Business Guide
Getting Started
Set up your account and venue profile to start posting shifts.
Creating Your Account
Register your business
Sign up with your business name, email, city, and a password. You can register for free with no credit card required. Your city selection helps us prioritize launch planning for your metro area.
Verify your email
Email verification is required before you can post shifts. We send a 6-digit code to your email -- enter it on the platform to complete verification. This is a one-time step that protects your account and builds trust with workers.
Verify your business
Before your first shift goes live, complete a one-time business verification at opentoserve.com/business/verification. Sole proprietors verify their identity with a photo ID (about 2 minutes). LLCs and corporations submit their EIN and legal business name, reviewed within 1 business day. This protects workers and keeps fraudulent actors off the platform.
Early access and waitlists
OpenToServe launches city-by-city once worker and business density reaches a viable threshold. If your city is not live yet, you are on the priority waitlist. Use this time to complete your profile so you are ready to post shifts immediately when we launch.
Setting Up Your Business Profile
Why your profile matters
Workers check your business profile before applying to your shifts. A complete profile with a logo, description, and accurate details attracts better applicants. Incomplete profiles consistently receive fewer and lower-quality applications.
Business name and type
Enter your official business name and select your venue type: restaurant, cafe, bar, catering company, hotel, or other hospitality category. This helps workers understand the work environment before applying.
Upload your logo
A logo makes your shift posts look legitimate in the marketplace feed. It takes 10 seconds and makes a measurable difference in application rates. Shifts from faceless businesses get scrolled past.
Description and details
Write a description that captures your venue accurately. Is it a dive bar or a cocktail lounge? Fast-casual or fine dining? Workers want to know the vibe and service style so they can show up prepared and confident.
Address and location
Enter your accurate business address. This is used for distance calculations in the marketplace -- workers filter by proximity, so an incorrect address means you miss out on nearby workers.
Contact information
Add a phone number and website if available. This gives workers another way to learn about your venue and builds confidence in your legitimacy as an employer.
Roles and equipment
Specify which roles your business typically needs (bartender, server, line cook, etc.) and what equipment you provide. This helps the matching engine recommend your shifts to the right workers.
Profile completion tracker
Your dashboard shows a profile completion percentage. Aim for 100% -- businesses with complete profiles fill shifts up to 2x faster than those with incomplete profiles.
Payment Setup
How payment works
OpenToServe uses Stripe for all payment processing. When you accept a worker and fill a shift, a hold is placed on your card for the estimated wages. The charge is only captured when you mark the shift as complete. If you cancel before the shift starts, the hold is voided and you are never charged.
Adding a payment method
You will be prompted to add a payment method (credit or debit card) when you post your first shift. Payment details go directly to Stripe -- they never touch our servers. You can manage cards through Settings > Billing.
Billing portal
Access the Stripe billing portal from Settings > Billing > Manage Payment Methods. Here you can add, remove, or update your payment cards and view your payment history.
New Account Protections
New account spending cap
New accounts have a $499 cap on total outstanding shift value until your account has been active for 72 hours and you've completed 3 shifts successfully. This trust-building measure protects workers and businesses alike. The limit is automatically removed -- no action needed on your part.
Worker payout holds
For your first few shifts, worker payouts are held for up to 72 hours after completion. This protects both parties by ensuring payment clears before funds are transferred. After your account is established (a few successful shifts), payouts become immediate.
Additional wage limits
When completing a shift, tips and additional wages combined can total up to 2x the base wage amount. For example, if the base pay was $150, you can add up to $300 in additional wages and tips. If you need to exceed this for a specific shift, contact support for approval.
Your Venue Rating
How ratings work
Workers rate your venue after every shift. Ratings cover working conditions, communication, and overall experience. Your venue rating is visible to workers browsing the marketplace and directly impacts the quality of applicants you attract.
Building a strong rating
Fair pay, clear communication, respectful treatment, and accurate shift descriptions are the biggest factors in positive ratings. Workers talk -- a venue with a reputation for treating people well attracts the best talent.
Responding to negative feedback
If you receive a low rating, consider what went wrong and adjust. Was the shift description inaccurate? Was the work environment disorganized? Addressing root causes improves future ratings. Contact support if you believe a rating is unfair or fraudulent.
Next Steps
Account set up? Learn how to post and manage shifts: