Fourth HotSchedules review

HotSchedules is Fourth's scheduling and team management product and is aimed at restaurant chains that want scheduling tied to payroll, HR and inventory. Managers build schedules from real sales and labor data, and predictive insights match staffing to demand to reduce overtime. Predictive scheduling, labor law alerts and reporting help multi-state operators avoid fair workweek penalties. On the pay side, it offers instant digital tip payouts and earned wage access, and the wider Fourth suite adds payroll, PEO, hiring, inventory and AI forecasting. It integrates with PAR POS, Toast, Oracle Micros and NCR Aloha, which covers most large chain setups. Fourth says the platform runs at 120,000 locations. There are no published prices; buying starts with a demo, and the page was running a promotion offering a year of HotSchedules. For an independent restaurant, the setup and sales process is heavier than 7shifts or Homebase.

Who it is for

restaurant chains and franchise groups

Price

Pricing by demo and quote. See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Schedules built from real sales and labor data
• Predictive staffing insights to reduce overtime and match demand
• Predictive scheduling and labor law alerts across locations
• Instant digital tip payouts and earned wage access
• POS integrations including PAR POS, Toast, Oracle Micros and NCR Aloha

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Fourth reports 120,000 locations on the platform
• Strength: Connects scheduling with Fourth payroll, HR, inventory and analytics
• Strength: Integrates with the large chain POS systems
• Weakness: No published prices
• Weakness: Sales-led setup through a demo
• Weakness: More platform than a single independent restaurant needs

Key facts

• Locations: 120,000, per Fourth
• Pricing: Demo and quote
• POS integrations: PAR POS, Toast, Oracle Micros, NCR Aloha and more
• Regions: US, UK, APAC

Where it ranks

Fourth HotSchedules is No. 8 in our Best Restaurant Scheduling Software verdict.