
ADP Workforce Now
Paychex Flex is a human capital management solution that's designed using web-based modular technology and a dedicated service center to help meet the HR needs of employers of any size and industry. With a single login, users can ...Read more
The RUN Powered by ADP® (RUN) solution is designed to make your small business payroll quick and easy. With a streamlined process and powerful technology, you'll complete payroll in no time. Choose from basic payroll to a full sui...Read more
Dayforce, provided by Ceridian, is a solution for payroll, benefits, workforce management, human resources, talent management, document management, and analytics. As a single application, Dayforce provides organizations with acces...Read more
WorkforceHub is a cloud-based time, attendance, and leave management system for small to mid-size businesses. This software can capture time data from web-based clocks or physical clocks for employees onsite, mobile, and working a...Read more
Automatic Payroll Systems (APS) has a mission: to make payroll and HR easier. They have been providing payroll and tax compliance services to companies since 1996. In 2004, APS released its cloud-based solution for workforce manag...Read more
ADP Workforce Solution is suited for businesses with more than 50 employees looking to streamline HR processes. ADP Workforce Now includes capabilities such as payroll processing and tax filing, performance management, compensatio...Read more
Patriot Payroll does not have an app, but the website is optimized for mobile use. Patriot Payroll from Patriot Software is an integrated human resource (HR) and payroll management solution that helps to streamline the different...Read more
Deluxe's online payroll solution provides your business with comprehensive, full-service payroll and HR solutions with dedicated customer service. ...Read more
Whether you're a solo CPA or one of many at a large accounting firm, offering employee payroll services to clients can represent a significant boost to your bottom line.
It can also present significant challenges.
Not only do you need to ensure that all of your clients' employees are paid accurately and on time, but there's also the matter of making sure the government gets their correct cut too—something that's often easier said than done. The IRS estimates 40 percent of small to midsize businesses (SMBs) end up paying a payroll penalty each year due to an incorrect filing.
With so much on the line, having the right payroll software is crucial. But which system is best suited to meet your specific needs as an accountant?
This Buyer's Guide aims to provide some guidance. Below, you'll find information about payroll software functionality, pricing and more to help in your software search.
Click a link below to jump to that section:
What Is Payroll Software for Accountants?
Common Functionality Found in Payroll Software for Accountants
Benefits of Payroll Software for Accountants
How Much Does Payroll Software Cost?
Final Considerations
Payroll software for accountants allows CPAs to manage worker wage information, calculate amounts for employee compensation and withheld taxes, do payroll runs, generate reports and more. Many popular payroll software systems cater to both internal accountants and outsourced accounting firms.
An example payroll run in QuickBooks Full Service Payroll
Payroll software offers accountants a secure digital environment to automate processes, set reminders and manage a vast amount of payroll data over time.
Browsing through payroll vendor websites can quickly become overwhelming if you're not sure what you're looking for. To help, here are some common functions you can expect to find in most systems:
Employee management | Track individual employee pay rates (hourly or salaried), withholding information for benefits and paid time off (PTO). |
Time tracking | Input hours worked, or pull them from an integrated time and attendance system, to calculate correct wages. |
Run payroll | Set a payment period (biweekly, monthly etc.) and calculate the total payroll cost for that period. |
Payroll allocation | Deposit owed payroll amounts to workers in their preferred form (direct deposit, check printing or pay card). |
Tax management | Calculate correct amounts for local, state and federal payroll taxes and file automatically. |
Accounting integration | Automatically log payroll amounts in the company ledger through integrated accounting software. |
Reporting | Generate standardized reports detailing organizational payroll costs. |
There can be small differences in features within these functions between products. For example, some products offer multistate or even multicountry payroll, while others don't. Another example is some payroll platforms can generate W-2s and 1099s for workers come tax time.
One increasingly popular feature is an employee self-service portal where workers can log in to do things such as update their bank accounts or download past pay stubs themselves. This article highlights a few benefits of implementing self-service features.
In a 2015 report, Software Advice learned that one in every five payroll software buyers still relies on manual methods such as spreadsheets or pen and paper to handle their payroll needs. If you fall into this group, it's time for an upgrade.
Here are some benefits that dedicated payroll software can bring over manual methods:
How much you pay for a payroll software system is going to largely depend on two factors: the breadth of functionality in your system of choice and the number of employees you're doing payroll for. The more advanced the system is and the more employees you need to manage, the greater the cost.
Because most systems are cloud-based (meaning the software is hosted by the vendor on their own servers for you to access via a web browser), payroll software is almost always sold through subscription licensing. In other words, you should expect to pay a flat fee every month, every year or every pay period to use the software.
Software license prices can range from as little as $10/month for one employee all the way up to $3,500/month for 250 employees or more.
Download our payroll software pricing guide to learn specific cost information for popular systems such as Gusto, Xero and QuickBooks.
We've covered the basics, but there are still a number of factors to consider when deciding which payroll system is right for you or your firm. Here are some last things to keep in mind during your search: