We've conducted extensive research to find the best payroll service providers for small businesses in 2022, including solutions for sole proprietors and household employers. Show
The Best Payroll Providers
Payroll is arguably the largest expense for businesses, and managing it can be a daunting task. The process can be time-consuming, and errors can result in both unhappy employees and fines. To ease the burden, many small businesses are turning to online payroll services. These services handle all of a business’s payroll processing and related tax filings and payments. With so many to choose from in 2021, finding the service that suits your needs can be tough, so we researched more than 70 of the top payroll companies to help you find the best fit for your business. If you are interested in learning more about payroll services, you can check out our guide to choosing a payroll service. Payroll Service Review Summary
Find the Right Online Payroll Service for Your BusinessFill out this questionnaire to find vendors that meet your needs. Our ReviewsOnPay Payroll Software: Best for Very Small Businessespro OnPay has one simple cost structure for all users. pro OnPay's customer service was among the best we encountered during our research. con OnPay doesn't have a dedicated mobile app. OnPay’s online payroll services allow small businesses to run an unlimited number of payrolls each month and pay employees by direct deposit or paper check. The online system is user-friendly and manages paid time off (PTO). When you own a very small business, time is especially precious; running your own payroll would take you away from your business, and a large and complex payroll platform could work against your business’s needs. OnPay meets very small businesses at the right level with an easy-to-use solution that emphasizes simplicity without sacrificing value. OnPay customer service reps are available to help you every step of the way. You can enjoy an intuitive platform that breaks payroll down into a few easy steps. It’s simple and straightforward to add employees, set statuses, and run payroll. One of the best features OnPay offers is the ability to run payroll an unlimited number of times. This is especially useful for businesses that pay employees on a weekly basis, or pay freelancers frequently for various small projects. OnPay includes a useful payroll tax and benefit deduction withholding system. OnPay also offers payroll tax preparation, tracking up-to-date forms and information from local, state, and federal governments. The company will cover the cost of any fines that are due to errors in your filings or payments. OnPay offers one pricing plan for businesses of all sizes. The base fee is $36 per month, plus $4 per employee per month. Independent contractors or freelancers count as employees under this model, so you will be charged for any applicable 1099 payments you make. OnPay also charges a fee for mailing year-end tax forms. It can prepare downloadable W-2s and 1099s for free, but if you want OnPay to send hard copies directly to your employees, you’ll pay $5 per recipient plus shipping costs. February 2021: OnPay has upgraded its reporting capabilities, allowing users to create custom expense reports. The reporting tool offers the ability to add up to 50 data points to key reports, reorder columns to emphasize important data, and save multiple views for different company stakeholders. Businesses that have taken advantage of coronavirus-relief programs can also use OnPay’s reporting features to account for their expenses. Read OnPay Payroll Software ReviewPaychex Payroll: Best for Larger Businessespro Employees can be paid by direct deposit, paper checks and pay cards. pro Paper checks can be printed or mailed. Paychex includes a host of HR-related services. con Paychex doesn't provide pricing online for its Select and Enterprise service packages. Paychex is a full-featured payroll service that manages payroll processing and tax obligations. The company offers a flexible payroll schedule, with weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly options. Paychex can also manage all types of employees, including part-time W-2 workers, 1099 contractors and freelancers. Paychex also offers multiple payment methods, including direct deposit, paper checks and prepaid debit cards. Every payment method your business uses with Paychex can be branded, keeping your company top of mind for any suppliers or other parties you pay. Paychex is a cloud-hosted system, so it’s accessible online. You can also use the Paychex mobile application to manage your payroll on any iOS or Android device. Using Paychex is as easy as entering your payroll information (such as salaries, hours worked and pay rates) and submitting the payroll for processing. Paychex also offers employee self-service, allowing your workers to log in to the system and see their own pay stubs and year-end tax documents. Paychex recently announced a new feature, Paychex Pre-Check, that allows employees to review their paystub prior to payday. Employees are notified on their communication channel of choice, such as their email, smartwatch or smart speakers, when their paystub is ready for review. This is designed to help ensure everything is accurate before checks are actually paid out. Paychex recently added a new labor cost tool to the Paychex Flex platform. The new tool gives users a quick and instantaneous look at their total payroll costs. Further, business owners and financial managers can see how events like future raises or overtime will impact overall workforce expenses. For those working hard to retain top employees, Paychex also offers a total compensation summary for employees. In addition to what they receive in their paycheck, this report details their total compensation. This may include health insurance contributions, retirement contributions, bonuses and other benefits. This report gives employees a clear picture of precisely how much they are receiving from their employer. Paychex recently unveiled a self-service onboarding tool that allows new employees to quickly set up their payroll preferences. From the Paychex platform, new employees can easily sign up for direct deposit, complete their W-4 form, and digitally make any bank and tax selections they require. The Paychex platform also gives employers the ability to track the vaccination status of their employers. This may be especially helpful as the U.S. is in talks to mandate larger employers to require their employees to be vaccinated. The Flex platform can send employees notifications asking them to upload proof of vaccination. In addition, unvaccinated employees can submit results from COVID-19 tests. Paychex offers multiple pricing plans that are suitable for businesses of various sizes and needs. Pricing for each plan is based on your specific needs.
Gusto Payroll Software: Best for Added HR Servicespro Gusto has payroll-only plans, as well as plans with full HR services. pro Gusto does not require a long-term contract. con The company has a poor rating with the Better Business Bureau. Gusto handles all payroll and payroll tax responsibilities for both W-2 employees and 1099 freelancers and contractors. The cloud-based system is easy to use and offers a variety of valuable features, including direct deposit, an autopilot tool, new-hire reporting and detailed payroll reports. A standout component of this payroll service is its vast array of HR tools and features in some of the higher-priced plans. These features include access to HR professionals who can provide advice and guide you through a litany of HR-related issues. Gusto offers four service plans, which range from $40 to $80 per month plus $6 to $12 per employee per month.
Gusto makes it easy to bring on employees all across the country and pay contractors from around the world. The Gusto platform now handles tax registration for employees in all 50 states. This ensures a smooth onboarding process when bringing on remote employees from anywhere in the U.S. It also makes it simple to get current employees, who may be moving to a new state, quickly registered with the appropriate state and local tax authorities. Additionally, the platform now supports contractor payments in more than 80 countries. These additions to Gusto’s services help support the current work environment, with more employees working remotely and more companies hiring outside contractors for various projects. Gusto makes running payroll easy and requires minimal training for users to become proficient with the software. To run payroll, all you need to do is log in, click the “Run Payroll” tab, and provide the requested information. When this is complete, simply click “Submit Payroll” and your employees (or contractors) will be paid. Most of Gusto’s functions are similarly easy to navigate. Read Gusto Payroll Software ReviewPaycor: Best for Employee Self-Servicepro Paycor offers a self-service portal where employees can confirm their information and check their compensation. pro Paycor streamlines payroll tax preparation and ensures employers meet target deadlines. con Paycor charges a flat monthly rate instead of a per-employee fee, so businesses with very small teams might pay more for it than they would for other software. Paycor offers very easy-to-use online payroll software that has an employee self-service portal for reviewing compensation data and updating personal or financial information. Employees can also use the portal to request paid time off, monitor their payments, review their benefits, and access their pay stubs. Paycor offers three pricing plans, each with a flat monthly rate. This is somewhat unusual in the online payroll software industry, where most companies charge a monthly base rate plus a monthly per-employee fee. Paycor’s model might prove cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses, but it could save midsize and large businesses some money as they continue to expand.
Of course, prices may go up if you choose add-on services or HR features beyond the payroll module. MoreADP Payroll Software: Best for Complex Businessespro ADP offers multiple service plans to meet your needs. pro ADP is the payroll software industry's market share leader. con ADP charges on a per-payroll basis, which could really add up if you have different pay schedules for various employee types. ADP is a scalable platform that has all the tools necessary for a complex business, such as one that operates in a highly regulated industry or across state or even national borders. ADP works for many industries and verticals, making it a great tool for businesses with complicated or wide-ranging needs. This company offers specified payroll platforms for small, midsize and large businesses. Its Run platform is designed for businesses with fewer than 50 employees, while its Workforce Now platform is for businesses with 50 to 999 employees. Organizations with more than 1,000 employees have various options, including the Enterprise platform. ADP offers four pricing plans for customers:
The breadth of ADP’s services alone makes it a standout payroll provider. Payroll processing is especially flexible with ADP; you can manage it on your desktop or mobile device (iOS or Android) as well as over the phone. ADP automates payroll tasks such as calculating an employee’s paycheck based on their wages and time off, saving you time and reducing the likelihood of human error. ADP’s payroll software can easily integrate with its other services, like its time and attendance software. If you’re interested in a full suite of business solutions, ADP gives you several different packages to choose from. ADP RUN users also can tap into the platform’s smart technology to prevent potential payroll errors. With the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the platform can quickly identify possible mistakes in payroll data and alert administrators so they can correct the issues before payroll is processed. In addition to spotting possible errors in payroll data, ADP allows users to receive alerts from state and local jurisdictions about potential payroll tax errors. The alerts include suggestions on how to correct the issues. ADP Run users now have access to a new time tracking and scheduling solution. Available only to businesses with fewer than 50 employees that are using ADP’s Run platform for their payroll, the Timekeeping Plus Scheduling solution gives businesses greater insight into who is working and when. The system allows employees to clock in and out using facial ID. The dashboard gives those in charge a quick look at how their labor is being used, who is missing work and who is working overtime. The scheduling tools allow managers to create and share schedules with employees, while employees can use the system to claim open shifts and let their supervisors know when they are unavailable. Those on the Workforce Now platform can pay employees who are working overseas. The service allows businesses headquartered in the U.S. and Canada to manage payroll in multiple countries with an integrated system of record. This can be especially valuable to employers working with overseas employees, as it helps eliminate any confusion that may occur when using multiple systems. Read ADP Payroll Software ReviewRippling: Best for Ease of Usepro Rippling syncs data from more than 400 applications to automate payroll and accounting functions. pro Rippling offers a user-friendly interface that requires minimal training. con There is no free trial available, meaning you will have to pay to try it out. Rippling’s online payroll software has a user-friendly interface that requires little to no training for new users. Payroll processing is so simple that it can be run in 90 seconds – a testament to the many different sources from which Rippling pulls data. It works with more than 400 applications to improve your payroll processing, payroll tax preparation and accounting. Neatly organized on the dashboard are key metrics, like time worked by employee, paid time off and total labor expenses. You can manage direct deposits directly in Rippling, or you can use paper checks – whichever method your employees prefer. Rippling automatically deducts tax withholdings according to an employee’s filing status. Plans start at $8 per user per month, but custom quotes are available for businesses with unique needs. Rippling requires all payroll customers to be on its employee management platform, which includes other HR tools that cover areas like onboarding, benefits administration, promotions, offboarding, time and attendance, and device management capabilities. Rippling automatically compiles the necessary data for payroll tax preparation. The system automatically identifies applicable local, state, and federal forms, pulling in relevant data to fill much of them out automatically. You can then file and remit payments directly through Rippling. If your business operates across national borders, Rippling offers international payment support. You can also use Rippling to track employee paid time off and create a PTO policy for its accrual and use. In Rippling, a PTO request automatically generates when payroll is run, requiring no additional action from the approving manager. Reporting is critical in payroll software, and Rippling delivers on this as well. With easily understandable visualizations like donut charts and bar graphs, the software allows you to customize your reports and review virtually any metric you choose. Rippling’s data-reporting ability is particularly powerful because it integrates with so many other software platforms. An added benefit of Rippling is its integration with Carta. This integration gives employers a clear view of an employee’s total compensation when equity is involved. With equity, it can be challenging to understand just how much employees are being compensated now, as well as how much their compensation will be worth in the future once the equity fully vests. The Carta integration shows it all on one platform. For companies that want an even closer partner, Rippling offers a PEO service in addition to its employee management platform. MoreSquare Payroll: Best for Payroll Tax Preparationpro Square is user-friendly and intuitive, requiring minimal training. pro Square combines payroll data with applicable tax rules to ensure tax compliance and help you meet filing deadlines. con Square requires you to set up your own third-party software integrations. You may know Square as a payment processing platform, but the company also offers an online payroll service. Square Payroll is easy-to-use software with no frills. It has all the features we looked for in a payroll software company, yet it retains the lightweight feel for which its payment processing counterpart is so well known. You can use Square Payroll to process payroll for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. It streamlines payroll by automating the preparation of tax forms based on the data that already exists within your system. It also offers a straightforward payroll processing routine, making it easy to ensure all types of employees are paid promptly. Customer support options include phone, email and live chat. The live chat tool is built directly into the software and allows you to contact payroll specialists who understand how to optimize payroll processes. Square can integrate with many time and attendance systems as well as point-of-sale software. The system tracks employee hours automatically, and when it comes time to process payroll, you can pay employees using their Square balance, rather than their bank account. In addition to payroll processing, Square offers management tools that can help you keep your team on task and working together. This is especially important since many companies have shifted to a remote work model in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no contract requirement for Square Payroll. Pricing plans start at $29 per month, plus $5 per employee paid. Alternatively, there is a contractors-only option, which allows you to pay 1099 contractors for $5 per payment with no monthly base fee. MoreDeluxe: Best for Consultative Approach to Payrollpro Deluxe offers full-service payroll backed by a dedicated customer service team that can facilitate and optimize your processes. pro Deluxe handles all implementation and configuration, removing a burden from your business and ensuring it's done correctly. con Deluxe only offers custom pricing and requires a consultation with a sales representative. In addition to its online payroll software, Deluxe offers a customer service team to provide support whenever you need it. This team is dedicated to your account, so it will know your business and its needs inside and out, helping you to improve your payroll department and realize new efficiencies. Pricing is fully custom and depends on the features and services your business requires and the size of your business. Deluxe develops a singular approach for each client, given the consultative nature of its team, so it can be difficult to understand the full scope of services Deluxe offers. To understand exactly how Deluxe can fit into your workflow and budget, you’ll need to contact a sales representative for a custom quote. August 2021: Deluxe recently announced that its payroll and HR solutions can be accessed via the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central solution. The new partnership now allows Microsoft Dynamics users the ability to only manage their financial tasks, like accounting, quotes, orders, invoicing, purchasing and cash management, but also their payroll and HR needs all from the same platform. Deluxe’s payroll processing tool is easy to use, allowing you to complete payroll in just three steps. It’s also precise, allowing you to adjust pay for fractions of hours worked. You can use it to issue paper checks or direct deposit payments, and generate a series of reports to monitor your labor expenses. Your dedicated customer service team can offer tax advice or general guidance. These reps not only ensure your payroll tax compliance, but can also offer tips to save time and money on your reporting and filing processes. Deluxe includes employer and employee portals. The employer portal enables payroll management and custom reporting. The employee portal shows pay stubs and withholdings, time-off requests, and direct deposit information. Employees can use the portal to review and update this information for themselves. Deluxe interfaces with dozens of third-party software providers, including accounting software and point-of-sale systems. The integration process includes seamless data migration. MoreIntuit QuickBooks Payroll: Best for Small Businessespro QuickBooks Payroll has numerous service plans in a range of prices. pro This solution fully integrates with QuickBooks' accounting software. con Not all service plans include an error-free tax guarantee. Intuit QuickBooks Payroll provides small businesses with scalable payroll services that easily integrate with QuickBooks. The service collects and reports all payroll taxes and offers a variety of helpful tools. It is available in several plans with a range of services and prices. Among the companies we reviewed, QuickBooks Payroll provides some of the most flexible payroll plan options. The services are broken down into Online Payroll and Desktop Payroll, each of which can have QuickBooks’ accounting software added into it. This gives you the opportunity to get more services in one plan. While some plans focus solely on payroll processing, others include a variety of human resources services, which are valuable for small businesses that don’t have the luxury of an in-house HR team. Each plan includes a 30-day free trial. These are the Online Payroll pricing tiers:
An added benefit of the Online Payroll platform is access to QuickBooks Early Pay. Available soon, the service will give employees the ability to apply for funds that can be used to help cover any unexpected expenses they may face. Early Pay, which will be included in QuickBooks Online Payroll for no additional cost, will let employees receive funds instantly or within two business days. These are the Desktop Payroll pricing plans:
Because of these flexible payroll options for small businesses, we chose QuickBooks Payroll as the best payroll service for small businesses. MoreZenefits: Best Payroll Module in HR Software SuiteZenefits pro Zenefits is a full HR platform that includes online payroll software as one module among many. pro Zenefits' payroll system relies on the data collected in other modules of the HR platform to improve payroll processing and tax preparation. con Zenefits is not ideal if all you need is payroll software; it works best as part of the broader HR platform. Zenefits offers easy-to-use payroll software that enables you to run payroll in four easy steps. Making manual adjustments, such as including bonuses, is also easy when running payroll. Zenefits Payroll offers unlimited payroll processing, wage garnishment support, direct deposits, tips reporting, multiple pay schedules and rate tables, 1099 contractor payments, general ledger reports, and mobile pay stubs. Zenefits Payroll seamlessly integrates with other Zenefits HR modules, including Time and Scheduling, Benefits, and HR. Zenefits Payroll works best in this environment, because these integrations expand its functionality and it leans heavily on the data in other modules to run payroll. For example, the connection between Zenefits Payroll and HR enables easy changes to benefits and salaries, while an integration with Time and Scheduling allows it to tabulate paid time off automatically when running payroll. Zenefits Payroll is an add-on to this larger HR software suite, which has three pricing plans:
Zenefits Payroll can be added on to any of these plans for an additional $6 per employee per month. Unfortunately, the payroll module cannot be purchased on its own. When paired with Zenefits’ larger HR platform, however, the payroll module is a very useful tool for growing businesses. MoreCosts to Implement Payroll ServicesSmall business payroll services typically have a monthly or per-payroll cost structure. With monthly plans, you pay a base fee and a per-employee fee. Base fees are usually $30 to $150 per month, and per-employee fees range from $2 to $15 per month. With a monthly fee structure, you can run payroll as often as you like for one flat fee. With a per-payroll fee structure, companies charge anywhere from $10 to $100 per payroll run, plus per-employee fees of $2 to $15 per month. In addition, some payroll companies charge extra for year-end tax service and initial setup fees. Most online payroll services offer free trials of one to two months, giving you the chance to try out the software for at least a couple of payroll runs to see if it meets your needs. Key takeaway: Most online payroll services charge a base monthly fee of $30 to $150 per month, plus per-employee fees of $2 to $15 per month. How Do Payroll Services Work?Payroll services handle all of your payroll processing and payroll tax needs. An online payroll service calculates how much each employee should be paid based on their pay rate and required deductions. Most employees have a choice to be paid by direct deposit, paper check or prepaid debit card. It is important to note that the money the payroll service uses to pay the employees comes out of the employer’s bank account. Typically, the money is withdrawn from the business’s account on selected days before the final payments are made to employees. The other critical task payroll services handle is ensuring a business’s adherence to payroll tax requirements. Payroll services withhold the proper amounts from each employee’s paycheck and determine how much payroll tax the employer is responsible for. The payroll service also fills out and files the necessary paperwork and makes the payroll tax payments directly to the proper federal, state and local agencies. Payroll services can also handle other tasks, such as filing new-hire reports with the state, managing PTO and overseeing benefits administration. Key takeaway: Payroll services handle all payroll calculations, payments and tax requirements for a business. Payroll Software FeaturesPayroll services offer a variety of features and tools that streamline payroll processing for small businesses. Here are some of the most valuable features:
Key takeaway: Valuable features of the best online payroll services include unlimited payroll processing, the ability to pay employees in multiple ways, assistance with year-end tax forms, PTO management, employee self-service and mobile access. Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are the answers to some of the most common questions about payroll software and services. What is online payroll software?Online payroll software and online payroll services are essentially the same thing. The payroll software is the cloud-based solution provided by the online payroll service company; in other words, it’s the interface you use to run the payroll and add new employees to the system. Most online payroll software is easy to use and allows you to process payroll in minutes. What other benefits does payroll software provide?There are several big benefits of using comprehensive online payroll software. One major plus is its efficiency. You don’t have to hire someone to handle all of your payroll needs, because pretty much anyone can use the software. In most cases, all you need to do when running payroll each pay period is to enter the hours each employee worked and any bonuses or commissions they earned. The software does the rest for you: It calculates the pay amounts, withholds the proper deductions, and automatically deposits the money into each employee’s bank account. Another benefit is that the payroll company takes care of the tax filings and payments for you. Most offer a tax guarantee, so if the payroll service makes a mistake when filing or paying your taxes, it will fix the problem and pay any fines you incur. What type of payroll service is right for my small business?When you’re choosing an online payroll service for your small business, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, make sure it can handle all of your payroll and payroll tax needs. Can you run payroll as often as you like? Will the service make the deductions you need? Does it give your employees self-service access? Also consider whether the payroll solution is easy to use. The online interface should be simple to understand, and it should allow you to run payroll in a matter of minutes. Depending on your business’s needs, you may benefit from a payroll company that offers additional services, such as a time and attendance system or HR solutions. What is unique about comprehensive payroll companies?Comprehensive payroll companies do much more than prepare your business’s payroll; they also handle your payroll tax needs, manage your employees’ paid time off, report your new hires to the proper agencies, and offer workers’ compensation insurance. Many comprehensive payroll solutions also offer HR management, benefits administration, time and attendance services, and 401(k) and college savings programs. Why are payroll services important for small businesses?Many small businesses don’t have a dedicated HR team that knows the ins and outs of payroll, so they rely on payroll companies to manage those responsibilities for them. They depend on these services to ensure that their employees are paid properly each month and that their payroll taxes are filed and paid appropriately. Online payroll services give small businesses the peace of mind that, with just a few clicks, their employees will get the money they are owed and the proper payroll taxes will be withheld. This way, you don’t have to worry about whether you filed the tax documents correctly and are paying the right amounts. In fact, online payroll services are so confident in handling these tasks that most services offer an error-free guarantee. What’s involved in implementing payroll software?It doesn’t take a lot to get payroll software up and running. Once you prove your business is legitimate, you can connect your business’s bank account to the payroll service. Next, you enter your employees’ information. In addition to the basics – including their names, addresses and Social Security numbers – you must input their pay rates and withholding information. Employees who want to be paid by direct deposit can enter their banking information in the system’s online portal. With that information, you can set your pay schedule and start processing payroll. Although it’s easy to enter the details yourself, some payroll services handle it for you. Some charge an additional fee for this, while others include this service in their base fees. Do payroll service providers offer mobile applications?Yes, most payroll providers offer mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. Most of these apps allow administrators to run payroll, review past payroll runs and pay payroll taxes. Additionally, employees can use the mobile apps to review their pay stubs, pay history and PTO accruals. How long does payroll take to process?This varies by payroll provider, but many payroll services complete the process within two days. This means that payroll administrators need to submit the final payroll numbers two days before payday. Are there any free payroll software solutions?There are several free payroll software solutions, including Payroll4Free.com, Wave Payroll and eSmart Paycheck. However, before choosing a free program, make sure it meets your company’s basic needs. A free program is great for a business that’s just starting out; it can help you manage tax calculations, wage garnishments, and Social Security and benefits deductions. However, when using a free service, you may have to sacrifice a few features, like customer service or security tools. Should you use a payroll service or hire an accountant?You should hire an accountant if you need help managing the collection and reporting aspects of payroll processing. Accountants can analyze your payroll and provide valuable guidance for your business. However, hiring an accountant can be expensive. The average hourly fee for an accountant is $33.89 per hour, and certified public accountants charge an average of $160 to $275 per hour. Payroll services, by comparison, usually cost about $29 to $150 per month, with an additional fee of $2 to $12 per employee per month. How can you save money on payroll?To save money on payroll, consider outsourcing your payroll tasks. When managing it yourself, you may not do it correctly or on time – and mistakes or late processing can result in hefty penalties and fines. You may also consider looking for a free payroll service. However, most free payroll services don’t offer all of the features and tools paid offerings do. Using a time and attendance system is also a way to save money on your payroll, because it helps ensure you aren’t paying employees for time they didn’t work. When using a paper timesheet, employees can easily add a few minutes that they didn’t actually work. Paying employees for those few minutes might not seem like a big deal, but if this becomes a habit, the costs can really add up. A digital time and attendance system forces your team to input exact times, which keeps you from overpaying your staff. What are unpaid payroll tax penalties?Unpaid payroll tax penalties apply when an employer fails to pay the Internal Revenue Service the proper amount of payroll tax funds they owe. Failure to complete Form 941 or to provide proper documentation, like W-2s or 1099s, is another problem. To avoid fines, you also need to make sure your deposits are on time. What is an example of a payroll tax?An example of payroll tax is the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax. This is a mandatory payroll deduction that employers pay to the IRS to cover Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare for employees. What do you do with unclaimed paychecks?If you are in possession of unclaimed paychecks, this does not mean you get to keep them. According to escheat laws, unclaimed paychecks become abandoned property and must be signed over to the appropriate state’s treasury agency after a certain amount of time. This means that, if someone who works for you never claims their paycheck, you need to return it to the state where that person last worked. When submitting these documents to the appropriate agency, be sure to disclose all of the attempts you made to contact the employee about their check. What is a pay period?A pay period is the recurring length of time during which an employee’s wages are calculated for payment. Pay periods can be weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly. Learn about the pros and cons of each schedule and issues to keep in mind so you can choose the best schedule for your business. What is the difference between payroll and salary?Payroll is the system a company uses to record wages (and salaries), pay employees and track payments (and the payroll taxes you’ve paid). A salary, on the other hand, is a fixed, consistent payment, usually listed as an annual figure, that you give to specific employees. Learn whether it’s best to pay your employees a salary or an hourly wage. Our MethodologyTo determine which payroll services are best for small businesses and household employers in 2021, we spent dozens of hours researching the top online payroll companies. Here is an explanation of our selection process: Locating the Best ServicesTo determine the best payroll services for businesses, we started with a pool of more than 70 online payroll service providers. Following preliminary research of other best-picks lists, we interviewed small business owners to discover new providers to add to our list.
Choosing the Best ServicesAfter conducting some initial research into each payroll service, we settled on 15 to consider as best picks for our business categories: ADP, APS, BenefitMall, Big Fish Payroll Services, Fuse Workforce Management, GetPayroll, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Patriot Software, Paychex, Paycor, Paylocity, SurePayroll and Wagepoint. Researching Each ServiceNext, we scrutinized each finalist. We reviewed their offerings, watched tutorials and how-to videos, read user comments, reviewed Better Business Bureau ratings and complaints, and tested out services when demos were available. After narrowing down the list to our final contenders, we contacted each company, posing as business owners, to test their customer support and learn more about their services. Analyzing Each ServiceIn all, we looked at cost, tax services, ease of use, customer service, integration options, incentives (e.g., free trials, free months), tax guarantees, mobile accessibility, payroll reports, employee self-service, extra services (e.g., employee retirement plans, workers’ compensation), and Better Business Bureau ratings and complaints. Best Household EmployersWe followed a similar methodology to determine the best payroll service for household employers. In addition to SurePayroll and QuickBooks Payroll, which have plans tailored to household employers, we considered five companies that specialize in payroll services for household employees: NannyChex, HomeWork Solutions, Savvy Nanny Payroll Services, GTM Payroll Services and HomePay. What to Expect in 2022The global necessity to embrace digital solutions will further streamline the 2022 adoption of online payroll services powered by cloud computing. Cloud software eliminates the need for payroll to be handled onsite, and both the rise in digital platforms dedicated to online payroll management and a need to reduce staffing costs have incentivized businesses to outsource the function. According to Accenture, payroll outsourcing will grow at an annual rate of more than 5% through at least 2026. We expect that the payroll industry in 2022 will continue to focus on supporting remote work as well as faster payment processing. Instant payroll gained popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic as workers faced financial strain. Responding to these fast-moving trends will require business owners to remain flexible and choose the right payroll software for their needs. Recent technological trends such as cloud-based software, artificial intelligence and big data analytics will also continue gaining steam. The move toward remote work underscores the need for more cloud-based solutions, which are typically offered using a monthly software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription model. Automation and greater demand for insights around data will also drive demand for more AI and data analytics in online payroll software. According to KPMG, compliance standards regarding workers are tightening for employers around the globe. In 2022, for example, Social Security’s wage base increased to $147,000. With businesses under greater regulatory scrutiny, payroll software can help ensure that you keep up with changes in local laws and regulations. Chad Brooks Business News Daily Staff Chad Brooks is a writer and editor with more than 20 years of media of experience. He has been with Business News Daily and business.com for the past decade, having written and edited content focused specifically on small businesses and entrepreneurship. Chad spearheads coverage of small business communication services, including business phone systems, video conferencing services and conference call solutions. His work has appeared on The Huffington Post, CNBC.com, FoxBusiness.com, Live Science, IT Tech News Daily, Tech News Daily, Security News Daily and Laptop Mag. Chad's first book, How to Start a Home-Based App Development Business, was published in 2014. Image Credit: AndreyPopov / Getty Images |