Intuit Payroll as Easy as 123

QuickBooks Online Payroll

As the owner or manager of a small business, serving your customers is only part of your job. Small business owners often overlook the labor, time and effort required to complete payroll each week.  A small business that neglects to pay its employees in-full and in a timely manner will undoubtedly face disgruntled employees and high turnover, as well as possible legal consequences. Your small business payroll should be treated with the same level of attention to detail as you provide to your clients. After all, work will not get done if your employees are not properly paid.

1. Choose the best Intuit payroll software for your business

According to Technology Advice, 26 percent of small businesses spend three to five hours per month processing payroll manually. This does not even include the time it takes to cut paychecks, send checks, handle direct deposits, and create reports. Intuit Payroll automates these tasks allowing you more time to run your business.

Manually calculating employee wages can result in simple payroll errors that can have some big effects on employees.  Mistakes with payroll can also result in some hefty fines for your business.  Intuit Payroll platforms reduce the risk of errors by automating complex calculations and ensure on time tax payments.  Not to mention, accurate paychecks mean happy employees.

2. Automate Payroll and Taxes

Intuit listened to its customers, you the small business owner, and created Auto Payroll.  This Intuit payroll feature allows you to process your payroll automatically without having to log in to QuickBooks Online Payroll. You can save the time it takes to pay your employees by using Auto Payroll.  Please keep in mind that this does not exist for contractor payments only your employees.

Make sure your QBO Payroll meets the criteria for auto payroll:

• You have Core, Premium or Elite payroll services
• Payroll setup is fully complete
• First payroll has been run
• All employees are either salaried or have default hoursset
• All employees are on a single pay schedule

If you meet the above criteria, you are ready to turn on and manager your Auto Payroll.  Its easy to do!  Select Gear ⚙ icon on top right and go to Payroll Settings.  In the Auto Payroll box, turn on Auto Payroll and then Select Save.   You are also able to enable Auto Payroll after running payroll on the Finish page or from the Overview page status box (mid right side).

Every pay period:

• You will receive a preview summary of your payroll early in the pay period.
• After you receive the preview summary, you will have 1-2 business days to review and make any changes to your payroll.
• Paychecks will be created by Auto Payroll after the cut-off time.
• Funds, for your employees on Direct Deposit, will be debited from your account according to your money movement lead time (please see what your lead time is in Payroll Settings).
• On Payday, your employees on Direct Deposit will get paid automatically. You will have to log in to QuickBooks Online Payroll and print checks for those of your employees getting paid using paper checks.

Manage your Auto Payroll

Once you have turned on your Auto Payroll, there are few things to keep in mind before payroll runs.

If one of your employees leaves the company or takes some time off, or something changes with your company, you will need to make changes to your payroll.  You can always locate your lead time and deadline to edit your payroll in your brief payroll summary email.

3. Manager HR and Payroll All in One Place

Payroll doesn’t stop with a paycheck.  HR and benefits are just as crucial to helping you attract and retain the best employees.  Intuit has partnered with leaders in the HR and benefit industries to give you the best all in one solution available.  Intuit chose to work with Mammoth so you can save time, stay compliant and grow your business with specific HR resources and guidance.  Having the ability to customize job descriptions, create onboarding checklists and employee handbooks are just some of the great benefits of managing all your HR with QBO Premium and Elite payroll.  Learn the ins and outs of hiring, termination, and everything in between so that you stay legally complaint.  Intuit has also partnered with SimplyInsured to offer affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance packages. AP Intego and Intuit help you save move on your Worker’s Comp policies.  You can also access affordable retirement plans by Guideline that sync with QuickBooks payroll.

While you do not have to be a payroll expert to be a successful small business owner, it is vital to understand the process and significance of payroll to your organization if you have paid employees.  Intuit has designed their payroll offerings to fit the needs of all business owners from small to large.  Intuit offers you “trusted payroll from payday to tax time”.

Author: Beverly Lang, Diversified Business Solutions.