Finding the right HR software that handles payroll can be overwhelming for small businesses.
In this post, we cut through the noise with an in-depth review focused specifically on BambooHR's payroll capabilities.
You'll get a transparent look at BambooHR's strengths and limitations for payroll, time tracking, reporting, and more to determine if it's the right fit for your growing company.
Introduction to BambooHR's Payroll Software
This section provides a brief overview of BambooHR and the focus of this review - assessing its payroll capabilities for small and medium businesses.
Exploring BambooHR: A Comprehensive HR Review
BambooHR is a popular human resources (HR) software platform designed to help businesses efficiently manage essential HR tasks like:
- Onboarding
- Time tracking
- Payroll
- Benefits enrollment
- Performance management
With an intuitive, cloud-based system, BambooHR aims to simplify HR management, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
The Scope of Our BambooHR Payroll Review
While BambooHR offers a variety of HR features, this review will focus specifically on examining BambooHR's payroll management capabilities and how they can benefit SMBs.
We will assess factors like:
- Integration with top payroll providers
- Customization for unique payroll needs
- Automation for streamlined payroll tasks
- Reporting for data insights
The goal is to provide readers with a detailed understanding of BambooHR's payroll functionality so they can determine if it matches their business requirements. We aim to highlight both the key benefits and potential limitations to consider from an SMB perspective.
Does BambooHR handle payroll?
Yes, BambooHR offers an integrated payroll solution to help streamline processes and reduce errors. Some key highlights of their payroll capabilities include:
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Seamless data flow between BambooHR and payroll to eliminate double entry and ensure accuracy. As employee data changes in BambooHR, it automatically flows into payroll.
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Comprehensive payroll reporting with over 100 standard reports available. You can easily track payroll costs, taxes, deductions, time off accruals, and more.
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Superior customer support with US-based payroll experts available to help. Support is included as part of your monthly payroll subscription.
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Full-service tax filing powered by a nationwide leader in payroll tax filing. BambooHR handles depositing taxes and filing returns in all 50 states.
The integrated payroll solution helps simplify payroll administration for HR teams. By centralizing employee data, automating processes, and providing exceptional support, BambooHR aims to make payroll easy, compliant, and cost-effective for growing businesses.
While BambooHR is best suited for US-based companies with under 500 employees, they offer strong capabilities for most small to medium-sized organizations looking to manage payroll in-house. For larger or global companies, standalone payroll software may provide more advanced tools and customization.
What is your overall experience with BambooHR?
My experience with BambooHR has been very positive overall. Here are some of the key highlights:
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Comprehensive features: BambooHR offers a robust suite of HR tools, including applicant tracking, onboarding, time tracking, performance management, and more. It has everything our company needs to manage the employee lifecycle.
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Easy to use: The system is intuitive and easy to navigate. As both an administrator and employee user, I've found it simple to access the information I need. The interface is modern, clean, and visually appealing as well.
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Great integration capabilities: One of the major advantages is how well BambooHR integrates with other software we use, like our LMS. Connecting the two systems was seamless, enabling efficient workflows.
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Useful mobile app: The ability to track time, request time off, and handle other tasks via the mobile app makes flexible working easy for our globally distributed team members.
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Good value: Given the depth of features and level of support, BambooHR offers strong value, especially for growing small to mid-sized businesses.
While I don't have direct experience with BambooHR's payroll capabilities, reviews indicate it provides solid basic payroll features, making it a one-stop shop for many HR needs. But for more complex payroll needs, standalone software may be preferable. Overall though, I've been very happy with BambooHR and would recommend it.
Is BambooHR credible?
My experience with BambooHR has been very positive. The platform is user-friendly and efficient, with an excellent support team that responds quickly and knowledgeably to any questions.
Some key things that make BambooHR credible and reliable:
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Established company: Founded in 2008, BambooHR has over a decade of experience providing HR software to small and medium businesses. They serve over 20,000 organizations globally.
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Positive reviews: BambooHR enjoys positive reviews from industry experts like G2 and Capterra. On G2, they have a 4.7/5 star rating based on over 1,500 reviews.
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Security: BambooHR invests heavily in security and compliance, with SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and GDPR certifications. They encrypt data both in transit and at rest.
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Responsive support: Their customer support team responds quickly to questions and issues. They have live chat, phone, email, and ticketing options.
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Intuitive interface: The software is designed for ease-of-use, with built-in wizards, hover-over help text, and simple navigation. This makes onboarding and daily use smooth.
In summary, BambooHR is a well-established, secure, and user-friendly HR platform with great support. Their decade-plus commitment to HR software and focus on smaller businesses makes them a credible choice.
Is BambooHR a good place to work?
Based on 570 anonymous employee reviews on Glassdoor, BambooHR has a 3.7 out of 5 star company rating. This indicates that overall, employees have a positive view of working at BambooHR.
In 2017 and 2020, BambooHR employees voted the company as one of Glassdoor's Best Places to Work. Being recognized as a top employer two times in recent years suggests that BambooHR offers a good work culture and environment.
Some pros of working at BambooHR highlighted by employees include:
- Great work-life balance
- Fun and collaborative team atmosphere
- Competitive pay and benefits
- Opportunities for career growth and learning
However, some cons mentioned in reviews include:
- Communication issues between teams
- Occasional disorganization
- Some outdated internal processes
While no company is perfect, the majority of BambooHR employees seem to enjoy their jobs and find the company to be a supportive place to work with room for advancement. Factors like work-life balance, culture, and career growth opportunities appear to be strengths of the organization.
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In-Depth Look at BambooHR Payroll Capabilities
This section will highlight the main payroll features BambooHR provides to facilitate easy payroll management.
Efficient Payroll Processing with BambooHR
BambooHR offers robust payroll processing capabilities to simplify this critical business function. Key features include:
- Automated payroll calculation based on timesheets and employee information
- Automatic federal, state, and local tax withholding
- Direct deposit setup for fast, secure paycheck delivery
- Customizable pay stubs detailing earnings, deductions, and more
With BambooHR, payroll tasks that once took hours can be completed with just a few clicks. The system computes gross and net pay, withholds all necessary taxes, and distributes funds to employees accurately and on time.
Accurate Time Tracking Integration
To power its payroll engine, BambooHR seamlessly integrates with time tracking. Employees can submit timesheets through web or mobile apps. Managers then review and approve hours before pay period cutoffs.
Key time tracking features include:
- Easy timesheet submission via web or mobile
- Configuration of pay rules, overtime policies, and schedules
- Manager review and approval workflows
- Detailed audit trails showing time entry changes
- Automated reminders when timesheets are due
By centralizing time data collection, BambooHR ensures payroll reflects the most recent and complete time records. This minimizes errors and creates transparency across teams.
Comprehensive Payroll Reporting and Analytics
BambooHR provides insightful reports and analytics to help managers understand payroll costs and trends. Key reports include:
- Payroll cost overviews by department or employee
- Compensation analysis by pay type or position
- Turnover and retention data tied to pay
- Custom reports on any payroll-related metric
With robust reporting, teams gain visibility into what drives payroll expenses. They can spot high-level trends or drill into specifics per employee. These insights inform strategic workforce planning and budgeting.
BambooHR for Small Business HR: Pros and Cons
BambooHR offers several key advantages for small and medium-sized businesses looking to streamline payroll and HR processes, though it does have some limitations to consider.
Cost Efficiency for Small Business Payroll Needs
With BambooHR, SMBs can automate payroll tasks like calculating taxes and deductions. This saves time and money compared to manual payroll. Key features like integration with time tracking software and accounting systems also promote efficiency.
BambooHR's monthly subscription fees are affordable for small teams. Tiered pricing means costs scale gradually as your team grows.
Simplicity and Usability of BambooHR Software
BambooHR provides an intuitive, user-friendly platform for managing payroll without extensive HR expertise. Employees can access personal data and request time off through self-service portals.
Onboarding new hires is straightforward with customizable templates for paperwork. The software centralizes employee information in one place for easy access.
Scalability: Growing with Your Business
BambooHR is designed to scale up smoothly as SMBs expand. It's used by over 15,000 organizations globally, from 5 employees up to over 1,000 team members.
As your business grows, features like automated reminders, customized reporting, and multiple permission levels help manage larger workforces efficiently.
BambooHR's Limitations: A Balanced View
While powerful for core HR tasks, BambooHR lacks some specialized functionality offered by standalone payroll platforms. Customization options are more limited and real-time payroll may require third-party integration.
For advanced needs like payroll for international employees or contractors, other solutions could provide greater flexibility. However, for most SMBs' essential requirements, BambooHR delivers substantial value.
BambooHR's Additional HR Features
Exploring how BambooHR's payroll capabilities integrate with its other HR features for a holistic experience.
Seamless Onboarding and Offboarding Processes
BambooHR provides streamlined onboarding and offboarding processes to smoothly transition employees in and out of an organization. This impacts payroll by:
- Automating new hire paperwork and data input to ensure payroll details are accurate from day one
- Triggering automatic offboarding checklist items like final pay and tax form preparation
- Keeping personnel data updated across the system so payroll always has current info
By handling transitional phases seamlessly, BambooHR reduces payroll errors and work for HR and managers.
HR Shift Scheduling and its Impact on Payroll
BambooHR has user-friendly shift scheduling features that empower managers. This connects to payroll in a few key ways:
- Scheduling integrates with time tracking so hours flow automatically to payroll
- Rules ensure compliance with policies around overtime, rest periods, etc.
- Managers can track time-off requests to account for PTO payouts
Accurate shift scheduling gives payroll reliable data to process - improving efficiency and preventing issues with pay disputes or compliance.
Performance Management and Compensation Planning
BambooHR ties performance reviews and payroll together by:
- Allowing compensation change decisions based on reviews
- Triggering review reminders prior to pay raise opportunities
- Updating job titles/pay grades as employees develop
This helps with compensation planning and budgets. It also ensures pay aligns to performance, enhancing productivity.
Organizational Chart and Payroll Structure
BambooHR visualizes team hierarchies through customizable org charts. For payroll, this assists with:
- Modeling how restructures shift salary bands
- Planning budgets around department/role spending
- Understanding chains-of-command for approvals
Organization visibility provides helpful context for adapting payroll as the business scales.
Choosing the Best HR Software for Your Small Business
Comparing BambooHR to other payroll software platforms to help determine the best fit for your company's needs.
BambooHR vs. Other Payroll Software Platforms
BambooHR offers comprehensive payroll capabilities as part of its human resources software platform. Key features include:
- Integration with top payroll providers like Gusto, ADP, and Paychex for seamless payroll processing
- Customizable pay schedules (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.)
- Automated tax calculations and filings
- Direct deposit setup
- Reporting and analytics
Compared to competitors like Zenefits and Namely, BambooHR provides more flexibility for small businesses to choose their preferred payroll provider while still benefiting from integrated HR features.
However, for larger companies, solutions like SAP SuccessFactors and Oracle HCM Cloud offer more advanced enterprise-level payroll tools. BambooHR is better suited for SMBs looking for an all-in-one HRIS platform at a reasonable price point.
Assessing the Value of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in Payroll
As a SaaS solution, BambooHR offers the following advantages for payroll management:
- Lower Startup Costs: No need to invest in on-site servers and hardware to run the software
- Automatic Updates: New features and upgrades added seamlessly without manual installs
- Accessibility: Employees can access payroll info from any device via the cloud
- Scalability: Easy to adjust number of user licenses based on workforce size
- 24/7 Access: Data and reporting available around the clock
Potential downsides to weigh include reliance on consistent internet connectivity to function properly. However, for most small businesses, the lower costs and flexibility of a SaaS model like BambooHR's outweighs the cons.
The Importance of Integration in Small Business HR Systems
Since most SMBs don't have expansive HR departments, having systems that “talk” to each other is crucial for productivity. BambooHR integrates directly with key platforms like:
- Google Workspace
- Slack
- QuickBooks
- Zenefits
This means data flows between the systems automatically, saving manual entry and chances of error. Employees can access important workforce information in their everyday tools instead of toggling between platforms.
For payroll specifically, BambooHR connects with top providers like ADP, streamlining the process and minimizing administrative tasks. This integration is essential for small teams with limited bandwidth.
User Feedback: Real-World BambooHR Reviews
BambooHR earns positive reviews from SMBs for its payroll and HR capabilities:
"BambooHR’s integration with Gusto payroll made it possible for us to manage everything in one place. We switched from Zenefits and it’s been a gamechanger." – Sarah, Business Owner
"I like that employees can request time off and manage timesheets in BambooHR. This connects directly with our payroll provider for easy processing." – Michael, HR Manager
Customers highlight the platform’s ease-of-use, custom reporting, implementation support, and responsive customer service team. Most negative feedback relates to advanced features only available on premium plans.
For small business owners seeking an all-in-one HRIS with payroll flexibility, BambooHR is a strong choice to consider. The software makes it easy to manage your people processes while integrating smoothly with major payroll platforms.
Conclusion: Is BambooHR the Right Choice for Your Payroll Needs?
To summarize, BambooHR offers a capable payroll system ideal for many SMBs, but larger or more complex needs may require an alternative platform.
Recap of BambooHR Payroll Capabilities
In review, BambooHR provides essential payroll features like tax calculations, reporting, time tracking and more to facilitate payroll tasks. Key capabilities include:
- Automatic payroll tax calculations for all 50 states
- Direct deposit and paper check options
- Customizable pay schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, etc.)
- Time tracking integration with timesheet approvals
- Robust reporting for payroll analysis
While suitable for many small business needs, BambooHR lacks some advanced functionality like garnishments processing, contractor payments, or international capabilities.
The Verdict on BambooHR for Small Business HR
BambooHR's user-friendly, scalable payroll makes it a suitable option for many growing small and medium-sized businesses. The intuitive interface and setup process allows SMBs to easily run payroll without a dedicated person.
As a complete HCM platform, BambooHR also facilitates other critical HR tasks like applicant tracking, onboarding, time-off tracking, and performance management. This consolidated system can save smaller teams time and money.
For basic payroll and HR requirements, BambooHR strikes an affordable balance for lean teams. As needs grow more complex, limitations may require upgrading to a standalone payroll system.
Considerations and Alternatives to BambooHR
While powerful for basic needs, BambooHR lacks some advanced capabilities and reliability compared to standalone payroll platforms.
Consider alternatives like:
- Gusto: More reliable uptime and phone support, plus contractor payments.
- Paychex: For advanced payroll needs like 401(k) administration and OSHA reporting.
- Paycom: Sophisticated functionality for large, complex enterprise payrolls.
The bottom line - BambooHR hits a sweet spot for growing SMBs, but evaluate expanded options as organizational needs evolve. Proper due diligence applies when choosing any HR/payroll platform.
