.

Check out our list of Top 5 Scheduling Tools for Restaurants & Hospitality.

Summary: Is 7shifts the Right Scheduling Plan for You?

• Best fit for U.S. restaurants and hospitality operators who want a platform built specifically for foodservice scheduling, labor cost control, and compliance.
• Ideal if you rely heavily on POS integration to forecast staffing needs, track tips, and align labor spend with sales trends.
• Great for teams that value real-time communication and engagement tools like shift feedback, announcements, and a manager’s logbook.
• If you’re a multi-location or growing operation, the scalability from free to enterprise-grade plans makes 7shifts a long-term solution—though budget-conscious owners should weigh its higher entry-level cost against its restaurant-specific advantages.