About the company
Wild Thyme Restaurant Group operates a range of unique F&B concepts, with a focus on local food that is sustainably sourced and a culture of inclusivity.
Location
West Coast
Number of Sites
10+ restaurants and hospitality outlets
Service type
Full-service
Employee-preferred over cash or pay cards
Labor costs significantly reduced
Ease of setup and implementation
“The manager goes in, clicks a button – and [payouts] get sent right away. It saves a lot of money on every single front.”
Manager, Shorebird Restaurant
For Wild Thyme Restaurant Group, hospitality is about more than great food—it’s about taking care of the people who make the experience possible.
With 10+ hospitality concepts spanning multiple states, Wild Thyme attributes much of their operational success to their investment in tools that reduce friction, save time, and keep teams happy.
As the group continues to grow, instant, accurate tip payouts have become a critical part of that equation.
That’s where Kickfin comes in.
Read on to see why Wild Thyme chose to digitize tips with Kickfin — or click below to hear how Kickfin has transformed tip management at their Shorebird location in San Diego.
Like many restaurant groups, Wild Thyme had cycled through various tip payout methods over the years: cash at the end of the night, paper checks, delayed paycheck payouts, and third-party cards.
Each option came with drawbacks.
“People had to wait until the end of the pay period to get money they already worked for,” Bonnarens explains. “That creates frustration—for employees and managers.”
Manual tip calculations also meant:
It was clear that a new system was needed. The goal: find a way to eliminate bank runs, reduce cash handling, and shorten time to close — but still maintain same-day pay for team members.
With Kickfin, Wild Group moved to same-day digital tip distribution, giving employees faster access to their earnings while dramatically reducing administrative overhead.
“Kickfin is smooth. It makes everybody happy because they get their money quicker, faster, in a better way,” said Alberto, manager of Shorebird-San Diego. “It takes away a lot of worry, stress, and complaints—and it gives you time back.”
Employees simply enroll once, connect their bank account, and receive tips via direct deposit—often within 24 hours.
Kickfin has delivered value across the entire operation:
“In the long run, it saves money on every single end,” says Bonnarens.
It’s also become a recruiting advantage.
“Every single person I’ve interviewed loves the idea of getting their money right away.”
“If you want to be as successful as possible, you need systems like this,” Bonnarens says. “You’re leaving a lot on the table if you don’t.”
Corporate Chef, Wild Thyme Restaurant Group
