Switching payroll providers: How RUN Powered by ADP® makes migration and implementation simple
For many small business owners, payroll can be one of the most critical and stressful responsibilities they manage and switching payroll systems can be just as intimidating. Even when their current process is manual or outdated, the fear of disrupting something that “technically works” can leave them hesitant to change. Concerns about data accuracy, tax setup, workflow changes and employee adoption can make the transition feel overwhelming. These concerns are real and often come from past challenges they’ve faced with other providers.
RUN Powered by ADP (RUN) helps eliminate these barriers by pairing powerful payroll technology with hands-on support from implementation specialists who understand small business needs. RUN is one of the most widely adopted payroll platforms for U.S. small businesses, supporting more than 900,000 of them today. In fact, 60% of new RUN clients come from another payroll provider¹, meaning the team of ADP® implementation specialists have extensive firsthand experience navigating the exact challenges business owners worry about. With hundreds of thousands of small business implementations completed each year², and more than 70,000 competitive migrations from providers like QuickBooks Payroll, Gusto and Paychex³, ADP has the expertise needed to make payroll transitions easier and less stressful.
Helping ensure accurate historical payroll data
One of the biggest concerns of business owners during payroll implementation is ensuring that historical information — year-to-date totals, prior wages, tax withholdings and employee personal information — migrates accurately from their previous system. A misaligned spreadsheet or incorrect mapping could lead to incorrect Forms W-2, reporting issues or unwanted time spent on tedious reconciliation.
Reliable historical data is important for compliance. Errors in year-to-date totals can lead to miscalculations in employer taxes, which may result in penalties or agency notices. Even one incorrect paystub can affect people’s trust, something especially important in small businesses where relationships are personal and communication is direct.
RUN provides data migration support led by an implementation specialist who manages the process from start to finish. ADP implementation specialists use automated conversion tools, validation checks and a detailed first payroll audit to support a smooth transition and align figures with previous records based on the information provided. This hands-on, detail-oriented approach helps businesses get up and running with greater confidence from day one.
For the client, this level of service provides assurance and peace of mind moving forward. As Marilyn McDermott, president of Marilyn McDermott Solutions, explains:
“Not only was all of my data pulled for me from my prior payroll company, but the ADP tax department was phenomenal in reconciling all of the taxes. As an accountant migrating more than 10 companies at the same time, ADP made switching to RUN Powered by ADP the easiest I have ever experienced with a payroll company. It’s now been a year since I switched over, and everything has continued to be a piece of cake!”
Connecting RUN Powered by ADP seamlessly with your existing systems
Many small businesses rely on systems like QuickBooks or time-tracking apps. There's a common concern that a new payroll solution won’t integrate smoothly, leading to manual uploads, duplicated data entry or reporting inconsistencies.
Manual data entry is one of the most common sources of payroll errors. When payroll and accounting systems don’t sync, financial visibility suffers, making cash-flow planning more difficult. Over time, repeated manual corrections become a costly operational burden.
RUN offers seamless integrations with popular accounting and time tracking systems. During setup, an implementation specialist collaborates with the business owner to map the chart of accounts so payroll data flows automatically into the general ledger. This real-time sync eliminates manual steps and helps ensure accurate financial reporting.
Avoiding errors in deductions, benefits & garnishments
Another stressful component of implementing a new payroll solution is ensuring deductions and benefits are set up correctly. Health insurance premiums, retirement plan contributions, wage garnishments and other pre- and post-tax deductions must be configured precisely. A single misclassification or missing limit can lead to paycheck errors, compliance issues or frustrated people questioning the accuracy of their benefits.
These mistakes matter because deduction and benefit inaccuracies can cause tax reporting discrepancies, missed employer contributions, delayed insurance enrollments or legal exposure when garnishments aren’t processed correctly. For small businesses, where every dollar and every employee relationship counts, even minor errors can escalate into time-consuming corrections
RUN helps eliminate these risks through guided, flexible setup wizards that walk business owners step-by-step through benefits, deductions and garnishment configuration. During implementation, ADP’s expert specialists review each setup choice, validate tax-sensitive settings and help ensure every benefit and deduction is mapped correctly from day one. This expert supported process helps give small business owners confidence in their payroll foundation and helps support future growth.
Simplifying multilevel payroll tax setup
Setting up federal, state and local tax jurisdictions during implementation can be overwhelming for small business owners. With different registration requirements, tax rates and compliance rules, even a single missed detail can trigger IRS or state notices months later.
Because tax compliance is one of the highest risk areas in payroll, even the slightest configuration errors can quickly lead to penalties and interest that impact a business’s bottom line.
RUN helps reduce that risk from day one. Its industry leading tax engine automatically identifies the correct tax jurisdictions using people’s address data and calculates and files taxes on your behalf. ADP tax specialists verify state and local account information and guide you if registrations are missing. With RUN keeping ahead of the latest state and federal tax laws and HR regulations with automatic updates covering all 50 states and handling all deposits and filings, small business owners gain confidence knowing their compliance needs are supported by automation, expertise and trusted tax professionals.
Confidently switching to RUN Powered by ADP
Switching payroll providers doesn’t have to be stressful. With RUN, small businesses get more than a payroll platform, they gain a partner. From day one, dedicated implementation specialists guide business owners through every step of the setup process, offering hands-on support for data migration, tax configuration, integrations and system customization. This personalized guidance can help facilitate a smoother, more accurate transition, while reducing the time and effort typically required to switch providers. And the support doesn’t stop there. RUN makes switching easier with expert-managed implementation and support every step of the way. With more capabilities than lightweight options, RUN gives small business owners confidence in payroll from day one, with the flexibility to adapt as their needs change — without adding complexity.
