Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for Small Businesses
In most industries, job recruiting is conducted entirely online. This makes it easier to screen applicants and move the top candidates through your interview process. However, online job applications also mean stiffer competition—the average job posting gets a couple hundred applicants, if not more.
As the resources available to small businesses are often limited, the teams behind these businesses often wear many hats to make the most of the available resources. This may lead to stunted productivity and sluggish business growth.
The metaverse can be described as an interconnection of virtual worlds that employs artificial intelligence (AR), virtual reality (VR), and other immersive technologies and provides users with a digital second life.
Marketing is one of the most important aspects of running a small business—you must get your company name and product or service information in front of potential customers, or else risk losing them to your competitors.
In this era of rapidly advancing technologies and continuously evolving cybersecurity risks, managed service providers (MSPs) and other IT providers are constantly facing the challenges of effectively protecting the sensitive data of their customers.
Best Partner Relationship Management (PRM) Software
If you are trying to manage relationships with many outside vendors through emails and phone calls, eventually an important file is going to go astray or something else critical is going to fall through the cracks. If you’re a small business looking to manage vendors, sales partners, and other third-party collaborations more efficiently, partner relationship management (PRM) software could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for Small Businesses
In most industries, job recruiting is conducted entirely online. This makes it easier to screen applicants and move the top candidates through your interview process. However, online job applications also mean stiffer competition—the average job posting gets a couple hundred applicants, if not more.
As the resources available to small businesses are often limited, the teams behind these businesses often wear many hats to make the most of the available resources. This may lead to stunted productivity and sluggish business growth.
The metaverse can be described as an interconnection of virtual worlds that employs artificial intelligence (AR), virtual reality (VR), and other immersive technologies and provides users with a digital second life.
Marketing is one of the most important aspects of running a small business—you must get your company name and product or service information in front of potential customers, or else risk losing them to your competitors.
In this era of rapidly advancing technologies and continuously evolving cybersecurity risks, managed service providers (MSPs) and other IT providers are constantly facing the challenges of effectively protecting the sensitive data of their customers.
Best Partner Relationship Management (PRM) Software
If you are trying to manage relationships with many outside vendors through emails and phone calls, eventually an important file is going to go astray or something else critical is going to fall through the cracks. If you’re a small business looking to manage vendors, sales partners, and other third-party collaborations more efficiently, partner relationship management (PRM) software could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Payroll has always been an important part of owning a business, but modern payroll software helps simplify this essential task. Instead of spending countless hours each week calculating each employee’s earnings and distributing paper checks, you can implement a solution that will cut down on manual tasks and ensure your employees are paid the correct amount on time.
There are many software products on the market that can help with these challenges. You may be wondering how to determine which one is best for you, so we’ve rounded up our top picks for small businesses to help narrow it down.
Not only is Gusto a full-service payroll tool, but it also offers robust HR capabilities. That’s why we included it in our top HR software comparison as well. Gusto makes running payroll a breeze without skimping on other HR functions like benefits administration, time tracking, and new hire onboarding. With all of this information in one place, you can be confident that you’re paying your employees correctly and on time while also addressing other HR needs.
Cons
Some users have noted that Gusto is somewhat limited in the scope of integrations with third-party applications. It’s a versatile tool, but it doesn’t cover every area of human resources. If you need a solution for learning management, performance management, or employee engagement, you may have a hard time integrating Gusto with the solution you choose. This may not be a deal breaker, but it’s definitely important to keep in mind.
Paychex rises above its competitors when it comes to its reporting capabilities. You can use the analytics and reports dashboard to run basic Quick Reports, then tailor them to your needs by adding custom fields for the data that’s important to you. Paychex also offers a wide range of HR features for Flex Select and Flex Enterprise customers. These include employee screening, learning management, and benefit administration.
Cons
User experience is one area where Paychex gets knocked by some users, especially with the most affordable edition. Paychex Go users don’t get access to the Paychex mobile app or third party integrations. This forces many customers to upgrade to the more expensive editions. Keep this in mind when evaluating the ultimate cost of the payroll software you choose.
OnPay was purpose-built for small businesses, and one of the biggest areas where the software shines is its flexibility. It’s the only solution that offers one flat rate for all of the available features, so you don’t have to pay more to get features like third-party integrations, custom reporting, or niche tax filings. In fact, OnPay offers the widest range of tax filings and payments across all 50 United States. There are also dedicated services for specific industries, including restaurants, agriculture, nonprofits, and religious organizations.
Cons
OnPay may offer the best value for a payroll solution, but it’s missing some noteworthy features that are consistent across competitors. Specifically, OnPay doesn’t offer payroll automation or same-day direct deposit. You also won’t find a mobile app with this vendor, so you should look elsewhere if these are features you’ll be frustrated without.
Pricing
OnPay is available in a single edition:
$36/month + $4/person/month
Advertisement
QuickBooks Payroll: Best payroll software for accounting integration
Unlike a few of the other vendors on this list, QuickBooks Payroll was developed to support the accounting side of payroll rather than human resources. QuickBooks Online is one of the biggest names in accounting software, which is why we included it in our list of top vendors for 2021. The Payroll product attaches directly to QuickBooks Online so you can keep track of all your financials—everything that comes in and everything that goes out—from one central platform. It’s easy to set up and automate, so you can immediately get direct visibility into your business’s financial health from all angles.
Cons
QuickBooks Payroll is an enticing option if you’re already using QuickBooks Online, but you may find a better value for your money with a different tool. With this software, you’ll likely be paying more to get features that come standard with alternative solutions. For example, you can only get tax penalty protection and time tracking with the most expensive edition. You can find these features included in other solutions at a lower price, so QuickBooks Payroll might not be a good fit if budget is your main concern.
Pricing
QuickBooks Payroll is available in three different editions:
Core: starting at $22.50/month + $4/employee/month
Premium: starting at $37.50/month + $8/employee/month
Elite: starting at $62.50/month + $10/employee/month
Advertisement
Square Payroll: Best payroll software for POS integration
You may remember Square from our list of top POS systems, and with good reason. It’s an extremely versatile suite of tools that includes an impressive payroll solution. Square Payroll connects your front of house and back office systems, which means you can take care of your customer information, employee records, and sales data from the same place. Hundreds of users have noted how easy the platform is to use and how well it takes care of all employer functions.
Cons
Some users have expressed disappointment by the lack of customer support they’re able to get from the Square team. You can get in touch by submitting a support ticket or using the chatbot on the support page, but there isn’t a phone number you can dial to speak to a human directly. There is also little continuity when working with multiple support agents, which can be extremely frustrating when there’s a bug or an urgent issue that requires immediate assistance.
Pricing
Square Payroll is available in two different editions:
Virtually everyone should have some type of payroll system, with the narrow exception of freelancers and solopreneurs. Without it, you would be forced to deal with the monotony of cutting paper checks and the risk of making an error somewhere along the way.
Not only is this inefficient, but it’s also a sign your business may be slipping behind your competitors. According to the American Payroll Association’s 2019 “Getting Paid in America” study, more than 93 percent of U.S. workers receive their pay by direct deposit. This has become an expectation from employees in the business world, and the only way to automate direct deposit payments is by implementing payroll software. Otherwise, you risk losing valuable in-house talent to other businesses in your industry.
Payroll features may be included in a broader set of tools, like an HRMS platform, accounting suite, or POS system. If you could benefit from a versatile solution like these, then a separate payroll software won’t make sense. However, if you have basic payroll needs, a dedicated software like the options in this list will be more appropriate than a tool with features you won’t use.
There are some free payroll tools on the market today that might pique your interest. The benefit for your bottom line may be appealing, but these tools come with significant risks that you should consider before making your decision.
Perhaps most significantly, free tools can often come with security risks. Most free software providers don’t put as much effort into protecting your data against hacks or breaches. Their systems are also less reliable, which means they may be susceptible to bugs or vulnerabilities in the code. You may need to invest in additional security measures to ensure your data is safe, so the amount you save by using a free payroll tool will be replaced by additional security expenses.
Aside from security concerns, free payroll tools are also often limited in features and scalability. A free application may not have automation or reporting capabilities, and you may be limited by the number of individuals you can pay. Free payroll software could hold you back in the long run, so it may be better to invest in a solution that can keep up with you every step of the way.
The vendors on this list are our top picks for payroll software, but you’ll likely encounter many others in your search. Keep these considerations in mind to help determine which solutions will work best for you.
Features
Not all payroll tools are built the same, and the features they offer make it easy to narrow down your list. These features likely include tax filing, benefit deductions, direct deposit, and an employee self-service portal. You may also want a payroll software that can handle unique situations, like tip/commision calculations, wage garnishments, bonus payments, or holiday pay.
Regulation compliance
Compliance is a key part of any payroll function. Common payroll compliance mistakes include missing tax deadlines, misclassifying employee types, incorrectly calculating payments or tax withholdings, and failing to maintain tax paperwork.
It’s easy to lose track of all the various forms you’re supposed to be filing to meet specific federal, state, and local compliance requirements. Most payroll software can help you make sure you’re paying your staff the correct amount and filing the correct forms on time. Some solutions can file your forms for you automatically for an additional fee.
Integrations
Payroll touches many corners of your business, so your payroll software should integrate with other systems you’re already using. For example, you may already be using an accounting suite or HR management system (HRMS) to support your finance or HR operations. The payroll software you choose should be able to write or read data to or from these systems and coordinate efforts across all of your software solutions.
After comparing the software vendors on this list, you should spend some time evaluating payroll solutions for yourself. Get a list of priority features from all of the stakeholders involved in this decision and look at customer testimonials and reviews with these thoughts in mind. Once you’ve narrowed it down, test drive your top options by requesting a live demo or free trial to figure out which payroll software is the best fit for you.
Kaiti Norton is the editor of Small Business Computing. She is passionate about creating relatable, research-based content that helps small businesses thrive.
Small Business Computing addresses the technology needs of small businesses, which are defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees and/or less than $7 million in annual sales. To address the needs of these small businesses, Small Business Computing offers detailed coverage of cost-effective technology solutions, including lists of top vendors, product comparisons, and how-to guides that offer specific tools to help solve issues.
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on
this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice
receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and
where products appear on this site including, for example,
the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not
include all companies or all types of products available in
the marketplace.
