Are you wondering why accountants would need to use payroll software?
Accounting is more than keeping tabs on a company’s credits and debits and lodging numbers on ledgers. Bookkeeping, auditing, pay stubs, tax preparation, and financial management all make up the accounting sector.
With over 34% business owners still relying on spreadsheets for payroll procedure, intervention by automation software is now necessary. The primary reason behind the switch owes it to the fact that these payroll automation software can bring down processing costs by a staggering 80%!
Payroll software automates many of the tasks involved, such as generating pay stubs and calculating taxes. The best payroll software for accountants will also have time tracking, direct deposit, and payroll tax filing features.
In particular, payroll software simply doesn’t make accounting easier but also streamlined and errorless. Indeed 50% of payroll software users are sure they do an effective job deducting and submitting payroll taxes.
With booming growth happening in the payroll automation market, more and more accountants are adopting the software each day. As a result, payroll software marketers can cater to a massive prospect base!
Therefore, bringing onboard payroll software is the done deed. To help you pick the right one, we have researched and pulled together the best payroll software for accountants.
What is a Payroll Software?
Payroll software in a cloud-based or on-premise solution that manages, automates, and maintains payments to employees. Rigorous, integrated, and properly configured payroll software for accountants can assist accountants in ensuring organizations of all sizes maintain compliance with tax laws and other financial regulations and reduce costs.
To put it more clearly, payroll software for accountants provides the given perks:
- Real-time payroll reporting
- Automated salary transfer to employees
- Online availability of tax forms and pay stubs
- Online and remote data access
- Accessible tracking features to ensure compliance
Even better, payroll software offers multiple integrations to software solutions for accounting, ERP, and HR services. The combined application provides a well-rounded approach to managing clients and companies.
Uncover the Best Payroll Software for Accountants
Let’s see some of the best payroll software available for accountants.
1. Gusto
Gusto is among the most-used payroll software in the United States, with around 200,000+ customers currently using it in the USA. It provides next-day direct deposit for its users, a useful perk for accountants who must pay their workers quickly. With that, it features real-time alerts, unlimited payroll runs, international contractor payments, and tip credits. It further tracks paid time off, unemployment insurance, holiday pay, and life digital pay stub access.
More interestingly, Gusto Payroll integrates with multiple accounting software for small businesses and organizations. Whether your clients use Paperclip, Sage Accounting, FreshBooks, Xero, or even a host of other ERP and HCM solutions, you can sync any software seamlessly with Gusto.
Pros:
- Free payroll subscription
- International contractor payments
- Set up is free
- Built-in time tracking
- Automatic pre-schedule payroll runs
Cons:
- Certain features are limited to the most expensive plan only
- Limited free trial offers
2. OnPay
OnPay is an easy-to-use payroll process that streamlines your accounting business and manages your clients. It is one of only limited payroll providers that offer free data migration for new clients. It has a smart dashboard where you can handle clients in the same place. OnPay comes with the added benefit of synching with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero, some of the most popular accounting programs for enterprises.
Pros:
- Free subscription to payroll
- Revenue sharing and discounts
- Marketing resources for your accounting firms
- Free multi-state payroll runs
- Specialized payroll plans for specific industries
Cons:
- Payroll isn’t fully automated
- Limited integrations
3. QuickBooks
With approx. 80% of the market share, there are about 26.56 million businesses out there that use QuickBooks in the USA, that says a lot about the software’s effectiveness.
Best known for bookkeeping, QuickBooks offers a range of finance and accounting solutions and payroll services that make it a good pick. More notably, its biggest benefit is that its software solutions seamlessly integrate. It will, as such, be pretty beneficial for accountants already using QuickBooks.
QuickBooks payroll software features include automatic payroll, next-day direct deposit, and mileage tracking. There’s also 1099 contractor management, receipt capture, and optional add-on healthcare benefits (available in every US state except Virginia and Hawaii).
Pros:
- Unlimited payroll runs
- 30-day free trial
- Problem-free synching with QuickBooks apps
- PTO management
Cons:
- Limited human resource feature
- Expensive
4. Rippling
Rippling is a fully packed HR, IT, and payroll software that is sufficiently robust for accountants who manage several clients. It simplifies payroll, improves accuracy and transparency, and automates the payroll process.
Additionally, Rippling supports international payroll, including payments to in-house employees and contractors. Its IT module lets accountants configure business software from afar, making it an excellent choice for those accounting firms whose clients are enterprises with global and remote workforce.
Not to forget, Rippling is the only software on the list that supports remote tech management.
Pros:
- Equipped with HR and IT management features
- Multiple built-in integrations
- Good customer support
- Ideal for large accounting firms
Cons:
- Unsuitable for smaller companies
- No transparent prices on site
5. Paychex
Paychex is another of the best accounting and payroll software for accountants. Its accounting partners can access Paychex’s comprehensive knowledge center (which includes resources such as US Tax Guide), free accounting publications, and an extensive end-of-year resource center. Paychex also offers online webinars and courses to accountants who want to enhance their professional education.
Some other Paychex resources for accountants include direct access to a dedicated HR team, who help find answers to questions related to hiring and labor laws.
Pros:
- Online payroll management system
- 24-hour complete payroll support, 7-days a week
- Extensive compliance updates
- Comprehensive knowledge center
Cons:
- Limited pricing transparency
- Extra charges for payroll tax and filing
6. SurePayroll
SurePayroll makes it simple for accountants to upscale their businesses. This is owing to a white-label option with a payroll solution demanding no upfront investment. When an accountant brings forward ten clients, payroll becomes free.
Accountants can further bill through revenue sharing or a straight invoice. Set up of the software takes only a few minutes, and its integrations with other software, like Zoho Books, Xero, and QuickBooks, make it easy to get started. The mobile app makes it all the more easy to handle basic payroll on the go.
Pros:
- Accountants get wholesale pricing
- A special support team for accountants
- Ability to white label the software
Cons:
- Pricing is not wholly transparent
- Limited support cover
7. ADP Run
One of the best payroll software for accountants, ADP Accountant Connect, lets you access all of your authorized clients’ accounts with a single sign-in. This cloud-based program will enable you to simply access payroll data, tax forms and other essential information for your clients who use Run by ADP, ADP TotalSource, and ADP Workforce Now.
You will also receive valuable insights and have access to numerous resources, including marketing brochures, customizable videos, and firm profiles on sites like CountingWorks and TaxBuzz.
Furthermore, ADP helps accountants register for professional education courses. It also provides access to IRS credit courses that boost business credibility and expertise.
Pros:
- Includes contractor management
- Complete payroll via the website and mobile app
- Optional add-ons like health insurance, workers’ compensation, etc.
Cons:
- No transparent pricing online
- Additional charge for W-2 and 1099 delivery
8. Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll is a good choice for accounting firms primarily handling payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. It keeps payroll costs low for both accountants and their customers.
While most payroll providers only offer software discounts once accountants have more than five clients. Patriot offers a 5% discount for accounting companies right off the bat. Subsequently, every accounting firm involved with the software can leverage free co-branding, a benefit most other payroll solutions reserve for firms with at least five clients.
Pros:
- Highly rated US-based customer support
- 30-day free trial for all new client accounts
- Automatic multi-state tax filing
- Free setup and onboarding for new client
Cons:
- Limited human resource tools
- Accounting software integrations limited to QuickBooks Online or Patriot’s proprietary software
Final Verdict
Ultimately, there is no correct answer to the best payroll software for accountants. It is possible what works for one might not suit another well.
There are plenty of factors at play when it comes to picking payroll software for accountants. These include the nature of your job, the size of the accounting firm, and the required functionality. Not to mention cost, automation, and integration are also key drivers.
Some software solutions offer multiple integrations with almost all accounting or HR software. Others may offer opportunities for revenue sharing. Few may offer resources or online courses to help you boost your business. Your role is to find out which software best fits your needs.
Don’t hesitate to request a free trial or demo before committing to a specific payroll provider.
Remember that the payroll provider you pick will have a major impact on your accounting firm’s ability to secure profit for itself as well as clients. So, weigh your choices carefully and start with those that companies have already tested.
