Best value payroll software

The Core package is best for small companies looking to keep it simple. The Complete package offers additional tools such as time-tracking and the ability to manage PTO requests. The Concierge package has added HR support with all of the payroll features.

For mid-sized companies without an HR department or with a small one, this is a great option because there will be HR professionals at Gusto to rely on when necessary. Zenefits, which started out as an HR platform, syncs its payroll with its existing HR platform. This means benefits, paid time-off, hour tracking, and salary changes are all in one place. The catch with Zenefits is you do first need to purchase the HR software, and payroll is an add-on feature.

While the payroll feature is new, it's becoming an industry favorite. It also automatically calculates payroll taxes, garnishments support, direct deposit, mobile payments, and the ability to pay at multiple pay structures.

Looking for something beyond a startup for payroll? ADP has been running payroll for over 70 years and is a leader in the industry. RUN powered by ADP provides an easy to use software that enables users to set up new employees quickly, whether they are full-time or contractors. Users can run payroll through their phone or online. ADP offers packages for companies with one to 1, or more employees with multiple plans.

ADP also charges per pay period instead of the per month model, so if there's a need for extra payroll, you'll probably pay more. The platform allows employees to have their own logins to look at pay stubs and taxes. ADP promises business owners safety by keeping them up to date about changing HR regulations and payroll rules. A standout feature: ADP provides businesses with a lot of human interaction, such as an account manager that frequently calls to check-in.

Founded in , Paychex offers every client a Learning Management System, which offers employees online courses to learn new skills and increase employee retention within your organization.

The platform allows seamless k integration, calculates federal, state and local taxes for you, and has a free mobile app. The Paychex Flex Select and Paychex Flex Enterprise packages offer additional reporting on workers' compensation and analytics reports, as well as background checks for new employees.

For larger companies or companies that want the payroll experience of a large company, Paychex is a great pick. In addition to paycheck records, Intuit also provides a customer self-service option with ViewMyPaycheck, but its functionality is limited when it comes to k balances and benefits. Employees must also submit change requests to you directly for processing. Time off and sick leaves have to be managed manually — you enter time-off requests from employees each pay cycle before processing.

Quickbooks software is fairly easy and intuitive, but navigating state and federal tax laws can be a pain for inexperienced business owners. There are helpful but costly options here, too. Poster compliance service, for example, sends you copies of all the necessary federal and state labor posters each year. Intuit payroll service includes phone and email support.

Working hours are 6 a. Pacific time, Monday to Friday, and 6 a. This makes it one of the best payroll companies for people who need help outside standard working hours.

They also have a huge support platform on their website. However, customer reviews of service quality are mixed, and many find the support platform a bit complicated to navigate. Overall, Quickbooks is a serious platform from a well-established company that offers a wealth of options and high-quality products.

The main problem is the price — put simply, there are cheaper options out there that get the same job done for small and medium-size businesses. Those high initial costs are less of a concern for enterprises with hundreds or even thousands of employees, and it is here that Quickbooks catches up with its rivals in affordability.

Square Inc. It was formed in and made its first app the following year. While initially focused on mobile payments, these days the company has expanded into financial services. Square is one of the more affordable solutions on our list. You also have the option of using your own health insurance and retirement plan companies.

Unlike other software solutions on our list, which offer separate tabs for various fields, Square payroll displays everything on one huge scrollable page — which can be a bit cumbersome to navigate. You can easily connect with Quickbooks Online. Employees and contractors who clock in and out through the software will automatically get synced with your software. This makes paying contractors on an hourly basis a breeze.

The payroll application for mobile devices is a little different from the desktop solution. You can still access all of the features of the desktop application and run payroll through your mobile app without problems. Depending on how you run your business, this can be a huge advantage compared to competitors like Zenefits payroll which offers a mobile app to employees only.

It can calculate gross wages, benefits and insurance, Social Security, and state and federal taxes. You can type bonuses, commissions, and so on. It pays these taxes to your state employer tax agency and federal government when they are due, and you can see a detailed breakdown of these payments in the history panel. The Square support team is available via a toll-free phone number Monday through Friday, 6 a.

Pacific time. Like other payroll providers, Square offers a comprehensive online self-help library as well as email support. Top marks in this category for Square. Overall, we were very pleased with what Square offers. Best used as a tool to manage payroll for small business organizations, Square gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

The standout features are definitely the low price, the tax filing system, and the comprehensive customer support platform. Easy integration with useful software such as Quickbooks is a welcome addition. On the other hand, the payroll calculation system could offer more options and the online payroll user interface could be cleaner and easier to navigate.

One of the main reasons RemoteTeam might be considered the best payroll for small business is its price. The interface is easy to learn and use, although it does lack some features you might find with the competition. You can set everything up and get started within minutes.

Here are our impressions, section by section. The package includes all of the most important features, like automated payments, employee management, and tax compliance. You can create an account and use the software free of charge with a limit of three people.

The white background and highlighted elements make it easy to navigate through all the tabs and different options. You switch between different sections using the sidebar on the left, while the live chat button stays in the bottom-right corner should you need some assistance. RemoteTeam is a web browser-based software, but thanks to its responsive design, it works great on all devices. The elements are compact and allow for easy payroll software navigation.

In fact, we might even say that the platform looks slightly better on mobile phones than it does on desktop computers. The first step towards setting up your web payroll is choosing the time periods and starting dates. The payroll processing software allows you to establish time-off policies and connect the compensation to the time tracker. You can also keep track of the inventory in use and manage bank accounts with their documentation. RemoteTeam can help you facilitate the tax compliance process through automation.

The software guides you through it and allows you to save various templates for future use. If you want, you can also add your own PDF files that will be added to the Documents tab. Having this option included in the best payroll system eliminates the need for manual tax form collections from all sides. You can contact the customer support by using the email address provided on the website or via the live chat widget.

Overall, RemoteTeam is the best payroll company for small business ventures, with a user-friendly interface, intuitive design, and a good number of features.

You can use it to see whether the software fits your business and make an informed decision. Rippling is a San Francisco-based company that provides cloud-based HR and IT employee-management solutions — including payroll and benefits — as well as computer and software management and security tools. It offers an employee directory, onboarding automation, team task management, time-off tracking, enterprise-grade reporting, core HR integrations, electronic documents, and support for custom fields and permissions.

What is a payroll program without payroll options? Benefits are a separate package that includes everything from k to health insurance. A navigation tool can be found in the left vertical pane. From here you can access various panels labeled for onboarding and offboarding employees, as well as a company records directory.

There are also tabs for tasks, reports, documents, and settings. All your installed apps, including the payroll and benefit add-ons, can be found at the bottom of the page. When it comes to other HR payroll system providers, these are usually bundled together. Whether this is a pro or a con is up to you.

We found it a plus, as everything looks cleaner and is more streamlined. The software also seamlessly integrates with all of your favorite apps and accounting software from QuickBooks and Xero to NetSuite and TSheets. This is a major plus for Rippling. In addition to the desktop platform, Rippling offers a companion payroll app for both iOS and Android.

These are very well designed and intuitive but they are not as full-featured as the online platform. After logging into the app, you can access a scrollable employee list, from which you can message, email, or call them.

You can also access all of the integrated apps from here, but you cannot view benefits information as you can with Zenefits. This can be helpful for companies with a large staff. It also means that Rippling might not be the best payroll software around for small business owners, as they end up spending extra time setting everything up for a few contractors or hourly employees.

It handles all 50 US states and even international payments, doing filing for I-9s, W-2s, W-4s, and s automatically. It also supports unlimited pay runs and provides an error-free guarantee. The web payroll site provides extensive information on taxes and how they work in each of the 50 US states. When it comes to doing business with online payroll companies, customer service is often cited as an important factor when deciding which payroll websites to trust Rippling is a bit of an oddball here — there is no live chat or phone support, which are standard with most competitors.

On the other hand, email support is pretty much around the clock, and it tends to be very quick and detailed. Rippling is one of our favorite picks on this list. The company offers world-class tax and payroll management, has a first-class HR platform, and offers unmatched integration with the most popular software solutions on the market.

The final pick on our list is a company that has recently revised its payroll system. Founded in in Glenview, Illinois, SurePayroll has gone through a couple of iterations. It joined Paycheck Inc. In , it offers an affordable payroll service with automated tax filing — a slightly more expensive alternative to Patriot Software for those who hate filing their own taxes.

Payroll systems for small businesses tend to focus on being affordable. SurePayroll certainly fits the bill here, being the cheapest option on our list with automatic tax filing functionality. The pricing scheme has also been subject to several changes. There is also a separate option for nanny payroll services and a one-month free trial option.

Navigating the site is fairly intuitive and clear, but the website takes a while to load. Clicking on a section name brings you a drop-down menu with all the relevant options for that section.

But what about mobile platforms? Employers can run payroll from the app and access payroll summary reports, as well as get reminders about employee birthdays, bank holidays, and more. QuickBooks Payroll. QuickBooks Online Payroll currently offers three plans: Core, Premium, and Elite, with all three plans including the following features: Unlimited payroll runs Direct deposit Automated tax calculations and filing Employee portal. Best for New Users 3.

Patriot Payroll. Of all the things a new business owner needs to do, running payroll may be one of the scariest. Here are some things that make Patriot Payroll stand out: Features: It offers free direct deposit, an employee portal, the ability to track paid time off PTO , along with good add-on options that streamline the payroll process.

Both are worth the cost. Support: Patriot Payroll offers toll-free phone support along with email and chat support during regular business hours. In addition, the Payroll Help Center includes short training videos, a searchable knowledge base, and a guide for getting started. Benefits: If you want payroll to be quick, painless, and accurate — and include necessities like direct deposit and an employee portal — then this may be the product for you. Visit Patriot Payroll.

Best Features 4. Here are a few things that set Gusto apart from the crowd: Features: It handles everything from new hire reporting to contract worker payments. New employees can onboard themselves in Gusto, and former employees can access pay stubs and W-2s online. Another great feature is AutoPilot, which will run payroll automatically.

Support: Gusto offers telephone, email, and chat support along with a searchable knowledge base where you can find answers to many of your questions. Benefits: Flexible payroll schedules, unlimited pay runs, an intuitive user interface, and complete payroll tax processing are just a few of the benefits offered. Visit SurePayroll. Best Value 6. Payroll Mate. Support: The software includes numerous tutorials and wizards and offers free technical support via telephone, email, or chat. Benefits: The pricing structure makes it affordable for even the tightest budgets, with one low payment and no monthly fees.

A variety of add-on modules are available to increase product functionality. I think we can all agree that ADP might know a thing or two about payroll. Here are just a few reasons your small business should take a second look at RUN Powered by ADP: Features: It offers four plans to choose from, with all plans offering direct deposit, mobile payroll processing, payroll delivery, and payroll tax processing, filing, and remittance.

Support: Support is available for both payroll administrators as well as employees, with separate options and resources available for both. Toll-free support is available as well as online help and a FAQ page. Benefits: This is a solid payroll application designed by industry leaders.

The application also includes numerous add-on options that can increase the functionality of the application tremendously, but be prepared to pay more for those options. Square Payroll. Source: Square Payroll In addition, you can set up your payroll to run automatically, which is a great option if you pay a lot of salaried employees.

Square Payroll also includes the following tools and resources: Customizable pay schedules New-hire reporting Multiple pay rates Garnishments W-2 and processing Direct deposit or manual check processing Employee access.

Visit Square Payroll. Paychex Flex. The application offers four plans to choose from. Out of these options, Paychex Flex Select is the most popular choice for small business owners.

Visit Paychex Flex. What The Blueprint looks for in a great payroll software Before you purchase a payroll application, it can be helpful to answer a few questions that can lead you in the right direction. Do I need online access, or will an on-premise application be okay? Am I comfortable filing my own taxes? Do I need to pay contractors? Do I need access to HR resources?

Here are a few things to consider before you select a payroll application for your business. Is it do-it-yourself or full-service payroll? Is it easy to use? When trying out a demo, here are a few things to ask yourself: Am I comfortable navigating through the application? Is there a way to do less data entry? The payroll entry screen in Sure Payroll requires little data entry. Is there a difference between payroll software and full-service payroll?

Payroll Software Reviews. Supplemental pay is a variable payment from bonuses to sales commissions made to employees. Here's how supplemental pay works and how to handle withholding tax.

Payroll reports help small businesses understand payroll costs and summarize payroll data. Here are the seven most common payroll report types that are used. Small business owners should familiarize themselves with standard payroll terms. Here is a list of the most common payroll terms you'll be confronted with.

A payroll audit ensures you're paying employees on time, with accuracy, and in compliance with the law. Learn how to perform a payroll audit for your business. A payroll system sets up repeatable tasks that need to be completed for each pay period. The Blueprint explores the benefits of an efficient payroll system. If you're looking to do payroll more efficiently, consider an organized payroll management system.

Here are the best payroll management tools for your business. For businesses with just a few employees, it might make sense to do payroll manually. We show you how to manually calculate payroll for your small business. How long should payroll records be kept? Still wondering which of our top payroll software options is right for you? For ease of use, affordability, and useful benefits for business owners with one or more employees, we recommend OnPay. And if you want affordable payroll that syncs with popular accounting software, we recommend QuickBooks Payroll.

Looking for great accounting software to complement your new small-business payroll application? Sources 1. In our opinion, Gusto offers the best small-business payroll features for your buck. Gusto also has more versatile employee benefits than most payroll providers, and its online payroll service is popular enough to sync with most accounting software options.

If you want thorough human resource management, you might want to try a provider like Paychex or ADP. Before you commit to a payroll plan, thoroughly assess your own needs and make sure they mesh with your preferred plan. Still not sure which payroll platform to pick? Get more in-depth guidance by reading our article on how to find payroll software that meets your needs. Yes, but free payroll options are pretty limited.

In our opinion, the best free payroll software is Payroll4Free , which lets you run payroll for up to 25 employees. There are also a handful of other trustworthy choices out there.

Paying your employees the right amount—and withholding the right amount in payroll taxes and other wage deductions—is a big, complicated issue. Paid payroll software companies are often more secure, effective, and trustworthy than free payroll management systems. Yes, you can use an Excel template for basic payroll calculations. However, we recommend using spreadsheet software in combination with a payroll calculator and only if you have 15 or fewer employees. You should also be super confident in your document organization skills.

If you can afford it, we recommend using cheap self-service plans from payroll providers like Wave , SurePayroll , or Patriot Software. All three options give you a solid organizational system, accurate tax calculations, and accounting software integration to make bank reconciliation super easy.

But most of the programs on our payroll software list should work just as well for accountants and other payroll professionals who work with small businesses as they do for small-business owners themselves.

Our advice? OnPay has a pretty thorough page for accountants, and so does QuickBooks Payroll. To create rankings including star ratings for our best payroll software list, we assessed payroll software programs in five key areas:.

We also weighed our own expert opinion when deciding which payroll features and HR software factors to prioritize. Please note that star ratings are reviewed frequently and are subject to change.

If you want to make a good living—and we're pretty sure you do—it isn't just the amount you make that matters. It's also where in the United States you make that money. Sure, California's median salary is higher than Wyoming's, but Californians have to work around 68 hours to afford one month's rent on a one-bedroom apartment.

Meanwhile, Wyomingans work 30 hours to afford rent, which means they have 38 more work hours than Californians to spend or save on something other than housing. In the midst of this pandemic, making sure your salary goes as far as possible matters more than ever. Now isn't exactly the greatest time to pull up stakes and move from one of the best states to get paid to one of the worst.

Curious to know where your state falls in the ranking? Check out our results below. We then used info on apartmentlist. The Aloha State is gorgeous, but island life comes at a steep price: in Hawaii, you have to work over 68 hours to make rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Compare that hourly rate to North Dakota, the best state to get paid , where you can afford a one-bedroom apartment after just 27 hours of work.

It's great to bring home a nice check at the end of the day, but especially these days, it's even better to have as much leftover cash as possible after paying rent. Before setting your sights on the highest-paying job in your field, take a look at where you're living: a lower salary in the right state might prove more valuable overall.

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Learn More. We reviewed dozens of top payroll software solutions to bring you the ten best. To rate each payroll software program, we assessed payroll and HR features, ease of use, price, plan scalability, and customer service reviews.

Best overall. Starting from. Expansive employee benefits. Free multi-state payroll. No fees for automatic tax-form filing. View Plans. Best for growth. Best value for price. Best HR add-ons. Contact for quote. Most user friendly. QuickBooks Payroll. No fees for automatic tax-form filing full-service plan only. By Kylie McQuarrie. Business Accounting Staff Writer. Published on January 06, Share Article. Updated: 1 month ago. View all updates. Best payroll software for small businesses.

Compare the best payroll software costs and features. Additional fee. What should you look for in payroll software? We recommend taking these four steps to start: First, look at price—not just the base price, but also the additional price per employee. Decide upfront how much you can and are willing to spend on payroll system software.

Second, examine features—do you need payroll features only, or do you prefer a combined HR and payroll software solution? Third, determine how much time and effort you want to and can spend on payroll.