Running payroll requires a lot of time and attention to detail. It can also cost your business money if you make mistakes that result in penalties from the IRS.
Payroll services for small businesses have teams specializing in keeping up with federal, state, and local compliance rules and laws. They can help you avoid costly errors damaging your company’s reputation.
Cost-Effectiveness
When choosing payroll services for small business, the decision comes down to more than just cost. Time is money, and efforts that can be streamlined, delegated, or automated will save you in the long run. Payroll services can ensure that your employees are paid accurately and on time and that you meet your tax compliance obligations.
In addition, some payroll service providers also offer additional human resources and benefit administration services, such as worker’s compensation, health insurance, retirement plan management, and employee self-service. These add-on services can save your business money and help you focus on growing your business.
Payroll service costs can vary, depending on the features offered and whether the provider offers a flat monthly fee or per-employee charge each month or pay period. You’ll want to review the specific features included with each plan, such as calculating employee wages and taxes, printing paper checks, direct deposit, and year-end tax filing services.
Using this service can save you money in the long run by ensuring your business complies with all federal, state, and local laws. One of the top reasons small businesses fail is poor tax compliance. A professional payroll service will help you avoid costly penalties by calculating employee withholdings, filing tax payments, and keeping up with changes in tax tables.
Time Savings
When you work with a payroll service provider, you eliminate the need to have your employees complete paperwork or handle tax filings. It saves you time and ensures your business is updated with all applicable rules and regulations. In addition, many payroll service providers are experts in handling complex issues such as employee deductions, employment poster compliance, and garnishment payment servicing.
Whether you’re a sole proprietor or manage a small team, the time it takes to perform payroll tasks may be sapping valuable resources that could be better spent on revenue-generating activities. Investing in a payroll service may seem like an additional expense to your business, but the time and money you’ll save from outsourcing this function can be worth it.
Consider a full-service payroll provider offering benefits such as workers’ compensation insurance coverage and assistance managing other human resource functions. It can help you avoid costly errors or oversights that might impact your bottom line.
Small businesses’ most optimal payroll services usually come with a monthly fee based on the number of employees requiring payment.
Tax Compliance
Many small businesses use payroll providers to manage tax filings and payments. It can be conducive if the company has fluctuating employees per pay period or pays in multiple states. A full-service payroll provider can help ensure that required information reports, forms, and garnishment payments are submitted accurately and on time.
It can save the company time and money that would be spent on hiring an accountant to do these tasks in-house. It also helps reduce the risk of costly penalties resulting from mistakes in processing payroll taxes.
A professional payroll service can ensure the correct amounts for taxes, including income, social security, and Medicare, are withheld. The service can also handle payroll deductions for benefits like health insurance and retirement plans. Additionally, it can file state and federal employment taxes on behalf of the business.
The service can also help with new hire reporting, ensuring that the correct information is provided to state agencies and the IRS. Using a payroll service with a deep understanding of tax laws and the ability to keep up with regulation changes is vital for staying compliant.
In addition to handling payroll tax payments and filings, a full-service provider can offer other services that improve the employee experience. These include online self-service portals, direct deposit, electronic payroll records, and pay stubs.
Reporting
Payroll compliance requires a keen eye for detail; even one misstep can have costly consequences. The good news is that payroll services can take the guesswork out of the equation. They have teams of experts that stay on top of changes in regulations, withholding rates, forms, and other requirements. They’ll also make sure your employees are paid accurately and on time.
In addition, some payroll services offer add-on services that can save you time and money. For example, some providers offer unemployment insurance, garnishment payment servicing, and PTO management. Others may provide background check support to increase the chances of making a good hire and protect against the costs associated with bad ones.
Another advantage is that payroll services can help you streamline your processes, improving ROI. Ultimately, time is a precious commodity for small business owners, and any tasks that can be streamlined, automated, or delegated will maximize the value of your efforts.
In a survey, 1 in 5 small businesses reported spending more than six hours each month handling payroll taxes internally. That’s time that could be better spent on revenue-generating activities. Outsourcing these functions to a third-party provider allows you to free up your valuable resources and focus on your company’s most important priorities. A quality payroll service will allow you to return to your business and serve your customers.