Keeping up with ever-changing payroll laws and tax codes is a hassle for most businesses. There has to be an easier way to handle payroll while remaining compliant.
Sage Payroll aims to simplify payroll and HR tasks for SMBs with an intuitive platform that also automates complex processes behind the scenes.
With features like accurate payroll calculation, tax filing, mobile access, and more, Sage Payroll strives to provide the perfect blend of traditional payroll methods and modern solutions.
In this Sage Payroll review, we'll cover key features like payroll calculation, tax filing, payment options, reporting, mobile access, integrations, implementation and support details, pricing plans, competitor comparisons, and final recommendations to help you determine if Sage Payroll is the right fit your business needs.
Introduction to Sage Payroll
Sage Payroll is a cloud-based payroll management solution designed to help small businesses streamline and automate payroll processing. Founded in 1981, Sage has over 40 years of experience providing accounting, payroll, and other financial solutions to SMBs worldwide.
Some of the key capabilities and benefits of Sage Payroll include:
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Automated payroll processing: Sage Payroll can calculate paychecks, withholdings, deductions, and net pay automatically based on hourly/salary data, greatly reducing manual work.
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Tax filing and payments: The software can handle tax payments and filings to local, state, and federal agencies. This saves SMBs time and ensures compliance.
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Multiple integration options: Sage Payroll integrates with popular accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero as well as HR solutions like Zenefits. This allows easy data syncing.
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Mobile access: The Sage Payroll mobile apps enable remote access to the solution by employees and managers via iOS and Android devices. This allows managing payroll tasks on-the-go.
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Analytics and reporting: Robust reporting functionality provides insights into labor costs, overtime, paid time off accruals, and other KPIs to inform better workforce decisions.
With its robust feature set optimized for SMBs, Sage Payroll strives to make payroll and tax processes efficient, automated, and compliant for growing businesses. The solution aims to save managers time while providing employees with tools for convenient access to pay info.
Key Features and Benefits
Sage Payroll offers robust payroll management capabilities with advanced features that provide significant benefits for businesses.
Accurate Payroll Calculation
Sage Payroll accurately calculates all payroll elements for any pay period regardless of complexity. Key features include:
- Automatic salary, hourly, overtime, bonus and commission pay calculations
- Correct deduction amounts for taxes, insurance, 401K, garnishments etc.
- Proper application of complex rules like pre/post-tax deductions
- Flexible support for any pay schedule or pay frequency
This enables businesses to pay all employees correctly in compliance with regulations. HR teams save significant time by eliminating manual calculations and errors.
Payroll Tax Filing
Sage completely automates payroll tax payments and filings for federal, state and local authorities. Businesses can:
- Automatically calculate tax liability amounts each pay period
- Seamlessly pay taxes on time to avoid any penalties
- Electronically file required federal, state and local payroll returns
- Get reminders and alerts about upcoming tax deadlines
The automated payroll tax management ensures full legal and regulatory compliance. It also frees up payroll teams from this administrative burden.
Payment Flexibility
Sage Payroll supports multiple flexible pay options to suit business needs:
- Direct bank account deposits with customizable deposit schedules
- Pay cards that enable unbanked employees to access wages
- Paper check printing and delivery to employees who prefer checks
- Ability to offer different methods to different employee groups
This caters to employee payment preferences while maintaining efficiency for payroll teams.
Powerful Reporting
Sage provides a suite of over 100 built-in payroll reports covering:
- Labor costs, budgets and projections
- Tax payments and filings
- Deductions, contributions and garnishments
- Per employee and per department analysis
- Custom reports using multiple filters and parameters
The reporting enables deep payroll insights for data-driven decision making. It also simplifies compliance audits.
Mobile Access
Sage Payroll offers easy mobile access to payroll details via native iOS and Android apps. Key features include:
- Employees can view pay stubs, tax documents and payroll information
- Managers can approve timecards, overtime requests and more
- Admins get alerts and notifications plus basic reporting
- Support for punch-in/punch-out timesheets via GPS tracking
This allows convenient access to payroll data for employees and managers anytime, anywhere. It improves productivity and satisfaction.
With its robust features and various benefits, Sage Payroll provides a complete solution traditional payroll combined with modern conveniences. The powerful capabilities justify the costs for most businesses seeking advanced payroll management.
Payroll Integrations
Sage Payroll integrates seamlessly with many popular accounting, HCM, ERP, and other business platforms to streamline payroll and HR processes. This integration capability delivers key benefits:
Easy Data Sharing Between Systems
With Sage Payroll integrations, data flows automatically between the payroll system and other platforms like:
- Accounting software (e.g. QuickBooks, Sage 50 Accounting)
- HCM/HRIS systems (e.g. BambooHR, Gusto)
- ERPs (e.g. NetSuite, SAP)
Employees, pay rates, hours worked, and other data syncs between systems without manual entry or risk of error. This saves significant time and ensures accuracy.
Automated Payroll Tax Filing
Sage Payroll integrates with accounting platforms to seamlessly handle payroll tax payments and filings. Tax liability amounts automatically flow into the accounting system. Payments are initiated via linked bank accounts. Filings and other compliance documents are populated with payroll data and ready for digital submission.
Unified HR Data and Processes
Syncing Sage Payroll with HCM/HRIS platforms centralizes all employee records, from personal details to compensation and performance data. Key HR workflows like onboarding and offboarding are managed from a single system. This gives managers and HR professionals convenient access to comprehensive employee data in one place.
In summary, Sage Payroll's tight integrations eliminate duplicate data entry and provide connectivity between the payroll system and other critical business platforms. This saves time, reduces costs, minimizes errors, and creates a unified HR data foundation.
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Implementation and Support
Sage Payroll offers a quick and easy setup process to get businesses up and running with the software. Users can be guided through configuration in just a few simple steps.
Key features that enable rapid implementation include:
- Intuitive payroll dashboard with user-friendly navigation
- Step-by-step payroll setup wizard to walk users through configuration
- Seamless integration with popular accounting software
- Pre-built templates for taxes, deductions, pay types, etc. to accelerate setup
Additionally, Sage provides exceptional ongoing support resources:
- 24/7 chat and phone support with experienced payroll specialists
- Online knowledge base with searchable help articles and how-to guides
- Free customized onboarding and training to ensure correct software usage
- Proactive system notifications about regulation changes that may impact payroll
Sage's combination of simple software implementation and readily available support empowers businesses to quickly adopt automated payroll processes. The quick transition reduces manual tasks while ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance.
With Sage Payroll's user-friendly interface and stellar customer service team, users can implement a complete payroll solution rapidly. The software and support system work together to provide a payroll process that is easy to set up, learn, and run on an ongoing basis.
Pricing and Plans
Sage Payroll offers competitive pricing with several plan options to meet the needs of different business sizes and budgets.
Base Plan
The Base plan starts at $36 per month plus $4 per employee per month. It includes:
- Payroll processing for unlimited employees
- Direct deposit
- Tax filings
- Mobile app
- 24/7 support
This is a good option for small businesses with simpler payroll needs.
Premium Plan
The Premium plan starts at $62 per month plus $6 per employee per month. Additional features include:
- Customizable pay categories
- Automated garnishments
- Advanced reporting
- Integrations with accounting software
- HR admin portal
The Premium plan works well for medium-sized business with more complex payrolls.
Enterprise Plan
Pricing for the Enterprise plan is customized based on each client's needs. It has all the features of the Premium plan plus:
- Custom integration support
- Dedicated account manager
- API access
- Advanced HR functionality
The Enterprise plan is ideal for large corporations that need a high degree of customization.
Overall, Sage Payroll is competitively priced compared to other market solutions. Subscription costs are straightforward without hidden fees. Volume discounts may also be available for larger businesses. Free trials allow new users to test drive the system as well.
Alternatives to Sage Payroll
Sage Payroll provides a robust payroll solution for small to mid-sized businesses. However, there are a few other options on the market that offer comparable features and may better suit some organizations' needs:
Gusto
Gusto is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform aimed primarily at small businesses. Key pros and cons compared to Sage Payroll:
Pros
- Very user-friendly interface and easy for non-payroll specialists to use
- Integrated HR features like time tracking, PTO management, employee self-onboarding
- Benefits administration and health insurance available
Cons
- Less customizable than Sage Payroll for larger or more complex needs
- More expensive at scale compared to Sage Payroll
Paychex Flex
Paychex Flex provides payroll along with HR and other services. Here is how it stacks up to Sage Payroll:
Pros
- Lots of add-ons and integrations possible beyond just payroll
- Dedicated account manager and phone/chat support
- More tailored to specific industries
Cons
- Can get very pricey for additional services and features
- Not as user-friendly as Sage Payroll for running payroll itself
Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll is payroll software focused on simplicity and affordability. Some notable comparisons:
Pros
- Very affordable even at higher employee counts
- Simple interface for basic payroll needs
Cons
- Less robust features compared to Sage Payroll
- Limited HR functionality
While the alternatives outlined have their own advantages in specific situations, Sage Payroll strikes a strong balance between ease-of-use, customization, and value across varying business sizes and needs. For most small to mid-sized businesses, it remains a leading option to consider for handling payroll effectively.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Sage Payroll provides a robust yet user-friendly payroll solution for small to mid-sized businesses. By integrating payroll processing into Sage's wider accounting and financial software, it streamlines workflows and reporting for seamless business management.
Key advantages of Sage Payroll include:
- Automated payroll tax calculations and filings to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Integration with Sage Accounting reduces manual data entry and risk of errors
- Customizable pay types and schedules to handle complex pay needs
- Employee self-service portal for managing tax forms and payslips
Sage Payroll is ideal for growing companies that want an all-in-one solution for accounting, payments, and payroll under one trusted brand. It eliminates the need for multiple systems with its deep integration across Sage financial products.
We recommend Sage Payroll for U.S.-based small and medium businesses with 5-100 employees looking to modernize payroll processing while leveraging the convenience of existing Sage solutions. The online dashboard, mobile access, and automation make payroll simple for managers while enhancing efficiency company-wide.
