Running payroll smoothly is crucial for any business, but it can be complex and time consuming. Most business owners would likely agree that an affordable, easy-to-use payroll service could save them significant time and headache.
Patriot Software aims to deliver just that. Their full service payroll promises small business owners an intuitive interface, flexible setup options, and ongoing support to handle payroll processing with ease.
In this review, we'll take a close look at Patriot Software's full service payroll offering, evaluating its ease of use, key features, customer support, and affordability. We'll highlight pros and cons to determine if it's the right fit for small business owners seeking stress-free payroll.
Introduction
Patriot Software is a leading provider of cloud-based accounting and payroll software for small businesses. Their full service payroll offering provides an easy way for small business owners to manage payroll tasks without the hassle of doing it themselves.
This review will provide an overview of Patriot Software and a closer look at their full service payroll features, pricing, and ease of use. The goal is to help small business owners understand if Patriot's payroll services are the right fit to simplify payroll management.
Overview of Patriot Software
Founded in 2002, Patriot Software offers a suite of accounting, payroll, time and attendance tracking, and invoicing software aimed at startups and small businesses. Their products are designed to be user-friendly while still providing robust features typically found in more expensive enterprise-level software.
Some key things to know about Patriot Software:
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Cloud-based: All Patriot products utilize the cloud so customers can access them from anywhere on any device via the web or mobile apps. This eliminates the need for installing and maintaining software.
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Scalable pricing: Patriot uses a tiered pricing model that scales up or down based on the number of employees/users on the platform. This flexibility matches cost to business size and needs.
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Positive reputation: Patriot maintains high customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Their products are known for ease of use, affordability, and helpful customer support.
Full Service Payroll Offering
Patriot Software's full service payroll handles all aspects of payroll processing directly through Patriot's secure online platform. This includes:
- Tax calculations and filings
- Direct deposit or printed checks
- Payroll reporting
- Managing tax payments
- Year-end tax documents like W2s
Full service payroll starts at $10 per month base fee plus $4 per employee per month. So at 5 employees it would cost $30 per month. There are no contracts or long term commitments required.
The full service option eliminates the need to manually calculate taxes, submit payments and filings, or stay up to date on changing regulations. This saves significant time and ensures payroll and tax compliance.
One standout for Patriot's payroll services is ease of use. The user interface is intuitive with helpful setup wizards. Customer support is also very responsive in case any questions come up. This simplifies payroll for those without financial backgrounds while still providing robust functionality under the hood.
For small business owners frustrated with running payroll themselves, Patriot Software's full service offering provides welcome simplicity and peace of mind at an affordable price. The platform reliably handles payroll tasks while allowing owners and managers to focus their energy on growing their business.
Ease of Use
Intuitive Interface
Patriot Software provides an intuitive interface and dashboard that makes their full service payroll easy to use. The dashboard allows you to access all payroll features in one place, including running payroll, viewing reports, managing tax payments and filings, and more.
Some key features that enhance usability include:
- Clean layout with clear navigation and logical grouping of features
- Ability to customize dashboard by saving favorite reports and arranging widgets
- Step-by-step payroll setup wizards to guide you through the process
- Contextual help buttons and descriptions for guidance along the way
With Patriot's simple menus and wizards, even those new to payroll can get up and running quickly. Experienced users will also appreciate the ability to skip ahead to more advanced configuration options.
Flexible Payroll Setup
One of the biggest advantages of Patriot's full service payroll is the flexibility to tailor it to your business's needs.
When first setting up payroll, you can configure options such as:
- Pay schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly)
- Overtime calculations
- Different pay types (salary, hourly, per project, etc.)
- Tax jurisdictions based on where employees live
- Voluntary and court-ordered deductions
- Direct deposit splits across multiple bank accounts
As your business grows and changes, it's easy to adjust these settings. You can add and remove employees, update pay rates and schedules, turn deductions on or off, and modify tax jurisdictions if employees move.
Patriot makes changes easy by allowing bulk updates to multiple employees as well as individual tweaks when needed.
Payroll Processing
Once payroll is set up, Patriot handles all the heavy lifting of calculations, payments, and filings behind the scenes.
Some of the key features that make payroll processing a breeze include:
- Auto calculation of gross to net pay based on time tracking, pay rates, overtime, deductions, etc.
- Automated federal, state, and local tax payments
- Direct deposits processed to employee bank accounts
- End-of-quarter and end-of-year tax filings submitted on your behalf
- Email notifications when payroll has been processed so you can view reports
Between the automated tools and expert support, Patriot enables you to run payroll accurately and efficiently without having to crunch numbers yourself. This saves you significant time while also ensuring full compliance.
Key Features
Patriot Software's full service payroll solution comes with several key features that provide ease of use and affordability for managing payroll.
Direct Deposit
The direct deposit capability allows businesses to pay employees directly into their bank accounts. This saves the time and cost of printing and distributing paper checks while providing faster access to wages for employees. Key benefits include:
- Set up direct deposit for individuals or the entire company at once
- Support for multiple bank accounts per employee
- Free direct deposit for up to 50 employees
Tax Filing Services
Patriot Software handles all federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations, filings, and payments. This automates a complex and time-consuming process for business owners. Features include:
- Automated tax form preparation (W-2, 940, 941, etc.)
- Electronic tax payments to appropriate agencies
- Tax penalty protection and audit assistance
- Free tax filing for up to 10 employees
Employee Self Service
The self-service portal allows employees to conveniently access their payroll information online 24/7. Employees can view pay stubs, manage direct deposits, update personal info, and more. Benefits include:
- Mobile access from any device
- Paperless pay stubs
- Increased payroll transparency
- Reduced HR admin requests
With robust features like easy direct deposit setup, automated payroll tax management, and self-service employee access, Patriot Software aims to provide an all-in-one payroll solution focused on simplicity, compliance, and affordability for small businesses.
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Customer Support
Patriot Software provides comprehensive customer support to help users get set up and address any issues that arise.
Setup Assistance
When first implementing Patriot Software's payroll solution, users have access to dedicated reps to walk through the setup process. These specialists can:
- Guide users through importing employee data, configuring tax rates and deductions, setting up direct deposit, and customizing other payroll settings
- Provide best practices advice to ensure proper configuration based on the user's state and industry
- Answer questions and resolve any setup issues to simplify what can often be a complex payroll implementation process
This white-glove assistance helps customers get Patriot Software payroll running quickly and smoothly from day one.
Ongoing Support
For post-implementation support needs, Patriot Software provides several convenient ways for customers to get help:
- Toll-free phone and email support: Available during extended business hours, Patriot's US-based support team can provide guidance on how to run payroll cycles, add new employees, adjust deductions, print reports, and troubleshoot any errors. They are payroll experts equipped to resolve most common issues.
- Searchable knowledge base: Patriot's help site contains an extensive library of FAQs, step-by-step instructions, training videos, and guides covering all aspects of using their payroll software. The search functionality makes it easy to quickly find answers to specific questions.
- Support ticketing system: Users can submit tickets for complex issues that require deeper troubleshooting by Patriot's tier 2+ support reps. An efficient ticketing process keeps users updated on the status of their inquiries.
Patriot Software aims to provide various self-service and human support options to minimize customer effort when issues inevitably arise when managing payroll.
Training Resources
To help customers maximize the value from Patriot Software payroll, the company offers an array of free training resources including:
- Getting started webinars: These interactive online seminars walk through fundamental setup and usage, allowing users to get hands-on experience with guidance from a Patriot rep.
- On-demand video tutorials: The training video library contains short step-by-step clips demonstrating how to complete key payroll tasks within the software.
- Downloadable user manuals: Comprehensive guides with screenshots provide an offline reference detailing full configuration and usage instructions available for download.
- Free retraining: Existing customers can schedule sessions with support reps to refresh their understanding of advanced Patriot Software features.
The depth of free training content available helps ensure an easier learning curve for getting proficient with Patriot Software payroll.
Affordability
Patriot Software provides affordable full service payroll solutions for small businesses.
Pricing Model
Patriot Software uses a straightforward pricing model based on the number of employees and pay periods. Plans start at $10 per month plus $4 per employee per month. There are no contracts or setup fees.
Additional fees apply for:
- Direct deposit ($1 per deposit)
- Tax filings ($25 per filing)
- W2s ($2 per W2)
Volume discounts are available for larger businesses. Patriot also offers an HR module and time and attendance system for additional fees.
Cost Comparison
Compared to competitors like Gusto, Patriot Software's base pricing is over 50% cheaper for companies with 1-10 employees paid weekly or biweekly. Patriot scales affordably as companies grow.
For a 5 person company paid biweekly, Patriot would cost $50 per month compared to $125 with Gusto.
Promotions
New customers can get their first 2 months free as a limited time offer. Patriot also provides referral bonuses up to 1 free month.
Overall, Patriot Software provides full service payroll affordably for most small businesses without locking them into long term contracts. Their pricing model scales cleanly as the business grows.
Conclusion
Pros
Patriot Software's full service payroll has several key benefits:
- Easy and intuitive setup process that can be completed in under an hour
- User-friendly interface for entering payroll data and running payroll
- Robust features like direct deposit, tax filing, and employee access
- Dedicated customer support specialists to assist with any issues
Cons
Potential drawbacks to consider include:
- Limited integration capabilities compared to some competitors
- Additional fees for some advanced features like workers' comp reporting
Final Verdict
Overall, Patriot Software provides a solid full service payroll system that is easy to use with essential features, at an affordable price point for most small businesses. The platform is intuitive and convenient to manage payroll in-house. While it lacks some of the sophistication of more expensive solutions, Patriot Software delivers on core payroll needs for basic use cases. For most small businesses looking for an affordable, capable payroll system, Patriot Software is a reliable choice worth considering.
