What ShiftNOW does

ShiftNOW operates a two-sided gig economy marketplace purpose-built for the US hospitality industry, connecting restaurants, hotels, catering companies, golf courses, country clubs, and event venues with vetted hourly shift workers ("Shifters"). Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, the company launched publicly in January 2023 and has since expanded across South Carolina (12 markets), Georgia (Atlanta, Savannah), and Tennessee (Memphis, Nashville). The platform is delivered through a web application for business users (app.shiftnow.com) and a consumer-facing mobile app, "Shifter by shiftNOW," on iOS and Android, where workers create profiles including video introductions that are personally reviewed by shiftNOW staff rather than screened by AI.

The core technology stack centers on a matching marketplace for one-time, part-time, and full-time hospitality shifts, augmented by a Shifter Reliability Score (starting at 100%, with indefinite suspension below 60%), in-app voice and messaging windows around shift times, real-time performance metrics for businesses, and a "Shift Boosting" feature that lets employers pay bonuses to attract urgent applicants. All payments run through Stripe, including standard auto-payouts within 48 hours of shift completion, optional instant payouts (3% fee) within 30 minutes, and Stripe Express for 1099 tax compliance. A separate "AI Platform" offering is marketed for food cost reduction, automated scheduling, and automated marketing, though no proprietary AI models or research are disclosed.

The business model combines transaction take-rate on each shift engagement with tiered temp-to-hire conversion fees ($0 to $1,500 per hire depending on subscription tier and number of completed shifts), a 3% instant-payout fee on worker earnings, and a small but distinct shiftNOW Advisory line that sells AI consulting packages ($750 audit, $4,500 setup, $497/month retainer) to local small businesses. Customer acquisition blends self-serve PLG signup with an inside-sales overlay for larger accounts, supported by a referral program ($20 bonus per side) and content marketing. Customer base spans named enterprise venues (Pullman Yards, Charleston Gaillard Center, Charleston Wine + Food), mid-market operators (Inlet Prohibition Company, Saltwater Cowboys, Spike by Snyder, The Loutrel), and small independents (Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, Shem Creek Crab House, Ghost Kitchen).

Name

ShiftNOW

Legal name

ShiftNow, Inc.

Website

https://shiftnow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ShiftNOW is a Charleston-based gig marketplace that connects hospitality businesses across the US Southeast with vetted, on-demand shift workers ("Shifters") via web and mobile apps, earning revenue through per-shift take-rates, temp-to-hire conversion fees, and a small AI advisory consulting arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Staffing Platform

NAICS

Temporary Help Services (561320)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Gig / On-Demand Generalist Staffing Platforms (BPACACAK)

Keywords

• Hospitality staffing platform
• Gig worker marketplace
• Shift worker matching
• Temp-to-hire services
• Hospitality workforce solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Shift Engagement Fees: shiftNOW charges a company compensation fee on top of the Shifter's gross compensation for each shift engagement. The fee is disclosed to the client and agreed upon in connection with each Shift Engagement. Payment is facilitated through Stripe with automatic payouts within 48 hours of shift completion.
2. Hiring Fees (Temp-to-Hire): Tiered hiring fee structure for businesses that want to convert gig workers to full-time employees. Fees range from $1,500 (Basic, Tier 1) to free (Basic, Tier 4 with 15+ shifts completed). Premium subscribers get reduced rates.
3. Instant Payout Fee: Shifters can opt for instant payout to receive earnings within 30 minutes for a 3% fee of the balance. Requires a supported debit card.
4. AI Advisory Services: shiftNOW Advisory division offers AI strategy services including AI Audits ($750 one-time), Strategy & Setup ($4,500 one-time), and Monthly Retainers ($497/month). Targets local and small business owners for AI implementation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ShiftNOW operates a hospitality-specialized gig economy marketplace that connects restaurants, hotels, catering companies, golf courses, country clubs, and event venues with vetted hourly shift workers (called Shifters). Businesses post shifts through the web app and select from pre-vetted applicants with profile videos and reliability scores, while workers use the iOS/Android mobile app to find and accept shifts. The platform handles shift matching, in-app communication, payments via Stripe, instant payouts, and offers temp-to-hire conversion through tiered Basic and Premium subscriptions, alongside a separate shiftNOW Advisory division delivering AI strategy consulting.

Product overview

shiftNOW operates as a gig economy hospitality hiring platform consisting of a core web-based platform and mobile applications. The main shiftNOW Platform serves as the marketplace connecting hospitality businesses with vetted shift workers (called Shifters), while the Shifter by shiftNOW mobile app (available on iOS and Android) enables workers to browse and apply for shifts. The platform offers multiple staffing solutions including On-Demand Workers, Event Workers, Seasonal Workers, and Full-Time Workers (temp-to-hire). Premium subscription tiers called Hired (Basic and Premium) provide tiered hiring fee structures for businesses converting Shifters to permanent positions. The company also operates shiftNOW Advisory as a separate AI strategy consulting division offering audits and implementation services. Additional features include Applicant Insights with profile videos, Thorough Vetting by human review, White Glove 24/7 support, Instant Payout options, and a Shift Dispute Process. All payments are processed through Stripe integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shifter by shiftNOW: Mobile app for shift workers to browse and apply for shifts, manage their profiles, and receive payments.

Products and services

• shiftNOW Platform Core hospitality hiring platform that connects restaurants, hotels, catering companies, golf courses, country clubs, and event venues with vetted hourly shift workers. Businesses post shifts, review applicants with profile videos and reliability scores, and manage hiring and payment through the web application; workers use the mobile app to find and accept shifts.
• Shifter by shiftNOW Mobile App Mobile application for shift workers (Shifters) to browse and apply for shifts, manage their schedule, track earnings, receive instant payouts, and communicate with businesses. Available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play).
• On-Demand Workers Staffing solution for immediate shift coverage needs, allowing hospitality businesses to fill open shifts quickly with pre-vetted workers through the shiftNOW Platform.
• Event Workers Temporary staffing solution designed for event-based hospitality needs, covering one-time and recurring events for venues, festivals, and event operators.
• Seasonal Workers Staffing solution for hospitality businesses with fluctuating seasonal demand, enabling them to scale workforce up and down as needed throughout the year.
• Full-Time Workers (Temp-to-Hire) Temp-to-hire solution allowing hospitality businesses to evaluate workers through shift engagements before converting them to permanent W-2 or 1099 independent contractor positions, with tiered conversion fees via the Hired Basic and Hired Premium subscriptions.
• shiftNOW Advisory (AI Strategy Services) AI strategy consulting division for local and small business owners, offering AI Audits ($750 one-time), Strategy & Setup ($4,500 one-time), and Monthly Retainers ($497/month) to help implement AI for operational efficiency, cost reduction, and automation across restaurants, bars, hotels, golf courses, retail, catering, and professional services.
• AI Platform AI capabilities offered to hospitality businesses within the shiftNOW ecosystem, including food cost reduction, automated scheduling, and automated marketing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-30% of seasonal staff can be gig economy workers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe is the exclusive payment processing partner for shiftNOW's platform, handling all financial transactions between businesses and Shifters. Stripe's infrastructure manages payment collection from businesses, Shifter payouts (including instant payout options), tax form processing (1099 forms), and secure storage of financial information. shiftNOW integrates with Stripe Express for tax compliance and Stripe's security tools protect sensitive financial data.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shiftNOW.today
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goshiftnow
• Instagraminstagram.com/shiftnow.app
• TikToktiktok.com/@shiftnow.app

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ShiftNOW