Flexible benefits
A benefits cafeteria — without a platform, catalog or per-employee fee
Plushki gives you what people love about a benefits cafeteria: employees get a limit and decide for themselves what to spend it on — meals, healthcare, sports, fuel or transport. But without an implementation project, a partner catalog or a subscription: payments via SBP (Russia’s Faster Payments System) at any outlet in the relevant category, 0% fee*.
The basics
What is a benefits cafeteria
The idea that makes HR and employees love this model — and why classic platforms rarely suit small companies.
A benefits cafeteria for employees is a flexible benefits system: instead of the same benefits package for everyone, the company gives each employee a limit, and the employee chooses what to spend it on. The name comes from the cafeteria line: just like at a self-service counter, everyone puts together their own set. Both teams and employers value this approach: the benefit meets a real need — one person cares more about sports, another about lunches, a third about gas for the commute. For how the model works and how to launch it step by step in a small company, see the article “Benefits cafeteria: what it is and how to launch one in a company of up to 50”.
Classic benefits cafeteria platforms are usually built as a catalog of offers: the company signs up for the platform, configures it and integrates it with its internal systems, and employees choose from a partner network. As a rule, this comes with a platform fee or a subscription for each employee, and the launch turns into an implementation project. The model works for large companies, but for small and medium-sized businesses it is most often a poor fit: expensive, slow and more than they need.
Plushki is a benefits cafeteria alternative built for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia. The principle is the same: employees get a limit and choose for themselves — meals, healthcare, sports, fuel or transport. But instead of a catalog, there are payments via SBP at any outlet in the relevant category; instead of a platform fee, a 0% fee*; instead of an implementation project, self-service sign-up in one day. And the product helps you document meal allowances as a social payment: equal limits, reports separate from payroll, a reference policy template. When the allowance is properly documented, the same amount given as a pay raise would cost up to 30% more — we cover this in detail on the Tax benefits page.
Comparison
Plushki vs. a classic benefits cafeteria
The same flexibility for employees — without a platform, a catalog or a sign-up fee.
Plushki
Classic benefits cafeteria
Where employees pay
At any outlet in the relevant category that accepts SBP: cafés, pharmacies, gyms, gas stations
As a rule, only at partners from the platform’s catalog
Cost to the company
Free*: no platform fee and no per-employee subscription, 0% fee*
Usually a platform fee or a subscription for each employee; terms vary
Getting started
One day, on your own — no implementation project and no integrations
As a rule, an implementation project: a contract, integrations, catalog setup
Who it’s for
Small and medium-sized businesses: no separate project or implementation team needed
Most often aimed at large companies
Tax documentation
Built in: equal limits, allowances shown in reports separately from salaries, a reference policy template
Usually left to the company
Comparison with the typical terms of classic benefits cafeteria platforms, based on their public materials as of July 2026; the terms of specific services may differ. For details on tax documentation, see the Tax benefits page.
About tax benefitsFAQ
Benefits cafeteria: questions and answers
What is a benefits cafeteria?
A benefits cafeteria is a flexible benefits system: the company gives an employee a limit, and the employee decides what to spend it on — meals, healthcare, sports or something else. The approach takes its name from the cafeteria: everyone puts together their own set of benefits, like a tray at the counter. That is why a team values such a program noticeably more than a one-size-fits-all benefits package.
How is Plushki different from a classic benefits cafeteria?
The principle is the same — employees manage their own limit across categories: meals, healthcare, sports, fuel and transport. What differs is how it works: instead of a partner catalog — payments via SBP at any outlet in the relevant category; instead of a platform fee and a per-employee subscription — a 0% fee for companies with fewer than 50 employees (negotiable for larger teams); instead of an implementation project — self-service sign-up in one day.
Is a benefits cafeteria a good fit for a small business?
Classic platforms are usually aimed at large companies: implementation, integrations and a platform fee pay off with a large headcount. Plushki was designed for small and medium-sized businesses from the start: for companies with fewer than 50 employees, the service is free, sign-up takes one day, and the only costs are the allowances to employees themselves and a refundable ₽100 verification payment at sign-up, which is returned to the company’s account.
A flexible benefits system in one day
Sign up for Plushki on your own: employees choose what to spend their limit on, and you pay only the allowances themselves.
*“Free” and “0% fee” apply to companies with fewer than 50 employees. For teams of 50 or more, we offer individual terms: we’ll talk, learn what you need and agree on pricing together — see the Pricing page.
This material is for reference only and is not tax advice. Statements about the typical terms of classic benefits cafeteria platforms are based on their public materials as of July 2026 and are generalized; the terms of specific services may differ. The “up to 30% more” estimate refers only to social insurance contributions on meal allowances when they are properly documented as a social payment — see the Tax benefits page for details and limitations.