As your business grows, payroll processing software for small business needs becomes one of the most important purchases you’ll make. Switching from manual reporting or a sub-par software saves business owners both time and money. In using an effective payroll tool, you’ll reduce withholding errors, streamline wage calculation, and ensure employees and contractors are paid on time. With this part of the business on autopilot, you can then spend more energy focusing on the tasks that matter.
But shopping for small business payroll processing software is trickier than you might think. With so many new and exciting accounting features, it becomes difficult to home in on what really matters. If you’re just starting the payroll software research process, consider Advanced Micro Solutions. We have affordable tools to meet all your requirements. In the meantime, this guide will help you determine what you need in a payroll tool. Some businesses need all the fancy bells and whistles, but most don’t.
Guiding Questions for Payroll Software Shopping
Some business owners like to start their research process by figuring out which payroll features they want. We like to start with a list of questions. If you’re not sure what you want in a payroll processing software for small businesses, consider the following list of prompts. We hope this helps highlight exactly what you need.
- How much space do I have in my budget? For most small businesses, this is the most important question. If you can’t afford payroll software, the other questions don’t matter. However, you might be surprised to learn that not all payroll tools incur a monthly fee. Certain providers, like AMS, are disc-based and available on an annual basis. In other words, you’ll only pay once. Someone in need of accounting and payroll software and 1099/W-2 filing services will pay around $220 for the service with AMS.
- Are most of my workers employees or contractors? Businesses work with several different types of workers. If you expect to employ a combination of employees and contractors, choose a payroll tool that supports all types of W-2 and 1099 forms.
- How complicated are my tax obligations? Tax obligations will differ depending on your business and the state in which you operate. Certain states have more complicated withholding processes than others. If you live in a state that imposes a state income tax, ensure you use a payroll processing software for small businesses that can do those calculations for you.
- How much professional support will I need? Some business owners have extensive knowledge of how payroll and accounting should work. Others don’t. If you fall into the latter category, choose a software that provides hands-on customer service and troubleshooting. Tax season is a lot less stressful when you have a support team.
Consider the Tools from Advanced Micro Solutions
If you’re on the hunt for payroll processing software for small businesses, we have a suggestion: Choose a small business to provide your tools. At AMS, we’ve designed our products with small business wants in mind. We provide an affordable product with the practical support you need to get the job done. If you’re not sure if we’re the company for you, check out our free demo software.