Helping Restaurants Run Smarter, Not Harder

Hiring Your Children Strategy for Restaurant Owners

Restaurant owners can legally hire their children to work in the business and gain powerful tax advantages when done correctly.

This strategy is especially effective for family-owned restaurants, where children can legitimately help with daily operations.

Depending on age and local labor laws, children can help with:

• Cleaning dining areas or back-of-house spaces

• Rolling silverware or prepping menus

• Stocking supplies or organizing storage

• Managing social media posts or updating menus online

• Greeting guests or helping with takeout packaging

• Taking photos or videos for marketing

• Wages paid to your children are fully deductible as a business expense.

• If your restaurant is a sole proprietorship or family-owned LLC, children under 18 do NOT pay Social Security or Medicare taxes.

• Children can earn up to the standard deduction (about $15,000) and pay zero federal income tax. (2025)

• This shifts income from a higher tax bracket (you) to a lower one (your child), keeping more money in the family.

• The work must be real, necessary, and age-appropriate.

• Pay must be reasonable for the job performed.

• Track hours, keep job descriptions, and pay through payroll.

• Funds should go into the child’s own bank account.

• Child labor laws still apply (especially for kitchen work).

• Reduces taxable income

• Helps offset rising labor costs

• Teaches kids responsibility and work ethic

• Keeps money circulating inside the family business

If you want, I can also:

• Turn this into a one-page flyer for restaurant owners

• Write a short pitch your sales team can use

• Create a PlanetPOS-branded version

• Or combine this with the Augusta Rule for a full tax-saving strategy

Examples of Legitimate Jobs for Children in a Restaurant Why This Strategy Works Important Rules to Follow Why Restaurant Owners Love This Strategy

Visit www.planetpos.com or

Book a strategy session and lets see if we can help.