April 2022 – Management Library

April 29, 2022November 23, 2022

Hashtag Legal Review: Business Formation With a Personal Touch

Hashtag Legal offers a modern approach to forming a business while providing a clear path through legal hurdles along the way. The law firm takes a personal approach to growing your company, offering services tailored toward your specific needs. This Hashtag Legal review reveals what the company brings to the table to help your business succeed.

Our Verdict

Hashtag Legal

Visit

Hashtag Legal works exclusively with small businesses in need of legal support. More specifically, fledgling or established small businesses located in either New York or New Jersey. Areas of legal aid include entity formation, registered agent service, trademarking, and more.

Custom plans based on your needs
The (un)business podcast
Strong customer support

Pricing is not transparent
Small boutique firm
Limited to New York and New Jersey

Hashtag Legal at a Glance

The Hashtag Legal LLC service focuses on small businesses wanting to overcome the industry’s legal pitfalls. The company meets these entrepreneurships where they are and works with them on an individual level. In doing so, Hashtag Legal helps get you exactly where you want to go.

There’s not one drop of pricing information anywhere on the website, so you’re forced to call them to work out those details. On the bright side, Hashtag Legal customizes all its cases, so static pricing doesn’t make sense anyway.

For such an unusual business model, the staff at Hashtag Legal can only practice in New York and New Jersey. Being a small firm, it may not be able to get to cases as quickly. However, the staff is good about handling communication and being upfront with this information.

Screenshot of Hashtag Legal homepage — **Source:** Hashtag Legal

Who Hashtag Legal is Best For

If you’re a small business located in either New York or New Jersey, it’s worth giving Hashtag Legal a call. Hashtag Legal understands the ins and outs of the legal system and wants to help you navigate the nuances of staying on the level. It views aid not as an obligation but as a partnership and will work with you until your legal intelligence is where you want it to be.

Screenshot of Hashtag Legal about us — **Source:** Hashtag Legal

Pricing

Pricing information does not exist due to the custom nature of Hashtag Legal’s approach to advice. The firm treats each consultation as a potential partnership and looks for ways to bring a small business into a safe legal area. Therefore, each contract is unique, and pricing is never the same.

Hashtag Legal Features

Hashtag Legal has an abundance of features to help businesses start on the right foot and continue to succeed. Below are the main features it offers and how you can use them to grow and protect your enterprise.

Screenshot of Hashtag Legal Services — **Source:** Hashtag Legal

Entity Formation and Advice

The Hashtag Legal LLC service has the information you need If you’re looking to establish your business as a limited liability company (LLC). The legal team will walk you through finding an appropriate name that sets your venture apart. From there, they will work with you to file the articles you need to make the formation official.

After setting up your LLC, Hashtag Legal is available to help understand tax requirements and file the necessary annual reports. Depending on how you set up your partnership with Hashtag Legal, they will continue to ensure you don’t miss any step along the way.

When the time comes, the law firm can help you create a corporation, once again taking you through the process from start to finish. Furthermore, Hashtag Legal can set up partnership agreements, add members, or develop shareholder strategy.

Registered Agent Service

You’re required to have a registered agent when you form an LLC. This registered agent is someone who receives legal documentation on behalf of the company in the event of a lawsuit. Hashtag Legal provides this service for a fee.

It’s worth noting that a registered agent must have a physical street address within the state you registered your business. Hashtag Legal has a physical address in both New York and New Jersey and is a reasonable choice if they are also the ones helping form your LLC.

Trademark and Copyright

Should your business have a unique concept or product that you want to protect, look no further than Hashtag Legal. The staff can help you file applications for trademarks or copyrights and help you distinguish which application you need.

Assistance extends to strategies that protect your trademarks and copyrights from those looking to steal your ideas. If push comes to shove, Hashtag Legal will file cease and desists to keep your intellectual property safe.

Contract Drafting and Review

Hashtag Legal’s expertise goes well beyond simply setting up an LLC. As an established business, Hashtag Legal can work with you on contract drafting with vendors, independent contractors, or employees themselves.

The law firm can help review and negotiate contracts on your behalf, so you don’t get the raw end of any deal. At times, the legal team will work with you to renegotiate and improve existing contracts, so your business gets the biggest bang for its buck.

Legal Strategy and Outside General Counsel

Hashtag Legal’s legal strategy extends to risk management and having programs in place to mitigate loss from theft, damage, or lawsuit. Should the need arise, you’ll have a lawyer always on call to answer questions and provide counsel as needed.

The (un)Business Podcast

Just this year, Hashtag Legal started producing its own podcast series. The podcast is completely free to listen to and offers a lawyer’s unfiltered take on common business issues. The first season revolves around dealing with conflict in an office setting.

Alternatives to Hashtag Legal

Hashtag Legal isn’t for everyone, especially if your business is located somewhere other than New York or New Jersey. Consider some of the best LLC formation services as viable alternatives to Hashtag Legal’s service.

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is all about getting your business up and running in a fast and budget-friendly way. For as little as $49 and 10 minutes, you can be the owner of your very own LLC. You can use ZenBusiness to connect with a registered agent no matter what state you’re located in. The downside is that it doesn’t have the personal touch that Hashtag Legal does.

The company is great for those who understand the LLC formation process and need to get the job done. It does not walk you through the process but instead relies on you to know each step along the way.

ZenBusiness does have expert support only a phone call away, but you’ll still need to know which questions to ask. To learn more about its services and pricing, read our complete review on ZenBusiness.

Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer has a “one plan fits all” membership for $39.99 per month, giving access to most of its many features. The monthly rate includes document creation, attorney services, and even formation services for an LLC or corporation. If you are a member, Rocket Lawyer discounts its registered agent service by 25%.

New businesses can take advantage of one flat rate for creating all the documents you’ll need and legal advice without having to pay any extra. Rocket Lawyer does offer an a la carte service if you need help in one specific area, but these prices tend to be quite high.

Rocket Lawyer will work with you every step of the way, but ultimately it’s up to you to know which documents you need to create and which legal questions to ask. Having an LLC formation service included is a huge bonus, even if Hashtag Legal provides a more personal approach. Read our Rocket Lawyer review to learn more.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent is more than just a registered agent service, providing the information entrepreneurs need to get a fledgling business off the ground. In addition to custom business advice, Northwest Registered Agent offers tools to start up an LLC in no time flat.

You can either pay an up-front rate of $225 (plus state fees) for filing and registered agent, or you can pursue a monthly VIP service ($40 to $80 depending on your state) containing ongoing help after your business is up and running. The VIP service also covers you when annual filings are due at the beginning of year two.

Northwest Registered Agent prides itself on being transparent with its information while protecting yours. The company takes a personal approach to each case and strives to be approachable no matter what method of communication you use. Read our Northwest Registered Agent review to learn more.

MyCompanyWorks

MyCompanyWorks showcases tools to both start and manage a company for years to come. The Basic plan for forming an LLC starts at $59 (not including state fees), with registered agent service an additional $99 per year. Higher-priced plans include a registered agent and other bonus features your company can benefit from.

You can supplement your new business with a domain or website from MyCompanyWorks if you don’t want to pay for these features on their own. There’s also a step-by-step startup wizard and will file the necessary paperwork on your behalf.

MyCompanyWorks also helps you manage your company by filing annual reports for you. These services start at $59 and ensure you don’t overlook any paperwork that needs to go out. Read our review on MyCompanyWorks to find out if it’s the right choice for you.

Bottom Line on Hashtag Legal Review

Hashtag Legal carefully walks entrepreneurs through the LLC creation process, ensuring you don’t leave any stone unturned during the process. The firm doubles as a registered agent and can handle any legal woes you may encounter down the road. Beyond company formation, Hashtag Legal offers several other tools to keep your business on top of its game.

Anyone looking to start an LLC or corporation in New York or New Jersey shouldn’t hesitate to give Hashtag Legal a call. They will work with you to develop a custom plan (and price) to get your business where you want it to be. This personal touch sets Hashtag Legal apart from the many cookie-cutter formation services that feel robotic.

April 28, 2022November 23, 2022

Paycor Payroll Review: Human Capital Management & Payroll Software

Paycor is a human resources (HR) software that features comprehensive human resource management and payroll tools. This software handles the bulk of employee recruiting, onboarding, management, benefits administration, and payroll.

Labeled as a human capital management (HCM) software, Paycor is ideal for companies that want a solution that offers more than what free payroll software does. It’s for companies who seek efficiency and optimization. In this Paycor payroll review, we’ll discuss its key features, who it’s best suited for, and close competitors.

Our Verdict

Paycor Payroll

From $99

Visit

Our Paycor payroll review concludes that this software offers a wide range of HR and payroll tools, along with additional add-ons like recruiting tools, time and scheduling, and benefits administration. If your company needs an extra hand to manage employees, Paycor is an excellent option.

The IRS levies billions of dollars per year from businesses due to payroll errors and violations. Automation through payroll software reduces the risk of errors and is critically important to set-up.

User-friendly interface with effortless onboarding
Easy to track time and vacation requests
Businesses can choose between several plans

Slow customer support responses
Somewhat limited integrations
Potentially too expensive for small businesses

Paycor Payroll at a Glance

Paycor starts at $99 per month, plus $5 per employee, per month, which is higher than most competitors. However, this higher price is warranted because its software offerings are a cut above other players in the space. Paycor is feature-rich, with dozens of ways to improve and optimize your business.

Who Paycor Payroll is Best For

Paycor is best suited for small to mid-sized companies that can’t afford to hire a full-time HR team. These are businesses where HR and payroll tasks fall upon other employees as secondary responsibilities. Instead of employing an entire HR team, Paycor offers a set of tools that help companies manage all aspects of their payroll and HR administration. Here’s an in-depth analysis on how to do payroll for small businesses.

Larger-sized businesses also benefit from Paycor’s complete human capital management toolkit. However, you’ll need to inquire with Paycor to get a quote on the cost for your specific company.

Pricing

If your company has fewer than 50 employees, Paycor payroll has four defined price tiers shown in the table below.

Companies with over 50 employees will need to discuss pricing plans with a Paycor solutions specialist. Furthermore, companies with over 50 employees will receive a three-month free trial, while companies under 50 employees will receive a one-month free trial.

Price

$99/monthly plus $5 per employee/month

$149/monthly plus $6 per employee/month

$199/monthly plus $7 per employee/month

$99/monthly plus $12 per employee/month

Payroll & Tax Service

Online Reporting

Onboarding & E-Verify

Workers’ Comp

360° 401(k) Integrations

Automated Workflows

The Basic plan is suited for businesses who want to pay employees accurately and quickly. In contrast, the Essential plan simplifies payroll processing on a scalable level. Additionally, the Complete plan offers more insights compared to the previous two tiers to enhance your business, and the HCM features everything you need in human capital management software.

Paycor Payroll Features

Paycor is a major player in the HR and payroll software space because of its robust offerings and features. Here’s a breakdown of each of Paycor’s key software offerings.

Payroll Software

Paycor’s payroll software ensures your employees are paid accurately and on time. Best of all, you don’t need to be a payroll expert or keep up with tax compliances. The software handles everything for you, including your payroll audits.

Paycor Payroll will calculate payroll taxes based on each employee’s Form W-4. All you need to do is enter the employee’s salary and choose the pay interval.

Features include:

Precise recordkeeping
Tax processing
Worker’s comp

HR Software

With the innovation of new technology, HR, in general, is moving toward automation through software. Rather than hiring a team of HR employees, you can utilize all the tools Paycor provides.

These tools include:

Employee recordkeeping
Employee self-service
Paperless document management
Automated workflows
Reporting & analytics
Performance management

Using HR software reduces the time spent on repetitive, low-impact administrative tasks. This allows your HR team to focus on more productive tasks and longer-term projects. HR software also reduces human error and offers more accurate analytics, as well as an improved organization of employee data.

Recruiting Software

To keep up with the ways candidates in modern times are applying to jobs, Paycor’s recruiting software strengthens your company’s ability to find top talent. This is achieved with Paycor’s software that reduces hiring barriers and allows applicants to apply on any device and from any location.

The recruiting software’s tools include:

Candidate dashboard
Custom hiring workflows
Remote hiring
Interview scorecards

Screenshot of Paycor recruiting software page — *(Source: Paycor)*

In essence, you can optimize and streamline every part of your recruiting and hiring process. The powerful analytics system also allows you to see where the top candidates are coming from and if there are any bottlenecks in your hiring process. You can also automatically list job postings on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, and Indeed.

Time & Attendance Software

Paycor’s time and attendance software manages time off and tracks hours worked. This allows you to effectively keep track of labor distribution with accurate and automated timekeeping.

Screenshot of Paycor’s time and attendance software page — *(Source: Paycor)*

If you’re entering time cards manually, it’s time to take advantage of more efficient solutions. The time and attendance software fully integrates with Paycor’s payroll software to offer a comprehensive bundle that eliminates duplicate data entry and improves payroll accuracy.

The time and attendance software tools include:

Mobile logging
Overtime insights
Time dashboard
Compliance checks
Attendance management

Accurate timekeeping is essential with the rise of U.S. labor costs. As such, there’s no room for error and your company needs to stay on top of its payroll. Read our article on how to convert minutes for payroll for a more accurate calculation.

Learning Management Software

Paycor also offers learning management software that gives employees the opportunity to learn and build new skills. The learning management software combines classroom, virtual, mobile, and social capabilities on one comprehensive platform. This allows employees to learn at their preferred pace.

Paycor’s visibility offers real-time reporting and automated alerts for course completions or achieved milestones.

The learning management software’s tools include:

Mobile learning
Gamification through leaderboards and badges
Detailed recordkeeping
Specialized compliance training programs

Alternatives to Paycor Payroll

Here are a few alternatives you can compare this Paycor review with:

Paychex

Paychex is another payroll and HR software company that services any sized business. Read the Paychex review to find out more on its features.
This software is best for medium-sized and growing businesses with 50 to 1,000+ employees
Both software offer remarkably similar features with Paychex providing better customer support while Paycor offers better performance management
Starts at $39/month + $5/employee

Gusto

Gusto is a full-service HR, benefits, and payroll software which serves over 100,000 small businesses in the U.S. Read our Gusto review to learn more.
It is optimal for new payroll managers and very small businesses that have one to ten employees
Gusto focuses more on payroll services than HR whereas Paycor focuses on both
Starts at $39/month + $6/month per employee

Paylocity

Paylocity is an HR and online payroll provider
The software is suited for mid-sized to large businesses that need an all-in-one payroll and HR software
Nearly identical in features offered, Paylocity’s user-interface is slightly more complex than Paycor
Starts at $45/month + $4/employee

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Paycor Payroll Review

We cannot finish our Paycor payroll review without answering a few lingering questions that might be on your mind. Here are a few questions we commonly get asked about Paycor and the answers that follow.

Is Paycor a good payroll service?

Paycor is a fantastic payroll service that has a robust product offering. It offers the best value for its price point and revolutionizes the way businesses are run. If you currently don’t utilize HR and payroll software, we recommend testing out the free trial.

Does Paycor process payroll?

Paycor automates the way payroll is processed with its technology. After you input key employee information such as the Form W-4, EIN, addresses, and bank information, Paycor can automatically send payments based on hours logged.

What is Paycor payroll?

Paycor features a full suite of HR and payroll tools that enhances and optimizes any business. Paycor helps businesses manage their employees more effectively and effectively. Deemed as a human capital management software, Paycor supports over 29,000 businesses.

How long has Paycor been in business?

Paycor was founded in 1990 and went public on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker PYCR on July 21, 2021. Paycor’s revenue in 2021 was $103 million and has a $5 billion market capitalization as of March 2022.

Is Paycor cloud based?

Paycor’s software is cloud based because its research discovered that HR teams spend 70% of their time on inefficient admin tasks. As such, cloud based software saves companies money by enabling HR teams to work on more valuable tasks.

Bottom Line on Paycor Payroll Review

Paycor is an excellent human capital management software that offers extensive HR and payroll tools. Based on the different pricing tiers, Paycor is suitable for any sized business that wants to optimize and automate its HR and payroll processes. The best recommendation we can give is to sign up for Paycor’s free trial. You’ll quickly learn if the software is right for your business and if it can improve it.

April 28, 2022November 23, 2022

7 Best Free Web Hosting Services – 2023

Creative illustration on free web hosting services

Building the website of your dreams doesn’t have to break the bank. Free web hosting services offer the means to create a personalized internet space without costing you a dime. Furthermore, these platforms have features to make the process simple. Check out our top picks below.

Best Free Web Hosting Services

InfinityFree – Best Overall
Wix – Best for Scaling
Weebly – Best for Ecommerce
Byethost – Best for Processing Speed
Bluehost – Best Paid Web Hosting Service
Ionos – Best for Unlimited Disc Space
NameCheap – Best for Website Building

InfinityFree

5GB

Unlimited

Included

Unlimited hosted domains and subdomains

$3.99 to $6.90 per month

Wix

500MB

Included

Assigned URL

$16 to $59 per month

Weebly

500MB

Unlimited

Included

1 subdomain

$6 to $26 per month

Byethost

1000MB

50GB

Included

5 add-on domains, 5 parked domains, 5 subdomains

$4.99 to $39.99 per month

Bluehost

50GB

Unmetered

Included

1 primary, 25 subdomains

$2.95 to $119.99 per month

Ionos

Unlimited

1 primary, 10,000 subdomains

$0.50 to $140 per month

NameCheap

20GB SSD

Unmetered

Included

3 hosted, 30 subdomains

$1.88 to $279.88 per month

InfinityFree: Best Overall Free Web Hosting Service

Price for paid plan: $3.99 to $6.90 per month

4.7

★★★★★

Visit

InfinityFree doesn’t hide behind fees or ads, giving 5GB as you see fit for data storage. You can bring over a domain name from elsewhere, but you’ll have to do the sourcing yourself. The free web hosting platform contains a multitude of scripts but also allows you to put any programming skills to good use. InfinityFree does prioritize its top paid servers, limiting server power for those at lower tiers.

Why we chose it: InfinityFree gives you full access to its hosting tools ad-free at absolutely no out of pocket cost.

Unlimited domains and bandwidth
Ad-free
Can import a domain name

Limited server power
No email accounts
Maximum 50,000 daily hits

Pricing: InfinityFree has three tiers of service to choose from, with the first being completely free. You’re limited to 5GB of disk storage, no email accounts, and a daily cap of 50,000 viewers. The good news comes in the form of unlimited bandwidth and domains.

At a $3.99 monthly rate, the SuperPremium tier showcases unlimited disk space, 100 email accounts, and unlimited daily hits on your site. The Ultimate Premium plan for $6.90 per month makes everything unlimited and gives you the most server power available.

Wix: Best Free Web Hosting Service for Website Scaling

Price for paid plan: $16 to $59 per month

4.5

★★★★★

Visit

Wix makes web creation simple with more than 500 templates to choose from and a drag-and-drop builder to customize the look further. It has a somewhat limited free version between bandwidth and storage space. You’ll be stuck with a Wix-based domain and ads on your site unless you choose to venture into paid plans.

Why we chose it: Wix’s free web hosting service features a drag-and-drop website builder with paid options to scale your business as the need arises.

Easy to scale and upgrade as needed
Over 500 customization options
Drag-and-drop builder

Minimal storage and bandwidth
No custom domains
Wix ads

Pricing: A free forever plan allows you to build your site from scratch with the help of templates and tools. You won’t be able to store much, and Wix branding gives off an unprofessional vibe. Customer support tends to be on the slow side, and there’s no option for online payments.

However, Wix lets you quickly jump into one of its paid plans for personal or business use. Those building informational websites can do so for as low as $16 per month with a few gigabytes of storage and no Wix ads. Upgrading to a higher tier unlocks visitor analytics and ways to boost your site on Google’s search engine.

For $27 each month, you can build an ecommerce site with the ability to handle online payments, build customer accounts, and remove those pesky ads. A free domain allows you to create a custom website to make your site stand out.

The Business VIP plan has no limits on storage space or video content while providing customized reports for your online store. You’ll also get moved to the front of the line with priority customer care.

Weebly: Best Free Web Hosting Service for Ecommerce

Price for paid plan: $6 to $26 per month

4.3

★★★★★

Visit

Weebly’s free plan is a solid introduction to retail-based businesses looking to take products to the online market. Its drag-and-drop builder makes website design a breeze. Ecommerce tools like a shopping cart, unlimited items, and inventory management make the process easy for you and your clients. You just need to get past a limited storage amount and watermark branding on everything you create.

Why we chose it: Weebly’s free plan has unlimited bandwidth and several ecommerce tools you can use to build a dynamic website.

Drag and drop builder
Several free ecommerce tools
Unlimited bandwidth

Weebly watermark on free websites
Only 500MB storage
No free domain

Pricing: Even at the free level, Weebly allows business owners to create a customized ecommerce site with all the tools needed to succeed. It’s possible to build a professional-looking online shop that customers will have no trouble navigating. You will have to settle with a Weebly domain name and its branding throughout your site.

Once you enter the paid tiers at $6 per month, Weebly gives access to a custom domain, although there’s an additional out-of-pocket cost to do so. Weebly’s branding fades away, giving your site a more personal and professional vibe.

Moving to the professional plan at $12 per month removes ads and hands you a free domain to use as you see fit. You’ll have added security and the opportunity to contact customer support by phone instead of email or chat.

At $26 per month, your site can make use of Paypal payments, marketing tools, and ecommerce insights. You’ll have a priority support line to sort things out if you encounter any issues.

Byethost: Best Free Web Hosting Service for Processing Speed

Price for paid plan: $4.99 to $39.99 per month

4.1

★★★★★

Visit

Byethost has hosted over one million websites through its free and paid plans. It’s hard not to enjoy fast speeds and 50GB of bandwidth to work with each month, even if you’re limited to 1GB of storage. You’ll need to keep file sizes under 10MB and may have to wait for a response from customer support when asking a question. Fortunately, Byethost’s free plan doesn’t subject you to any branding or ads, so you can truly personalize your site.

Why we chose it: Byethost shines with blazing-fast load times and 50GB of bandwidth each month and not a single ad in sight.

Lightning-fast processing speeds
Ad-free
Free hosting tutorials

Limited storage space
Customer support limited to tickets
10MB maximum file size

Pricing: Byethost splits its paid plans into premium and business hosting to accommodate different demands. Premium hosting starts at $4.99 per month and removes limits on disk space. Bandwidth increases to 250GB alongside a boost to domains and 100 email addresses. For $7.99 monthly, you can make all those features unlimited.

Business hosting functions much the same way. For $19.99, you’ll receive 1000GB of bandwidth and up to 100 add-on domains. Paying $39.99 offers unlimited use of everything Byethost brings to the table.

Bluehost: Best Paid Web Hosting Service

Price for paid plan: $2.95 to $119.99 per month

4.8

★★★★★

Visit

Bluehost gives you plenty for free, from a domain to a consultation that helps you identify the hosting plan best for you. Hosting itself is not free but only runs $2.95 per month for a shared plan with unmetered bandwidth and 50GB of storage for your data. You’ll have to pay extra or bring your own marketing tools and work from one primary domain unless you plan to upgrade.

Why we chose it: Bluehost is one of the most affordable web hosting plans out there, offering unmetered bandwidth, decent storage, and a free domain for an entire year. To learn more about its features and pricing, check out our comprehensive review on Bluehost.

Unmetered bandwidth for your site
Can do shared or dedicated hosting
Free domain for a year

No completely free plan
Marketing tools not included
Only one primary domain

Pricing: The lowest you can go with Bluehost is shared hosting at $2.95 per month. This low-priced plan is great for startups and includes 50GB of storage space and 20 MySQL databases. Upgrading to the plus plan at $5.45 or beyond unlocks unlimited storage, MySQL databases, domains, and even some spam controls.

Bluehost also has virtual private servers (VPS) starting at $19.99 per month with the tools you need to build unique and dynamic websites. Your information gets stored on fast solid-state drives, and there’s no limit to the number of domains or websites you use. Depending on which tier you choose, you’ll have an increasing amount of storage and upwards of 3TB of unlimited bandwidth.

For those needing dedicated servers, Bluehost has you covered as well. Ranging between $79.99 and $119.99 per month, the web hosting provider awards you a dedicated CPU with a minimum of 1TB raid level storage. Your plan determines whether your network bandwidth is 5 or 15TB and how much RAM you have access to. Bluehost even throws in a free domain for the first year.

Ionos: Best Web Hosting Service for Unlimited Disk Space

Price for paid plan: $0.50 to $140 per month

4.6

★★★★★

Visit

Ionos doesn’t have a web hosting free trial per se, but a 30-day money-back guarantee is the next best thing. In addition, its business plan is only $0.50 per month for the entire first year. This middle-tier plan includes unlimited storage, bandwidth, and 24/7 customer service. You’ll also receive a free domain and email, but be aware that the email has a small amount of storage space.

Why we chose it: Ionos costs next to nothing for the first year while offering top-tier features to build your website. A 30-day money-back guarantee gives a no-risk look into everything the service has to offer. Read the Ionos review to learn more about its pricing and features.

30 day money-back guarantee
Very low introductory price
Many unlimited features

Not completely free
Price jumps after the first year
Limited email storage

Pricing: While there’s no completely free plan, it’s hard to pass up so many tools at $0.50 each month for the first year. This level of service comes with several unlimited features such as storage, traffic, and bandwidth. You’ve given a free domain and email for signing on as well. Those into programming have several options at their fingertips as well.

Ionos also offers VPS for as low as $2 per month for 10GB SSD storage and 512MB of RAM. Plans and storage increase from there, topping off at $18 per month. Each plan contains dedicated resources, unlimited traffic, and 99.99% uptime.

The hosting service also features dedicated server options, with storage on HDD or SSD, depending on the plan. Pricing starts at $45 per month with a free domain and unlimited traffic. For $140 per month, you’re looking at 64GB of RAM alongside 800GB of SSD storage space.

Namecheap: Best Web Hosting Service for Website Building

Price for paid plan: $1.88 to $279.88 per month

4.5

★★★★★

Visit

Namecheap offers a 30-day web hosting free trial to test out its services before diving into one of its low-cost plans. You’ll have a reasonable 20GB and three domains to play with, even at the lowest level. Constructed around cloud storage, the platform boasts 100% uptime and frequent backups. However, phone support is lackluster, and the mobile app struggles to handle commands.

Why we chose it: Namecheap stands out as a free website builder and scripting tools that allow a vast range of customization. Check out our best website builders list if you want to build your website.

Unmetered bandwidth
Robust website builder
Free 30-day trial

Not completely free
No phone support
App is known to have issues

Pricing: Namecheap has a ton of pricing options that span from shared hosting to dedicated servers. After the 30-day web hosting free trial, you can continue service for as low as $1.88 per month. This low price point includes three websites, a domain, and 20GB of storage. You can increase these numbers for a few dollars more per month.

Additional plans come in the form of managed WordPress hosting from $4.88 to $13.88 per month. The plan provides a WordPress website and dashboard to manage it with ease. These services do have a visitor cap that you won’t be able to exceed.

There are two VPS hosting options, with the Pulsar plan coming in at $9.88 per month. Features include 2 CPU cores, 2GB of RAM, and 40GB of storage on an SSD hard drive. Quasar will set you back $17.88 monthly but doubles the cores and triples storage space.

You can even use Namecheap to set up a dedicated server, although plans are no longer cheap. Ranging from $49.88 to $279.88 for a single month, these plans are best-suited for those needing to maximize website speed for a large number of customers.

Methodology for the Best Free Web Hosting Services

Choosing the best free web hosting service is no easy task. Here are the features we studied to narrow down our selection:

Disk Space: Disk space is essential for data storage across your website. This storage keeps all your documents safely in physical data centers that clients access when visiting your site. You’ll need to have enough for all the files you’ll ever need to use for visual effects and the code required to navigate your site. Furthermore, you may need space for information from users, including order submissions and documents you request.

Bandwidth: Bandwidth provides the passageway on the information superhighway that consumers use to give and receive data from your site. Slow bandwidth speeds require more time for websites to load or consumer clicks to take effect. In this fast-paced world, even a few seconds of delay can spell the difference between a customer staying on your page or not. Alongside bandwidth speeds, some web hosting services will cap the amount of data your site can handle each month. Reaching this cap means users will no longer be able to visit your site until the month ends.

Domains: A domain is your website’s unique moniker, and the address customers have to remember (or bookmark) to revisit your page. Using something unique and personal tends to resonate more with consumers looking for something special about your site. The best free web hosting services provide a free, customizable domain you can use to give your business a leg up on the competition. Domains are usually free for the first year, requiring an additional fee to maintain them after that.

Security: SSL certificates encrypt data flowing to and from your website so that only one specific user can access it. These certificates protect personal information and credit card numbers to keep your clients safe from identity theft. With demand for SSL certificates on the rise, most free web hosting services will include one for free. It’s not advisable to choose a web hosting platform that doesn’t offer one.

Uptime: Your website needs a good foundation to run smoothly. Top web hosting services have the features in place to provide 99 or 100% uptime to minimize the time users are unable to visit your online business.

Ads: Free web hosting platforms may sneak in ads or branding in an attempt to recoup money lost by offering services for free. You can avoid these by paying, but the best platforms don’t bother with ads in the first place.

Customer Support: A website may be the only means of revenue for online businesses. Any time a website goes down means a loss of income and customer frustration. When things do go awry, you want to know who you can get in touch with to fix the problem as soon as possible. Most services don’t throw a lot of customer support toward free plans, limiting interaction to a forum or support tickets. Look for the ones that offer chat or phone access as well.

Price: Free web hosting services will only get you so far. If you want your business to grow, you’ll eventually need to update to a paid plan with more features and functionality. Even if you’re not ready for this stage, planning ahead can save time and headaches when switching plans in the future. The last thing you want to do is bottleneck yourself into a plan you don’t need or have to switch providers and rebuild your site from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Free Web Hosting

This FAQ addresses some of the most common questions surrounding free web hosting services. Read on to hear the answers.

Is Free Hosting Safe?

Yes, free web hosting is safe with the right security features in place. Using a service that provides an SSL certificate helps protect you and your clients from cyberattacks.

What Is Web Hosting Versus Domain?

Web hosting represents the physical location your website data gets stored. A domain is similar to a street address that customers use to locate your specific site. You’ll need both of these to have a working and accessible website.

Is Free Web Hosting Really Free?

Yes, free web hosting is really free, at least initially. Read the fine print to ensure you won’t have any costs to deal with after the first year.

How Do I Permanently Buy a Domain Name?

There’s no way to buy a domain name permanently. You can only rent these for a certain period of time. If you find one you really like, it is possible to reserve the domain for a very long time.

So What’s the Best Free Web Hosting Site?

Web hosting services are essential for anyone looking to introduce their business to the internet. While a majority offer only paid services, some feature rudimentary free plans to get your site up and running. Once you’ve generated a stable flow of clients, it’s best to look beyond free services to allow your business to continue growing.

April 28, 2022March 29, 2023

How to Do Payroll Yourself in 15 Steps

Payroll is an essential part of any business, whether you have one employee or 10,000. Do-it-yourself payroll can lead to costly mistakes and delays without the right know-how. This article explains how to do payroll successfully in 15 straightforward steps.

You should check out these payroll tools to make your life easier!

How to Do Payroll Yourself In 15 Steps

Running payroll is not simple, with many pieces to consider. Having an understanding of each piece is paramount to an issue-free result. Below we take a detailed look at each step that makes up the process.

Step 1: Acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Before thinking about payroll, you need to legitimize your business with the federal government. While sole proprietorships can get by using the owner’s social security number for tax purposes, any venture paying employees requires an employer identification number. This nine-digit number is unique and differentiates your company from all others.

To acquire an EIN, simply pay a visit to the IRS site to check eligibility and submit an application. The process is free, and you’ll receive your number shortly after completing the process.

Step 2: Register Your Business in Your State

Every state is different when it comes to requirements for registering a business. Some states require a state-level EIN, while others mandate registration with specific agencies. Be sure to check in with your state to see what’s required.

Step 3: Understand Local, State, and Federal Laws

Federal, state, and sometimes local governments have labor laws that you as a business owner have to comply with. When laws differ across government levels, you’ll have to use the one that best benefits your employees.

Payroll Laws can vary significantly from state to state or city to city. Here are some important payroll items you should look out for:

Minimum wage
Timeframe for delivering paychecks
How to calculate overtime
If there is local income tax
Worker’s compensation requirements
Information required on pay stubs

Step 4: Figure Out Who You’re Going to Pay – and How

This may seem like a no-brainer, but your team may not have defined roles in a new enterprise. You’ll need to assign hourly rates or a salary for individuals working for you, and pay may not be the same if someone wears several hats. Make sure there aren’t any assumptions or miscommunications that could spell disaster when payday rolls around.

You also need to decide who is an employee and who you’re keeping on as an independent contractor. Independent contractors pay their own taxes, and you only need to pay them a flat rate for their services each week. You’re not required to include independent contractors on your payroll, but you do need to keep all employees on the books.

It’s illegal to misclassify employees as independent contractors, so be very careful when assigning these titles to anyone you work with. Mistakes here can lead to issues involving fines or worse. There are differences between the two roles to help you make proper designations.

Step 5: Have Employees Fill Out Forms

After you’ve identified who your employees are, each one will need to fill out a W-4 form to document their filing status. This document tells you as an employer the tax rate you need to use for each employee. Your workers also need to complete an I-9 form to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. Be aware that some states may have forms of their own as well.

Step 6: Decide on a Pay Schedule

With your team in place, you need to decide how often you pay them. Whether it’s once a week or twice a month, it’s important to be transparent with this information up front and stick to it. Failing to do so can result in upset employees or a high turnover rate that can affect the success of your business.

Step 7: Track Employee Hours

Salaried employees aside, you’ll need to keep tabs on how much time each hourly team member spends working each day. Most companies do so through time cards employees use to identify when they’re on or off the clock. Knowing to the minute how long your employees work each pay period is essential for calculating accurate wages. Read our article on how to convert minutes for payroll for a more accurate calculation.

Step 8: Calculate Gross Wages

At the end of a pay cycle, you’ll calculate gross wages from an employee’s hourly rate and the number of hours they worked, up to 40 hours. You’ll have to factor in overtime for any work beyond that, which usually amounts to 1.5 times the base rate. Salaried employees are easier to calculate, as each should have a set amount earned for each pay interval.

Step 9: Deduct Amounts for Tax Purposes, Retirement Accounts, Insurance

Calculating gross wages is necessary, but this is not the amount you’ll pay your team. It’s crucial to know which payroll deductions to remove from each employee’s paycheck and subtract those from gross pay.

Payroll deductions come in many forms, but the most common is for tax purposes on both the state and federal level. Employees filled out W-4 forms to declare the rate you need to tax them, and you’ll need to make this unique calculation for each team member. The IRS created an Excel spreadsheet to make the process a little easier.

Some deductions are pre-taxed, and you’ll need to remove these before calculating payroll taxes. Typical examples of pre-taxed deductions are employee contributions to a health insurance plan or a 401(k).

You’ll need to take out other deductions after calculating payroll taxes. Amounts removed in this way are typically Roth IRA contributions, life insurance policies, and wage garnishments.

This area can get a little tricky, especially when it comes to pre-and post-tax deductions. It may be easier to list each deduction on a separate line when running calculations to reduce errors.

Step 10: Finalize Employee Net Pay

With a complete list of gross wages and deductions in hand, you’ll calculate net pay, the actual amount that will go on an employee’s paycheck. To reach an amount for net pay, you need to subtract all deductions from the gross pay amount.

Step 11: Determine Amounts for Employer Taxes

After you’ve figured out how much you’re going to pay each employee, you still need to deal with employer taxes. As an employer, you’re required to pay two different taxes on the federal level. The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax covers social security and Medicare, whereas the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) goes toward federal unemployment insurance.

You’ll have to calculate these taxes based on each employee’s taxable gross wages. Rates on each of these taxes change from time to time, so check with the IRS to ensure you’re paying the correct amounts.

Similarly, states mandate you pay a state unemployment tax (SUTA) to help fund unemployment programs. Each state has its own tax rate that can vary depending on how much you pay employees and those you’ve laid off.

Step 12: Double Check All Your Work

We all make mistakes, but in the world of payroll any error can be a costly one. You’ll have to make up the difference any time you underpay an employee, which can cause a panic any time budget numbers are tight. On the other side, you can reclaim overpayments made to an employee, but likely not without hurt feelings and damaged relationships.

The same holds true when submitting payroll taxes to the government, although they may be less forgiving. Miscalculations can result in fines that your company can’t afford to pay.

It’s always best to double-check all your calculations before submitting any payments to help avoid these issues. Even though looking over the numbers again requires time, it can save time in the long run instead of locating and fixing mistakes after the fact.

Step 13: Send Out Payments

Once you’re happy with the numbers, it’s finally time to send out some checks. The most common methods for doing so are direct deposit into a bank account or with paper checks. No matter which route you go, be sure to attach a pay stub that explains how you came to this amount. Don’t forget that some states require certain information to appear on a pay stub.

Step 14: File Tax Forms and W-2s

Checks are out the door, but your work isn’t quite finished. You’ll need to pay those FICA taxes to the government quarterly using Form 941. These taxes are due on the final day of the month following the end of a quarter.

You’re responsible for FUTA taxes once per year using Form 940 on January 31st for the previous year. Lastly, business owners must fill out a W-2 form for each employee by January 31st, containing yearly wages and deductions for the previous year.

Step 15: Document Everything

As you perform your payroll, be sure to document everything you do. Not only is this beneficial for your records, but federal and state governments require having this information on hand. You’ll need to keep the documents for whatever duration state and federal governments require. Moreover, to perform a payroll audit, you need comprehensive and accurate payroll documentation.

Using Payroll Services to Run Payroll

Do-it-yourself payroll can be a very time-consuming process, especially as your company grows. You’re more likely to make mistakes in a manual process that can lead to delays in payment or more headaches down the road. Fortunately, payroll services can help alleviate the strain of running the numbers every pay period. Below are some of the ways using a payroll service can make life easier.

1. Save Employee Information

Payroll services typically use the power of the cloud to securely save important payroll information. Not only can you access this information from anywhere, you won’t have to re-enter the same data each time you sit down to crunch numbers. The platform keeps track of salaried or hourly pay as well as tax rates and the like.

2. Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local Laws

As you register payroll software for use, you’ll need to share your business’s location. In doing so, the software can look into payroll laws relevant to you specifically. Knowledge of these laws can prevent issues with paychecks and ensure you’re providing the information you need to the government and employees.

3. Reduce Errors

It is better to use a computer that won’t make mistakes when calculating payment amounts for each of your employees than by hand. These payroll services can automatically calculate deductions from information you provided when you hired the employee.

Unless you use a service with built-in time tracking, you’ll still have to log employee hours each week. However, the amount of work required of you each week goes significantly down.

4. Does Taxes for You

Since these payroll systems are aware of current tax rates, it can make normally challenging math a breeze. You won’t have to think twice about coming up with amounts for quarterly and annual employer taxes. Some software will even generate forms to send the government and employees as required.

5. Regain Lost Time

Payroll services automate much of the process, giving you back all the time it would take to perform do-it-yourself payroll. The challenge will be figuring out which other area of your business to spend this newfound time in.

6. Payment Reminders

When the time comes to pay your employees or the government, payroll services can leave you a reminder to that effect. These services can automatically send out direct deposits for you or leave paper checks stacked on the printer. Even in the busy shuffle of work life, you shouldn’t miss a payment that could leave you in hot water.

7. Generate Checks and Pay Stubs

Payroll tools also have the ability to create paychecks printable with the click of a button. It’s also possible to generate customizable pay stubs with information required from state or federal governments.

8. Log Employee Hours

You will need to log hours for non-exempt employees to know how much to pay them each cycle. Payroll services may include a means to track hours through a digital time card or by having employees log hours manually. The information gets logged right into your payroll system so you don’t have to transfer it over from elsewhere.

9. Customer Support

In the event of an issue, most payroll services have a customer support line you can reach out to deal with the problem quickly. When you’re under a time crunch, it’s essential to have others on hand that can walk you through a process or clear up a discrepancy.

10. Cost

Some payroll software options charge for their services, but many of these are still cheaper than paying an employee or outside company to do the work for you. Others have free payroll features at least as the base level to get your payroll up and running.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Do Payroll Yourself

There are many questions surrounding do-it-yourself payroll. This FAQ aims to tackle some of the more common ones.

Do I Need Payroll for One Employee?

Yes, you’re still required to do payroll with only one employee. It’s necessary to withhold taxes and pay the government its due. If you opt to perform payroll manually, the process should be reasonably quick.

Is it Legal to Pay Employees in Cash?

Yes, it is perfectly legal to pay employees in cash. You do want to make sure to deduct for taxes and benefits just as you would if paying by other means. Document all payments well to avoid questions in the future.

Is Doing Payroll Hard?

Payroll can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not well-versed in tax information or struggle with math. A lot can go wrong, and these payroll mistakes can cause repercussions that can affect you for a long time. If in doubt about doing your own payroll, consider using a payroll service to do the work for you.

Bottom Line on How to Do Payroll Yourself

Do-it-yourself payroll is an option for any business but requires a significant amount of time to complete, especially as you bring on new staff. The increased risk of error in the manual process can lead to delays and fees that any company is better off avoiding. Payroll services such as Gusto and Square can remove the strain of payroll by automating calculations and saving time.

April 27, 2022November 23, 2022

How to Convert Minutes for Payroll in 3 Steps + Free Conversion Chart

Materials for converting minutes for payroll

If you own a small business with multiple hourly workers, it’s essential to convert minutes for payroll when your employees work partial hours. Converting their time worked to exact minutes prevents a lot of payroll problems in the future. It also provides accurate wage distribution to ensure your employees aren’t overpaid or underpaid.

How to Convert Minutes for Payroll in 3 Steps

There are two strategies when you want to convert minutes for payroll. You can either use the actual hours worked or round the hours to the nearest quarter.

We recommend using the actual hours worked because rounding can lead to overpaying or underpaying your employees in the long run. No matter which method you choose, learning how to convert minutes for payroll involves three quick and easy steps.

Step 1: Calculate Total Working Hours and Minutes

Decide if you want to use actual hours worked or rounded hours worked in your payroll conversion calculations.

Actual Hours Worked

To calculate your employee’s actual hours worked, you’ll need the total hours and minutes they worked for the payment period. You can find these exact numbers by gathering timesheets or time and attendance records for each of your employees.

Let’s go over an example timesheet for a weekly hourly wage employee. In this example, the employee doesn’t take lunch breaks, so he doesn’t clock in and out for lunch.

Clock-in & out times

9:00 AM – 5:15 PM

9:10 AM – 5:30 PM

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

9:15 AM – 5:25 PM

9:05 AM – 4:55 PM

Total Time Worked

8 Hours & 15 Minutes

8 Hours & 20 Minutes

8 Hours

8 Hours & 10 Minutes

7 Hours & 50 Minutes

To calculate total hours worked, add up the total number of hours across the five days. Only add the hours, you will add the total minutes separately.

Total hours: 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 7 = 39 hours

Next, add up the total minutes the employee worked.

Total minutes: 15 + 20 + 10 + 50 = 95 minutes

Convert 60 minutes of the employee’s total 95 minutes to equal one hour.

95 minutes – 60 minutes = 1 hour and 35 minutes

As such, the employee worked a total of 40 hours and 35 minutes for the week.

Rounded Hours Worked

You also have the option to convert minutes for payroll by using rounded hours. If you choose this method, federal law states that you must practice accurate rounding or risk violating FLSA minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.

With rounded hours, you can round the employee’s time to the nearest quarter of an hour. A quarter of an hour is 15 minutes so you can round to :00, :15, :30, or :45.

Employee time from 1 to 7 minutes past the previous quarter can be rounded down. For example, if an employee works 8 hours and 6 minutes, their rounded hours would be 8.

Employee time from 8 to 14 minutes past the previous quarter must be rounded up and counted as a quarter-hour of work time. For example, if an employee works 8 hours and 27 minutes, their rounded hours would be 8.5.

Round Down

7 minutes or less past the previous quarter (1-7, 16-22, 31-37, 46-52)

Round Up

8 minutes or more past the previous quarter (8-14, 23-29, 38-44, 53-59)

Step 2: Convert the Minutes to Decimals

The next step is to convert only the minutes worked to a decimal.

For example, let’s say your employee worked 40 hours and 15 minutes during the week. You would divide only the 15 minutes by 60 minutes to receive your decimal.

15/60 = 0.25

This means that the employee worked 40.25 hours during the pay period.

You can also use our time conversion chart to convert minutes for payroll quickly:

Payroll Minutes to Decimals Conversion Chart

0.02

0.27

0.52

0.77

0.03

0.28

0.53

0.78

0.05

0.30

0.55

0.80

0.07

0.32

0.57

0.82

0.08

0.33

0.58

0.83

0.10

0.35

0.60

0.85

0.12

0.37

0.62

0.87

0.13

0.38

0.63

0.88

0.15

0.40

0.65

0.90

0.17

0.42

0.67

0.92

0.18

0.43

0.68

0.93

0.20

0.45

0.70

0.95

0.22

0.47

0.72

0.97

0.23

0.48

0.73

0.98

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

Step 3: Multiply Calculated Time by the Wage Rate

Once you convert the employee’s time, it’s time to calculate how much you need to pay them. Take the employee’s hourly wage rate and multiply it by their decimal time.

For example, if the employee worked 40.25 hours and earns $20 an hour, you would take 40.25 and multiply it by 20.

40.25 hours x $20.00 = $805.00

The employee’s total wages before payroll taxes and deductions are $805.00.

How to Track Converted Minutes for Payroll

One of the most common issues with payroll processing is finding a way to convert minutes for payroll when you have many hourly workers. Converting each employee’s total hours worked by hand is time-consuming and prone to human error.

There are two better solutions we recommend for your business.

1. Payroll Software

The best way to track your employee hours and convert them to decimals is through payroll software like Gusto. Gusto will sync your team’s hours automatically, convert the hours to decimals, and pay your employees.

You can also use Gusto to track your team’s hours. Employees can log their hours using Gusto’s desktop website or mobile app. To avoid misuse, you can designate office sites and specific locations where your employees are allowed to clock in and out.

In essence, Gusto handles all of your payroll processing tasks accurately and quickly. You’ll be able to manage your team from a single location rather than using multiple software and apps. Read the review on Gusto to know more about this payroll tool.

2. Spreadsheet

Another way to convert minutes for payroll is by using spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This is the best option for businesses that don’t want to invest in payroll software but also don’t want to calculate wages by hand.

Create a payroll processing spreadsheet and list out the appropriate columns with each of your hourly employees. Then, input their hours worked after each pay period and run a simple formula to convert minutes for payroll.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Convert Minutes for Payroll

At this point, you should fully understand how to convert your employees’ minutes for payroll. However, let’s discuss a few additional questions that business owners commonly ask us.

What is 20 minutes of an hour for payroll?

Based on the time conversion chart above, 20 minutes is equivalent to 0.33 hours. By dividing 20 by 60, you arrive at the correct answer. No matter how many minutes you have, divide it by 60 because that’s how many minutes are in one hour.

What is the best way to convert minutes for payroll?

The best modern solution to convert minutes for payroll is using payroll processing software. Great options include Gusto and Square Payroll. These payroll processors track hours worked, convert minutes to decimals, and send payments to your workers. If you currently convert minutes by hand, we highly recommend opting for a more robust solution with payroll software.

Why should I convert minutes for payroll?

Converting minutes for payroll allows you to pay your hourly employees accurately. Overpaying or underpaying your hourly employees can add up over time, so it’s essential to be completely accurate. This saves you from major headaches down the road.

Bottom Line on How to Convert Minutes for Payroll

Although it’s straightforward to convert minutes for payroll, it can be extremely time-consuming if you have a large workforce. You’ll need to run separate calculations for each employee and double-check them to ensure they’re accurate. Nonetheless, your goal is to translate each employee’s hours worked into decimal form. Then, you multiply it by the employee’s pay rate.

If you’re interested in optimizing your payroll process, Gusto tracks employee working hours and calculates their decimal number automatically. You’ll receive a detailed cost report of wages and taxes each pay period without having to complete any manual calculations.

April 27, 2022November 23, 2022

Payroll for Specific Jobs: Best Payroll Software By Industry

payroll software by industry concepts on a desk

Different industries have different needs and payroll obligations, so it’s essential to find the best payroll software for your industry. You may need specific payroll software that makes it easy for you to pay contractors or full-time employees, for example.

1. Nanny Payroll

Whenever you hire a nanny, it counts as adding a household employee and puts you on the hook with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You’ll need to file Schedule H (household employment taxes) payroll taxes. Failure to do so may result in large fines. There are many nanny payroll software solutions that can simplify and automate the majority of the nanny payroll process.

The best software for nanny payroll includes:

SurePayroll
Paychex
HomePay
NannyChex

Each of these software solutions offer nanny payroll services that help you file taxes correctly and avoid IRS penalties. By using one of the nanny payroll solutions, your only job will be to enter your nanny’s hours or salary, preview the taxes, and approve the payroll. The software will handle everything else.

2. Construction Payroll

Construction projects involve large teams and an extensive hierarchical structure. Dealing with all the different employee hours, salaries, and taxes for a big group isn’t easy or enjoyable. However, construction payroll software can automate most of the process and provide error-free payroll processing.

A construction payroll solution ensures your payroll runs smoothly. Construction projects have special union requirements that present unique payroll challenges. Furthermore, you need to keep track of all of your contractors and make sure their 1099s are filed correctly.

Construction payroll offers time-tracking features that allow you to create schedules by shift or job. Your workers can easily log their hours online for you to approve in just a couple clicks. Payroll software also automates your worker’s comp coverage payments with automatic, pay-as-you-go premiums.

General contractors (GC) are also responsible for paying wages all the way down the chain. Even if you fully pay your subcontractors, if the subcontractor doesn’t pay their subcontractors, you are still liable as the GC. A comprehensive construction payroll software confirms everyone down the chain is paid fairly based on the completed work.

In essence, construction payroll keeps your employees and managers happy so that the entire team can focus solely on the construction project at hand.

Here are the best payroll software for construction companies:

Gusto
QuickBooks Payroll
Payroll4Construction
Paylocity

3. Restaurant Payroll

Running a restaurant requires you to manage a lot of moving pieces. Payroll can be particularly complicated because workers tend to be paid differently than most full-time employees. You must track hundreds of shift hours, shift changes, tip splits, and overtime payments. On top of that, you have to file taxes for each employee that works in your restaurant.

Restaurants have an even more significant challenge compared to other industries because of the minimum wage requirement. Unlike standard employees, restaurant employees who collect tips as part of their income may also earn a unique minimum wage from other employees. This also depends on which state your restaurant resides in because different states have different minimum wage requirements.

Fortunately, there’s payroll software that specifically aims to help restaurant owners. The software included below ensures that your employees are always paid accurately and on time.

Here are the five best payroll software by industry for restaurants:

4. Payroll Software for Manufacturing Companies

Manufacturing companies face unique challenges and obstacles. This is because manufacturing companies have a variety of roles with different pay scales. Whether it’s machine operation, assembly work, packaging, shipping, or supervising, businesses in this industry need a payroll solution that can handle all of its complexities.

Every minute is crucial on the manufacturing line. Shutdowns or delays caused by employee absences, miscommunications, or safety violations results in loss of productivity and revenue. Modern payroll software solutions provide enhanced visibility and reporting capabilities that give payroll managers a clear picture of the process and labor costs.

Here’s the three best payroll software for manufacturing companies:

Paycor
Paychex
Gusto

Read our Gusto review and Paychex payroll review to know more about their pricing and features.

5. Payroll Software for Retail Stores

Managing payroll obligations for a retail store is a challenge. From managing inventory, hiring new employees, and keeping current employees satisfied, running payroll duties adds even more stress and difficulties.

Luckily, there are payroll software solutions for retail store owners that facilitate and streamline all of your payroll responsibilities. The software options in our list ensure that your employees are paid punctually in the correct amount.

Payroll software helps you track the W-4, I-9, W-2, and other withholding forms for each of your employees. It will also track time and attendance records as well as automatically pay your employees upon approval. Whenever tax laws are updated, the software will ensure your retail store stays compliant to avoid tax penalties.

Here are our top five payroll solutions for retail stores:

Not sure which to go for? Check out the OnPay payroll review or Gusto vs Onpay review.

6. Payroll for IT companies

Your IT company needs payroll software that keeps managers and lower-level employees satisfied and happy. Without a payroll solution, your company is vulnerable to wage and tax filing errors.

IT companies are unique because you may have employees located in different states or even different countries. Due to the nature of IT companies, remote work is gaining momentum in the industry. This brings new payroll and tax challenges that can be difficult to navigate without a modern payroll system.

Choose software solutions that are reliable and easy to configure. They ensure your employees receive accurate, on-time payments via direct deposit or a paycheck. Payroll software also allows your staff to efficiently navigate complex payroll flows while complying with tax laws and financial regulations.

The best payroll software for IT companies include:

7. Payroll for the Education Industry

The education industry faces many complexities that have hindered a smooth rollout of regulations, employee obligations, and transactions. Daycares, early childhood centers, schools, universities, and online education programs all face the pressure of achieving compliance with government regulations, employee certifications, and accurate pay obligations.

There are several payroll software solutions that specifically cater to companies that operate in the education industry. The solutions on our list offer comprehensive HR solutions in addition to their payroll features. This allows you to effectively recruit new educators, train your employees, and simplify the scheduling process.

For instance, Rochester University and Baptist Bible College use Paycor as their payroll solution. Paycor offers extensive tools for education operators, such as employee self-service, tax compliance, payroll automation, and I-9 and W-4 form filing. Read the Paycor review if you’re interested in knowing more about this software.

The best payroll software for education companies include:

8. Payroll for Healthcare Industry

The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. As such, it’s imperative that your employees can work seamlessly without worrying about being paid fairly and on time.

Every hospital is equipped with a union of workers that include nurses and healthcare professionals. Your payroll solution should be able to handle the salaries of permanent staff members and those with temporary shifts. Payroll software keeps you in line with union regulations so you can create a healthier relationship with the workers and the union.

It’s also vital to implement payroll software to ensure your workers stay with your healthcare company. Hiring competent employees is a challenge in itself, so it’s essential to keep them satisfied.

Here are the best payroll software for the healthcare industry:

9. Payroll for the Public Sector

Choosing the best payroll software for public sector organizations doesn’t need to be challenging. The right payroll solution allows you to maximize opportunities despite all the public sector’s complexities.

Furthermore, payroll software empowers your organization to deal with the constant pressures and government changes to create operational efficiencies within your payroll processing. These solutions enhance your regulatory compliance and optimize your organization’s public spending. This way, your organization can focus on innovation and improvement without needing to stress about payroll obligations.

The best payroll software for public sector organizations are:

Paycor
QuickBooks
Gusto – Read the Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll article to see how Gusto compares to QuickBooks
OnPay

10. Payroll for Farms and Ranches

If you run an agricultural business like a farm or ranch, you’re aware that you deal with unique tax rules. For example, as a farm or ranch owner, you must file an annual Form 943, which shows how much money you withheld from each employee’s pay for federal income tax. Non-agricultural businesses file a quarterly Form 941. Payroll software will ensure your employees are paid accurately and that your business follows every tax rule and payroll law.

The best payroll software by industry for farms and ranches include:

11. Payroll for Remote Workers

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, many companies have shifted to remote work and allowed their employees to work from home. Furthermore, many new startups have operated entirely remotely. For this reason, you need a payroll software dedicated to handling payroll obligations for remote workers.

Additionally, if your small business relies on spreadsheets to track payroll, your business may be vulnerable to many payroll issues. Using payroll software can help you avoid miscalculations, delayed payments, and data mismanagement.

Here’s the best payroll for remote workers:

OnPay
Gusto
Omnipresent

Bottom Line on Payroll Software by Industry

We understand how important it is to find the specific payroll software for your type of company. Different payroll software specializes in different industries, and choosing the right software can significantly enhance and optimize your company.

To better understand how payroll works, we recommend learning how to do payroll. This way, you’ll have an easier time navigating your payroll software and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

April 27, 2022November 23, 2022

What is Web Hosting? A Beginner’s Guide

The three main components to owning a website on the internet includes web hosting, domain name, and website. If you already have a domain name or are looking to buy one, the second step is to choose a web host for your website. Learn what you need to know about hosting a website and what to consider when picking your web hosting provider.

What is Web Hosting?

Just like renting an apartment or a house, hosting a website means that you are renting space on a server. A web host is a service provider responsible for maintaining, securing, configuring, and running physical servers that host websites. Servers are literally physical computers that house websites. When someone accesses your URL, the server will run and transfer all data such as text, videos, audio, photos, and other files to the visitor’s browser.

What’s the Difference Between Web Hosting & Domain?

Let’s use the same analogy of renting a house. Think of the land as the web hosting, the house you want to build as your website and the street address as your domain name.

A domain name is your website’s address. It is what gives your website a name, an identity. Some examples of domains are Google.com, Amazon.com, BBC.uk, and ManagementHelp.org.

Why You Need One

To run a website, you’ll need these three keys: a website, a domain address, and a web host. It is possible to self-host your own website, but that requires advanced technical skills and tools such as the right pieces of equipment, infrastructure, software, and hardware. Outsourcing this complex process to a web hosting company is the best choice, especially for beginners.

Types of Web Hosting

Now that you know what web hosting and a domain are, the next step is to understand the different types of web hosting to choose the best option for your business.

Many web hosts offer various hosting packages for different customers – from e-commerce to personal blog creators to enterprises. Ideally, for small businesses to get their first website up and running efficiently, we recommend starting with the simplest hosting option. Later, as your company scales and your website gathers more traffic, you can upgrade to another plan. We’ve wrapped up the main types of web hosting.

Shared Hosting

Cost: $
Technical expertise: Low
Server admin: Low
Performance: Good
Best option for: Beginners, freelancers, and small businesses

As the name suggests, shared hosting is the solution in which several websites share the same server, including storage space, memory, and bandwidth. Shared hosting is the cheapest option being the perfect one for first-time users with little to no technical expertise. Small businesses and personal websites that require a more straightforward configuration and setup would do well with this option.

However, the downside is that if something happens to your “neighbor” (another website on the shared server), your website might feel the effects. For instance, higher traffic on other websites might decrease your website speed and performance.

Virtual Private Server (VPS)

Cost: $$
Technical expertise: Advanced
Server admin: Root access to the server
Performance: Great
Best option for: Medium-size companies, large e-commerce stores, or websites and blogs with large numbers of visitors

Using a VPS hosting solution, you still get to share server space with other websites, but in this case, the host offers a partition for each user and dedicated server space. VPS can be an upgrade option from the shared plan, as it provides more robust performance and autonomy over your website.

However, it requires advanced technical knowledge to manage it, and you may have to hire a developer to maintain the virtual server. VPS hosting plans are a good option for businesses growing and scaling fast, websites with high traffic, and e-commerce shops.

Cloud Hosting

Cost: $$$
Technical expertise: Advanced
Server admin: Root access not always provided
Performance: Excellent
Best option for: Large e-commerce and enterprises

Cloud hosting uses a variety of virtual servers to host websites. Also, it works in a way so that if one server gets a spike in traffic or experiences a problem, the remaining ones will take over and maintain the website operating, so your website shouldn’t experience any downtime.

This is considered one of the most secure options for large enterprises and big e-commerce shops that need ample storage and high-performance capacities. Like VPS, cloud hosting requires advanced technical skills, but it’s more expensive than the previous options.

Dedicated Hosting

Cost: $$$$
Technical expertise: Advanced
Server admin: Full root access
Performance: Excellent
Best option for: Large digital businesses with heavy traffic

A dedicated hosting solution is the best option for companies that need complete server control and a dedicated physical server. This type of hosting lets you choose your operating system, configure and manage the server, and all the specifications within the hosting environment.

The whole website performance and optimization have to be done by you (or your team), so it’s highly recommended to have a dedicated team of professionals working on it. Costs are also high, so large enterprises with heavy traffic will benefit from this solution.

WordPress Hosting

Cost: $
Technical expertise: Low
Server admin: Low
Performance: Good
Best option for: Small-size companies and beginners

Optimized to run WordPress websites, WordPress hosting plan comes with many tools and services dedicated to WordPress sites, such as automatic software updates, customer support specialized in WP, plugins, and themes. WordPress hosting plans are low cost, easy to manage, and beginner-friendly.

How to Choose the Best Web Hosting for your Business?

Suppose you are an entrepreneur, freelancer, independent contractor, or run a small-size company, and this is your first time building a website for your business. In that case, you should consider beginner-friendly options such as shared hosting or WordPress hosting if you have a WP website.

As your website or business scales, and there’s a need for extra storage, speed, or bandwidth, you may consider upgrading to a more advanced hosting plan such as VPS or cloud hosting. Nonetheless, we recommend you choose a web host that offers different types of web hosting plans so you can migrate at any time you need.

However, there are a few essential factors to bear in mind before you choose the best web hosting provider. We’ve wrapped up the main ones:

Control Panel

In a nutshell, a control panel is a dashboard where you can access and manage all things related to your website, such as installing applications, creating and purchasing domain names, and managing email accounts.

Some of the most popular control panels are cPanel, Plesk, hPanel, Direct Admin, Webmin, and ISP manager. They all have different designs, features and tools, and it’s provided by the web hosting server – some hosts may even have proprietary control panels.

However, not all control panels are the same – every host provides its own, and at times they can be a bit complicated to navigate. So, it’s best to go with a web host that offers a user-friendly dashboard that’s easily manageable by all types of users.

Website Performance – Uptime/downtime

More than choosing the right web hosting provider or the best website builder for your website, it’s crucial to opt for the service provider with a fairly good uptime rate. Unstable web servers and excessive downtime can negatively impact your business, and you might lose sales if your website is too slow to load or if it suddenly crashes.

Security

It’s essential to consider a web host provider that guarantees security measures against attacks, at least, for its physical servers if you wish to keep your account and website safe. A step further in security measures will offer protection against cyber-attacks and malware. So, for instance, web hosts often provide SSL certificates (mostly included in web hosting plans), network monitoring, SSH access and backups. In addition, some web hosting plans even provide CDNs at no cost, which can be helpful in case there’s a DDoS attack.

Customer Support

This is the most important thing about deciding which web hosting you’re picking. You’ll need exceptional customer service support, preferably 24/7, if your website experiences a crash or any other technical issue and you need to solve it as quickly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Web Hosting

Sometimes technical terms in digital technology can be confusing. So, some people might mix up a domain name and web hosting, for example. We’ve listed some of the most common questions about web hosting.

What does a web host do?

In simple terms, a web hosting service provider hosts, stores, and runs websites on physical computers, called servers, thus making these clients’ websites available on the internet.

Can I host my own website?

The short answer is: yes, you can. However, it has a few limitations as it requires advanced technical knowledge, skills, and tools to make it work – such as the right equipment, infrastructure, software, and hardware.

What’s the difference between web hosting and a domain?

Despite being different things, these two work together in order to have a website up and running. Web hosting is where the website is stored, and the domain address (or domain name) is the website’s address.

What are the types of website hosting?

There are five main types: shared hosting, VPS (virtual private server), dedicated hosting, cloud hosting, and WordPress hosting.

Can I host my website for free?

Yes, it’s possible. But it’s not convenient or efficient for an online business. Paid plans provide customers with memory, processing power, storage, bandwidth, customization, and performance management. You may save a few pennies with a free hosting website, but you might lose on the website’s performance, credibility, and autonomy.

Bottom Line on Web Hosting

Having a website involves a lot of decision making and some basic knowledge about a few terms if you wish to start your online business or simply have an online presence. Website hosting is the service provider that allows your website to be available for visitors on the internet.

Whether you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise manager, after choosing a domain name, the second step to setting up a website is to find a web host. There are several web hosts out there, so knowing a few things about the types of web hosting and what type of service is the best fit for your business will help you make the right decision.

April 26, 2022February 24, 2023

Rocket Lawyer Review: Features to the Moon and Back?

Anyone looking to build a startup for the first time need look no further than Rocket Lawyer for the tools to do so. Within a fixed monthly fee are incorporation tools, document creation software, and avenues to seek legal advice at any step of the way. This Rocket Lawyer review puts these features to the test.

Our Verdict

Rocket Lawyer

Visit

Rocket Lawyer offers a monthly membership service that contains the bulk of its features for one flat rate. Although specializing in generating legal documents, Rocket Lawyer also provides incorporation filing and the ability to ask a real lawyer about legal problems anytime you need to.

If you don’t need all the services Rocket Lawyer has, you can pick and choose features from an a la carte menu. Most of these services cost more than the price of a month’s membership all on their own. Still, anyone in need of legal aid during or after LLC formation can find the answers right here.

LLC formation included in a new membership
Complimentary legal questions
7-day free trial

Non-member pricing per item is expensive
Membership is pricier than most
Doesn’t specialize in business formation

Rocket Lawyer at a Glance

Rocket Lawyer takes an unusual membership approach to each of the services it provides. For $40 per month, you’ll gain access to document creation, legal advice, consultations, and even business incorporation. You can use most features to your heart’s content while a member, although Rocket Lawyer’s registered agent service and attorney hire are add-ons.

If you’re planning to make use of most or all of these legal services, Rocket Lawyer can save a significant amount of time and money. Having these features under one roof is convenient, while most cost more than the price of membership all on their own.

On the flip side, failing to get the most from what Rocket Lawyer has to offer can end up costing you money in the long run. The platform also offers an a la carte plan, but it’s unlikely you’ll find any deals here worth writing home about. If you’re on the fence about giving Rocket Lawyer a try, it does come with a 7-day free trial.

Who Rocket Lawyer is Best For

Rocket Lawyer is best for anyone with a multitude of legal queries looking to pay a fixed rate each month to have their questions addressed. The app is also ideally suited for an entrepreneur starting an LLC, as incorporation is covered for any first-time member. Since most startups these days are online, Rocket Lawyer’s document creation and signing make the process of getting paperwork in place as simple as can be.

Pricing

You can use Rocket Lawyer whether you choose to be a member or not. Members pay a flat $39.99 per month and gain access to several tools right out of the gate. Some features do cost a premium, but Rocket Lawyer typically offers them at a discount to subscribers.

Non-members take an a la carte approach and can build a platform to suit their needs. However, even a single legal document costs $39.99 to create, with prices only increasing from there.

Price

$39.99 per month

Pay per item

Create Legal Documents

$39.99 per question

Legal Questions

$49.99 per question

30 Minute Consult on Any New Legal Matter

$59.99 per consultation

Discounts on Hiring a Rocket Attorney

Up to 40% off

None

Incorporation Filing (excluding state fees)

$99.99

Registered Agent Service

$112.50

$149.99

As you can see, a membership includes a few hundred dollars worth of services for just $39.99 per month. Non-member pricing starts high and only gets higher as you pursue additional features.

Rocket Lawyer Features

Rocket Lawyer packs a lot into its membership package. Let’s break down these features and what makes each a vital part of Rocket Lawyer’s membership plan.

Incorporation Filing

The Rocket Lawyer LLC service simplifies the incorporation process by first asking a few questions about what you want your new business to be. From there, it will confirm your venture’s name, file all paperwork, and complete the formation process with the state.

New members can file for LLC formation with nothing more than the cost of a Rocket Lawyer membership and applicable state fees. Most companies charge $59 or more for this service alone. However, you’ll only receive a 25% discount for any future incorporations. Non-members can still file, but face a hefty $99 fee for doing so.

Along the way, Rocket Lawyer has a team of specialists on hand to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. The customer support team is no stranger to the process and has led thousands of companies to the other side. Should you keep your membership after incorporation, Rocket Lawyer will continue to provide legal information, help file yearly reports, and keep your business compliant.

Registered Agent Service

You can’t form an LLC without identifying a registered agent, and Rocket Lawyer comes to the rescue here also. Non-members can use this service for $149 per year, and Rocket Lawyer will receive and facilitate all legal correspondence on your behalf. Members receive a 25% discount and get the same service for just under $112 yearly.

Create Legal Documents

Whether business or personal, Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create any legal document you need. Popular documents include non-disclosures, LLC operating agreements, and contracts for vendors to review and sign.

Rocket Lawyer’s RocketSign app provides a means to sign these documents for free in a matter of moments. Signatures in this matter are just as legally binding as pen and paper. You can save these documents indefinitely for future reference and choose who can view them.

Legal Questions

Rocket Lawyer has several attorneys on call to answer your pressing legal questions on demand. After you’ve typed out your question, you can narrow down help to specialists in your state that are familiar with the area of your specific need. You’ll receive a response in short order detailing your answer and how to approach the particular issue.

Posing legal inquiries is free for Rocket Lawyer members, and there’s no limit to the number of questions you can ask. This service extends to any contract disputes you may encounter with documents created in Rocket Lawyer. An attorney will review the conflict and go to bat for you to resolve the issue.

30 Minute Consult on Any New Legal Matter

As a member, you’re also entitled to a 30-minute consultation with an attorney whenever a new legal matter arises. After you’ve submitted a new legal concern to Rocket Lawyer, the company will assign a lawyer to assist you. You’ll have 30 minutes (usually via phone) to converse and receive expert advice on the matter.

Even after the initial consultation, you can still follow up on the matter with questions through the legal questions form on the website. It is the company’s discretion to decide if you’ve already broached a legal issue or not.

Discounts on Hiring a Rocket Attorney

Lawyers don’t come cheap, but Rocket Lawyer offers a substantial discount when you hire one of their on-call attorneys. These attorneys are located all over the country and have a license to practice in their particular state. Most lawyers specialize in a certain field to give them a competitive advantage in a case.

This service isn’t available if you’re not a Rocket Attorney member. Members will see rates slashed up to 40% from the usual retainer’s fee.

Alternatives to Rocket Lawyer

Rocket Lawyer has several good features, but it’s not going to work for everyone. Here are some alternative LLC services that may offer what you need.

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness specializes in business planning and turning a concept into something more than just a dream. The company makes it simple to file your business with the state by securing a name and submitting documents in record time. Prices for this service start at just $49 before applying state fees.

Such a product works well for those who already know what they need and desire to get things up and running quickly. While LLC filing is arguably cheaper than Rocket Lawyer, ZenBusiness lacks document creation and legal advice. To learn more about its services and pricing, read our complete review on ZenBusiness.

IncFile

IncFile offers LLC filing and registered agent service for free during your first year of use. You’re only required to pay fees pertinent to the state you’re filing in. The price point may seem tempting, but you won’t have access to any other legal assistance. Still, it’s nice for companies starting without two cents to rub together.

The app has two other plans starting at $149 and $299 that introduce other features into the mix. These features include a tax number, banking resolution, a dashboard, and unlimited phone and email support. IncFile lacks legal counsel at even its highest tier of service that Rocket Lawyer includes in its membership. Read the IncFile review to learn more about its services and pricing.

Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent lets you pursue your business filing from one of three directions. It is possible to start a free account where the company gives you the tools to start and run your business for free. It won’t make a filing for you or work as your registered agent.

You can also pay in full up front for LLC filing and a registered agent starting from $225 exclusive of state fees. Here, Northwest Registered Agent will walk you through the process and handle documentation for you.

Finally, you can pick up the VIP package ranging between $40 and $80 per month that includes the above features alongside continuing legal aid while your membership is active. The VIP service is surprisingly similar to what Rocket Lawyer offers but doesn’t allow for document formation. Read the Northwest Registered Agent review to learn more about its services and pricing.

LegalZoom

LegalZoom tackles a slew of legal issues from living wills to business startups and everything in between. On the business side, this very comprehensive platform has the tools you need to register and run your business without falling into legal pitfalls along the way.

These features come at a premium. LegalZoom’s LLC formation starts at $79 before any state filing fees, and the company will act as a registered agent for $299 per year. LegalZoom will refund its fees within 60 days if you’re unhappy with your service.

The service works well for businesses with many legal needs, including contracts, copyright and trademark registration, and whatever else comes your way. Each feature adds to the overall cost, making LegalZoom potentially off-limits for small businesses on a budget. Read the LegalZoom review to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Rocket Lawyer Review

Rocket Lawyer’s membership plan looks impressive but does leave a few unanswered questions about the quality of its service. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common inquiries about how Rocket Lawyer holds up.

Is Rocket Lawyer Credible?

Rocket Lawyer has helped over 25 million clients since its inception in 2008. The company prides itself on offering whatever form of legal aid individuals need to succeed in business.

What is Rocket Lawyer Good For?

Rocket Lawyer stands out in its ability to provide business formation, document creation, and advice from a team of legal professionals to its client base. Many of the attorneys Rocket Lawyer has on call specialize in certain areas of law to offer thorough consultation.

Are eForms Safe to Use?

Yes, eForms are safe to use and simplify the signing process immensely. Signees can be located anywhere on the globe and still autograph a document within moments. Most online document signing services like Rocket Lawyer’s RocketSign app also store paperwork and allow viewing at any time.

Bottom Line on Rocket Lawyer Review

Rocket Lawyer boasts an impressive feature set that you can get your hands on for $39.99 per month. With a membership including company formation, document creation, and all the legal advice you can throw the book at, this price point seems well worth your while.

Non-member pricing is quite expensive, and anyone not taking advantage of Rocket Lawyer’s whole gamut of features each month may find themselves wondering where that monthly fee is going. Still, with even a few legal queries each month, Rocket Lawyer should pay for itself and then some.

April 25, 2022November 23, 2022

How to Calculate Payroll Taxes in 5 Steps

Businessman filling out a payroll tax form

As a business owner, learning how to calculate payroll taxes are one of the most daunting tasks to tackle. Among all the other aspects of your business that you manage, it’s also essential you calculate your taxes correctly. Without accurate tax calculations, you can face legal and financial penalties if the IRS investigates your business.

Payroll taxes are entirely your responsibility as a business owner so let’s dive into how to calculate them.

How to Calculate Payroll Taxes in 5 Steps

Payroll taxes are taxes employers pay on behalf of their employees. The exact amount of tax is determined by each employee’s salary, wage, and tips. These taxes are used to finance social security programs, including Medicare and Social Security.

The most significant portions of the social insurance taxes are the federal payroll taxes, which appear as Medicare (MEDFICA) and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax on the employee’s pay stub.

As a business owner, you may be surprised to learn that employees effectively pay around half of the whole payroll tax with their wages, with a smaller contribution from you. Payroll taxes are directly deducted from each employee’s earnings and sent to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Before you start calculating payroll taxes, your employees need to complete these documents:

Form W-4: Employee’s Withholding Certificate
State W-4 (as applicable)
Direct Deposit Authorization Form
Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification

How to calculate payroll taxes in 5 steps

Step 1: Calculate Gross Pay

The first step to calculate payroll taxes is calculating the wages earned by each employee and the amount of taxes that need to be withheld as part of running payroll. You also need to make deductions for items such as retirement benefits, health insurance, and garnishments. Expense reimbursements will have to be added back as well.

Gross pay is calculated differently for hourly salaried employees.

Calculating Gross Pay for Hourly Employees

You calculate gross pay for hourly employees by multiplying the number of hours they worked during the pay period by their hourly rate. For example, if the employee worked 40 hours in the week at $30 an hour, their gross pay is $1,200.

Remember to include overtime pay, which is typically 1.5 times the normal hourly rate if the employee works more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. Here’s a comprehensive process of how to do payroll for contractors and freelancers.

Calculating Gross Pay for Salaried Employees

For salaried employees, simply divide their salary by the number of pay periods in a tax year. For instance, if an employee earns an annual salary of $60,000 and receives a paycheck twice a month, their gross pay for each pay period is $2,500 ($60,000/12 months/2 monthly pay periods)

Make sure to add on commissions, tips, and bonuses the employee earns to calculate the total gross pay.

Step 2: Calculate Employee Tax Withholdings

The next step is to calculate the employee’s tax withholdings. Once you have the employee’s gross pay and the number of allowances from their W-4 form, you can begin to calculate how much you need to withhold to cover their taxes.

For the majority of states, you’ll need to withhold both state and federal taxes as well as FICA taxes from each paycheck.The information on the W-4 states how much income tax needs to be withheld from the employee’s paycheck each pay period. The employee will claim their marital status and the number of allowances they have on the W-4 form. You need this information to calculate their FICA, federal, and state taxes.

Calculate Federal Income Taxes

Assuming the employee completed the W-4 in 2020 or later, you would use the updated tax tables found in Publication 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods.

This process involves:

Adjusting the employee’s wage amount
Determining the tentative withholding amount
Accounting for tax credits
Tallying the final withholding amount

Calculate FICA

You and the employee both contribute 7.65% to FICA, including 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. The first $137,700 of an employee’s wages are subject to the Social Security tax. Employees earning more than $200,000 are subject to an additional Medicare tax.

Let’s follow the example from above with a gross pay of $2,500 per pay period:

Social Security: $2,500 x 6.2% = $155
Medicare: $2,500 x 1.45% = $36.25

The employee’s total FICA withholding is $191.25 (155+36.25).

As the employer, you are responsible for the same amount in FICA taxes.

Calculate State and Local Tax

The next step is to calculate any state taxes the employee is responsible for. Some states, like Texas, have no state income taxes. The other eight states without an income tax are Alaska, Tennessee, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Florida, South Dakota, Nevada, and Washington. So check your state’s income tax guidelines and follow them accordingly.

Let’s follow the example from above and imagine that your business is based in New Mexico.

For New Mexico, the wage withholding table states that you need to deduct $64.67 along with an additional 4.9% of the surplus amount over $2,183.

We calculate this by:

$2,500 – $2,183 = $317
$317 x 4.9% = $15.53
$64.67 + $15.53 = $80.20

You will need to deduct $80.20 from each paycheck to withhold for New Mexico state income tax.

Step 3: Handle Deductions

After you calculate the employee’s tax withholdings, the next step is to take out any applicable deductions. These are voluntary pre- and post-tax deductions such as 401(k) plans, health insurance premiums, or health savings account contributions.

Certain employees will have involuntary deductions like wage garnishments or child support that need to be considered. You’ll receive an order from the state, the IRS, or a judge which tells you to withhold these items.

It’s important to be cautious and accurate here because pre-tax deductions like 401(k)s are taken out of gross income in step 1. This means that tax withholding calculations in step 2 will be reduced and pre-tax deductions save the employee more on taxes. Post-tax deductions are calculated after step 2.

Step 4: Add Expense Reimbursements

If an employee paid for company expenses with their own money, they need to be reimbursed. As an employer, you can either pay reimbursements by combining them with payroll or separately from payroll.

Expense reimbursements are not included in gross wages. This means they are not subject to tax withholding. All expenses you reimburse to employees should be paid in full and added on to net pay at the end of your calculation.

Step 5: Total Everything Up

After you’ve completed all the calculations to determine gross pay, tax withholdings, deductions, and reimbursements, you’ll be ready to calculate the paycheck:

Begin with gross pay
Subtract employee tax withholdings
Subtract deductions
Add expense reimbursements
Arrive at net pay

Net pay is the amount of money you need to send to the employee come payday.

Following the example above, let’s walk through the calculation:

Gross Pay

$2,500

Federal Withholding Tax

Calculated from W-4 and Publication 15-T form

Social Security Tax

-$155

Medicare Tax

-$36.25

New Mexico Income Tax

-$80.20

Net Pay

$2,228.55 – Federal Withholding Tax

The employee’s net pay is $2,228.55 minus their specific federal withholding tax.

Calculating Employer Payroll Taxes

Now that you know how much of the employee’s paycheck to withhold for taxes, it’s time to calculate how much you’re responsible for as the employer.

FICA Matching

You must match the employee’s FICA tax withholding, which means your business will also pay 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare. Using the previous example, you would need to match the employee’s $191.25 FICA obligation.

Unemployment Taxes

As the employer, you also have to pay federal and state unemployment taxes. These taxes are only paid by the employer and not the employee.

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

FUTA is 6% of the first $7,000 in wages you pay to each employee every year. If your company is subject to state unemployed tax, you’re also subject to a federal tax rate credit of up to 5.4%. This makes the effective tax rate 0.6%. When an employee earns more than $7,000 in a calendar year, you stop paying FUTA taxes for that specific employee in that tax year.

Following the example from above, federal unemployment tax: $2,500 x 0.6% = $15

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

SUTA varies from state to state. We recommend you consult with your state’s Unemployment Revenue or Department of Labor for tax rates, filing requirements, and wage bases.

Paying the IRS

Once all the heavy calculations are complete, your next step is to send the tax payments to the proper taxing authority. For federal income tax and FICA, you send this to the IRS. Payments need to be sent to your state’s withholding tax agency for state and local income taxes.

Make sure you send both the taxes you withheld from the employee’s paycheck and the taxes you owe as the employer.

The comprehensive way to calculate payroll taxes include:

Federal withholding
Social Security (employee portion)
Medicare (employee portion)
State income tax (if applicable)
Social Security (employer portion)
Medicare (employer portion)
FUTA
SUTA

This adds up to the total payroll taxes you must pay.

How to Calculate Payroll Taxes with Gusto

Although it’s manageable to calculate payroll taxes manually, this isn’t recommended. Taxes require accuracy, and a small mistake in your calculations can lead to disaster in the future.

This is especially true if you have a lot of employees. It’s not only time-consuming to manually calculate payroll taxes for each of them, but you are also putting yourself at an increased risk of making a mistake.

We recommend using Gusto, a payroll software that automatically calculates payroll taxes for you. It also automates payroll, includes an employee self-service portal, and offers some human resources (HR) tools. It regularly tops lists of the best payroll software for small businesses.

Gusto has a free employer tax calculator which provides an accurate estimate of how much you’ll have to pay in payroll taxes over a year.

Screenshot of How to calculate payroll taxes in Gusto — *(Source: Gusto.com)*

To completely calculate your payroll taxes, you’ll need to register for an account and enter each employee’s Form W-4 details.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Calculate Payroll Taxes

We understand that payroll taxes are confusing, so here are a few common questions and answers to provide more clarity.

What payroll taxes am I responsible for as the employer?

A portion of the payroll taxes are withheld from the employee’s paycheck, while the other portion is paid by you, the employer. The employee pays federal income tax and state income tax. You and the employee pay FICA. You pay FUTA and SUTA.

When should I file payroll taxes?

As a business owner, it can be confusing to keep track of all the filing dates and requirements from the IRS. We recommend looking at the Employment Taxes page on the IRS website to see the list of filing requirements and due dates.

How much income tax should I withhold from my employee?

This information is determined from the employee’s Form W-4. This form dictates the amount of money you need to withhold from the employee’s paycheck. If you calculate payroll taxes manually, you must use the withholding tables provided by the IRS. However, payroll software will calculate this amount for you.

Bottom Line on How to Calculate Payroll Taxes

Calculating payroll taxes is entirely manageable as a business owner. As long as you know which numbers to use and what steps to follow, you’ll end up with an accurate number. The overall goal is to start with the employee’s gross pay and end with their net pay. The difference between the two is the employee’s withholdings you need to pay as payroll taxes on behalf of the employee.

April 23, 2022November 23, 2022

Gusto vs OnPay Payroll: Who Wins?

When comparing Gusto vs OnPay, you’ll find both full-service payroll processing software feature a variety of valuable HR and customer service tools. Although they offer similar functionalities, there are a few key differences between these payroll solutions. This means that one of these options is a better fit for your company.

We compare payroll processing, pricing, HR benefits, and much more in this in-depth Gusto vs OnPay Payroll comparison guide. Once you pick the right payroll software, it’ll be easy to process each payroll run while tracking the essential data and assembling the reports needed to run your company.

Gusto: Best for Overall Value

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Gusto is a robust payroll processing platform that combines HR and benefits administration into a single, convenient package. Over 200,000 businesses and teams use Gusto because of its impressive feature set and functions. Gusto is excellent for growing businesses with over 50 employees because of its automation tools.

In essence, Gusto is a comprehensive payroll service that manages every aspect of your payroll and reporting process. Each pricing tier features automated payroll and direct deposit for unlimited monthly payroll runs. You will also receive tax filings for each level of government for both 1099 contractors and W-2 employees. Read the Gusto review to learn more about this software.

Unlimited payroll runs
State tax registration in all 50 states
Direct deposits

Calculating employee deductions is burdensome
Business owners can’t run payroll through the mobile application
No customer support during the evenings and weekends

Pricing

Gusto offers four different packages to choose from:

Core: $39 per month plus an additional $6 per employee
Complete: $39 per month plus an additional $12 per employee
Concierge: $149 per month plus an additional $12 per employee
Contractor: no monthly fee and $6 per person

OnPay Payroll: Best for Small Businesses

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Similar to Gusto, OnPay is a cloud-based payroll service that offers scalable solutions for small businesses. Some of its core features include automated tax filing and payment workflows as well as unlimited payroll. However, OnPay lacks integration capabilities and an auto-pay option.

OnPay is payroll for small businesses looking for an affordable and simplified approach to payroll management. It’s easy to insert payroll data such as reimbursements, tips, hours, and bonuses with OnPay. Furthermore, you can administer benefits and compensation insurance to employees who work on a pay-as-you-go basis. Read our OnPay review to learn more about its features and pricing.

Free W-2 and 1099 processing
Unlimited monthly pay runs
Quick and efficient employee management protocols

Not ideal for businesses with over 25 employees
Limited integrations
Doesn’t offer fast direct deposit

Pricing

OnPay’s pricing uses a sliding scale based on how many employees you have:

$36 per month, plus $4 per person per month

Pricing & Features Comparison

Simply put, Gusto is designed for businesses with over 50 employees, whereas OnPay is optimal for small businesses with fewer employees. Both payroll solutions feature extensive payroll and HR tools that make your life much easier.

However, it’s essential to look at the features each software offers and how much each one costs. We compare all the key features and factors you should consider when making your decision in the table below.

Price

Starts at $39 per month plus $6 per employee

Starts at $36 per month plus $4 per employee

Tax Filings and Payments

Yes, Gusto automatically calculates your taxes when you run payroll

Yes, OnPay withholds taxes when you run payroll and makes the necessary payments

Managing Employee Benefits

Ability to build customized benefits packages for employees

Ability to offer 401(k) plans, life insurance, health and dental benefits

Ease of Use

Simple and intuitive interface

Organized and convenient design

Live Customer Support

Weekdays from 9am to 8pm EST

Integrations

100+

~10

Winner: OnPay Payroll. OnPay is slightly more affordable than Gusto if you’re looking for the cheaper option.

Payroll Processing Breakdown

Payroll processing is the most important feature to compare because you’re looking for the best payroll software for your business. The right payroll solution should let you run unlimited payrolls, customize pay rates and pay schedules and pay employees with direct deposit. Luckily, both software feature these tools. Read more on how to do payroll here.

Gusto

Gusto provides faster direct deposit than OnPay and gives you access to Payroll on Autopilot. With this enabled, payroll will automatically run one day before your company’s payroll deadlines. Furthermore, Gusto will withhold and file local taxes for you. OnPay doesn’t offer this feature.

OnPay Payroll

Like Gusto, OnPay automatically calculates, pays, and files taxes on your company’s behalf. However, OnPay doesn’t offer local tax filing and it doesn’t have a similar feature to Gusto’s Autopilot. With an autopay option, running payroll with OnPay can be tedious and time-consuming.

Winner: Gusto. The clear winner for the most important feature of payroll software is Gusto.

Onboarding and HR Tools

Onboarding tools are vital to your company as your employees will need to learn how to use the software. As such, let’s take a closer look at each of the onboarding and HR tools Gusto and OnPay offer.

Gusto

In terms of Gusto vs Onpay Payroll, Gusto offers a few premium features that OnPay doesn’t. These include anonymous employee surveys, survey trend analysis, and access to professional HR agents. Gusto is easy to learn because of its friendly user interface and your employees shouldn’t have any issues getting used to the software.

OnPay Payroll

OnPay includes an impressive set of onboarding and HR tools, such as customized HR documents or built-in templates, organizational charts, custom onboarding documents, document e-sign features, and an HR resource library with hundreds of templates and guides. All of these features allow you to onboard employees in a smooth and seamless process.

Winner: Tie. Although Gusto offers more features, these are only in the higher pricing plans whereas OnPay offers all of its HR tools in its single plan.

Time Management Features

Since both software include HR tools, it’s important to compare how they face up against each other. Time management is a critical task within every company and your employees need a system that simplifies absence requests and approvals.

Gusto

Gusto offers comprehensive HR time management features but only in the Complete or Concierge plan.

OnPay Payroll

Onpay lets you create custom paid time off (PTO) policies. Furthermore, your employees can request time off using their accounts and the PTO hours are automatically subtracted if the request is approved by a manager.

Winner: OnPay. All of OnPay’s HR tools are included within its single rate.

Integrations Breakdown

There are so many crucial tools businesses use to stay afloat nowadays. As such, app and software integrations are essential to have on every piece of software.

Gusto

Gusto offers integrations with over 100 different tools across various categories: tax preparation, hiring, legal and compliance, point-of-sale, performance management, and business operations.

OnPay Payroll

In terms of OnPay Payroll vs Gusto, OnPay only offers 10 integrations, a few which include QuickBooks, Xero, Guideline, and Mineral.

Winner: Gusto. With over 10 times the amount of integrations as OnPay, Gusto is the clear winner for integration support.

Gusto vs OnPay Payroll Customer Service

Both payroll software solutions offer live phone and chat agents from 9am to 8pm EST from Monday to Friday. Furthermore, both options have email support agents too.

Gusto

Gusto offers unlimited support through phone, live chat, and email. However, it doesn’t provide any support on the weekends.

OnPay Payroll

OnPay also offers unlimited support through phone, live chat, and email. The difference between OnPay payroll vs Gusto is that OnPay provides emergency email support on the weekends.

Winner: OnPay. Since OnPay provides support on the weekends, the customer service features are more comprehensive than Gusto.

Gusto vs OnPay Payroll Customer Reviews

Gusto and OnPay are both established and reputable payroll software solutions with great customer reviews. However, Gusto is more popular and has a higher quantity of reviews among all software review platforms.

Gusto Customer Reviews

The majority of Gusto reviews are positive and the customers thoroughly enjoy Gusto’s payroll services, easy-to-use dashboard, and HR features. Many reviewers state that Gusto has the easiest payroll system and a highly affordable price tag. The most common complaint reviewers have about Gusto is its lack of effective customer support. There have been cases where Gusto’s customer support ignores and doesn’t respond to emails.

OnPay Payroll Customer Reviews

OnPay users love how easy it is to run payroll with the software. Users appreciate how once the initial setup is complete, all they need to enter are the weekly hours. Then, the pay is automatically calculated and the direct deposit is automatically sent. There have been mixed reviews about OnPay’s customer support because some customers have had a great experience while others have been ignored.

Winner: Tie. Both Gusto vs OnPay Payroll have excellent reviews and thousands of satisfied customers.

Alternative Payroll Processing Software Options

If you’re interested in alternative options, here are a few more competitive choices for you to consider.

Paychex Flex

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Paychex Flex is suited for startup businesses that are in the early stages of growth. We recommend this software for multi-state companies and restaurants. Read the Paychex flex review to learn more.

Provides payroll via debit card
Offers helpful employee self-service features
Features Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to employees as an included service

Doesn’t support companies that use independent contractors
Year-end tax forms and time tracking cost extra
Software known to be slow at times

Pricing

The standard base service costs $39 per month plus $5 per employee. Upgraded service plans must be individually quoted by a salesperson through a phone call.

QuickBooks Payroll

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QuickBooks Payroll is ideal for small businesses that already use QuickBooks accounting software. If your business is already familiar with QuickBooks, using QuickBooks Payroll will be extremely easy. Read our QuickBooks vs Gusto payroll to find out which is the better choice for your business.

Excellent user interface
Great mobile application
Simple to file taxes and other financial details

Long wait times to speak with customer service representative
Pricing may be out of reach for smaller businesses
Users have reported glitches with computer and mobile application

Pricing

Core: $22.50 per month plus $4 per employee
Premium: $37.50 per month plus $8 per employee
Elite: $62.50 per month plus $10 per employee

Square Payroll

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Businesses that already use Square’s point-of-sale software should use Square Payroll. This payroll processing solution provides a seamless integration between the two products. Read the Square payroll review to learn more about its services and pricing.

Offers an instant and next-day payroll processing option
Great ease of use on app
Features an inexpensive pricing plan

Lack of HR tasks within the app
The included standard payroll processing is four days
Costs may rise as your business hires more employees

Pricing

$35 per month plus $5 per person paid

Patriot Payroll

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Patriot Payroll is another budget-friendly payment processing software solution that’s best suited for smaller businesses. The main difference between Patriot Payroll and Gusto vs OnPay Payroll is that Patriot Payroll doesn’t offer HR tools.

Great for small businesses and nonprofits
Easy to set up
Offers essential payroll features at a low price

Isn’t intended for companies with over 100 employees
Lacks HR tools and features
Doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app

Pricing

Basic Payroll: $10 per month plus $4 per employee
Full Service Payroll: $30 per month plus $4 per employee

Bottom Line: OnPay Payroll vs Gusto

Overall, OnPay Payroll and Gusto are effective payroll processing solutions that can optimize your business. Gusto is better for mid-sized and large businesses while OnPay is suited for smaller businesses.

As for the winner of this comparison, Gusto takes the crown. Even with Gusto’s basic tier package, you get access to all the essential payroll features. These include direct deposits to your employees, tax filing, and unlimited payroll runs.

Furthermore, the basic tier package lets you administer your company’s health benefits and manage worker’s compensation. Since Gusto is marginally more expensive than OnPay Payroll but offers more features, we recommend using Gusto as your payroll processing software solution.

Our Verdict

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Who Hashtag Legal is Best For

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Hashtag Legal Features

Entity Formation and Advice

Registered Agent Service

Trademark and Copyright

Contract Drafting and Review

Legal Strategy and Outside General Counsel

The (un)Business Podcast

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Our Verdict

Paycor Payroll at a Glance

Who Paycor Payroll is Best For

Pricing

Basic

Essential

Complete

HCM

Paycor Payroll Features

Payroll Software

HR Software

Recruiting Software

Time & Attendance Software

Learning Management Software

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Bottom Line on Paycor Payroll Review

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How to Do Payroll Yourself In 15 Steps

Step 1: Acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Step 2: Register Your Business in Your State

Step 3: Understand Local, State, and Federal Laws

Step 4: Figure Out Who You’re Going to Pay – and How

Step 5: Have Employees Fill Out Forms

Step 6: Decide on a Pay Schedule

Step 7: Track Employee Hours

Step 8: Calculate Gross Wages

Step 9: Deduct Amounts for Tax Purposes, Retirement Accounts, Insurance

Step 10: Finalize Employee Net Pay

Step 11: Determine Amounts for Employer Taxes

Step 12: Double Check All Your Work

Step 13: Send Out Payments

Step 14: File Tax Forms and W-2s

Step 15: Document Everything

Using Payroll Services to Run Payroll

1. Save Employee Information

2. Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local Laws

3. Reduce Errors

4. Does Taxes for You

5. Regain Lost Time

6. Payment Reminders

7. Generate Checks and Pay Stubs

8. Log Employee Hours

9. Customer Support

10. Cost

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for How to Do Payroll Yourself

Bottom Line on How to Do Payroll Yourself

How to Convert Minutes for Payroll in 3 Steps

Step 1: Calculate Total Working Hours and Minutes

Actual Hours Worked

Key Features

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Rounded Hours Worked