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Leveraging online payroll software such as GoCo to help with HR processes is essential in a data-filled
world. It’s hard to keep track of a payroll system if you do it manually. That’s why we’ve collected
some of the best payroll software you can use to streamline your efforts.
Each software’s features, pricing, and feasibility are summarized in a few words. You can check and
compare all the payroll software and figure out which one works best with your small business.
It’s best to choose one that makes your business processes efficient and convenient. Which means it’s
best to opt for a platform that provides payroll processing, HR functions, and tax support, among other
things. And we’ve put our love into making GoCo the consumer’s first choice with these aspects in mind.
Check out our extensive list below:
Website: Visit Goco
G2 Rating: 4.7 (202)
GoCo is all-in-one HR, benefits, and payroll, built for flexibility and ease-of-use.
With
GoCo,
you can automate your HR and payroll workflow, with streamlined onboarding, PTO,
Time
Tracking,
and benefits that seamlessly sync to payroll. GoCo is also a secure, compliant hub
for
sending,
digitally signing, and organizing your sensitive HR documents and data.
Lots of HR and payroll solutions make you conform to their way of doing things —
they
make
you
follow their rigid workflows, use their payroll software, and work with their
benefits
brokers.
GoCo is unique because it’s built to flexibly support your existing processes,
policies,
and
providers. GoCo brings your workflows and policies to life digitally, and you can
bring
your
own
payroll software and benefits broker, or use GoCo’s preferred providers.
If you choose GoCo’s Embedded Payroll (by Execupay), you can run payroll inside the
HRIS,
seamlessly capture paystubs and automatically manage reconciliations. If you choose
to
bring
your own payroll, GoCo offers seamless support and is happy to sync with it. GoCo’s
sophisticated payroll features include effortless new hire payroll set-up, employee
changes,
benefit deductions, work hour & PTO tracking, and automated final paycheck
calculations!
If you’re ready to level-up your HR, payroll and benefits, you can try it free or
schedule a
demo to see it in action.
Visit
GoCo
Website: Visit Patriot Software
G2 Rating: 4.8 (437)
Patriot Software is a relatively inexpensive alternative to run payroll systems.
However,
the
lower price means you have to do a bit of manual work.
The starting price is only $10 per month, with $4 per employee per month. While it
features
payroll services, you won’t have HR functions like electronic signatures,
onboarding,
and
online
document storage.
The company does provide complete payroll setup services. Based on your pay stubs,
you
can
opt
for direct deposits and/or print checks.
Patriot Payroll offers unlimited payrolls and flexible payment schedules. You also
get
an
employee self-service option so your employees can interact directly.
However, there is no integration support, meaning you may have to duplicate a lot of
data.
Furthermore, there is no benefits support so you can’t take care of things like
health
insurance
with the platform.
Having said that, if you opt for their best package, Patriot Payroll will complete
your
tax
forms and even file your year-end taxes.
Visit Patriot
Software
Website: Visit Intuit QuickBooks
G2 Rating: 4.5 (69)
Intuit QuickBooks Payroll can be considered an add-on to QuickBooks accounting
software.
Similar
in pricing to companies like Xero and Gusto, QuickBooks payroll services are best
for
QuickBooks
accounting system users.
QuickBooks Payroll provides many unique features like accruing PTO, multiple pay
schedules,
and
splitting direct deposits among bank accounts.
The price ranges between $55 to $80 depending on which package you choose, with an
additional $4
per employee. There are also extra charges if you want to add accounting features or
if
you
want
them to file 1099s.
QuickBooks online payroll lets you sync bank accounts and mobile apps while creating
and
managing estimates. You can fully automate paying employees and filing payroll
taxes.
With multiple tutorials and easy navigation, the platform is easy to understand and
use.
The
company is also available throughout the week on their phone number if you need
help.
You can get real-time information on local taxes, state taxes, federal taxes, and
payroll
taxes,
making it easier for small business owners to get the information they need.
If you’re already using QuickBooks accounting software, you should try out their
payroll
software, as well.
Visit Intuit
QuickBooks
Website: Visit Gusto
G2 Rating: 4.2 (631)
Gusto is widely known as the one payroll software that has it all for small business
owners.
It
has full HR support, payroll services, and tax support.
Its interface is designed to be simple and convenient for any business owner.
Especially
for
people wanting to handle these processes online.
The base price for Gusto’s services is $39 per month, with an additional $6 per
employee.
The
company files your payroll taxes and new hire reports for you.
They also handle your basic payroll and tax compliance activities. Alongside payroll
runs,
the
company also provides employee onboarding for new hires.
Gusto also provides HR and tax support services which help avoid time-consuming
redundant
tasks.
The platform has an autopilot feature, in which once you enter your payroll data, it
can
automatically run payroll and tax filing processes.
The software allows employee self-service, leave management, and benefits
administration.
You
can also generate several reports like payroll journals and employee listings.
Gusto is the one-stop solution for all things HR and anyone going for a centralized
HR
system
should try it out.
Visit
Gusto
Website: Visit ADP
G2 Rating: 4.6 (904)
RUN by ADP is known for providing a good mix of custom payroll and reporting
services.
If
you’ve
used ADP’s services before, using RUN would be a smooth transition.
The typical cost is between $20 and $200, depending on what tier you choose and the
number
of
employees in your company.
ADP also offers human resources and tax support services, but these come with custom
pricing.
The company provides payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposits, a general
ledger
interface, reporting, and garnishments.
Customers can also get insurance through ADP Insurance Agency (ADPIA). Additional
features
include leave management and full software integration with third-party services.
ADP’s online payroll software is for small businesses with decent funding, a high
growth
rate,
and a limited team. If you have the funds and the growth, you can try out ADP’s RUN.
It
will
save you a lot of time because you can avoid the learning period you’d have to go
through,
with
other payroll providers.
Visit
ADP
Website: Visit Paychex
G2 Rating: 4.2 (1384)
Paychex is mainly for small businesses that are growing quickly into medium-sized
enterprises.
It has a PEO service that lets clients outsource all HR-related processes.
Paychex is among the expensive payroll options out there. With a starting setup fee
of
$200,
the
monthly price ranges between $77 to $123 per pay period for 10 employees. The more
the
employees, the more the charges. They also charge extra for year-end tax forms and
documents.
The primary advantage of Paychex is that you can access the HR platform on your
mobile.
With
customized reports and garnishments, you get all your payroll information in your
hands
at
any
time you want.
The company helps with the HR software setup and provides additional features like
labor
posters, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.
They also provide employee self-service, leave management, benefits administration,
and
over
100
different reports.
Paychex is a great option for companies that prefer old-styled interfaces where all
the
information is crammed into one place.
Visit
Paychex
Website: Visit OnPay
G2 Rating: 4.8 (215)
The US-only payroll solution provides payroll, benefits, and HR platform for all 50
states.
Although it has a relatively lengthy setup, the starting price of only $36 plus $4
per
employee
makes up for it.
The base tier lets you track deadlines and assign tasks to your entire payroll
staff.
OnPay
also
lets you sync payroll information with most time-tracking and accounting software.
If
you
have
your own payroll system, you can sync and transfer it when you use OnPay.
Moreover, any other in-house processes, such as attendance tracking, can also be
synced.
The company also offers benefits administration like 401(k) contributions and health
insurance
deductions.
You can pay through direct deposit or make debit card payments.
OnPay is designed to provide all the features you need for effective small business
payroll
management, so you can pay your employees regularly.
Visit
OnPay
Website: Visit Payroll4Free
G2 Rating: 4.5 (1)
If you’re looking for a unique small business payroll provider, Payroll4Free is a
great
option.
It’s a permanently free and full-featured payroll software.
With a fully optimized employee portal, all the basic services are free. The catch
is
though;
you need to have less than 25 employees.
Also, since it’s a free platform, the basic services may not address of your payroll
needs.
However, if you want add-on services like direct deposit services and time-off
tracking,
you
will need to pay $12.50 per month. That’s still much cheaper than paid payroll
software.
You
can
avoid the fee if you use your own bank to transfer those direct deposit funds.
Along with payroll services, you also get vacation time tracking, and tax
calculations
and
forms.
Payroll4Free is a great option for start-ups with limited funds or if your small
business is
looking to reduce overhead costs.
Visit
Payroll4Free
Website: Visit CheckMark
G2 Rating: 4.5 (4)
If you’re looking for payroll software with full support on both Windows and Mac,
CheckMark
is
an ideal choice.
It’s one of the few payroll providers to offer a perpetual license of their
software.
This
means
that you only have to pay a one-time cost of $429. That may seem high, but that’s
actually
the
minimum you pay annually, with other payroll software.
You receive full support and all the features in that package. However, it can be
difficult
to
make changes to things like checks, once you’ve saved the information.
In addition, it’s designed such that it only works for small businesses. So, if you
see
a
sudden
growth in your company, you’ll probably have to change your payroll provider.
The company rolls out automatic updates regularly to make enhancements, fix bugs,
and
update
tax
values among other things.
They also provide a free trial so you can test the software before moving towards
the
paid
version. That gives you a chance to check out whether CheckMark works with your
company
or
not.
Visit CheckMark
Website: Visit Denali
G2 Rating:
A mid-market solution from Cougar Mountain Software, Denali Payroll is designed for
nonprofits
and small businesses. That is why it can handle organizations with anywhere from
1-1000
employees.
The company lets you pay your employees through direct deposit and/or print checks.
It
also
supports multiple compensation types. This means it can adjust the information,
whether
you
pay
your employees, hourly, per contract, per-diem, a salary, etc.
Denali Payroll has a starting price of $1,999, but you receive the perpetual
license,
which
lets
you use the software indefinitely. It includes tax tables for all of the 50 states,
and
can
easily handle multiple companies.
However, there is no client portal and the design is favored towards people who use
their
native
accounting program.
The software provides all of the basic and advanced payroll-related features. If you
are
able to
make one lump sum payment, you should think about trying CheckMark.
Visit
Denali
Website: Visit Paymate
G2 Rating: 4.5 (3)
Fully-integrated HR and payroll services are rare, and that’s where Paymate Clarity
comes
in.
The software is built around payroll functionality but the additional features
include
the
management of several HR tasks and full tax support.
The features include things like full benefits administration management, time &
attendance
tracking, vacation days tracking, sick days tracking, and disciplinary tracking,
among
other
things.
Completely cloud-hosted, Paymate Clarity is built for both Windows and Mac and
receives
constant
updates and support. However, it is considered one of the most Mac-friendly payroll
software.
With advanced robust reporting and its HCM features, Paymate Clarity proves to be an
all-rounded
option for SMEs with good budgets.
Visit Paymate
Website: Visit Sage 50cloud
G2 Rating: 3.8 (124)
If you want a service that provides inventory, accounting, and payroll management in
one
place,
Sage50 cloud has got it.
The company provides full automation of payroll generation and management while
adhering
to
any
compliances related to payroll, pension, or tax laws.
Sage 50cloud is based on the idea of self-service, which is why a lot of the
features
are
completely self-service. Your employees can be invited to sign up with Sage, which
lets
them
review their pay stubs and submit any appropriate timesheet information.
It provides full integration support with services like Skype, QCommission,
Realtrac,
etc.
With applications on both Android and iOS devices, the cost ranges between $44.97 to
$175.87
per
month depending on which plan you choose.
You can effectively make and then track mobile and online payments. Multi-currency
support
ensures zero complications.
You also get a pensions module and pay slip templates. You can keep records of
Class1A
company
cars. Lastly, you can pay directly through the software.
Visit Sage
50cloud
Website: Visit Paycor
G2 Rating: 4.1 (572)
Paycor is an all-in-one human capital management platform with a culmination of
payroll
solutions and HR management capabilities.
Considered one of the best HRIS systems in the market currently, Paycor is designed
to
handle
everything, from recruiting, onboarding, and tax compliance, to payroll and
reporting.
The platform is extremely user-friendly and responsive, and you have full
customizability to
tweak the features according to your organizational needs.
With extremely accurate and powerful reporting tools and features, you can track
employee
time,
workers’ compensations, tax compliance, HR tasks, and payrolls, in real-time.
Paycor lets you fully integrate it with your in-house business systems such as
Ameritas,
WageWorks, etc. The platform has optimized mobile apps on both Android and iOS
stores.
There is no price update on the site. This is because Paycor gives you a private
quote
after
asking a series of questions to better understand your business and human capital
management
needs.
Along with full integration with third-party applications, Paycor also has an
onboarding
module.
The payroll and tax compliance services ensure you’re always doing business the
right
way.
If you’re looking to invest long-term in your small business, investing in Paycor is
a
smart
move.
Visit Paycor
Website: Visit Toast
G2 Rating: 4.2 (201)
If you own a restaurant, Toast Payroll should be your payroll software solution of
choice.
Toast
Payroll is designed for restaurants so that they can better their payroll processes
and
manage
and streamline their labor.
The company also has measures in place to make sure everyone ensures compliance with
government
regulations.
You can effectively maintain timesheets without having to do any manual
calculations.
The company also has several calculation tools for things like overtime
consideration,
taxes,
and different pay rates.
This way, you can rest easy knowing all the payments you receive and send are
accurate.
In
addition, the company helps you with things like state and federal labor regulation
compliance.
With automatic syncing between POS and Payroll, you have several federal and state
compliance
tools at your disposal. There are multiple pay rates, benefits administration,
integrated
reporting, and dashboards.
Visit Toast
Website: Visit Xero
G2 Rating: 4.3 (477)
Being a fully-fledged payroll service and a huge leading financial collaborator,
it’s
hard
to
determine where Xero stands right now.
The company actively works to reduce financial damage and fix accounting gaps. After
a
long
time
of continuous efforts, the software is finally user-friendly enough to allow people
without
accounting knowledge to use it.
It simplifies things like double bookkeeping. Little features such as this make Xero
very
useful, whereas it also constantly improves its usability.
The price for Xero’s payroll services ranges between $20 to $30.
You get major bank connections and reconciliation support. You get an invoicing
module
and
purchase tracking. There are multi-currency tracking and free unlimited email
support
inventory.
Xero would work for you if you were looking for a long-term solution to payroll and
other HR
tasks.
Visit
Xero
As a small business, the room for error is very small. There’s no leeway to experiment and find
what
works best, which is why small business payroll services are very targeted.
While there are several more payroll providers in the industry, the ones on this list come out
on
top. This is mainly because they provide payroll processing that is designed to help specific
small
businesses.
Additionally, small businesses thrive on accessibility, so it’s best to have your business
processes
centralized. That’s why a lot of small business owners try to opt for software that provides the
most payroll features and services.
Software that can effectively provide human capital management (HCM), a payroll option, an
accounting system, and benefits administration are successful. If one software can’t provide it
all,
they tend to be open to third-party integration.
Meanwhile, software that refuses third-party integration while not providing a lot of services,
tends to fall behind.
Plus, additional features like wage garnishments, time & attendance tracking, health insurance
deployment, and other human resources processes help, as well. They all add up to provide more
value
and convenience.
To help you decide which payroll software to go with, keep these things in mind:
The number of employees you currently have.
All the services you will need (Payroll, HR, benefits administration, tax support, etc.)
Your maximum budget.
The timeframe in which you want the software to be set up and working.
Value-added services you want for more convenience.
Level of third-party integration you need.
These invaluable pointers will help you choose the best payroll software for your small business. That is why GoCo provides a multi-service user-friendly HR platform, with unique onboarding features like orientation workflow management, task management, and e-verification/I-9 forms. Features in benefits administration include COBRA administration, FSA administration, and HIPAA compliance checks. Finally, the HR features include benefits management, compensation management, payroll syncing and an embedded payroll experience, and time & attendance management, making GoCo an all-purpose online business process tool.