Payroll Software For Small Business Reviews. What does it take to keep track of your payroll? Payroll Software For Small Business Reviews come in many forms and with many different options. There is no doubt that you can find what you need with a little bit of homework and effort. However, that is only if you know what you are looking for – and why – and how – it fits into your specific strategies and plans. The thing we must remember is “Effort” will always beat “Luck” – and there is no such thing as “luck”, only results of preparation and effort!
Payroll Software for Small Business Reviews – Now days, Payroll Software have become a “need of the hour”. In fact, if you have a business of your own then payroll is one thing that you should not leave to chance. Payroll Software For Small Business is a comprehensive software solution designed specifically to address the needs of small and medium sized businesses in this dynamic era.
Gusto: Best overall
Best overall payroll providerGusto
4.0
- Starting at $39.00/mo. + $6.00/payee/mo.
Automatic payroll tax administration
Affordable insurance options (in-house brokers)
Two-day direct deposit
Data as of 9/9/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The heartily named Gusto is our favorite payroll software for small businesses. Its beautifully designed, full-service payroll system includes plenty of payroll and HR features, including these:
- Automatic local, state, and federal payroll tax filing
- Automatic end-of-year tax-form filing, including W-2s and 1099s
- Automatic state new-hire form filing
- Health benefits administration and workers compensation administration
- Multiple employee benefit options, including HSAs, FSAs, commuter benefits, and college savings plans
- Employee self-service portal for pay stub, direct deposit, and W-2 access
Even better, Gusto includes these features for free when many payroll providers charge extra. For instance, Gusto’s in-house insurance brokers ensure that if you sign up for employee medical insurance and workers compensation insurance through Gusto, you’ll pay the premium only.
In contrast, ADP, which outsources its insurance integrations, charges an extra fee on top of the premium. Ditto Paychex, which does have an in-house insurance team but still charges extra for insurance add-ons. ADP and Paychex also charge extra for end-of-year tax-form filings. Gusto doesn’t.
Heads-up: Gusto’s Contractor plan
Do you hire contractors on an individual basis instead of working with a full-time team of employees? Gusto’s new Contractor plan has no monthly base cost. You pay only $6 per month per payee.
However, in the last few months, Gusto’s customer service has taken a few hits: for instance, on the review site Trustpilot, Gusto’s rating dropped from nearly four to just 2.4 (yikes!) out of 5 from more than 1.2K reviews.1 In particular, users call out slow response times and payroll errors. Thanks to its expansive employee benefits and built-in free tax filing, Gusto’s still our top payroll solution, but we did lower its star rating to account for its lowering user reviews.
Additionally, while Gusto has more employee add-ons than many other online payroll systems, it’s not a total HR management solution. Our Gusto HR review can tell you more, but if you need more than the most basic HR, you’ll want to look elsewhere—like at Paychex
Pros:
More employee benefit options than most competitors
No extra fee for payroll tax filing
No extra fee for insurance add-ons
Cons:
Poor customer service ratings
High monthly per-payee fee
Limited HR management and administration
Paychex Flex
Paychex Flex offers more than 160 reports for you to get a clear look at wages, taxes, turnover, and more. Paychex is our best reporting option because it checks almost all the boxes for what you’d want in payroll software when it comes to reports and data. It also automatically files your payroll taxes, ensures compliance, and includes integrations with important programs you also use, such as accounting and benefits apps.Pros
- 24/7 support
- Easy to use
- HR add-on options
- Robust reporting feature
Cons
- Hidden fees for setup & EOY tax docs
- Mixed reviews from users regarding support
There’s a lot to like about Paychex. The payroll software makes it easy to set up and run payroll, it automates the submission of federal, state, and local payroll taxes, and it offers plenty of upgrade options, which you may need as your business grows. Still, the basic reporting you get from Paychex could be worth the monthly fee alone, giving it the edge in this category. Plus, you’ll be able to add any other data field you’d like, thanks to custom fields, which is rare for small business online payroll services.
While the Paychex Flex Essentials plan is $39 per month and $5 per employee, it’s difficult to say how much Paychex will cost you for the more comprehensive plans—Paychex Flex Select and Paychex Flex Pro—unless you go through the process of getting a custom quote.
One of the most important aspects of a good online payroll solution is whether it integrates with software you already use. Paychex does integrate with QuickBooks and Xero accounting software, plus many health insurance and benefits apps, time tracking and attendance software, and HR software.
QuickBooks Payroll
If you’re already using QuickBooks for accounting, then QuickBooks Payroll is our easiest to set up option, as everything will be automated, and it’s going to be an intuitive program for any QuickBooks user. You’re unlikely to need to contact support for help because the tutorial and knowledgebase are so thorough. Even if that’s not working for you, a quick search online will send you to a multitude of walkthroughs.Pros
- Easy setup and intuitive interface
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software
- Fast direct deposit options
Cons
- Not a good value for the cost
- Time track on the go feature not available in lowest-tier plan
QuickBooks earns our nod for the easiest setup because its user interface is so intuitive for anyone familiar with QuickBooks. In addition to customer service, there are ample resources online to get anyone on board with their payroll services. QuickBooks does a good job making establishing and running payroll simple for anyone regardless of experience.
Although QuickBooks offers excellent features, if a bit limited in its HR options, you’ll pay for them. The lowest-priced plan starts at $45 per month, plus $4 per person per month. The Premium plan costs $75 per month, plus $8 per person per month, but it also expands its features to include HR support and a payroll setup review from an expert. The Elite plan from QuickBooks costs $125 per month, plus $10 per employee per month, and you’ll get 24/7 support, plus tax penalty protection.
OnPay
Best for Agricultural Companies
PROS
- Files Form 943
- Supports multiple pay rates and payroll schedules
- Multiple payment options like direct deposit, manual check, or debit card
CONS
- Glitches on payroll data upload
- Few third-party integrations
- Unresponsive customer support
Overall Score3.86OUT OF5
| RATING CRITERIA | PRICING | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| HR FEATURES | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| POPULARITY | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| REPORTING | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| PAYROLL FEATURES | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| EASE OF USE | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
OnPay differs from some providers like Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll because it makes it easy for agricultural companies to pay employees and file taxes. It files Form 943 and processes payments and taxes for workers on H-2A visas. It also allows you to run payroll as often as you need and choose multiple pay rates and payroll schedules for different employees.
You can still file the basic payroll tax forms, Form 941, 1099, W-2s, etc., and withhold your employees’ state and federal unemployment insurance payments and other contributions, so the average small business beyond agricultural companies would also find it useful.
To see a full breakdown of OnPay from an expert point of view, check out our OnPay review.
OnPay Pricing
OnPay costs $36 per month plus $4 per employee or $76 per month for 10 employees; setup and your first month is free.
OnPay Features
- Unlimited payroll runs: Like Gusto, Square, and a couple of other small business providers on our list, OnPay allows you to run your payroll for both employees and contractors as many times as you need at no extra cost. You can also generate year-end W-2s and 1099s without paying a per employee rate (ADP charges extra).
- Multistate payroll: OnPay can handle taxes for employees in more than one state.
- Multiple employee payment options and schedules: You can set more than one pay schedule for your company, or use different pay rates for individual employees. Employees can get their wages through direct deposit, debit card, or check through OnPay. Employees can also see their pay stubs using OnPay’s online portal.
- Flexible recruitment tools and benefits management: It facilitates state new hire reporting and offers health benefits, 401(k), and workers’ compensation.
- Customizable and downloadable platforms: Get detailed payroll reports within OnPay and you will be able to filter by employee type, location, or department. Its report designer allows you to create and save custom reports that can be viewed online, downloaded, and even exported to your accounting system.
- Easy access: OnPay is a single sign-on platform that allows access by using your Google, Intuit, or Xero login.
- Lifetime self-service portal accounts: Employees or contractors can still access their OnPay portal and personal tax documents even if they resign from their current company.
Workful
Workful is one of the newer online payroll services available, and it’s already making a name for itself with its top-notch customer support, which is why it’s our best customer service option. The geolocation time-clock tracking is easy enough to set up and ensures employees clock in and out from wherever you’ve set as appropriate. Also, employees can submit expenses through the app, so they can get reimbursed with the next payroll run.Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Includes employee expense tracking
- Offers geolocation time-clock tracking
- Includes document storage
Cons
- Limited reporting features
- Setup seems clunky
Workful is an affordable and easy-to-use application but is not without its restrictions. For example, it doesn’t do automatic tax filing for you. But, it gets our nod for best customer service because it provides fast guidance with easy-to-understand directions for a small business owner.
Workful is one of the easiest-to-use online payroll services available. The left-side main menu is intuitive, and the dashboard is clean. Setup is easy enough, with a tutorial that walks you through establishing your services. Once you have the time-clock set up, it’s kind of hands-off work for you. Employees simply use the app to clock in and out.
When it comes to integrations, Workful doesn’t seem to play well with others. You can integrate QuickBooks Online, but that’s it. Workful is trying to be a single software solution, which is why it offers built-in time tracking, document storage, and HR options. However, if you’re happy with your time-tracking solution, use a different accounting program, or need Indeed or Zapier integrations, Workful isn’t the right payroll software for you.
Paycor
Best for Businesses That Need an All-in-One HR Payroll System
PROS
- Easy to set up and use
- Payroll and HR features are integrated
- Plenty of training and help guides for users
- Payroll managers are available for support
CONS
- More costly than other providers for small businesses
- Customizable reporting tools are available only for premium plans
- Customer support delays
Overall Score3.81OUT OF5
| RATING CRITERIA | PRICING | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| HR FEATURES | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| POPULARITY | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| REPORTING | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| PAYROLL FEATURES | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| EASE OF USE | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
Paycor may not be the most affordable for small businesses but it offers a robust suite of software solutions to handle basic to the most complex payroll and HR tasks for less than what you’d pay for a premium plan from ADP or Paychex. Aside from managing your payroll payments and taxes, you can get help with recruitment, onboarding, leave and attendance management, employee management, and benefits administration without hiring a full-time HR manager.
To see a full breakdown of Paycor from an expert’s point of view, check out our Paycor review.
Paycor Pricing
Paycor has multiple plans depending on the company size. For small businesses (1-39 employees), it offers Basic, Essential, and Complete. Depending on how many employees you have and the features you need, you can request a quote to get customized pricing details for your company.
- Basic: Starts at $99 per month
- Essential: Starts at $149 per month
- Complete: Starts at $199 per month
Paycor Features
- Time and attendance: Paycor enables you to collect and monitor employee hours to decide on labor costs and time management through automated and accurate processes. Its system is much more robust than Gusto’s simple time tracking tool. Employees can clock in and out, and you can use it to schedule shifts.
- All-in-one HR platform: Paycor offers an all-in-one platform that combines its payroll software with onboarding, time tracking, scheduling, performance management, and recruiting tools. You won’t get these robust features with traditional small business software like Gusto, OnPay, or Patriot.
- Organized setup and implementation process: Paycor provides hands-on support for implementation by introducing you to your Paycor team, establishing timelines, sharing training resources, and developing your customized plan.
- Customizable payroll platform: Paycor allows you to choose the features that fit your unique needs, like pay-on-demand features, wage garnishment services, and 401(k) integrations, through your Paycor dashboard. It also has customizable pay stubs and pay grids.
- Accurate payroll tax filing: Paycor handles your quarterly tax payments and filing, including year-end reports. It also automatically pays and files your taxes at the federal and state levels on time.
- Precise recordkeeping: Paycor’s system accurately captures all payroll information that you can access from anywhere at any time.
- Customizable reports: When it comes to reports, Paycor has a big selection of canned reports and you can also create your own that you can easily download
Conclusion
Payroll software for small business reviews can help you find the best one for your needs.