10 Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in 2023

Deel is a payroll platform designed for businesses of all sizes. For small businesses looking for additional help, Deel lets you hire and pay freelancers and full-time employees from anywhere in the world without having to figure out local laws, tax systems, or international payroll. You also get access to Deel’s HR suite for free, allowing you to manage your entire team with professional and automated tools.

The Deel platform includes various elements that make it simple to pay employees and contractors without having to juggle several tools. The user-friendly interface incorporates features such as contract and stock option management, expense reimbursements, and compliance tracking for every client.

Employees and contractors can self-manage their pay and personal data, which reduces admin load. Deel uses major payment providers like Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, and Revolut to offer flexible withdrawal options and reduce unnecessary international transfer fees.

Deel has positive online reviews from clients and their workers. The company offers 24/7 online chat support.

Integrations are available natively with Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, Netsuite, Okta, OneLogin, Quickbooks, SCIM, Xero, Workday, and Workable.

Papaya Global is a payroll software for small businesses that helps companies remove barriers to global hiring. Papaya’s automated, SaaS platform provides an end-to-end global workforce management solution, from onboarding to cross-border payments in 160+ countries.

The platform supports all employee options (payroll, EoR, contractors), integrates with all management tools, and uses smart technology to ensure compliance and eliminate errors. It creates a highly visible system for tracking payroll spending and real-time business intelligence (BI). Papaya Global can help any company simplify global people management. Businesses can access Papaya’s state-of-the-art automation, security, and BI without replacing their existing payroll system.

Papaya Global integrates with most financial tools, as well as with BambooHR, Expensify, NetSuite, SAP SuccessFactors, and Workday.

Paychex Flex is an online platform that helps small businesses manage payroll and other HR functions. It allows employers to manage everything from calculating employee paychecks to managing employee health benefits and tracking time off requests. Users can access their accounts from anywhere, ensuring they always have access and control over their data. The platform offers features such as tax filing and compliance services, paperless onboarding tools, and employee self-service options.

Paychex Flex makes it easy for employers to track employees' hours worked and leave taken through its automated time-tracking feature. This ensures that employees are paid accurately according to the hours worked each week or day and any applicable overtime rates or vacation days taken off work. The software supports multiple payment methods for both direct deposit and paper checks. Additionally, it allows users to quickly generate reports on employee wages, salaries, overtime payouts, and deductions taken from wages, enabling businesses to stay compliant with local laws and regulations.

Paychex Flex helps simplify the filing process by automatically calculating all federal (IRS) and state tax requirements to ensure accuracy when filing returns. It also allows small businesses to make timely payments while avoiding late fees or penalties due to delayed filings or incorrect data entry.

The employee self-service portal feature allows employees to access their account information securely online without contacting HR for assistance. Employees can log into their accounts to view pay stubs, update personal information such as address changes, or view the status of benefits enrollment.

Paychex Flex integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks Online so employers can sync their payroll data across multiple systems for greater accuracy and convenience.

Paychex Flex protects users against online negligence resulting in a data breach, such as a hacker accessing confidential employee or customer information. Its cyber liability insurance helps small business owners protect themselves from potential public relations or litigation costs from the incident.

RUN by ADP is a small business payroll provider that helps you automate recurring payroll and file payroll taxes. The software also calculates benefits and retirement deductions, and flags potential errors to make sure you remain compliant when filing federal or local taxes.

Thanks to its automation features, RUN enables you to process invoices and run your payroll in a timely manner, so you can focus on your growing business. You can also set schedules for your team, see when they clock in and out of work and attach notes to shifts.

One of the good things about using this solution is that the system automatically keeps track of your team’s work and calculates everything for you. The automated payroll system ensures that you pay employees and file taxes on time, so you can save time managing this aspect of the business.

RUN by ADP integrates with many popular software systems, including Absorb LMS, Avionte, ClearCompany, Clockshark, Deputy, Dolce, FinancialForce, Infor, JazzHR, Oracle, PayActiv, PlanSource, QuickBooks, Replicon, Sage Intacct, SAP SuccessFactors, Sapling, TempWorks, Wave, When I Work, Workday, Xero, ZipRecruiter, 7shifts Restaurant Scheduling, and many more.

OnPay’s full-service payroll software helps entrepreneurs manage payroll, HR functions, and benefits all in one place. Their software includes a full suite of payroll services and compliance settings for all 50 states. For no additional cost, they also offer special payroll services for certain industries like restaurants, farms and agriculture, churches and clergy, and nonprofits. As well, OnPay offers great customer service, with platform specialists available to help you set up your payroll process and automate your taxes, even if you don’t have any previous experience with this kind of software.

To get your business up and running as fast as possible, new business owners will appreciate the free employee handbook and HR templates that are included in the platform. Essential HR tools such as automated onboarding flows, employee personnel files, document storage with e-sign capabilities, compliance audits, paid time-off tracking and task management features are also included.

Their team of licensed in-house insurance brokers also help small businesses set up health, dental and vision plans with top providers such as Humana, Cigna, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. Once in place, benefit costs are synced with payroll, which means you won’t have to worry about capturing any cost fluctuations yourself. Another interesting feature is their 401k integration that automatically supports employer matching and profit sharing options, and can garner small businesses extra tax credits.

OnPay integrates with Deputy, Magnify, Mineral, PosterElite, QuickBooks, When I Work, Xero, and with the 401k retirement platforms America’s Best 401k, Guideline, and Vestwell.

Patriot Payroll is an online payroll service provider that helps small businesses grow on a budget. Their software includes free payroll setup, free 2-day direct deposits, and free USA-based customer support. They also offer an add-on for time & attendance tracking, which links employee work hours directly to your payroll processing module, plus an add-on for HR software if you don’t already have a digital employee database.

Patriot’s full-service payroll platform acts as a concierge for US-based businesses and takes care of their local, state and federal taxes. The company’s customer service team also reaches out if they need more information to file your taxes, so you don’t have to worry about them yourself. Their system also includes a whole host of easy-to-access payroll reports covering tax credits, tax filings and deposits, payroll registers, paycheck histories, time off reports, W-2 summaries, payroll tax liabilities, and more.

The highlight of using this payroll service provider is its effectiveness. The tool is simple to navigate and use. Their information database is comprehensive, so you can get a detailed guide on how to complete your tax files, and their customer support service is always there.

Patriot integrates with Intuit QuickBooks Online, GoCo, Plaid, Workforce.com, and WorkforceHub Time & Attendance.

Gusto is a top payroll processing and HR solution that covers most of your workforce-related business needs. The platform has a simple design that makes it easy to use and its training materials are comprehensive, so you don’t need a payroll specialist or HR support to run it.

This software makes payroll and benefits administration a breeze. With automatic tax reporting, scheduled reminders, and a documents database, the platform helps you manage all your HR, accounting, legal, and taxes problems without hiring a specialist, making it ideal for early-stage startups.

Gusto stands out from its competition thanks to its ease of use and affordable pricing plans. The solution takes care of your W-2s and other tax items, it withholds money for health insurance and retirement plans, all while providing a great user experience.

Gusto integrates with many accounting and performance management platforms, including Xero, QuickBooks, Hubstaff, 7Shifts, Ardius, Box, Clover, Google Workspace, and others.

Ceridian Dayforce is a human capital management platform that helps small business owners manage their employees. The solution simplifies a lot of the problems managers encounter on a regular basis, such as payroll processing, employee onboarding, approving time off requests, managing employee benefits, and tax calculations.

This tool has a mobile app that acts as an employee self-service portal. The app helps your employees update their personal information, schedule time off, check their benefits, review earnings, and receive questionnaires or company news. Managers can also use the app to review requests in real-time and approve time sheets.

Dayforce’s dashboards help you make informed business decisions. The dashboards organize the data in actionable reports you can access at any time. Review your workers’ compensation, run payroll, and download tax forms with ease.

One of the great things about using this solution is that it offers flexibility in how you pay your employees with payment cards. The cards remove the hassle of paper checks and offer the convenience of a bank account without the monthly service fees.

Ceridian Dayforce integrates with other solutions, such as DATABASICS, Beekeeper, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, CIBC SmartBanking, and others.

Zenefits is a human resources platform that helps you run payroll and stay compliant. The software has a clean interface that makes it easy to navigate, and its automation features enables you to save time on repetitive tasks.

This tool can help you coordinate benefits, create a database for important documents, send offer letters, oversee paid time off, and do payroll taxes. The payroll processing features enable small business owners to set up payment via direct deposit and create all the documents you need for tax filing.

The highlight of using this software is that it increases your organization’s transparency regarding payment. Employees can keep track of their worked time, clock in and out, and track their PTO. The platform’s time tracking capabilities make it a good solution for businesses that collaborate with freelancers or contractors for their work.

Zenefits offers integrations with tons of accounting, communication, and productivity tools, including Spark, Microsoft Office, Slack, G Suite, Salesforce, Hive, Zapier, T-Sheets, Betterment, and others.

FinancePal is a flexible payroll outsourcing software solution that can encompass one or all of accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, payroll taxes, and custom projects. It comes with a free mobile app and personalized, a la carte pricing to suit both your business needs and your budget. It’s designed to save time by outsourcing repetitive or complicated payroll tasks.

FinancePal employs CPAs that they assign to clients so that your finances are handled by a dedicated team that will know the answers to every question you may raise or issue you may encounter. FinancePal can also help with customized financial reporting including expected and actual revenue, financial planning, and business growth.

FinancePal is a virtual bookkeeper, accountant, and tax prep associate so it’s not appropriate for companies looking to employ payroll software in-house for their own dedicated accounting team. Instead, FinacePal can be used as accounting and payroll support in addition to the HR tools you already use.

FinancePal integrates with QuickBooks, TSheets, ADP, Gusto, Hubdoc, and Bill.com.