Do you run your own business?
Then you know how difficult it can be to take care of all the financial records, payroll, and invoicing by yourself, especially when you have so many other important things to do. Many small business owners find hiring an accountant quite expensive and time-consuming, which is why you should consider getting payroll software for your business instead. When doing so, you will have more time to focus on growing your company instead of worrying about things like tax payments or keeping track of employee wages.
Here are some great options to consider when choosing the best payroll software for your needs.
1.
Gusto
Best overall payroll software
2.
UZIO
Best Payroll software for small and medium sized business
3.
QuickBooks Payroll
Best Payroll Software for Accountants
4.
Paychex Flex
Best suited for entrepreneurs
5.
Namely
Best payroll software for retailers and restaurant owner
6.
OnPay
Best for small companies that need an affordable payroll solution
7.
Rippling
Best HR, Payroll platform for Employers
8.
ADP
Providing Best Payroll plans that are flexible
9.
Zenefits
Best suited for business who are rapidly hiring
10.
Patriot Payroll
Best low cost payroll solution for sole entrepreneurs
Payroll Software - The Top Five Comparison Criteria
Choosing payroll software can be a daunting task, especially if you aren’t sure what questions to ask or what criteria are most important to you and your business.
This guide will help you navigate the research process so that you can make an informed decision about which payroll software program best fits your business’s needs and complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
In addition, it will also give you practical tips for finding and managing a good payroll service provider so that you can rest easy at night knowing that your employees will get paid accurately on time every time.
Flexibility
Flexibility is key when it comes to payroll software. After all, no two businesses are alike, so you’ll want a system that can be customized to fit your specific needs. Look for a system that offers a variety of features and options that can be tailored to your business.
Integrations
When it comes to payroll software, integrations are key. You want a system that will integrate with your existing accounting software, as well as any time tracking or human resources software you may be using. This will make sure that your data is always accurate and up-to-date, and that you’re not spending hours manually transferring information between different systems.
Timely Payroll Processing
Perhaps the most important criteria to consider when choosing payroll software for your business is how quickly and accurately the software can process payroll. After all, your employees are counting on you to pay them on time, and if your payroll software is constantly delaying their payments, it will reflect poorly on your business. Fortunately, there are plenty of options out there that can process payroll quickly and efficiently, so take the time to find one that meets your needs.
Backend Features
The backend is where the real magic happens with payroll software. This is where you’ll track employee information, calculate taxes and deductions, and generate pay stubs and reports. When comparing payroll software, be sure to look at the backend features each one offers.
User Experience
The user experience is one of the most important criteria to consider when choosing payroll software for your business. After all, you and your employees will be using the software on a regular basis, so it’s important that it is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Furthermore, you’ll want to make sure that the software is constantly being updated with the latest features and security patches.
The Top Ten Payroll Software 2023
Gusto
Gusto takes care of all payroll hassles with its easy-to-use yet powerful design that saves us time and money.It was created specifically for new entrepreneurs who want to focus on what they do best – while still having the peace of mind knowing they’re taking care of paying their employees correctly.
Gusto is similar to other payroll software solutions in that it offers direct deposit or checks to pay your employees. It also tracks and files federal, state, and local taxes automatically.
What sets Gusto apart from the other options is that it offers a better plan for each tier you go up.
Rather than removing direct deposit for the low-priced plan, Gusto increases the convenience of direct deposit the more expensive your plan.
For example, direct deposit takes four days to clear for the lowest paid employee on every single level of pricing – only those who are higher paid have next day benefits; like getting their paycheck available in one day after they were written out by an employer paying them through this particular service provider!
UZIO
UZIO is a SaaS-based cloud platform that provides HR, payroll, and benefits management software and services. This integrated solution has proven especially effective for small to mid-sized businesses by providing them with an easy way to centralize all their HR needs without having to go through multiple platforms or programs.
The best part about this all in one type of program? It comes at a fraction of the cost usually associated with other brands, ensuring employers can save money on extra fees associated with outsourcing these types of tasks instead of going it alone.
Employers love UZIO because it eliminates paperwork and saves time; which means less headaches! In addition, UZIO also simplifies human resources administration activities and compliance requirements. Employers can focus more on running the business rather than dealing with complicated human resource processes.
QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is a cloud-based system for automating the process of paying employees. It comes with an automatic algorithm that calculates, files and pays taxes; it saves time by eliminating manual calculations and allows flexibility when running payroll. You can automate the whole process or enter information manually depending on preference.
Additionally, this software provides customizable reports that allow business owners to view all employee related data including deductions and contributions, multiple work sites and paid time off records.
QuickBooks Online is the only accounting software with which QuickBooks Payroll can integrate. This means that if you employ people in multiple states, you may be required to pay additional monthly tax filing fees.
Paychex Flex
Paychex Flex is a cloud-based payroll management system which helps users handle all aspects of their company’s payroll using cutting edge software, including access to real time updates and data on top of automated calculations for taxes.
It also allows employees to have up-to-date information about their retirement funds, review documentations and forms with ease, as well as save themselves time when punching in and out throughout the day with its easy clock in/out interface. Users can easily find insights into what has happened since they last logged in thanks to Paychex Flex’s dashboard filled with more than 160 different reports – plus those reports are fully customizable to fit each user needs.
With over 100 analysts working behind the scenes, the likelihood of change happening without notification is minimal; making it easier for people who use this software to stay one step ahead of potential troubles that might arise at any moment.
Namely
Namely offers one of those solutions so you can focus on what really matters—your people. With intuitive and modern technology (and a world-class team) Namely provides key HR solutions tailored to meet your specific requirements with an easy-to-use interface that both management and employees will enjoy using. This powerful system handles all areas of HR administration including payroll, benefits administration, enrollment wizard, time management, performance reviews, applicant tracking, employee onboarding for compliance purposes – which means it does everything for you!
Namely has an employee self-service and self-onboarding program that stands out from its competitors because of their modern payroll tax filing and payment process.
Onpay
If you’re looking for an affordable, easy-to-use payroll service for your small business, OnPay could be a solid fit. In addition to running payroll according to a preset schedule and automatically distributing wages, it also calculates taxes owed and gives you the option of downloading tax forms or submitting them electronically.
Aside from its general functionality as a payroll processor, OnPay also includes several important HR features that make it stand out among competitors—for example, employees can log in to their accounts to manage pay statements and download old W2s or 1099s.
What’s more?
You can integrate this account with other HR software (or accounting services), so everything stays up-to-date without having to switch screens.
Rippling
Rippling is an all-in-one digital platform for managing your company’s payroll, benefits, HR, and IT needs. It allows for time-saving automation of various tasks through its innovative design that bundles every employee system into one cohesive network.
Through Rippling you can simply click a button and within ninety seconds set up a new hire’s payroll, healthcare coverage, retirement plans without ever having to leave the program interface.
Rippling starts at $8 per user, per month. Custom quotes are provided based on selected HR and IT management modules.
Users can use Rippling’s App Shop to integrate it with over 500 different apps – allowing them to automate all their administrative tasks easily!
ADP Payroll
ADP Payroll is a cloud-based software program that provides you with an expansive range of services from payroll management to human resources and benefits.
ADP payroll helps small business owners and medium- to large sized businesses find the right package for them. ADP Run is a smaller version of payroll designed specifically for those who work in a company with less than 50 employees. More complicated issues such as tax calculations or pay rate changes are included in this larger version of ADP, called ADP Workforce Now, which is perfect for those working at larger companies where there are over 50 employees.
ADP payroll provides easy payment methods like paychecks, cash cards, and direct deposits.
Zenefits
The Zenefits platform simplifies everything – integrating every process, app, and tool necessary. This includes payroll management (tracking earnings, deductions, taxes), time off request tracking and approval, vacations, sick leave and personal days easily online – as well as pre-configured overtime calculations with easy to use time card fraud protection.
Employees are able to clock in/out of work at anytime from any device for accurate data reporting.
Zenefits’ fully integrated payroll system supports both hourly and salaried employees as well as multiple pay schedules, including weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly options.
In addition to tracking hours worked through an online platform or mobile app for iOS or Android devices (depending on the device used), Zenefits Payroll offers management the ability to approve time clock entries or request time off from either location.
Patriot Payroll
The Patriot Payroll from Patriot Software is an integrated human resource and payroll management solution that helps to streamline the different processes associated with managing payroll payments and tax submissions.
The solution offers tools to maintain payroll records, print checks, establish direct deposits into bank accounts, generate payroll reports and submit state and federal taxes.
Patriot Payroll offers the ability to issue payrolls through direct bank deposits and electronic cheques. The software offers personalized portals for employees to access their paycheck information. Reporting functions within Patriot Payroll allow employees to generate their year-end report on time while printing W2 forms necessary for filing income taxes at season’s end.
One of the benefits of this system includes its integration with other systems offered by Patriot Software such as Patriot Time (time/attendance) or Patriot HR (personnel tracking).
When it comes to choosing payroll software for your business, there are a few key comparison criteria you should keep in mind.
First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure the software is compatible with your accounting software. You’ll also want to consider things like ease of use, price, and customer support.
Ultimately, the best payroll software for your business will be the one that meets all of your specific needs. Make sure to do your research so you can find the right fit!
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