7 Tips for Choosing the Right Payroll Service
Taking on the task of running your own payroll can be time-consuming and tedious. Choosing to do it yourself can result in mistakes being made that will cost your company thousands of
dollars. Inputting all the data on your own can take up a lot of time that would be better spent focusing on other aspects of your business.
Figuring out how to choose a payroll service takes a lot of research to ensure that the company you choose is the best fit for you. These 7 tips are a great starting place for getting ideas on what you are looking for in a payroll service company, and if you can trust the company you are considering.
1. List Out What Services You Are Looking For
Before you start your search on what payroll service is going to be right for you, sit down and write out the list of services you would like from your provider. Many payroll companies offer services beyond just payroll. Many also offer human resources, time & attendance.
Once you have compiled a list of your wants and needs for your payroll services company, you can then begin to research what companies are best for you.
2. Make Sure Your Payroll Service Provider Understands Your Type of Business
You want a company that is able to handle the needs of the type of business that you run. When you are researching these companies, try to find out what types of companies the payroll
service is currently providing for. If your employees receive tips or you have union workers on your staff, you want a company that understands how to handle those types of users.
See if the company you are looking at specializes in your field or the type of business you have. For example, if you are a small business, look for a payroll company built for small businesses.
3. Check Their Online Reputation
The best way to find out about a company is through other people who have used their services. Looking at reviews from customers on Google, or knowing someone that has used the company
are both great ways to get to know the pros and cons of what their services will be like.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Choosing a payroll company is something you want to get right the first time, so don’t be afraid to ask questions about the services offered and how your payroll will be run. Some questions you may consider asking could include:
• What payroll taxes do you include in your service?
• How often will I be charged and how much will it be?
• Can I access your payroll services from anywhere?
• Can I customize the payroll system?
You want to tailor your questions to your needs to see exactly what you would be getting out of your payroll service. Come prepared with questions beforehand and don’t be afraid to ask more
so you can feel confident in your choice.
5. Look into What Customer Service is Like
If you run into any issues with your services or need to ask someone a question, you want a company with reliable and knowledgeable customer support. Make sure to see what the
available hours are for customer service and decide if those fit into when you would need them. It would also be good to check and ensure that their customer support is knowledgeable about
the services and can answer any question you might have.
6. Make Sure it is Easy to Use
Your payroll is something you want to be able to access easily, whether it be on your desktop or mobile device. Having an easy-to-use interface for both you and your employees makes the
whole process easier. Ask the payroll company to demo their payroll software as many offer a free demo. This will give you a chance to navigate the system and see how easy it is to use and
understand.
7. Time When You Are Going to Switch Services
Once you have decided on which payroll company you would like to use, you want to figure out the best time to implement this service. An ideal time to do this would be at the end of a quarter
or at the end of the year starting around October to not conflict with any end-of-year processing you may have to do.