Get notified when your favorite restaurants need you.
Armada is a private W-2 staffing platform built with restaurant operators — independents, multi-unit groups, and national brands. If you've shown up and done good work, you go to the top of their list, every shift.
W-2 · Direct deposit · No 1099 situationships
Always be full
Sit on the bench at every restaurant you love.
Curated benches = less competition for shifts = full schedule. Pick the shifts you want. Your week fills itself.
Operators post shifts for your review. Decline the ones that don't fit. Your week fills itself.
Benches you can join simultaneously
You
One W-2 · one paycheck
- Independent bistroTue/Wed dinner
- SteakhouseFri prime
- Restaurant groupSat across 4 sites
- Hotel restaurantSun brunch
Not a gig app
The difference, line by line.
Employment
1099 contractor — you eat the taxes
W-2 employee — taxes withheld, unemployment eligible
Who picks you
Strangers. New manager every shift.
Operators who already know your work and prioritized you.
If you get hurt
You're on your own.
Workers' comp on every shift.
Pay
Tips and surge guesses.
Posted rate before you claim. Access up to 60% of your earnings immediately. Direct deposit for the rest.
Cancellations
Account threats if you decline.
Reliability score, not punishment.
'You're not an employee, you're a contractor — so taxes, expenses, and injuries are your problem. And if the algorithm doesn't like you this week, good luck.'
How it works
From signup to first paycheck.
Step 01
Sign up in 10 minutes
I-9, W-4, direct deposit, and certifications (TIPS, food handler) all in-app. E-Verify runs automatically.
Step 02
Get invited to operator benches
Operators you've already worked for can add you to their private bench. Don't see one you know? Reach out to them — like an ex-employer — and have them add you. It's free for them to join.
Step 03
Claim shifts that fit
Posted role, posted rate, posted address. No bait-and-switch. Claim it, show up, clock in by geofence.
Step 04
Get paid — your way
Access up to 60% of your wages immediately after a shift. The rest lands via direct deposit on our biweekly payroll. W-2 paystubs and tax forms in-app.
Where the work is
Real shifts in real places.
Front of house
- Servers & bussers
- Hosts & expediters
- Captains
- Bartenders & barbacks
- Food runners
Back of house
- Line cooks & prep
- Sauté & grill
- Dishwashers
- Pastry & bakery
- Catering & banquet
Event work
- Restaurant-run catering
- Private events at the restaurant
- Off-premise events by the restaurant
- Banquet & buyout service
- Stewarding & turnover
Straight answers
Questions workers ask first.
Does it cost anything to sign up?
No. Armada is free for workers. We're paid by the operators who hire you.
Am I really a W-2 employee?
Yes. You're a W-2 employee of Armada for every shift. Taxes are withheld, workers' comp covers you, and you can file for unemployment if eligible.
Do I have to take every shift I'm offered?
No. Claim the shifts that fit your schedule. We track reliability, not obedience — declining a shift isn't a strike, no-showing one you claimed is.
How fast do I get paid?
Access up to 60% of your earned wages immediately after a shift — straight to your account. The remainder lands via direct deposit on our biweekly payroll. Pay stubs and W-2 are available in-app any time.
What if I get hurt on the job?
Report it to the manager on site and to us at workers@armada.work. Workers' comp covers you on every shift, statutory by state.
What if an operator I want to work for isn't on Armada?
Tell them — it's free for operators to join. If you download the app, you can send them an invite directly. The best benches get built when a worker the operator already trusts brings them in.
Get on a bench.
You join when an operator who already trusts your work adds you to their bench. Ten minutes to onboard — then their shifts post to you first. If you know an operator who isn't on Armada yet, send them an invite from the app; it's free for them to join.