shiftNOW Setup

How do I access shiftNOW?

To create a shiftNOW Business Account, visit app.shiftnow.com. From there, you will be directed to set up your Business Account by providing the following information:

  1. Business Name
  2. Business Location
  3. Business Address
  4. Payment Information
  5. Client Logo
  6. Location Description

Your Business Account is accessible via your mobile or desktop browser.

Do I need to download the mobile app?

No. shiftNOW clients access the shiftNOW platform exclusively through the web application: app.shiftnow.com.

Where does shiftNOW currently operate?

shiftNOW currently serves all major South Carolina markets: Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, and Bluffton as well as Savannah, GA. Stay tuned as we continue to expand and make hourly opportunities available in more states.

How do I add multiple users to my Business Account?

Clients can generate a unique link to invite users to their Business Account. To add multiple users to your Business Account, follow the steps below:

  • Select the Users tab and click 'Add User'
  • Enter the user's first name, last name, phone number, and access level
  • The new user will be sent a text message with a link to complete their user profile
What if my business has multiple locations?

You can post shifts across multiple locations through your Business Account. Separate locations will be consolidated under one Business Account.

You can create multiple locations through your Business Account or, you can reach out to the shiftNOW team and we can create the additional locations for you (free of charge).

Account Payments Set Up & Information

Is there a charge to create a shiftNOW Business Account?

No. Creation of a shiftNOW Business Account is free. You will only be charged when you post a shift on the shiftNOW platform. These charges include the Shift Amount and the shiftNOW Service Fee.

How do I set up my payment information on shiftNOW?

Payment information for your Business Account is set up through the shiftNOW web application which integrates with the Stripe Customer Portal. 

The Stripe Customer Portal is a hosted portal that allows you to manage your payment method details, subscriptions, billing details, and invoices yourself

Do I need to create a Stripe account?

No. When you create a shiftNOW Business Account, a corresponding client account is automatically created in Stripe. You can use the shiftNOW web app to launch the Stripe Customer Portal and provide your payment information. 

What type of payment methods can I use for my Business Account?

The Stripe Customer Portal, which integrates with the shiftNOW web application for payment purposes, supports ACH direct debit and cards.

What precautions does shiftNOW take to secure my bank information?

shiftNOW integrates with Stripe, a suite of APIs powering online payment processing and commerce solutions for internet businesses of all sizes. 

Stripe’s security tools and best practices ensure that your sensitive information is safely stored and encrypted. To understand how Stripe protects your data, visit www.stripe.com/legal/privacy-center.

If my business has multiple locations, can I set up multiple account payments?

Yes. The shiftNOW platform enables you to configure specific payment methods for each of your business locations. When a location incurs a charge, it will be deducted from the payment method of your choice for that specific location.

Charges & Fees

What is the Shift Amount?

The Shift Amount is how much a Shifter is paid for a posted shift. This is calculated by multiplying the shift rate by the shift hours.

Does shiftNOW charge any additional fees?

Yes. The following fees are currently active on the shiftNOW platform:

  • shiftNOW Service Fee: A nominal fee that is applied to every posted shift. This fee is a percentage of the Shift Amount. The shiftNOW Service Fee is calculated by multiplying the Shift Amount by the Service Fee percentage.
When does my account get charged?

shiftNOW will charge your payment account the Shift Amount and the shiftNOW Service Fee when you pay out your Shifter.

Shifter Vetting Process

Can anyone apply to be a Shifter?

Everyone who downloads the shiftNOW mobile app undergoes a thorough, 1:1 vetting process conducted by a member of the shiftNOW team before becoming eligible to apply for a shift.

What does ‘Verified’ mean?

A verified Shifter is an hourly worker that has completed the shiftNOW vetting process and has been deemed a quality candidate.

How can I tell if a Shifter is verified?

Verified Shifters have a blue checkmark on their profile. Since only verified Shifters can apply to shifts, you will never interact with an unverified applicant.

Is there a minimum age requirement to become a Shifter?

All shiftNOW Shifters must be at least 18 years of age.

Posting Shifts

How do I start posting shifts?

Before you can start posting shifts, you must set up your payment information. Once your payment information has been provided:

  1. Click Post a Shift
  2. Create your shift type
  3. Select the date of your shift as well as the start and end time
  4. Provide the hourly wage your business will pay
  5. Provide any relevant instructions to the Shifter through the ‘Shifter Instructions’ section
What types of shifts can I post on shiftNOW?

The shiftNOW platform supports a number of different shift types. This currently includes:

  • Concessions, Cook, Prep Cook, Line Cook, Event Cook, Dishwasher, FOH Support, Host/Hostess, Merchandising, Runner, Server, Server Assistant, Stage, Grillmaster, Busser, Bartender (beer/wine), Bartender (liquor/beer/wine), Event Server, Housekeeper, Janitorial
Are there any limitations on how much a Shifter can be paid?

Yes. All shifts posted through shiftNOW must pay a minimum of $15 per hour.

Are there any limitations on the number of hours a Shifter can work?

Yes. All shifts posted through shiftNOW must be at least four (4) hours in length.

Are there any limitations on the number of shifts I can post?

No. You may post as many shifts as you need to be filled on shiftNOW. 

Can I add instructions and/or shift details to my shift?

Yes. When posting a shift, you have the option to provide additional information in the ‘Description’ and ‘Shifter Instructions’ sections.

  • Description Example: Sam’s Event Service is a premier event vendor in the Lowcountry. During this shift, you’ll help us set up and break down 8x10 rounds at a wedding for 150 guests. 
  • Shifter Instructions Example: Park in the lot out front and ask for John B. upon arrival. Wear all black.

Boosting a Shift

Can I boost a shift that I have already posted?

Yes. In the event that your shift has low application numbers or you need help urgently, you can boost a shift you have already posted. 

Can I edit the Boost Amount once I’ve boosted a shift?

No. Once you have boosted a shift, you may not make any changes to the boost amount or undo the boosted shift.

In the event that you want to increase the Boost Amount, we recommend increasing the hourly rate instead.

Are there limitations on the Boost Amount?

All boosted shifts must have a minimum Boost Amount of $10 and a maximum Boost Amount of $200. Boosted shifts must be posted in whole dollar amounts.

How is the shiftNOW Service Fee calculated on boosted shifts?

When you boost a shift, the Service Fee will be calculated as follows:

((Shift Rate * Shift Hours) + Boost Amount) * shiftNOW Service Fee Percentage

Are there any limitations on when I can boost a shift?

You may only boost a shift within two weeks of the shift date.

If a backup confirms the shift, will they receive the Boost Amount?

Yes. If a backup confirms and completes the shift, they will receive the Shift and Boost Amount.

If I boost a multi-select shift, will applicants that I already accepted receive the Boost Amount?

Yes. Even though you accepted applicants before boosting the shift, these Shifters will still receive the Boost Amount so long as they successfully complete the shift.

Selecting a Shifter

How do I view applicants and select a Shifter?

To view your shift’s applications:

  • Select ‘Shifts’ in the shiftNOW web application to view your active shift postings
  • Click on the number of applicants to see who has applied to your shift
  • You will then be asked if you'd like to call the respective Shifter
  • Confirm your selection and the system will automatically dial out to the Shifter
Can I communicate with my selected Shifter through the platform?

Yes. When you accept a Shifter for a shift, you can call the Shifter up to 24 hours before the scheduled shift start time and up to 1 hour after the scheduled shift end time.

To call a Shifter through the web app, follow the steps below:

If using the web app on a desktop or laptop:

  • Go to the shift posting
  • A contact number for your Shifter will be visible at the top of the shift posting
  • From there, you may dial out on your own device


If using the web app on a cellphone:

  • Go to the shift posting
  • Click the blue phone icon located at the top of the shift posting
  • You will then be asked if you'd like to call the respective Shifter
  • Confirm your selection and the system will automatically dial out to the Shifter
What does ‘Holding’ mean?

After you have selected a Shifter to fill your open shift, the remainder of the applications will display as ‘Holding’. This means that these Shifters were not selected for the shift, but they are available to fill in should your originally accepted Shifter become unavailable.

Shifter Invites

What are rosters?

Rosters allow you to create customized lists of Shifters whom you'd like to invite to future shifts.

With Rosters, you can invite a top-rated Shifter to your shift even if they have not worked with your business before. Rosters expand your talent pool, making new, highly-rated Shifters accessible by invitation.

If the Shifter I've invited to work the shift accepts, are they confirmed to work?

Yes. The first Shifter who accepts the invite will be automatically confirmed for the shift. The Shifter will be notified of this via push and SMS notification.

Can a Shifter who has not been invited to a shift select the Accept Invite button on the shift board?

No. If a Shifter has not been invited to your shift, the Accept Invite button will not be visible to them. Instead, they can select the Apply button to apply for the shifter in the traditional manner.

Can a non-invited Shifter be accepted to work a shift?

Yes. If an invited Shifter has not accepted the invite, you are free to accept a non-invited Shifter who has applied to the shift in a traditional manner.

What happens if an invited and accepted Shifter ends up canceling?

The traditional backup system will go into effect. Any backups you have selected will be notified and the first backup to confirm will be confirmed for the shift.

Multi-Select

What is multi-select?

Multi-select allows you to select multiple Shifters to fulfill the same shift type on the same date and at the same time.

Rather than having applicants dispersed across multiple shift postings, multi-select consolidates your pool of applicants within one shift posting, ensuring you have the coverage you need.

When should I use multi-select?

When you have the need for the same shift type at the same time (ie: you need three dishwashers to work 12pm to 4pm on Saturday), you should leverage multi-select. This will prevent you from having applicants dispersed across multiple shift postings and ensure that you have the coverage you need.

Can I still select backups when using multi-select?

Yes, but you may only select backups once you have accepted the number of Shifters that you need. 

For example, if you need five Shifters for a shift, you must first accept five applicants before you can begin to accept backups.

What if my shift doesn't have enough applicants to select the amount of Shifters I need?

If you’re having difficulty attracting enough applicants to your shift, we recommend raising the hourly rate. 

Please note that this will increase the rate for everyone you’ve accepted for this shift.

Shifter Payments & Reviews

When do I pay a Shifter?

At the end of your Shifter’s shift, you will be prompted via text notification to pay out your Shifter.

If the Shifter has not been paid out 48 hours after the shift's completion, shiftNOW will trigger an auto-payout to the Shifter's Stripe wallet.

Will I receive an invoice for Shifter payments?

Yes. Following the conclusion of a shift, you will be prompted to pay out your Shifter. Following the conclusion of a shift, an invoice will become available in your Stripe account. Your invoice history is also accessible through your Stripe account.

Invoices reflect the total amount due for payout to a Shifter, including the Shift Amount and shiftNOW Service Fee. 

Invoices reflect the business location where the shift was completed, the shift date, time, type, and the Shifter.

Will I receive a receipt after I pay out a Shifter?

Yes. Once you have paid out your Shifter, you can download a detailed receipt from your Stripe account. 

Receipts reflect the total amount paid out to a Shifter, including the Shift Amount and shiftNOW Service Fee. 

Invoices reflect the business location where the shift was completed, the shift date, time, type, and the Shifter.

How are tips handled?

When posting a shift, businesses can denote that tips are included in the shift payout. When it's time to payout a Shifter, businesses can select a tip amount between $0 to $500. Additionally, businesses have the ability to provide a tip when facilitating payout.

Can I tip a Shifter if I’m satisfied with their work?

Businesses can add a tip to a Shifter's payout to attract applicants to a shift and to reward excellent work.

What does ‘Needs Review’ mean?

Once a Shifter has completed their shift, their status will update to ‘Needs Review,’ reminding you to rate your Shifter (1-5 stars).

Cancellation Policy

What if my Shifter cancels?

When reviewing shift applicants, you may select backup Shifters.

Backups are a great way to ensure your shift is covered in the event that your originally selected Shifter becomes unavailable.

There's no limit to the number of backups you may select so we recommend choosing anyone who looks like they could be a good fit.

Your shift will remain open until the designated start time in order to allow you to continue selecting backups if you wish.

Any Shifters who apply for your shift but are not selected or are marked as a backup will display as ‘Not Chosen’.

If you’d like to select a ‘Not Chosen’ Shifter as a backup, you may do so.

Your accepted Shifter is given a deadline to confirm that they are still available to work your shift.

In the event that your accepted Shifter does not confirm by the deadline, cancels their shift, or is marked as a no-show, your selected backups will be notified that the shift is open. The first backup to confirm will be accepted for the shift.

Can I cancel a posted shift?

Yes. If a shift is canceled more than 24 hours in advance of the scheduled start time, you will not incur a charge. 

If a shift is canceled within 24 hours of its start time and you have accepted a Shifter, the Shifter will be paid for four hours of work. Our Shifters plan their days around the shifts they sign up for and, as a result, we believe in compensating them for this time.

Can I delete my Business Account?

To have your Business Account deleted, contact support@shiftnow.com

Shift Fulfillment

What if my Shifter doesn’t show up?

If a Shifter does not show up for their scheduled shift, you can mark the Shifter as a “no show” 30 minutes after the shift was supposed to begin. In doing so, the shift will be moved to “unfilled” and you will not be charged.

If you have selected backups for this shift, a shift notification will be sent out to your backups once you mark your original Shifter as a "no-show". The first backup to confirm the shift will be accepted.

Platform Notifications

What type of notifications will I receive from the shiftNOW platform?

Clients will be notified of the following activities:

  • When a Shifter applies for your open shift 
  • When a Shifter cancels on your shift 
  • When it is time to pay your Shifter following the completion of their shift 

Block a Shifter

Can I block a Shifter who I don't want to work for my business?

Yes. You have the ability to block a Shifter regardless of whether or not they have completed a shift for your business.

When you block a Shifter, they will no longer see shift postings from your business and they will no longer receive 'new shift' notifications for your business.

Will a Shifter know if I have blocked them?

No. Shifters will not be notified that they have been blocked by a business. Your business' shifts will stop appearing within that Shifter's mobile app and they will no longer receive 'new shift' notifications from your business.

Can I unblock a Shifter?

Yes. You may unblock a Shifter at any time. Once you unblock a Shifter, they will see all future shift postings from your business and receive all future shift notifications.

Shifter Satisfaction

Can I hire a Shifter to work at my business full-time?

Yes. shiftNOW’s platform allows Shifters to indicate whether they’re open to full-time opportunities. If you’re satisfied with a Shifter’s performance and would like to add them to your staff permanently, you may do so without incurring a placement fee.

How can I provide feedback on my Shifter?

Clients can rate their Shifters once a shift ends. We strongly encourage clients to rate Shifters as these ratings are displayed on Shifter profiles. This will help other businesses understand a Shifter’s performance before hiring them. 

If I have an issue with my Shifter, who do I contact?

In the event that you need to discuss a Shifter’s performance or behavior, you may reach out to the shiftNOW team at support@shiftnow.com.