Intuit Quickbooks Payroll vs. Paychex: Payroll Service Comparison

If you are looking for a service to process payrolls, you may want to take a look at Intuit QuickBooks Payroll and Paychex. Both of these websites offer services to assist customers with payroll for their employees. If you run a small business, having assistance with your payroll is always a useful tool. Payroll is one less thing to think about when managing your business. Although both websites help you manage your payroll, there are many key differences that should be taken note of. In order to make an informed decision about what service to use, it is important to analyze the key differences to find a service that is right for you.

One of the great things about using Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is that it is integrated with the QuickBooks software. If you are familiar with the program, using Intuit QuickBooks Payroll should be of no problem at all. QuickBooks Payroll makes it simple to keep track of your payroll needs if you are familiar with the QuickBooks software. QuickBooks Payroll conveniently offers two types of accounts: one for businesses with 3 or less employees (“Less than $19/month”), the other for four or more employees (“Less than $25/month”). Using QuickBooks, you will instantly be able to calculate taxes, pay liabilities, and utilize direct deposit. Using QuickBooks is relatively inexpensive, so it is affordable for many small businesses. QuickBooks offers everything from a “standard payroll” to, to a “complete payroll.” With a "complete payroll," Intuit will handle all of your business related taxes for you.

Although Intuit QuickBooks Payroll offers a variety of great features, you will not be able to expect 24/7 customer service for this company. If you are looking for around-the-clock customer service, QuickBooks may not be the best option for you. Using QuickBooks Payroll also requires knowledge of the QuickBooks software. If you are not familiar with the software, it may be a little difficult to adapt to the process. Although Intuit QuickBooks Payroll offers Direct Deposit, you will still be charged a fee. If you feel you will not be needing 24 hour customer service and you are familiar with QuickBooks software, this may be a great Payroll service to consider.

Paychex is a service that claims to “make payroll simple.” After signing up, you simply submit your payroll via phone, fax, or web. After submission, you will be able to talk to a specialist in order to keep your payroll running smoothly. Using Paychex, you will be able to take advantage of direct deposit and have the convenience of having access of over 40 reports. There are many different options when managing your payroll with Paychex. On top of managing just payroll, Paychex handles tax information, information distribution, health insurance, and 401k plans as well. One of the best things about Paychex is being able to talk to live professionals to cater to your payroll managing needs. Some of the many benefits involved with using Paychex are the employee earnings statements, payroll journals, month-to-date department summaries, and much more. A full list of features can be viewed at www.paychex.com. The ease of using Paychex seems to be the most enjoyable aspect for most customers. Paychex emphasizes online data entry. If there is a case where online access is not available, you will be able to phone in the data to Paychex for processing.

One of the major downsides to signing up for Paychex is the hassle of setting up an account. Prior to setting up an account, you will not have an estimate of the monthly charge. If you wish to get a free estimate, you may send in your information. Paychex usually takes a few days to get back to you with an estimate. In the case that you do decide to sign up for an account, you will receive an entire month for free. Although Paychex seems promising ion terms of phone and online support, there have been numerous complaints for customer service. Although Paychex may lack in customer service at times, the ease of using Paychex certainly makes up for it.

All in all, both Intuit QuickBooks Payroll and Paychex are great services to manage your payroll. If you are not willing to wait for a price estimate, QuickBooks may be the best way to go. The signup process for QuickBooks is fast and easy. Before signing up, keep in mind that Intuit QuickBooks payroll does utilize the QuickBooks software. Although it is not necessary, it may benefit you to have previous experience with the software. If you are willing to wait for an estimate, you may find that Paychex will be of more benefit to you. Paychex offers great over-the-phone customer support if your questions cannot be answered on the web site. If you are trying to make a decision, and have some time, it would not hurt to get a free estimate from Paychex. You may find that Paychex may offer services that are more suitable for you. As stated before, this all depends on the quote you receive. However, if you are looking for something quick and easy, QuickBooks would probably be best.