Commuter benefits for multi-location restaurant groups

Multi-location restaurant groups can roll Alice across every unit on one payroll connection, with no up-front employer cost and no manual open enrollment to manage at any location. Setup starts with one call, and deductions route to the right entity automatically.

Why restaurant groups offer Alice

When you run 5, 20, or 50+ restaurants, HR bandwidth is the constraint. A benefit that needs each GM to chase enrollments, collect paper forms, or key in deductions by hand will not survive. Alice was designed so the corporate HR team does not need any per-location lift to launch or maintain.

There is no up-front employer cost, and no employee pre-funding. The employer keeps a reserve amount in its Alice plan account; it belongs to the employer and is not a fee.

Traditional providers were built for office workers: you pay up front and manage enrollment and payroll yourself. With Alice, the only thing the corporate team handles is the initial connection. Per-unit rollout flows from there.

What restaurant employees get

Every eligible W-2 hourly employee at every location gets Alice Card, a Visa commercial credit card. The card works at transit fare gates, commuter rail vending, bus fareboxes, parking garages, parking lots, parking meters, and parking apps.

The 2026 IRS limits are $340 per month for transit and $340 per month for qualified parking (Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Uber and Lyft rides are not eligible, except for qualifying vanpools.

How restaurant group payroll connections work

Alice connects to 30+ payroll providers, including connections to ADP, UKG, Paylocity, Paycom, Paychex, Toast, and others. Multi-location groups typically run one payroll provider across every unit, even when each restaurant is a separate EIN.

Alice maps each employee to the correct EIN in the payroll feed. Deductions and tax savings post to the legal entity that employed them that pay period. Franchised groups with separate payroll instances are handled through one Alice account with multiple connections layered underneath.

Setup speed

Setup starts with one call. The corporate HR call kicks off the connection. Per-location rollout to employees usually finishes within two weeks of that call, depending on how quickly payroll credentials are shared.

How much restaurant groups actually save

Employers save FICA on every pretax dollar an employee runs, which compounds across hundreds or thousands of eligible employees. Employees save about 20% on transit and qualified parking spending. Actual savings depend on each employee's tax situation.

At enrollment we describe the employee value as "cash back" so participation is high across the floor.

FAQs for restaurant groups

Can we run different elections by location?

Yes. Alice handles election logic per employee, so corporate does not need to maintain a per-location matrix.

What about acquisitions?

When a group buys a new unit, employees at the acquired location are added through the existing payroll connection without a separate Alice contract.

Do franchisees roll up under the corporate Alice account?

Yes, this is common. Franchisees join under the parent contract or stand up their own depending on payroll structure.

Need help?

Talk to sales: sales@thisisalice.com or (929) 552-4625.

Savings shown or implied — including any reference to "cash back" or take-home pay — are illustrative. Actual savings depend on your tax rate, benefit elections, and eligible spending each pay period. "Cash back" in Alice's materials refers to the federal, state, and FICA payroll taxes you don't pay on eligible commuter spending. It is income tax you keep, not a cash payment from Alice, your employer, or any third party. Alice does not provide cash back, rebates, or any direct financial benefit in connection with the Program. Alice does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult your own tax preparer, lawyer, or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

Specific benefits, election rules, and run-out periods depend on your employer's plan design. Check with your HR team or plan administrator for details.

Figures shown are for the 2026 plan year and are set by the IRS. Limits are indexed annually by the IRS.

Pretax Hero Visa Commercial Card is powered by Stripe and issued by Celtic Bank. Program funds held at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC). Use of card and program is subject to the cardholder terms and related agreements presented at issuance.

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