Homebase Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Homebase streamlines workforce management for small to medium-sized businesses with tools for scheduling, time tracking, payroll, and team communication. The platform brings these essential functions together in one user-friendly interface, helping managers and employees work more efficiently.

At its core, the software simplifies daily operations with features like drag-and-drop scheduling, automated timesheets, and integrated payroll processing. Managers can create schedules quickly, while employees can clock in and out, swap shifts, and receive updates through the mobile app. The platform also includes tools for hiring, onboarding, and maintaining HR compliance.

Business owners can start with a free basic plan that includes scheduling and time tracking for up to 20 employees at one location. Paid tiers unlock additional features like hiring tools, labor cost controls, and HR resources. The platform works well for various industries, including retail, restaurants, and service businesses.

Through its mobile and desktop interfaces, Homebase connects with popular business tools like QuickBooks and Square. This integration helps create a smooth workflow for both managers and staff, whether they're in the office or on the go.

• Comprehensive Workforce Scheduling: Easily create and manage employee schedules with drag-and-drop interface, auto-scheduling capabilities, and real-time shift swap notifications.
• Advanced Time and Attendance Tracking: Track employee hours precisely with geofenced time clocks, automatic timesheet generation, and integrated overtime monitoring.
• Seamless Payroll Processing: Streamline payroll with automatic time tracking, integration with major payroll providers, and convenient tip and wage management features.
• Integrated Team Communication: Connect your team through built-in messaging, employee databases, and HR compliance tools that simplify workforce management.
• Recruitment and Hiring Support: Post jobs across multiple platforms, manage applicants, and streamline the hiring process with integrated recruitment tools.
• Smart Labor Cost Management: Forecast labor expenses, receive overtime alerts, and optimize scheduling based on historical performance data.
• Mobile-First Workforce Management: Access all features through user-friendly mobile and desktop apps, enabling on-the-go team coordination and scheduling.

• Basic Plan is free and covers 1 location with up to 20 employees, offering basic scheduling, time tracking, employee management, and POS integration with a payroll add-on option.
• Essentials Plan costs $24.95 per location monthly, providing unlimited employees, advanced scheduling, time tracking, team communication tools, and payroll add-on availability.
• Plus Plan is priced at $59.95 per location monthly, including Essentials features plus hiring tools, PTO controls, departments and permissions, and payroll add-on option.
• All-in-One Plan at $99.95 per location monthly offers comprehensive features including employee onboarding, labor cost management, HR and compliance tools, with a payroll add-on available.
• Payroll Add-On costs $39 base fee monthly plus $6 per active employee, providing unlimited payroll runs, tax payments, direct deposit, and employee self-onboarding.
• Additional savings include a 14-day free trial for the All-in-One plan and a 20% discount for annual subscriptions.

The free plan covers basic needs like scheduling and time tracking for one location with up to 20 employees. Paid plans unlock more advanced features such as unlimited employees, advanced scheduling tools, hiring features, PTO tracking, and HR compliance tools. The key difference is how much control and automation you get. Most small businesses start with the free plan and upgrade as they grow and need more tools to manage their team.

Homebase offers several ways for employees to clock in and out. They can use a tablet or computer at your business location, or the mobile app which has GPS tracking to verify they're on-site. The system tracks regular hours, breaks, and overtime automatically. Managers can review and approve timesheets before running payroll. The system will also flag issues like missed breaks or early clock-ins so you can address them right away.

Yes, employees have quite a bit of control over their schedules. They can set their availability preferences, request time off, and even swap shifts with coworkers directly through the app. When shift swaps happen, managers get notified and can approve or deny the changes. Employees also get reminders about upcoming shifts and instant notifications when the schedule changes. This self-service approach saves managers tons of time on schedule management.

Homebase connects with many popular business tools. It works with point-of-sale systems like Square, Clover, and Toast to import sales data for labor forecasting. For payroll, it integrates with QuickBooks, Gusto, and other providers so your timesheet data flows directly into your payroll system. You can also add on Homebase's own payroll service if you want everything in one place. These connections help cut down on double-entry and reduce mistakes.

If your internet connection drops, employees can still clock in and out using the Homebase mobile app on their phones. The app works offline and will sync the data once connection is restored. For businesses that don't allow phones on the floor, Homebase's tablet app has an offline mode that stores clock-ins locally until internet service returns. This backup system ensures you don't lose any time tracking data during outages.