Payroll outsourcing: pros, cons, and how to do it successfully

The client company also remains liable for tax remittance whether or not it has outsourced this particular payroll function, meaning it’s on the hook for any errors even if it’s not immediately responsible. The process of managing employee payroll is often time-consuming—unless, that is, another company is hired to take care of it instead. Payroll outsourcing can lead to big cost savings and provide access to payroll management experts, but doing so also comes with unique challenges and risks. Our 2024 guide takes you through the ins and outs of how payroll outsourcing works and how your company can best evaluate a possible outsourcing strategy. Basic payroll outsourcing features range from simply processing payroll, including by direct deposits or printing checks, to more complicated tasks such as tax compliance and filing. The decision to outsource payroll what is a chart of accounts (coa) will depend on your business size, tax requirements, and your business payroll needs.

These activities improved business operations and culture, leading to a successful $25 million capital raise. She also served as an internal coach to the executive leadership team through significant growth and high-stress situations. She is certified by both the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) accounts receivable turnover and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

When it comes to payroll outsourcing, the decision is entirely up to you. Because of this, you’ll want to do your research and weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not outsourcing payroll is a good idea for your business. According to HR Dive, 61% of respondents outsourced payroll processing in 2022. Whether you’re looking to save some extra time or are interested in additional HR features, outsourcing your payroll could be the right choice for your small business.

Payroll outsourcing services streamline your payroll processing system. Rather than an in-house payroll or HR professional, team manager, or small business owner handling payroll themselves, a third party takes care of the logistics. Now that you’ve zeroed-in on the outsource payroll option best suited for your business, it’s time to start shortlisting your options.

1. For a small in-house team, assembling such expertise may be an unrealistic demand.
2. Let them know what’s changing, why you’re doing it, and — most importantly — how it will affect them.
3. From there, I clicked “next” and was taken to a page that flagged all issues that may hinder a successful payroll run.
4. It removes payroll tasks from your team’s plate, allowing you to generate value elsewhere.
5. Simple forms and digital signing tools allow employees to complete documents and reviews in a fully digital format, even on a small screen.

HR outsourcing companies

You’re also paying for expert hands to manage a diverse set of payroll needs with fewer expensive errors, access to advanced tech, and the flexibility to scale easily. As mentioned, the potential cost savings of outsourcing can be significant — depending on the size of your business and your circumstances. To mitigate this, it’s important to build a positive relationship and find a clear way to talk to each other. You may want to schedule regular check-ins to stay in sync, and have a dedicated point of contact in the payroll company. It’s no surprise, then, that many organizations are outsourcing their payroll — or at least considering it. But outsourcing isn’t necessarily the right approach for every business.

Or, you can click on the “select all” checkbox to include everyone. When I asked a customer service representative about this, they said that this simply shows that the vacation time is already included in the payroll run. Yet, at other times, when clicking on the time-off icon next to an employee’s name, the system would show “Approve & Include.” Then it was easy to click that button and get rid of the warning. If you only plan to hire and pay team members in one country, it may make sense to partner with a payroll provider in that country.

What about costs?

Then, the advent of the internet ushered in the era we’re still in, making cloud computing and mobile apps common in the payroll industry. Paying your employees correctly and on schedule is an essential responsibility as a business owner. There are several Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) payroll-related regulations that your company must comply with regarding minimum wage, recordkeeping and wage garnishments. Expect there to be a learning curve, both for you and your employees. However, the service you provide should help you with that process to ensure a smooth transition. You will need to let all your employees know what service you are using, and they may be required to enroll for self-service tools.

Why you should choose QuickBooks to be your payroll provider

With Deel’s Global Payroll solution, all of that work and worry is taken off your plate. Run payroll around the world from one platform, streamline international operations, and eliminate the ongoing admin of local compliance, taxes, benefits, and more. Having an international team increases innovation, creativity, and diversity—but it also complicates payroll management. You have to navigate different currencies, exchange rates, bank laws, and compliance requirements. Small businesses may benefit from working with a contractor as it’s less costly.

What are your payroll outsourcing options?

By outsourcing all that work to a payroll provider, you save an invaluable amount of time and resources — especially if you’re a small business. With the help of technology, the entire payroll process will be more efficient and accurate. For example, there are a number of modern payroll trends that can support ‌teams of all sizes. These include automation, cloud-based global solutions, and stronger data security. Naturally, the quality of payroll outsourcing will vary, but it’s clear many companies still see these third-party payroll managers as more effective than internal capabilities. Mistakes involving taxes or adherence to regulations can be time-consuming and costly to resolve, so there’s a strong incentive to get everything right the first time.

Based on what I was able to play with in the platform, Gusto guides interest expense: calculation formula and examples you through payroll and benefits management in a way that makes these processes less overwhelming. You can be sure you’re completing tasks in the right order without missing a step. It was easy to manually add an employee or independent contractor by entering their name, email address and other crucial information.