Payroll Functions You Can Outsource (and Why You Should)

Payroll isn’t exactly the most thrilling part of running a business.  It’s a complex, time-consuming, and high-stakes process. But, here’s the good news: You don’t have to shoulder the entire payroll burden yourself!  Outsourcing specific payroll functions offers numerous benefits.  Let’s dive into the key aspects of payroll that are ripe for outsourcing.

Core Payroll Functions Ideal for Outsourcing

1. Payroll Calculations: This is the heart of payroll – from hourly wages and overtime to deductions and taxes. Outsourcing ensures accuracy, saving you from manual calculations and complex tax table deciphering.
2. Tax Filings & Compliance: Staying on top of ever-changing tax laws and filing requirements at the federal, state, and sometimes even local levels is a major headache. Outsourcing providers are experts in payroll compliance, minimizing your risk of penalties.
3. Generating Paychecks or Setting up Direct Deposits: Whether you still issue physical checks or rely more on direct deposits, outsourcing eliminates the administrative hassle, ensuring your employees get paid accurately and on time.
4. Year-End Reporting: W-2s, 1099s, and other year-end tax forms can be a nightmare. Outsource this process and let your provider handle the complex reporting requirements.

Additional Payroll Functions to Consider Outsourcing

1. Benefits Administration: Managing health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits  can significantly increase the complexity of payroll. Outsourcing streamlines deductions, enrollments, and changes.
2. Garnishments & Child Support Payments:  Handling these deductions involves specific rules.  Outsource this sensitive process to ensure both compliance and accuracy.
3. Time & Attendance Tracking:  If your payroll system doesn’t integrate with a timekeeping solution, outsourcing providers often offer tools or systems to streamline this crucial input for payroll processing.
4. New Hire Reporting:  Many jurisdictions require timely reporting of new employees.  An outsourced provider can remove this administrative task from your plate.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Payroll Functions

• Save Time: Free up your HR team or yourself from repetitive tasks and focus on strategic work that grows your business.
• Reduce Errors: Minimize the risk of costly payroll mistakes that can lead to penalties, fines, or unhappy employees.
• Stay Compliant: Let experts navigate the maze of payroll tax regulations and ensure timely filings.
• Access Technology: Tap into advanced payroll software without significant investment in your own systems.
• Gain Peace of Mind: Shift the burden of ensuring accurate, compliant payroll onto the shoulders of professionals.

Is Outsourcing All My Payroll Functions Right for Me?

The level of outsourcing that’s right for you depends on your business needs.  Consider:

• Full-Service vs. Partial Outsourcing: Do you want to hand off the entire process or retain specific functions in-house?
• Company size: Outsourcing can be especially beneficial for small businesses without in-house HR expertise.
• Industry-Specific Regulations: For complex payroll scenarios, having external experts can offer significant peace of mind.

Choosing the Right Level of Outsourcing for You

The beauty of outsourcing payroll functions is that it’s highly customizable. You can find a balance that suits the unique needs of your business. Here are some factors to consider when deciding how much of your payroll to outsource:

• Your In-House Resources: Do you have a dedicated HR staff or are payroll tasks falling on someone already juggling multiple responsibilities? The less bandwidth you have in-house, the more you might benefit from comprehensive outsourcing.
• Comfort with Technology: If adopting new payroll software or systems feels daunting, a provider offering full-service outsourcing can ease this transition.
• Cost vs. Benefit Analysis: While outsourcing has costs associated with it, thoroughly assess the potential savings achieved in reduced errors, freeing up employee time, and the value of peace of mind.
• Control vs. Flexibility: How much direct control do you wish to maintain over your payroll process? Some outsourcing providers offer co-managed models where specific tasks are shared.

The Flexibility of Outsourcing

One of the major advantages of outsourcing is that it can grow (or shrink) alongside your business needs. Perhaps you begin by outsourcing the following:

• Tax Calculations & Filings: Get expert compliance support to ease that particular burden.
• Benefits Administration: Simplify this complexity, especially if you offer multiple benefits packages.

As your company grows, you might choose to expand the scope of outsourced services for full-scale payroll support.

Conclusion

Outsourcing payroll functions can transform a burdensome process into a smooth-running operation.   By handing off time-consuming, complex, or specialized tasks to a skilled payroll provider, you’ll gain time, ensure accuracy, and minimize your compliance risk.  The key is to choose a provider that offers flexible solutions tailored to your business needs.

Ready to say goodbye to payroll stress? GOHRBPO offers customized payroll solutions that scale with your business. Contact us today and discover how we can simplify your payroll, giving you more time to focus on what matters most – growing your business.