CheckMark Payroll review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

CheckMark Payroll is a do-it-yourself desktop payroll application for small and medium-sized businesses, including restaurants, bars, breweries and catering companies. It supports hourly and salaried employees, multiple pay rates and pay periods, tipped-wage calculation and tracking, and weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly payroll. Restaurant operators can also handle employer tax payments, W-2 and W-3 printing or e-filing, MICR check printing, ACH direct-deposit file creation, department and job allocation, and more than 50 payroll reports. The software runs on Windows and macOS and allows unlimited employees and payroll runs under an annual license.

Pricing is straightforward across two plans. CheckMark Payroll Pro costs $579 per year and includes unlimited employees and payroll runs, ACH direct-deposit file creation, payroll tax form printing and e-filing, plus up to 60 minutes of support within the payroll year. CheckMark Payroll Pro+ costs $649 per year and adds up to 120 minutes of support, along with priority phone and live-chat support. Both plans include the core payroll capabilities, and a 60-day free trial is available. For a restaurant that wants predictable annual pricing and in-house processing, the lower tier covers the main payroll functions without limiting employee or run volume.

Its ecosystem fit is focused rather than broad. CheckMark Payroll supports QuickBooks, CheckMark MultiLedger and timekeeping solutions, with accounting-data export for connected workflows. The published restaurant offering does not list restaurant POS integrations, so businesses expecting payroll data to flow directly from a POS may need another approach. The desktop format also makes this a better match for teams comfortable processing payroll on Windows or macOS than for operators seeking a browser-first system. Choose CheckMark Payroll for tip-based payroll, tax handling and unlimited processing at an annual cost; consider an alternative if POS connectivity or wider online access is central to the workflow.

CheckMark Payroll pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Unlimited employees and payroll runs under either annual plan
  • Tipped-wage tracking, tax payments and 50+ payroll reports
  • Windows and macOS support with QuickBooks export
• Where it doesn't
  • Desktop software may not suit teams seeking browser-based payroll
  • Integrations include accounting and timekeeping tools, not restaurant POS systems
  • Support time is capped by plan at 60 or 120 minutes per payroll year

CheckMark Payroll fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update