The Scoop on Business Payroll Software and Services

It doesn't take very many employees before payroll starts to become a pain in the neck. Our expert tells you how to decide on payroll software that's standalone or integrated into accounting software, as well as online or outsourced payroll services, and what issues you'll run into.

Unless your employees work for love, payroll is one of those critical yet unglamorous tasks that has to be done, and done right — every single time — so you don't get grief from your staff or from various government agencies. At the same time, you want to spend as little mental effort on the process as possible, because you didn't go into business so you could spend time on payroll issues.

At some point you'll have to put down the checkbook and pick up some standardized way of handling payroll — payroll software (standalone or as part of an accounting package), or an outsourced payroll service. Even if you're currently using one of these systems, from time to time it might pay (!) to consider the alternatives, especially as your firm grows.