Payroll: Buying Advice, Tips, and News

Payroll software offers thorough automation, error-checking, and setup tools, but that doesn't mean you aren't responsible when things go wrong. Follow my advice to keep your payroll runs accurate and compliant.

The IRS doesn't forgive payroll mistakes, but the right software can help you steer clear of them entirely.

Stop sweating over paydays. I'm here to show you how to set up payroll software quickly, accurately, and without headaches in seven simple steps.

Paying employees accurately and promptly is one of the most critical—and challenging—parts of running a small business. We test and rate the top payroll services to help you choose the right one for your needs.

The intuitive Homebase platform offers many of the payroll, scheduling, and time tracking tools that small, service-based businesses need, though it's pricey and could provide more depth in some areas.

QuickBooks Payroll has excellent, easy-to-use tools for managing employees and payroll tasks, though it works best in conjunction with QuickBooks Online.

The cost-effective Patriot Software Payroll offers capable, understandable payroll processing and top-notch support for new and experienced managers.

Square Payroll works well with the other labor management apps in the company's ecosystem and handles payroll runs capably, but it doesn't offer many deep features or customization options.

ADP RUN is a premium and scalable payroll service that puts extremely detailed employee records and flexible reports into a top-notch interface on desktop and mobile.

Gusto’s state-of-the-art user experience and intuitive payroll and HR tools make it a strong choice for small businesses that are willing to pay a premium for excellence.

OnPay is a superb payroll solution for businesses of all sizes, thanks to its affordable pricing, excellent support resources, responsive performance, and user-friendly interface.

Workful is good at managing the payroll of employees who work on a time clock and also supports salaried workers, but it lacks the flexibility and access to supporting data some competitors offer.

Online payroll service Rippling offers comprehensive employee management features and customizability at custom prices. The depth of its tools and flexibility may overwhelm smaller businesses, but running payroll for employees and contractors on the site is a simple and clear process.

SurePayroll handles setup, data management, and payroll processing smoothly. It's an excellent choice for many small businesses and offers versions suitable for multiple vertical industries.

Roll by ADP is an unusual chat-based mobile app offering basic tools for managing payroll. It's easy to use, works well, and could appeal to very small businesses with modest payroll needs.

Hourly capably supports both hourly and salary-based payroll processing, though its target audience is clearly contractors. The user experience and feature set can serve more-generic businesses as well. It's currently only for California business, however.

Zenefits CEO Jay Fulcher explains how small businesses can scale in an age of AI and automation.

Payroll by Wave, available as a standalone payroll website or an integrated element of the Wave accounting suite, has been slow to mature and has drawbacks that make it hard to recommend.

Covering most of the benefits administration needs of startups and SMBs, Zenefits places a range of HR solutions together in an easy to manage platform. A payroll add-on can serve companies with advanced HR needs.