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What Is SurePayroll?
SurePayroll is an online payroll and tax-filing solution designed for small businesses. The online payroll company was established in 2000. It is a subsidiary of Paychex, Inc., which acquired the company in 2011. However, the solution is different from Paychex Flex.
Anyone looking to simplify payroll management and automate repetitive processes will find that this tool fits the bill. It has flexible payroll options, unlimited payroll runs, and calculates payroll taxes―so you can keep employees happy and run your small business with ease.
To learn more about its pricing, you’ll have to contact its sales representatives for more details. Users report its plans to range from an easily affordable $19.99 to $29.99 per month, plus a $4 per employee charge.
SurePayroll can be a suitable choice if you aim to ensure prompt payments for everyone in your organization. However, it’s important to note that while SurePayroll has features geared toward HR professionals, it’s not as comprehensive as other payroll services that are built solely for HR professionals.
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How SurePayroll Works
SurePayroll is relevant for several different groups, including:
- Small businesses: SurePayroll helps small companies to simplify their payroll processes, including 401(k) deductions, payments for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, FSA and HSA funds, and wage garnishments. It also offers compliance training and reports to ensure you meet all federal and state payroll regulations.
- Nanny and household: This platform is also a convenient payroll solution for employers hiring nannies, caregivers or other domestic workers. With SurePayroll, childcare-related employers can quickly pay their employees and manage payroll taxes. This makes it easier to comply with state and federal labor laws and avoid costly penalties.
- Benefits and HR: SurePayroll offers HR and benefits administration services in addition to payroll processing. These services include onboarding, time and attendance tracking, and employee benefits administration, allowing businesses to manage all aspects of their employees’ needs.
- Accountants: SurePayroll also provides payroll services for accountants with clients that need payroll processing. Accountants can use SurePayroll’s platform to manage multiple clients’ payroll needs from a single account. It’s easier to provide payroll services and ensure accuracy across all clients.
What Sets SurePayroll Apart
The award-winning solution supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, handles 401(k) deductions and manages flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA) funds.
The software’s primary features include the following:
- A mobile app for processing payrolls
- New hire reports and ledger support
- Easy direct deposit setup
- Tax calculation and filing
SurePayroll is easy to set up and learn within minutes. You can automate repetitive payroll runs, make necessary changes and receive reminders before processing.
SurePayroll Features
Ease of Use
SurePayroll is user-friendly and reliable for small businesses that need to process payments fast. The platform’s simple and intuitive interface makes setting up, managing payroll and handling tax filing easy.
The software also provides step-by-step guidance throughout the payroll process and access to a representative who can help new users input employee hours, review payroll reports and make any necessary adjustments.
Compliance
SurePayroll understands the significance of compliance and offers a range of resources to help customers stay on top of it. It provides free compliance guidelines, labor law poster compliance and access to business forms such as I-9s and employment applications. In addition, it also has alerts and reminders to ensure customers are up to date with compliance-related updates.
Onboarding
SurePayroll comes with a setup wizard that guides users throughout the setup process. Once you create an account, the software walks you through all the necessary documents. From there, you must complete five sections to set up your payroll. It includes personal details, company information, employees, federal and state taxes, and a payroll bank account.
Tax Filing
SurePayroll offers the ability to calculate, pay and file payroll taxes. On its Full Service plan, it also provides local and multiple state tax filing for an additional $9.99 monthly. Certain states have more complex tax regulations at the jurisdiction level, but the platform can assist small business owners in navigating through those complexities. SurePayroll supports over 6,000 active taxes across the United States.
Time Tracking
SurePayroll’s time clock integration is a feature that allows businesses to easily track their employees’ hours and automatically import the data into the payroll system.
Thanks to its integration with stratustime, employees can report their time via web punch, an online timesheet entry and a mobile web application. Hours and payments are automatically updated, which helps users avoid mistakes in data entry and manual work.
SurePayroll also supports third-party integration with time clock companies such as Redcort, Homebase, OnTheClock and Time Wolf.
Benefits Administration
For benefits administration, businesses can offer workers’ compensation with flexible payment options, health insurance and pre-employment screening. Companies can also provide 401(k) benefits to employees, determine specific retirement plan services and build a quality workforce.
Analytics and Reporting
SurePayroll comes with payroll reports that allow for more transparency when processing payroll. These reports include payroll summary, month-to-date, quarter-to-date, year-to-date, date range, cash requirements, check register, taxable wages and deductions.
Accessibility
SurePayroll has a mobile app available via Apple and Android. Here, you can access the exact features you would have on a laptop or desktop. It includes compensating employees and independent contractors, accessing payroll summaries and staying on top of payroll deadlines and bank holidays. Meanwhile, employers can access a portal to view paycheck details, find paycheck stubs, check wage rates and monitor tax details.
SurePayroll Pricing and Plans
SurePayroll’s solution has two main types of payroll services—No Tax Filing and Full Service. Both plans offer unlimited payroll runs, AutoPayroll, new hire reporting, direct deposit and live help.
Because SurePayroll has quote-based pricing only, the cost may be challenging to estimate for growing businesses. As your business grows, pricing may change, and new features may be introduced.
SurePayroll Tiered Pricing and Plans
No Tax Filing | Full Service | |
---|---|---|
Starting Price | $19.99 per month, plus $4 per employee per month | $29.99 per month, plus $5 per employee per month |
U.S. Payroll | ✔ | ✔ |
Global Payroll | X | X |
Onboarding | ✔ | ✔ |
Tax Filing | ✔ | ✔ |
Benefits Administration | Available as an add-on | Available as an add-on |
Time Tracking | Available as an add-on | Available as an add-on |
Expense Management | Not stated | Not stated |
Auto Payroll | ✔ | ✔ |
Mobile Apps | ✔ | ✔ |
Reporting and Analytics | ✔ | ✔ |
Third-Party Integrations | ✔ | ✔ |
Error-Free Guarantee | ✔ | ✔ |
Customer Support | Phone support and chat at selected times and knowledge base | ✔ |
No Tax Filing Plan
The “No Tax Filing” plan is ideal for small business owners looking to run unlimited payrolls and handle tax filing themselves. Popular features include direct deposit, online pay stubs, payroll taxes and live support. Managing employees with its HR advisor, new hire reporting, multiple pay rates and bonuses is also easy.
Full Service Plan
The “Full Service” plan is ideal for businesses seeking complete service payroll and tax filing. This option has everything on the “No Tax Filing” plan plus two-day payroll processing. On top of this, you can opt to get features such as local tax filing and multiple state tax filing as an add-on.
SurePayroll Customer Service and Support
SurePayroll offers live phone support at selected hours Monday to Friday and Saturday. It also has a comprehensive FAQ section for software-related questions and resources for payroll and payroll tax information.
Additional Features Worth Noting
SurePayroll offers live support through its United States-based support team through chat, email or phone. Users can access an expert Accountant Care Team and a dedicated Sales and Enrollment Specialist to address their business concerns. SurePayroll supports integrations with leading accounting software, such as Zoho Books, Xero, AccountEdge and Intuit.
On top of this, SurePayroll has add-on features for accounting software integration, local tax filing and time clock software integration. There are some additional charges for some services.
SurePayroll Alternatives and How They Compare
SurePayroll | Namely | Paycor | Gusto | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Forbes Advisor Ratings | ||||
Starting Price | $19.99 per month, plus $4 per employee per month | Quote-based | $199 per month, plus $8 per employee per month | $40 per month plus $6 per month per person |
U.S. Payroll | ✔ | Yes, with higher-tiered plan | ✔ | ✔ |
Global Payroll | No | Yes, with higher-tiered plan | Add-on | No |
Direct Deposit | Yes, employees and contractors | No | ✓ | ✔ |
Onboarding | ✔ | ✔ | ✓ | ✔ |
Tax Filing | ✔ | ✔ | ✓ | ✔ |
Benefits Administration | ✔ | Offered as add-on | ✓ | ✔ |
Time Tracking | Available as an add-on | Yes, with higher-tiered plan | ✔ | Yes, via an integration |
Expense Management | Not stated | Yes, with higher-tiered plan | ✔ | Available on higher-tiered plans |
Workflow Automations | ✔ | Not stated | ✔ | ✔ |
Mobile Apps | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Reporting and Analytics | ✔ | Yes, with higher-tiered plan | ✔ | ✔ |
Third-Party Integrations | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Error-Free Guarantee | ✔ | No | Not stated | No |
Customer Support | Phone support and chat at selected times and knowledge base | Phone, email, live chat, community forum | Support center, phone, knowledge base | Customer support via chat, email or phone |
Learn More | — | |||
Read Reviews | — | Read Namely Review | Read Paycor Review | Read Gusto Review |
SurePayroll’s most basic plan costs $19.99 plus $4 per employee per month. However, it has add-on features for integrations, so you could pay more or less based on the features you will use. SurePayroll compares moderately well with its industry competitors. It has core features including tax filing, benefits administration, reporting, workflow automations and third-party integrations.
SurePayroll vs. Namely
Namely is a comprehensive HR software platform offering various benefits administration, reporting, performance management and time-tracking features. However, core features such as payroll, direct deposit, time tracking, expense management and analytics are only available on higher-tier plans.
SurePayroll, conversely, has benefits administration features on its most basic plan, including affordable 401(k) plans, health insurance and pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation coverage for small businesses.
SurePayroll vs. Paycor
SurePayroll and Paycor are cloud-based payroll and HR software solutions designed for small to midsized businesses (SMBs), but they differ in features and focus. Paycor offers industry-specific solutions for industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and hospitality while SurePayroll caters more to general business needs.
SurePayroll vs. Gusto
Gusto is a full-service payroll and benefits platform for small businesses and startups. It offers automated or manual payroll for employees and contractors, self-service profiles and two-day direct deposits, starting from $40 plus $6 per person monthly. It also features a Gusto Wallet banking platform that lets employees receive same-day paychecks and access spending and saving accounts.
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Is SurePayroll Right for Me?
SurePayroll is a reliable payroll service provider that’s been around for more than two decades. It’s a good fit for small businesses with an out-of-the-box solution that’s easy to set up and manage. It comes with a self-service employee portal, HR library, reports and all the basic functionalities that small businesses need.
SurePayroll Is Best For:
- Small businesses: SurePayroll is a fit for small businesses that need a simple and streamlined payroll solution. It is ideal for companies looking to save time and effort, get an affordable option and get help with tax compliance.
- Accountants: SurePayroll offers an accountant partner program with essential payroll and HR capabilities. There are options to customize the platform with white-label branding, profit from payroll and integrate payroll into existing services.
- Household employers: Unlike most payroll platforms, SurePayroll has features for household employers with caregivers, nannies or other domestic workers. It also features Schedule H, or Household Employment Taxes, which household employers need to report household employment taxes to the IRS.
SurePayroll Is Not Recommended For:
- Customers who are looking for straightforward pricing: SurePayroll requires customers to get a quote to get pricing information. It’s unfortunate for individuals and small businesses looking to scale because pricing can easily change based on growth.
- Large enterprises: Fast-moving startups and online businesses may prefer other solutions that facilitate easy migrations to enterprise-level platforms.
Our Expert Opinion
SurePayroll is a fit for SMBs, HR professionals, household employers and accountants looking to manage their payroll. It features onboarding, tax filing, benefits administration, reporting and a mobile app. Since pricing plans are not transparent, it’s hard to gauge whether it’s the most cost-effective solution for your business. Its core features are ideal for small to midsize companies, but enterprises may find better options elsewhere.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does SurePayroll cost?
SurePayroll has quote-based pricing, so you need to contact the company directly to get a quote and find out how much you’ll need to pay. However, users suggest its most affordable plans start from $19.99 per month plus $4 per employee.
Is SurePayroll secure?
SurePayroll is equipped with the latest security technologies to protect your sensitive data. Its network has advanced technical measures, including intrusion detection, multiple layers of firewalls and antivirus.
Is Paychex the same as SurePayroll?
Paychex is the parent company of SurePayroll. Paychex, Inc. acquired the company in 2011.
What type of HR features should a payroll system have?
Payroll systems should make the onboarding and terminating of employees, monthly payments, off-cycle disbursem*nt and taxation compliance easier. This includes factors such as employees being able to fill out W-4 forms electronically and access a self-service portal that allows them to access all necessary forms, make any necessary changes and view documents such as pay stubs. The best payroll platforms also offer HR support around health insurance plans and other benefits and provide new hire reports when needed.
What features should a payroll service for small businesses have?
The features you want in a payroll service for your small business include easy setup, payroll processing and management, tax filing, detailed payroll reports, direct deposit to your employees, a system that allows employees to make specific changes as needed and quality customer support.
When should you outsource payroll?
Processing payroll is time-consuming. Outsourcing payroll will help free up time to focus on your company. If you do not want to outsource payroll, consider using software to process your employees’ payments and taxes.