Run Your Operation: Labor Reports, Log Book, and Task Lists
Phase 3 moves you from setup into active management. Use 7shifts' reporting and operations tools to control labor costs, maintain continuity across shifts, and keep your team accountable to daily tasks without adding to your workload. These tools are most useful once you have 2–3 weeks of published schedules and recorded punches behind you, so the right move is to get them running now and let the data build.
Where you are: Phase 3 - Running Your Business
Connect the stack: payroll, time clocking, and mobile adoption- Run your operation: labor reports, Log Book, and Task Lists (you are here!)
Use the Labor Budget Tool to control your labor spend
The Labor Budget Tool sits at the bottom of the Schedule page and updates in real time. It compares your projected sales against your scheduled labor costs so you can see if you are on target before you publish.
Note: Managers will need "Can manage sales projections" permissions to modify AI-generated figures or enter manual sales data.
- On the Schedule page, scroll to the bottom to find the Labor Budget Tool.
- Set your projected sales. If you have a POS integration, these populate automatically. Otherwise, enter them manually in the Sales row.
- Click the Target dropdown and choose your preferred metric: Labor %, SPLH (Sales Per Labor Hour), Hours, or IPLH (Items Per Labor Hour).
- Enter your target values. The tool highlights costs in green (on target) or red (over target) as you add shifts.
- Review the data after the week closes. Use the Compare to actuals toggle to see how real performance matched your plan.
Tip: Wait for 2-3 weeks of data before making major changes to your targets. This helps you spot patterns rather than reacting to one-off busy weeks.
Use the Manager Log Book to maintain shift continuity
The Log Book is a shared journal where Managers record shift incidents, maintenance issues, and sales notes. It replaces the whiteboard, the group text, and the "ask whoever opened yesterday" workflow.
Note: Log Book categories are fully configurable by Admins. Default categories include Shift Notes, Customer Complaints, and Maintenance.
- In the left navigation bar, go to Log Book.
- Click New Entry.
- Select the category that fits best, for example Shift Notes for general observations, Maintenance for equipment issues, or Daily Sales for revenue notes. Write the entry with enough detail that a Manager coming on shift with no prior context can act on it.
- Click Save.
- Set the expectation with your management team: every Manager closes their shift with a Log Book entry. Even a "no issues" note confirms the log is being actively maintained and sent every night.
Assign and track daily tasks with Task Lists
Task Lists let you create recurring checklists like opening duties, closing duties, line checks, and cleaning schedules. They're assigned to specific roles or Employees and tracked for completion each shift. Incomplete tasks show in your reports, creating an accountability record without requiring a Manager to physically check each item.
Important: Task Management is an add-on feature. Go to Settings > Add-ons > Task Management and click Enable Task Management. Once enabled, Task Management will appear in the left navigation bar and will be visible to your staff. If it's already showing in your navigation, you're good to go.
- In the left navigation bar, go to Tasks.
- Click Create Task List.
- Name the task list, for example "Opening - Front of House."
- Add individual tasks. Each one should be a single, verifiable action like "Wipe down host stand" rather than "Clean front area."
- Set the recurrence schedule: daily, specific days of the week, or as needed.
- Assign the list to the role or department responsible for completing it.
- Click Save.
- Let relevant team members know that Task Lists are now active in 7shifts and accessible via the mobile app at the start of their shift.
Tip: Start with one task list, your most critical opening or closing checklist. Once your team is in the habit of completing and checking off tasks in the app, add more lists.
What's next
Your 30-day setup journey is complete 🥳 Your account is built, your team is scheduled, and your management tools are running.
Explore these high-value features next to continue improving your operation:
- Tip Pooling: Automate tip distribution across your team based on hours worked, role, or custom rules. Especially valuable for full-service restaurants where tips are a meaningful part of compensation.
- Employee Onboarding: Streamline new hire paperwork so staff are ready to schedule from Day 1. With restaurant turnover running 60-80% annually, a repeatable onboarding process saves significant time.
- Team Engagement: Track how your team feels about their schedule, spot retention risks early, and measure the health of your operation beyond labor costs. See Team Engagement.
- 7shifts Payroll: Process payroll directly in 7shifts without exporting to a third party. Time clocking, tips, and wages flow straight through to paystubs in one place.
Get help and stay updated
Now that your operation is running, you may have specific questions or want to explore advanced workflows. Our resources are designed to help you get the most out of 7shifts as your business grows.
Note: Advanced troubleshooting or major account changes require approval from the Account Owner. The Account Owner is the main point of contact for issues that require advanced support or technical confirmation.
- Knowledge Base: Search our full library of articles and guides for detailed feature walkthroughs and advanced tips.
- Contact Support: If you need direct assistance, our Support team is ready to help. Get in touch here or use the Help menu inside your account.
- What's New: Stay informed about new tools and enhancements by visiting the What's New section.