1. ADP payroll outsourcing software: Best for managing pre and post hiring management
ADP is one of the best online payroll software solutions to automate payroll tasks, including HR, onboarding, hiring, and tax compliances, all on one platform.
ADP payroll offers a wide range of services such as payroll processing, payroll taxes, new employee hiring, accounting integrations, etc. It is cloud-based software, making it easily accessible from a computer and ADP mobile app.
Features of ADP payroll software
ADP offers various features, such as
- Automatic payroll tax deduction and filing
The software also facilitates the calculation, filing, and payment of all payroll taxes on your behalf and provides year-end W-2 and 1099 forms for your employees.
- Accounting software integrations
The software supports various accounting software integrations, including Quickbooks and Xero.
- Time and attendance tracking
The ADP’s time and attendance tool allow employees to clock in and out via a mobile application, request paid time off (PTO), and track over time.
- Automatic new-hire reporting
Create a profile of the new employee; ADP will perform all the paperwork and submit the details to the appropriate state and federal agencies.
- Custom HR and payroll reports
Depending upon the plan you choose, you can generate various reports from the dashboard, such as earning records, time cards, payroll summaries, etc.
- On-time compliances
ADP software performs on-time compliances on the company’s behalf, including employee background checks, Labor law poster compliance
- HR support services
In the advance plans, ADP offers much more than just payroll services. You can buy the plan having human resources tools that provide dedicated HR support over the phone and via email, an employee handbook setup wizard, HR tasks like hiring and onboarding guidelines, and solving queries related to HR-related tasks.
How does ADP payroll software work?
ADP software completely works on automation. It is well-organized and easy to use. Users need to enter the initial data, i.e., some basic business information, and the software will process the data such as employee’s working hours, pay rates, tax rates and deductions.
For tax purposes, you must enter the employee’s withholding status, i.e., whether you have collected the employee’s Form W-2, allowances, and exemptions details. And software is ready to begin processing payroll.
The software also manages direct deposits, quarterly and annual tax reporting, and filing taxes on your behalf.
ADP online payroll software prices
ADP’s pricing is fully customized; now, small businesses don’t need to spend high costs on managing their staff. One thing to consider here is that the company has not mentioned the prices on their website anywhere. You can get a free demo and quote over the phone on their plans:
ADP Essential: It features direct deposit, a self-service portal, new-hire reporting, basic payroll reports and integrations with popular accounting software.
ADP enhanced: This plan is an addition to the essential. Plus, state unemployment insurance management and pre-employment background checks.
ADP Complete: This plan covers additional benefits like an employee handbook wizard and applicant tracking. Additionally, you also get HR training, tool kits, forms and documents.
ADP HR Pro: It offers advanced services also, i.e., legal assistance, HR helpdesk support etc.
2. Square Payroll Software : Best for managing contractual employees
Square payroll is cloud-based payroll processing software that offers services such as tax support, benefits administration, a Square point of sale (POS) integration, and much more. Square payroll is best for small to mid-sized businesses that hire employees on contract.
So, the enterprises looking to manage freelancers, hourly employees, and contractual and payroll employees must have Square payroll. There is no monthly subscription fee to be paid for contractual employees.
Square payroll features
- Quick payroll processing
The payroll processing is as quick as it just takes 10 minutes. Besides that, it also gives access to the employees to manage their own accounts and download payroll reports in real-time. The application also supports customized payroll schedules, i.e., weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly.
- Employee management and PTO
Square payroll also allows managers to set PTO, track employee leave balances and calculate the leave accruals for each employee.
Time tracking
The best thing about square payroll is that it provides time tracking functionalities with personal timecards for every member. It helps track employee clock-in and out and automatically calculates overtime, bonus payments and commissions.
Dynamic payment options
It allows payment to the employees via various modes such as direct deposits, physical paychecks, and money transfer applications.
Automated tax filings
The software automatically calculates the withholding tax from the employee payrolls and files returns on your behalf. It helps businesses file W-2 forms and other required federal and state payroll taxes automatically.
Benefits administration
Enterprises can manage the employee’s benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, worker’s compensation insurance and pre-tax spending.
Payroll integrations
Users can integrate square payroll directly with Square POS. Additionally, the software also supports integrations with QuickBooks, QuickBooks Time, Xero, and ZipRecruiter.
How does Square payroll work?
Square payroll is cloud-based software with a user-friendly interface and easy navigation. Users can easily access functions from the dashboard such as tax forms, team management, and benefits information and directly integrate them into Intuit Quickbooks.
Square payroll software plans
1. Pay Contractors Only: If you want an affordable plan for contractors, then the pay contractors only plan charges a $5 monthly fee/ per contractor.
2. Pay Employees & Contractors: If you want a plan to manage employees’ payroll as well as contractors, then this plan charges $35 per subscription/month and $5 per employee/per month.
You can avail of other services such as health benefits, 401(k) retirement plan, HR support, etc., by paying an additional cost.
3. FreshBooks: Best for Accounting and book keeping for self-employed and small businesses
Freshbooks is accounting software for self-employed, freelancers, and small businesses. Users can set up automated invoicing, manage their receipts and expenses, track billable time, and collect online payments.
The biggest benefit of using Freshbooks is now it is easy and quick to create and send professional invoices and receive payments online. It allows you to set as many filters as you want to make quick decisions.
Users can access FreshBooks via Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, and Mac.
Freshbooks features
- Easy Invoicing services
Freshbooks has amazing invoicing customizable designs, setting up recurring digital invoices, adding a discount to invoices, and instant updates whenever an invoice is viewed or paid by the clients. The invoice screen shows what your invoices look like, and you can edit them before finalizing.
- Expenses management
Freshbooks has a great feature of attaching expenses proof along with the invoices to manage their budgets. You can also import banks and credit card statements, and the automatic payment recording will always keep your books of accounts updated.
- Accounts payable and receivables
Accounting ageing reports make it easy for you to manage your clients and send a follow-up reminder for the receipts.
- Time tracking
Now, you can stay productive by using the Freshbooks time tracking feature. This dynamic time tracking feature tracks every minute and project payment to create an invoice per the billable hours and track your team’s timesheets.
- Quick payments processing
Your clients can simply click on the digital invoice and make a direct payment via the credit card payment option. Besides that, you can see how much amount your client has paid against each invoice and how much it is pending.
- Integration
The app supports around 80 applications to integrate, including Paypal, MailChimp, Zenpayroll and Basecamp.
How does Freshbooks work?
The dashboard has summarized charts of invoices, profit and loss, revenue streams, and spending. On the dashboard, you can simply click on “Create New” and see different categories such as client, invoice, expenses, other income, and so on.
Freshbooks software plans
FreshBooks comes with a 30 days trial and four different monthly and yearly plans. You can choose the plan depending upon the size and complexity of the business, i.e., the number of billable clients you are dealing with. Let’s have a look:
