Payroll Software >> Online Services
Online Payroll Services
by Brandon Cornett, Editor
These days, a lot of companies are switching to online payroll services as a way to simplify their payroll programs and save time. But how do these online services work? Let's take a closer look at the benefits these payroll services offer to the end user.
Consider the following scenario. ABC Corporation has a two-person HR staff that handles their payroll management. These folks use payroll software to help them in their duties, as do many in their field. But software becomes outdated on a regular basis. So the payroll team either has to research and procure new software, or they have to install (and learn) updated versions of the payroll program they are currently using.
If this scenario sounds familiar to you, then you might want to consider online payroll services as a way to streamline your operation.
How the Online Programs Work
Obviously, different online payroll programs work in different ways. After all, they are proprietary software programs built by individual companies. So they all have their own unique traits. With that being said, all online payroll services perform the same basic function. They allow you to handle all (or most) of your payroll tasks via the Web. Paying employees, managing payroll taxes, direct deposits, W2 forms — all of the usual tasks associated with a payroll program.
With most of these online services you will have an account set up for your company, and you (or your accounting person) will be able to log in through the payroll services website in order to perform tasks. All of the software is hosted by the online service, so you don't have to install anything on your computers. The learning curve is also shortened quite a bit.
Experimenting With Payroll Services
Here's the good news. Most of the online payroll programs will allow you to take a free trial of their service. In fact, I'll tell you right now to avoid any service that does not offer a free trial. In this day and age, software companies should allow some kind of free trial or demo. It's an industry norm. The same goes for online payroll services too. So you should always try before you buy.
Editor's Choice - Recommended Service
Speaking of free trials, this is a perfect time to introduce our editor's choice for online payroll programs. Not only is Pay Cycle a solid program with plenty of great features, but they also offer a free trial of their online service. Their product is ideal for small businesses with anywhere from 1 - 25 employees (the kind of business that usually pursues the online payroll option in the first place).
I hope this brief tutorial has helped you understand the basics off online payroll services and how they work. Take some free trials of these programs. Experiment with different products. Eventually, you'll find the one that's perfect for your business. Good luck!