Best Payroll Software for Small Business

Free payroll software for small business, paid payroll software for small business, payroll software for accountant or payroll software programs are more common aspect of accounting practice. The more recent changes within the regulations have made the complete understanding of payroll software for small business mandatory.

Here are a couple of nice payroll systems.

QuickBooks Intuit Payroll

Quickbooks Pro dashboard

QuickBooks Payroll is one of the leading payroll software for payroll service providers and accountants for it has an easy-to-use interface that allows for unlimited payment schedules and 24-hour direct deposits. Its advanced tools make it easy for payroll service providers and accountants to attend to numerous client needs and requests.

QuickBooks Payroll has top of the line automation-ready tools that can track inventory, manage more than a thousand contractors, customize user permission, track income and expenses, maximize tax deductions, create invoices, and accept payments.  All its tools are one-click solutions that require no advanced technical skills from its users. Hence, payroll service providers and accountants can easily delegate tasks and still secure accurate and updated data.

Try out QuickBooks Payroll with their free trialVISIT WEBSITEFREE TRIAL

QuickBooks Payroll outshines all current software for payroll service providers and accountants with its monitoring tools. Its monitoring tools can handle multiple projects with easy-to-understand and clear periodical reports. All users can instantly see profitability data transposed with payroll costs.

Payroll software providers and accountants have the option to choose between a Self Service or Full Service payroll plan. QuickBooks Payroll is cost-efficient as pricing is scalable and based on the number of employees enrolled for payroll.

What is unique about QuickBooks Payroll?

  1. Clean User Interface. QuickBooks Payroll is a popular payroll software among service providers for its user-friendly interface that does not intimidate non-technical users. Users can take full advantage of its cost-efficient Self Service Payroll Plan, since all tools can be managed and operated by users with no advanced accounting and bookkeeping skills.
  2. Instant Payment. QuickBooks Payroll provides a feature that allows for funds to be transferred within 24 hours. This advanced tool effectively prevents delays in payroll.
  3. Project Profitability Tracker. Users can utilize QuickBook Pro’s patented Project Profitability Tracker to maximize profit and minimize expenses through real-time monitoring and analytics.
  4. Inventory Tracker. QuickBooks Payroll offers an inventory tracker for accountants that handle expanded bookkeeping tools for retail shops, restaurants, cafes, and merchandisers.
  5. Tax compliance. A dedicated group of tax experts provides updated tax compliance tools for maximum utilization of deductions. Forms for W2s are also accessible and print-ready.

Detailed QuickBooks Payroll ReviewREAD MORE

Gusto

Gusto dashboard

Gusto is a powerful platform that combines payroll, benefits administration, HR and compliance functionalities in a single, simplified package. It is designed for small businesses looking to stay on top of their workforce’s core HR needs. The app is used by more than 40,000 companies in the U.S. taking advantage of its solid set of payroll features, well-designed user interface, and automation functionalities capabilities.

Try out Gusto with their free trialVISIT WEBSITESIGN UP

The software streamlines and automates the calculation, payment, and submission of a company’s local, state, and federal payroll taxes, ensuring that businesses can pay through direct deposit or check, and comply with year-end forms and taxation to avoid critical errors.

Gusto also offers a partner program for its clients who introduce Gusto payroll and benefits to their customers. As a Gusto partner, you enjoy exclusive deals such as free Gusto payroll subscription, access to HR experts and compliance support.

What is unique about Gusto? 

  1.  No tie-in agreement. You don’t need to sign a long-term contract and are free to suspend your account at any time. A one-month free trial is offered which starts after you run your first payroll.
  2. It makes payroll management error-proof. Gusto eliminates critical human errors since you won’t have to enter data in several different apps and websites, and just let the system calculate deductions.
  3. It is fully compliant with standards. All Gusto operations are designed to meet HIPAA, ACA, and ERISA standards, meaning that the system can check data automatically, prepare compliance reviews of your benefits, send automated notices, and guarantee employee privacy.
  4. It simplifies benefits administration. Gusto can streamline and handle employment tax reporting, payments, workers’ comp insurance, new hire reports and detailed budget plans. It also allows you to easily set up and manage 401(k) plans for employee’s retirement needs.
  5. Easy access to information. The app can quickly pull out important information, including employee contact data, I-9s, W-2s, time off balances, and much more, and you need only to log into the system using your credentials.

Detailed Gusto ReviewREAD MORE

OnPay

OnPay is The Blueprint’s number one choice for payroll services for small businesses with good reason. Though designed for small businesses, OnPay can scale up nicely to suit mid-size businesses as well.

Featuring easy system navigation, OnPay offers industry-specific features for restaurants and other businesses that need to account for employee tips.OnPay's software for onboarding small businesses employees.

OnPay offers easy employee setup. Source: OnPay software.

OnPay’s plan also includes unlimited payroll runs, complete mobile accessibility from any device, direct deposit, and multistate payroll capability, as well as employee onboarding and self-service capability.

No separate mobile app is needed, as the application is designed to work on any platform and the application easily pays both employees and contractors, producing both W-2s and 1099s at year-end.

In addition to complete payroll processing, OnPay offers comprehensive HR resources including employee offer letters, PTO approvals, compliance tools, and a variety of HR templates that can be used in various situations.

OnPay offers excellent integration options with a variety of third-party accounting and timesheet/timekeeping applications, and their support team is trained by the American Payroll Association.

OnPay offers a single plan, with pricing for the plan currently running $36/month, plus a $4 per employee fee. All features, including HR and complete support options, are included in the price.

Read The Blueprint’s full OnPay review

Check out OnPay and see for yourself why it’s the highest rated payroll tool on The Blueprint.Visit OnPay


QuickBooks Online Payroll

Designed to integrate with QuickBooks Online Accounting, QuickBooks Online Payroll can also be used as a stand-alone payroll software application. QuickBooks Online Payroll can be used for up to 50 employees, but because of varying pricing levels, is most affordable for businesses with 15 employees or less.QuickBooks Payroll to-do list with remaining steps to fully set up the software

QuickBooks Payroll includes easy onboarding for all new employees. Source: QuickBooks Online Payroll software.

QuickBooks Online Payroll offers an easy onboarding process, so you can be up and running quickly. The application offers unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit capability, and tax reporting and remittance in all of its plans.

There is also an employee portal available so your employees can access pay stubs and tax forms. All plans include a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.

QuickBooks Online Payroll does offer HR features, but they are only available in the Premium and Elite plans. Both plans also include time tracking capability.

QuickBooks Online Payroll starts at $22.50/month, with the Premium plan running $37.50/month, and Elite $62.50/month. All pricing reflects an initial 50% discount for the first three months, with a $4 per employee fee added to the base price.

Read The Blueprint’s full QuickBooks Online Payroll review


Patriot Payroll

Patriot Payroll may not be as well known as some of the other payroll applications highlighted here, but they offer many of the same features. Patriot Payroll is designed for small businesses and currently offers two plans, both offering free direct deposit, an employee portal, and free payroll setup.

Keep in mind that the Basic plan does not include tax filing and remittance.Patriot Payroll time off form with fields for title, amount of time to take off, and what that time is classified as.

Patriot Payroll makes it easy to create time off accrual rules for employees. Source: Patriot Payroll software.

Patriot Payroll offers easy, intuitive navigation, and the cost includes complete program setup. The software works on any device, so no mobile app is needed. The application also includes an excellent accrual rule option, for easy tracking of employee PTO.

Optional Time and Attendance and HR modules are also available, both integrating with the payroll application.

While Patriot Payroll doesn’t include a lot of extras, small businesses that are looking for an easy way to pay employees and payroll taxes will appreciate its simplicity.

Patriot Payroll offers two plans, Basic which is $10/month and Full-Service, which is $30/month, with a $4 per employee fee added to the base price. The add-on Time and Attendance module is $5/month, with the Human Resources module running $4/month, with each adding an additional $1 per employee fee.

Conclusion

Many people look at payroll solutions (also called payroll software or payroll service providers) as an extra in the company. But the reality is that it’s not. After all, do you really want to manage your own HR? There are many tools that will help you to simplify your payroll operations, if not take it completely out of your hands.

Leave a Comment