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CheckMark Payroll

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Spec score 9.2 #2 of 23 in Restaurant Payroll Software

What it is

CheckMark Payroll is desktop do-it-yourself payroll software marketed to restaurants, bars, breweries, and other tip-based businesses. It calculates and tracks tipped wages, and supports automated pay calculations, multiple pay schedules, special checks, check edits and reissues, and wage allocation. The restaurant offering advertises unlimited employees, locations, and payroll runs without extra charges for payroll frequency. Employers can print MICR checks or create ACH direct deposit files for submission to a bank or ACH provider. Listed tax and reporting functions include federal payroll form printing, W-2 and W-3 printing and e-filing, employer payroll tax filings, and access to more than 40 payroll report types. Payroll data can be exported to CheckMark MultiLedger, QuickBooks, and other accounting software. The desktop software is available for Windows and macOS, but an internet connection is required for installation, activation, and use. A 60-day trial is offered without a credit card. Pro costs $599 a year in the first year and $419 a year from the second year; Pro+ costs $669 a year in the first year and $489 a year from the second year. Both include one company and one computer.

Spec sheet

What it does
CheckMark provides desktop and cloud payroll software for small businesses, accountants and CPAs to calculate payroll, pay employees and prepare tax filings.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Purpose
CheckMark Payroll is desktop, do-it-yourself payroll software marketed to restaurants, bars, breweries, and other tip-based businesses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Trial
The desktop product has a full-featured 60-day trial without a credit card; Online Payroll has a separate 14-day trial limited to five employees.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Integrations
The restaurant page says payroll data can be exported to CheckMark MultiLedger, QuickBooks, and other accounting software.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Security
The company says desktop payroll data is encrypted locally, while Online Payroll uses encryption in transit and at rest with login access controls.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Privacy
CheckMark says it does not sell customer personal or company information to others.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Support
Support is offered by phone, email, chat and online program fixes, with Pro and Pro+ plans specifying included support time.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Headquarters
Fort Collins, Colorado, USARead 28 Sep 2026 · checkmark.com
Founded
1984Read 28 Sep 2026 · checkmark.com
Company
CheckMark, Inc. says it has served small businesses since 1984 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Accounting integrations
The product integrates with QuickBooks and CheckMark MultiLedger, and payroll data can be imported or exported through CSV or TXT files.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
API documentation
Official product pages describe file-based imports and accounting integrations but do not provide public API or SDK documentation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Automated payroll
The product calculates wages, tax withholdings, deductions and paychecks automatically.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Company headquarters
The company lists 323 W Drake Rd, Suite 100, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526 as its contact headquarters.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Company history
CheckMark says it was founded in Fort Collins in 1984, launched Mac payroll in 1986, Windows payroll in 1994 and Online Payroll in 2023.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Company legal name
The maker identifies itself as CheckMark, Inc.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Company ownership
Crunchbase lists CheckMark as a private company and identifies Mohammed Ghani as founder, president and CEO.Read 21 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company size
Crunchbase places CheckMark in the 11–50 employee range.Read 21 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Custom pay items
Users can configure income and deduction categories such as bonuses, commissions, tips, benefits, 401(k) and garnishments.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Direct deposit
CheckMark creates ACH files that customers submit to their bank or ACH provider for payroll deposits.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Documentation
CheckMark publishes a payroll manual, setup guides, FAQs and a searchable knowledge base.Read 21 Oct 2026 · kb.checkmark.com
Employee self-service
Online Payroll gives employees secure access to pay stubs, payroll history and W-2 forms.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Import sources
The official site lists imports from providers including ADP, Paychex, Gusto, Rippling, Square Payroll, OnPay, Paycom, Workday, Patriot, Homebase and others when they export CSV or TXT.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Licence
The payroll manual describes proprietary copyrighted software, restricts copying and forbids modification, decompilation, reverse engineering and derivative works.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Limit: job costing
A Capterra reviewer wanted job costing separated from MultiLedger rather than attached to that accounting product.Read 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: payroll bugs
Capterra reviewers report an instance of incorrect federal withholding and another year where vacation and sick accruals required manual calculation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: reporting
G2 reviewers report that custom reports can be difficult and request more report options.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
MICR checks
Users can print MICR-encoded checks on blank stock.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Notable limits
The base desktop license includes one company and one computer; additional companies and computer installations cost extra, and annual updates are required.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Notable news: 2025 tax update
A CheckMark notice dated for the 2025 tax year instructed Online Payroll users to update the payroll year and download current federal, state and local tax tables.Read 21 Oct 2026 · app.checkmark.com
Pay frequencies
Supported frequencies include daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly and quarterly payroll.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Pay options
It supports MICR check printing and creates ACH direct deposit files for submission to a bank or ACH provider.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Payroll capacity
The restaurant page advertises unlimited employees, unlimited locations, and unlimited payroll runs without extra charges for payroll frequency.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Payroll features
The features page lists automated pay calculations, multiple pay schedules, special checks, check edits and reissues, and wage allocation.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Platform and connection
The desktop software is available for Windows and Mac, and the vendor says an internet connection is required for installation, activation, and use.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Praise: ease of use
Independent reviewers repeatedly describe setup, navigation and routine payroll processing as easy or user friendly.Read 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Praise: support
Reviewers commonly praise responsive, patient and knowledgeable customer support.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: value
Reviewers praise the flat annual desktop price, unlimited employees and avoidance of recurring per-employee fees.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
PTO tracking
The product tracks vacation, sick leave and up to six accrued-hour categories per employee.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Rating on Capterra
4.0 out of 5 from 16 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.4 out of 5 from 8 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.0 out of 5 from 16 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Software Advice
4.0 out of 5 from 16 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Reporting
CheckMark includes more than 40 payroll reports and allows report export to XLS or PDF.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Security and privacy
CheckMark says personal, company, and credit card information is processed through a secure encryption service and that it keeps user and employee information confidential and protected.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
System requirements
Windows editions require Windows 8 or newer, 512 MB RAM and 100 MB disk space; Mac editions require macOS Mojave or newer, 512 MB RAM and 100 MB disk space.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Tax forms
The software produces Forms 941, 940, 943, 944, W-2 and W-3, with W-2 and W-3 electronic filing supported.Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Taxes and reporting
The pricing page lists federal payroll form printing, W-2 and W-3 printing and e-filing, employer payroll tax filings, and access to 40+ payroll report types.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
Tip payroll
The restaurant product page says the software calculates and tracks tipped wages for tipped employees.Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com

Plans and prices

CheckMark Online Payroll $20 a month $20 monthly base fee plus $5 per active employee monthly single company · unlimited payroll runs · employee self-service portal · document management Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
CheckMark Payroll Pro $579 a year 2026 version; annual license unlimited employees · unlimited payrolls · one company included · one computer included · 60 minutes support Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
CheckMark Payroll Pro $599 a year $599/first year; $419 from second year Unlimited employees · unlimited payrolls · one company and one computer included · up to 60 minutes of support per payroll year Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
CheckMark Payroll Pro+ $649 a year 2026 version; annual license unlimited employees · unlimited payrolls · one company included · one computer included · 120 minutes support · priority phone and live-chat support Read 21 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com
CheckMark Payroll Pro+ $669 a year $669/first year; $489 from second year Unlimited employees · unlimited payrolls · one company and one computer included · up to 120 minutes of support per payroll year Read 4 Oct 2026 · checkmark.com

Every CheckMark Payroll plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Tracks tipped wages
  • Unlimited employees and payroll runs advertised
  • Prints MICR checks or creates ACH files
  • W-2 and W-3 printing and e-filing
  • 60-day trial without a credit card

Limits

  • Internet required for installation, activation, and use
  • Base license includes one company and one computer
  • Additional companies and computer installations cost extra
  • Annual updates are required

Who it suits

It suits restaurants and other tip-based businesses that want desktop payroll tools for tipped wages, tax filings, and direct deposit. The listed Windows and macOS support and one-company license should fit the setup to the buyer's needs.

CheckMark Payroll in depth

Read the full write-up

CheckMark Payroll is a desktop payroll system aimed at restaurants, bars, breweries, and other employers whose staff earn tips. It suits small businesses that want unlimited payroll activity without per-run charges and can operate from a single workstation. The trade-off is a paid, annually updated license with one company and one computer included.

Overview

CheckMark has served small businesses since 1984 from Fort Collins, Colorado. Its restaurant-focused payroll handles tipped-wage calculations and tracking, while the broader payroll tools cover routine processing, tax work, payments, and accounting exports. This is a do-it-yourself product rather than a browser-based service: Windows and Mac versions both require an internet connection for installation, activation, and use.

Key features

Tip management is the clearest reason to consider the restaurant edition. It calculates and tracks tipped employees' wages, addressing a problem that generic payroll software may not handle as directly. Businesses can run payroll for unlimited employees and locations, and can run it as often as needed without an extra frequency charge. That combination is useful for hospitality operators with changing schedules or multiple venues, although the included license still covers only one company.

Automated pay calculations, multiple pay schedules, special checks, wage allocation, and the ability to edit or reissue checks cover the exceptions that make payroll administration time-consuming. Payment output supports MICR check printing and creation of ACH direct-deposit files for submission to a bank or ACH provider. The latter is file-based rather than a stated direct connection to a bank, so employers should account for that extra submission step.

For compliance, the software prints federal payroll forms, prints and e-files W-2 and W-3 forms, handles employer payroll tax filings, and provides more than 40 payroll report types. Multi-state payroll is supported. Payroll data can be exported to CheckMark MultiLedger, QuickBooks, and other accounting applications, which is helpful when bookkeeping remains in a separate system.

CheckMark describes encrypted processing for personal, company, and credit-card information and says user and employee information is kept confidential and protected. US-based support is offered by chat, email, and phone; the Pro+ tier adds priority assistance, toll-free help, and live chat.

Pricing

CheckMark Payroll is paid software with a 60-day free trial, and the trial does not require a credit card. The desktop license includes one company and one computer. Additional companies or installations cost extra, and annual updates are required, so the recurring cost is more than the first purchase alone.

PlanPriceIncluded supportBest fitCheckMark Payroll Pro$599 a year; 599.00 USD first year, 419.00 USD from second yearUnlimited employees and payrolls; one company and one computer; up to 60 minutes of support per payroll yearEmployers who need the core payroll and tax feature set and limited assistanceCheckMark Payroll Pro+$669 a year; 669.00 USD first year, 489.00 USD from second yearUnlimited employees and payrolls; one company and one computer; up to 120 minutes of support per payroll yearBusinesses that value twice the included support and priority servicePro+ costs 70.00 USD more in the first year and from the second year, buying an additional 60 minutes of support plus priority, toll-free, and live-chat assistance. Pro is the more economical choice when administrators can solve most issues themselves. Neither plan removes the one-company, one-computer limit or the need for annual updates.

Platforms

CheckMark Payroll runs on Windows and macOS desktop computers. Internet access is required for installation, activation, and ongoing use, so it is unsuitable for an entirely offline workflow. Direct deposit is supported through ACH file creation, and MICR output supports printed checks.

Who it's for

This is a strong match for a restaurant, bar, brewery, or similar tip-based employer that wants to process payroll in-house, run unlimited payrolls, support multiple locations, and export results to established accounting software. It also fits organizations needing multi-state payroll and formal tax filings without moving to a web-only service.

Look elsewhere if several companies or workstations must share one subscription, if payroll must operate without an internet connection, or if you want a fully managed online service with bank-connected direct deposit. The license terms and annual update requirement matter particularly to growing groups.

Pros and cons

Pro: Tipped-wage calculation and tracking directly address restaurant payroll complexity.

Pro: Unlimited employees, locations, and payroll runs avoid per-run or scale limits.

Pro: Tax filings, year-end form printing and e-filing, multi-state support, and more than 40 reports cover substantial compliance work.

Pro: MICR checks, ACH files, and accounting exports support mixed payment and bookkeeping workflows.

Con: The included license supports only one company on one computer; expansion costs extra.

Con: Internet is required even though the product is desktop software.

Con: Annual updates add an ongoing obligation, and first-year pricing is higher than later-year pricing.

Con: ACH output must be submitted to a bank or provider, rather than being described as direct bank processing.

Alternatives

Restaurant Payroll Software is the broader list to consult when you want to compare restaurant-focused options.

Choose ClockOn instead if you prefer Android, iOS, web, or Windows access and may qualify for its free Starter Package, which covers basic payroll and STP for eligible new businesses for up to 12 months or 27 submissions.

ADP Workforce Now is an alternative for organizations seeking a web, iOS, and Android platform with payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, employee access, and multi-jurisdiction payroll.

OnPay suits buyers wanting web and mobile access, a free trial, and a published Payroll plan at $49 a month plus $6 per month, including unlimited runs and year-end filings.

RUN Powered by ADP is another web-and-mobile ADP payroll option. Workforce.com combines scheduling, HR, and payroll. isolved HCM offers a modular platform with customized pricing. Kit by KitchenSync targets location-based operations with finance, payroll, HR, and banking in a $1,500 per month Essentials plan. Paycor provides web and mobile payroll tiers for organizations under 50 employees.

Verdict

Choose CheckMark Payroll if you run a tip-heavy hospitality business that wants desktop control, unlimited payroll activity, strong tax and reporting tools, and exports to accounting software. Its principal reason to look elsewhere is the constrained one-company, one-computer license, combined with required annual updates and internet dependence; multi-entity or cloud-first employers will find those terms restrictive.

Verdict

CheckMark Payroll pairs tip-wage calculations with payroll reporting and payment options for desktop use. Factor in the one-company, one-computer license and differing first- and later-year prices.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to CheckMark PayrollAll alternatives →