Your Options in Payroll Software, Packages, and Services

Let's take a look at a few of the vendors and products that typify the choices among payroll solutions.

Payroll Included in Software Packages

Payroll processing

is included in many accounting applications. Payroll may be an integral part of the accounting system or it may be sold as an optional, extra-cost module. The primary advantage of this method is that payroll data can integrate with the accounting database for two-way travel, both in and out of the accounting system. Coming out of payroll and into accounting is information such as salaries and wages costs for various divisions or departments.

Data can also be captured in the accounting system and then transferred to the payroll system. This is most common in time billing systems. A repair technician or a lawyer often bills by the hour. So it’s critical that all time worked be recorded and allocated either to a customer job or a client matter or to otherwise unbillable time. The total time charged per employee should balance with the hours worked in the payroll system. If it doesn’t, somebody's got some explaining to do.