Let’s just be honest and up front and first say that Dashboard Accounting offers a variety of small business payroll services and I hope you will give us a call for a free discussion on your needs.  This article is about the various small business payroll options that can help your business become more organized and save time and money on payroll processing.

While many payroll companies will tell you it is worth while even if you only are processing one payroll, that just depends on what you want.  If you are concerned about not missing deadlines, taking out the right amount the first time and paying the right taxes – then working with a payroll company, a virtual bookkeeper or even your accountant is a great option.  But if you have time to learn about payroll and you are good at being organized and keeping up with payroll law, then there is nothing wrong with doing it yourself and saving a few dollars per month.

What are the other options?

1. Bookkeeper – If you are working with an in house bookkeeper or a virtual bookkeeper, they can easily manage your payroll as part of their duty.  There is payroll software that can make it easy, or you can have them utilize a payroll company and they simply manage the process for you.
2. Direct Payroll Company – If the business owner does not mind putting together the hours and submitting everything, they can work with a payroll company themselves and just provide the reports to the accountant or book keeper.
3. Accountant – often you can work with your accountant as well.  However, before doing this compare prices.  This is often your most expensive option and there is a good chance they are just outsourcing the payroll to a payroll company anyway.  Nothing wrong with that, but the small business may be able to save money with a bookkeeper doing it or doing it directly.

No matter what small business payroll service you chose, try to stick with it for a while and keep your things organized to simplify your book keeping and payroll at year end.