Finding a comprehensive payroll and HR solution that meets all your business needs can be a real challenge.
BenefitMall Payroll aims to make things easier by offering a full suite of payroll, benefits, HR, and compliance services in one convenient platform.
In this detailed review, we'll provide an overview of BenefitMall Payroll's main features and capabilities, including:
- Payroll - Supports multiple pay options, robust reporting, and managing contractors
- HR - Simplified onboarding, PTO tracking, and more
- Compliance - ACA compliance help and other regulatory requirements
- Ease of use - User-friendly admin and employee portals
We'll also discuss implementation, support, pricing, top competitors, and make final recommendations on if BenefitMall Payroll is the right solution for your business needs.
Introduction to BenefitMall Payroll
BenefitMall is a leading provider of payroll and human resources (HR) solutions catered to small and mid-sized businesses across the United States. Founded in 2000, they leverage decades of payroll expertise combined with innovative technology to offer comprehensive services that simplify payroll and HR management.
Company Background and Overview
BenefitMall was founded in 2000 as the merger of PBS Employer Services and BenefitMall Insurance Services. Since then, they have served over 200,000 small and mid-sized clients across the U.S.
They aim to provide an all-in-one platform to manage payroll, taxes, reporting, benefits administration, compliance, and other critical HR tasks. Their customized solutions are designed specifically for the needs of small and medium businesses.
Main Services Offered
BenefitMall offers a full suite of payroll and HR solutions including:
- Payroll processing
- Tax filing and remittance
- Payroll reporting and analytics
- Time and attendance tracking
- Benefits administration
- HR workflows and compliance
- Employee self-service portal
Their platform aims to simplify payroll and provide real-time visibility into data. Customers can run payroll on their own schedule with on-demand or batch processing options.
Ideal Customer Profile
BenefitMall solutions are best suited for U.S.-based small and mid-sized businesses across all industries. Typical customers include:
- Companies with less than 1000 employees
- Organizations seeking an integrated payroll and HR platform
- Businesses that want consolidated payroll and tax filing
- Companies with hourly, salaried, and 1099 workers on staff
- HR teams that need help complying with labor regulations
For growing companies struggling to manage payroll in-house, BenefitMall provides a scalable solution tailored to their needs and budget. The platform reduces administrative burdens so businesses can focus on core operations.
Payroll Features and Capabilities
Payment Options
BenefitMall offers a range of payment options to meet the needs of different businesses. Some key capabilities include:
- Pay Frequency: Choose between weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly pay cycles. Accommodates standard pay periods or custom schedules.
- Paycards: Employees can be paid via paycards that work like debit cards. Funds are immediately available on payday. Reduces reliance on paper checks.
- Direct Deposit: Fast and secure direct deposit into employee bank accounts on payday. Supported by all major banks.
- Live Checks: Print paychecks in-house on demand for employees. Checks are drawn directly from client accounts.
- Funds Delivery: Wages can be delivered via direct deposit, paycards, live checks printed in-house, or BenefitMall can print and mail checks.
Reporting and Analytics
BenefitMall provides standard and customizable reporting allowing clients to:
- Track labor costs over time and optimize staffing levels.
- Generate reports required for tax filings, including 941, W-2, and 1099 forms.
- Monitor payroll spending by department or location.
- Review employee payroll details and payment history.
- Export reports to PDF, Excel, etc. for further analysis.
- Create custom reports to extract essential payroll insights.
Managing Contractors
BenefitMall supports payment of 1099 contract workers:
- Contractors can be set up in the platform alongside regular W-2 employees.
- Contractors can be paid via direct deposit, paycard, or paper check.
- At year-end, 1099 forms are automatically generated for tax reporting.
- Worker classification is determined during onboarding to properly handle taxes.
By supporting both W-2 and 1099 workers in one system, BenefitMall allows businesses to easily manage a blended workforce.
HR and Compliance Capabilities
Streamlined Onboarding
BenefitMall simplifies new employee onboarding with customizable checklists that ensure all necessary steps are completed. New hires can access onboarding materials through a self-service portal and complete paperwork electronically via e-signature. This reduces administrative tasks for HR staff and creates a smooth, paperless process.
Key features include:
- Customizable onboarding checklists by role, location, etc.
- Self-service portal for new hires to access forms
- E-signature functionality to complete paperwork online
- Automatic notifications to prompt next steps
By streamlining onboarding, BenefitMall enables companies to get new hires productive faster.
ACA Compliance Management
BenefitMall provides robust tools to manage ACA compliance across the employee base. Key capabilities include:
- Health insurance reporting based on hours worked to identify full-time employees
- Eligibility audits to catch potential compliance issues
- 1094/1095-C and 1094-B/1095-B form generation
Automating ACA reporting reduces the administrative burden on HR teams. BenefitMall stays on top of changing requirements and ensures all reporting is accurate and filed on time.
Managing PTO and Time-Off
BenefitMall centralizes visibility and management of employee time-off. Companies can configure accrual policies, set carryover limits, and provide self-service access for staff to check balances.
Key features include:
- PTO accrual rules by tenure, role, etc.
- Carryover allowance caps
- Visibility into remaining time for managers
- Self-service portal for employees
Centralized time-off tracking eliminates spreadsheet tracking for HR and gives employees transparency into available paid time off.
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Platform Experience and Ease of Use
BenefitMall aims to provide an intuitive platform for both administrators and employees.
Intuitive Admin Dashboard
The central payroll administrator dashboard offers at-a-glance visibility into key payroll metrics and employee data. Administrators can easily track payroll costs, taxes, deductions, hours worked, and more. Customizable dashboards allow admins to prioritize the most important metrics for their organization. The interface provides user-friendly controls and configuration options accessible directly from the dashboard.
Overall, BenefitMall focused on creating an easy-to-use admin experience to simplify payroll management. The dashboard delivers the insights and controls administrators need in a clean, uncluttered interface.
Employee Self-Service Portal
Through BenefitMall's self-service portal, employees can conveniently access pay stubs, tax documents, and update their personal information. Key features include:
- Access digital pay stubs and tax forms
- Update contacts and tax withholdings
- Report life events such as marriage, divorce, new child
- Submit PTO requests
- View remaining PTO balance
- Set up direct deposit
The portal provides a straightforward way for employees to handle many payroll-related tasks themselves. This saves administrators time while empowering employees with self-service access.
Mobile App Capabilities
BenefitMall offers free iOS and Android apps that enable administrators and employees to access key features on-the-go. Administrators can approve timecards, access reports, and configure settings through the mobile app. Employees can view pay stubs, request PTO, update info, and more.
The apps provide an extension of the main portal and dashboard, with responsive design optimized for smartphones and tablets. This allows administrators and employees alike to handle essential payroll tasks from anywhere.
Implementation, Support, and Pricing
Onboarding and Implementation
The onboarding and implementation process for BenefitMall payroll services aims to be smooth and efficient. New clients are assigned an implementation manager who oversees the setup process.
Data migration services are available to transfer information from old payroll systems into BenefitMall's platform. The typical timeframe for implementation ranges from 2-4 weeks on average. BenefitMall provides training resources in the form of getting started guides, video tutorials, webinars, and dedicated support staff.
Overall, BenefitMall seeks to make the transition for new payroll clients as seamless as possible through migration assistance, training materials, and account manager guidance.
Ongoing Support Options
BenefitMall provides several support channels for payroll clients:
- Phone Support: Available during regular business hours with after-hours emergency support.
- Email Ticketing: Submit support tickets online and track responses.
- Knowledge Base: Searchable database of payroll guides and FAQs.
- Project Management: Dedicated account manager oversees complex implementations.
In addition, BenefitMall offers an online payroll portal with employee self-service capabilities and real-time reporting dashboards. Support levels are tiered based on plan, with higher-tier customers receiving dedicated account management.
Pricing and Value
BenefitMall bases payroll pricing on a per-employee per-month model, with costs varying based on features needed. Typical drivers include:
- Number of employees
- Frequency of payroll runs
- Direct deposit transactions
- Tax filing services required
Volume discounts are available for larger clients. BenefitMall provides an online tool to receive an instant quote based on specifics.
Compared to competitors, BenefitMall offers strong value with robust features, implementation support, and employee self-services at competitive rates. The pricing model scales flexibly for growing business needs.
Summary and Recommendations
Best Fit for...
BenefitMall Payroll is likely the best fit for small to mid-sized businesses in the US looking for an integrated payroll and HR solution. Key industries that can benefit include:
- Professional services - law firms, accounting firms, consultant agencies
- Healthcare - medical practices, dental clinics, home health agencies
- Retail - boutique shops, franchise locations, department stores
- Hospitality - hotels, restaurants, event venues
BenefitMall works well for companies that need both payroll processing and more advanced HR functionality like benefits administration, compliance, and analytics in one platform.
It likely does not make sense for solopreneurs, gig workers, or enterprises with thousands of employees. BenefitMall specializes in the "middle market" segment.
Top Competitors
The top competitors to BenefitMall Payroll include:
- Gusto: Top rival in SMB space, with similar all-in-one payroll & HR features. Slightly more user-friendly.
- ADP: Payroll & HR leader for mid-market and enterprises. More scalable but more complex.
- Paychex: Established payroll provider with extensive HR services. Less tech-driven than BenefitMall.
- Rippling: Fast-growing new entrant prioritizing ease of use. However payroll is secondary focus.
Competitively, BenefitMall strikes a balance between ease-of-use and depth of features. It brings together payroll, benefits, compliance and analytics in one unified platform.
Final Verdict
For US companies needing a full-service payroll and HR solution, BenefitMall is absolutely worth considering. They make a strong case if you want integrated payroll processing, benefits management, and people analytics without the complexity of enterprise HCM vendors.
While Gusto offers exceptional ease-of-use, BenefitMall provides more customization and support capabilities. And while ADP or Paychex have greater legacy scale, BenefitMall brings faster innovation and a more unified platform.
Ultimately BenefitMall hits a sweet spot between simplicity and customization for growing SMBs in core verticals like professional services, healthcare, retail, and hospitality.
