Hungry Payroll Outsourcing: Savor The Flavor Of Payroll Personalized
Forbes Magazine estimates that 41% of American small businesses use a payroll service provider. While not a majority, you’d think that such a significant number translates to an easy process for outsourcing payroll. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
NOT ALWAYS A WALK IN THE PARK.
The journey of switching from in-house payroll management to an outsourcing firm can be less than joyful if you choose an inexperienced payroll company. In fact, that initial decision just to consider payroll outsourcing is a tough step in itself… and it’s only just the beginning. The real challenge lies in choosing which payroll company is best for you.
MIGHT AS WELL STAB IN THE DARK.
The bad news: There is no simple solution or guidebook for selecting which payroll company to go with. Since many of them offer similar documentation systems and payroll processing services, it may seem easier just to take a stab in the dark.
GO TOWARD THE LIGHT: SOLUTION DISCOVERY.
The good news: There is a method to the madness, and it all comes down to the payroll firm’s overarching (and, hopefully, differentiating) solution delivery.
Although no two payroll providers are exactly the same, the majority of them make the same promises: payroll management, payroll tax administration and government report/form generation. This sounds good on paper, but that’s just it: good. Not every payroll company delivers these products with a full-fledged satisfaction guarantee.
The takeaway: Off-the-shelf payroll services don’t cut it, so when you’re searching for a personalized payroll provider with the solutions for comprehensive workforce management, you have to be willing to embark on that journey – the journey for solution discovery.
IT’S TIME TO GET HUNGRY.
To find that payroll partner with the best solution delivery, you have to know what’s on the menu and what’s most appealing to your organization’s operations. But even more important, you need to know what kind of “chef” you’re dealing with. Let’s face it: All payroll companies can talk the talk, but you need to make sure they know how to walk the walk. In other words, how do those “promises” really taste outside that shiny display box?
I’LL START OFF WITH THE SSAE 16 TYPE II.
Thanks to the new service organization reporting standard, Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 16, differentiating those “talkers” from the “doers” is now much easier. SSAE 16 is used as guidance to examine a third-party-service organization’s controls and processes. When a service auditor issues a Type II report (the highest type available) to a provider, this is valid evidence of their effective business operations. Note: If a payroll company does not have this report, that’s a crystal-clear sign to move on and continue your search elsewhere.
FOR MY MAIN MEAL? SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE SOUNDS NICE.
The next step is to start looking into what kind of tools the provider uses to deliver their payroll solutions safely, accurately and on time. With the advent of Software as a Service (SaaS) models, payroll providers are now able to offer easy access to your payroll processing data without compromising essential security. SaaS providers centrally host your important payroll data on secured servers. It is crucial to make sure that the provider has effective security measures in place to protect your company’s information at all costs (e.g., physical back-up stations in the event of natural or man-made disasters).
HR TOOLS AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS FOR MY SWEET TOOTH, PLEASE.
Last but not least, the partner you choose to help make payroll personalized and painless should have additional functions to help you run your business. The best payroll providers go beyond predictable payroll processing by offering extra HR solutions that tangibly improve your business operations. A suite of personalized payroll solutions at a fair price? That’s the kind of sweet deal that gives your company a competitive advantage in today’s market.
As you can see, that perfect payroll provider takes some genuine taste testing to make sure you’re getting the real deal… not just what’s silver-tongued and scribed on the menu. But don’t get discouraged! When you’re finally fine dining with that personalized payroll company, you’ll realize it was well worth the dive-ditching ride
Make the switch to payroll with PrimePay. With a commitment to continuous brainstorming for creative solutions, our team helps make business easier and more fulfilling for you.
For additional insight, please reach out to your local PrimePay employee management expert.
Arlene Truumees, 631.943.3187 – atruumees@primepay.com – www.primepay.com
