A business cannot function without employees, which makes the payroll process a priority. This is no easy task and processing payroll internally can prove to be quite difficult, whether you have a large business or a small one.
Employees must be paid on time, and payments must be calculated correctly. More than that, you need to keep track of all financial records. Managing payroll becomes a bit easier when you know a couple of tricks.
Classify the workers
First of all, you need to have a clear classification of your workers. Working with full-time employees, interns or contractors is different, and each one should be paid differently. You should also know that taxes are filed in a different way for each one. Therefore, before you start planning, you need to classify them.
Get some help
You should know that there are plenty of companies that can help you with the payroll process. More than that, the entire process can become an automated one. For instance, you can use a payroll software for recruitment agencies.
Hiring a pro will save you a lot of headaches. Companies that have a lot of experience know how to take care of all the administrative details, which will simplify things for you. In the end, you will save money and time, which are both precious resources.
A pro can handle multiple tasks including cash collection, contractor setup, payment and distributions, and the entire system will work in the background while you focus on your business.
If hiring a professional is not an option for you, using an paystub creator could be the right move for your business. It’s a simple and cost-effective option that only takes a few minutes to get setup.
Hire an accountant
If a payroll service provider is not what you need, you might choose to hire an external accountant or a bookkeeper. As a small business, you might prefer this option. An external accountant or bookkeeper will handle your taxes and your financial records.
At the end of the day it is important to choose an option that will benefit your business. It is very important to work with someone who is professionally qualified to handle the task of payroll. The person you hire must be up to date with all the rules and regulations.
Keep track of all records
If you want to have an efficient payroll system you need to keep track of everything. It is vital that you keep all your documents in one place. In some countries, there are even laws which make you hold onto certain records for a certain period of time.
It is recommended to keep good records of your tax filings and your payroll for at least four years. These documents can help you get your tax deductions. If you do this, you can check your records every time there is an issue.
Deductible costs
There are certain costs that can qualify for certain tax deductions. For instance, wages are considered necessary business expenses, and if it is the first year of business for you, these costs can be deducted as part of the startup costs. Cash awards and bonuses can be listed here as well.
John Pearson is a serial entrepreneur and writer who is passionate about helping small businesses launch and grow. His work has been featured in Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.
