Managing payroll and HR can be an administratively burdensome task for many businesses.
Zenefits offers an innovative cloud-based platform that aims to simplify and modernize HR, payroll, and benefits management.
In this review, we'll take a comprehensive look at Zenefits' key features, pricing, implementation process, integrations, and more to help you evaluate if it's the right payroll and HR solution for your business needs.
Introduction to Zenefits Payroll
Zenefits is an all-in-one HR platform that provides integrated payroll processing along with other HR services like benefits administration, compliance, and more. Their payroll product aims to simplify payroll for small and medium businesses by automating tax calculations, payments, filings, and more.
What is Zenefits Payroll?
Zenefits Payroll is a cloud-based payroll processing system integrated directly into the Zenefits HR platform. Key features include:
- Automated federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations and payments
- Direct deposit setup and processing
- Integration with Zenefits benefits, time tracking, reporting, and other HR tools
- Simple payroll setup and processing workflows
- Mobile access and employee self-service portal
By centralizing payroll, HR, and benefits on one SaaS platform, Zenefits Payroll helps SMBs streamline processes, reduce administrative work, and improve compliance.
Key Features and Benefits
Main benefits of Zenefits Payroll include:
- Automation of tax calculations and filings - Software automatically computes federal, state, and local payroll taxes. Zenefits files and pays taxes on the company's behalf.
- Direct deposit - Employees can easily set up and manage direct deposit. Funds process quickly after each pay period.
- Integration with Zenefits HR - Payroll data seamlessly flows into tools like time tracking, PTO management, reporting, etc.
- Simple, intuitive interface - Easy to set up payroll workflows and run payrolls without accounting expertise. Great for small business owners.
- Employee self-service - Employees can access pay stubs, tax forms, update info in their self-service portal. Reduces HR tickets.
With automated tax payments, mobile access, and integration across the Zenefits platform, the payroll product aims to simplify payroll and free up businesses to focus on their goals.
Pricing and Plans
Zenefits Payroll offers two main subscription plans for businesses to choose from based on their size and needs:
Starter
The Starter plan is ideal for small teams with basic payroll and HR needs. Key details include:
- Designed for businesses with under 10 employees
- Includes core payroll features like direct deposit, tax filings, and W-2s
- Basic HR tools like time tracking, PTO management, and onboarding
- Affordable monthly price starting at $39 per month
This entry-level package has all the essentials to handle payroll and basic HR workflows for early-stage and small businesses on a budget. The low monthly cost provides great value.
Growth
For larger companies, the Growth plan adds more advanced features on top of the core Starter offering:
- Expands support for 11-100 employees on payroll
- Additional HR capabilities like compliance, reporting, and benefits admin
- Employee self-service portal for managing profiles and time-off
- Custom onboarding and offboarding checklist builder
- Monthly price of $99 per month
With increased scale comes greater complexity. The Growth plan helps midsized businesses streamline processes as they grow. The extra HR features and self-service options boost productivity. While more costly than the Starter tier, it remains competitively priced compared to alternatives.
In summary, Zenefits Payroll has two main subscription options that scale to meet the needs of different business sizes. The entry-level Starter plan focused on essential payroll and basic HR, while the Growth package adds advanced features and support for larger employee counts.
Implementation and Onboarding
Data Migration
Migrating existing payroll and HR data into Zenefits can streamline implementation and ensure continuity for your current employees. Zenefits offers automated data migration services to transfer information from your previous system into the Zenefits platform.
Here are some key things to know about data migration with Zenefits:
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Data Templates: Zenefits provides pre-configured data templates to map your existing data to the appropriate fields in Zenefits. This simplifies migration and ensures data accuracy.
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Supported Systems: Data can be migrated from many major HCM/payroll systems including ADP, Paychex, Gusto, BambooHR and more. Zenefits has experience migrating from most systems.
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Partial Migration: You can choose to only migrate certain employee data while entering other information manually. This allows flexibility based on your needs.
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Assisted Migration: For more complex data migrations, Zenefits offers hands-on support from a data migration specialist to ensure a smooth transition.
Migrating existing payroll and HR data enables Zenefits to seamlessly pick up where your previous system left off. This minimizes disruptions to payroll and HR operations during the transition.
Employee Onboarding
Zenefits provides robust tools for adding new employees and managing their payroll profiles:
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Self-onboarding Portal: Employees can securely enter their own tax forms, bank account info, deductions and more through the self-onboarding portal. This simplifies payroll setup.
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Bulk Upload: HR managers can bulk upload details for multiple employees at once through CSV templates. This allows quick, batch uploads.
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Payroll Profile Wizard: Step-by-step wizards guide you through setting up each required aspect of an employee's payroll profile in the system.
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Access Permissions: Granular permissions control employee access to personal data and self-service functionality in the platform.
Onboarding tools streamline adding employees while maintaining data accuracy and security. Combined with data migration, Zenefits can quickly get your workforce set up for automated payroll processing.
Payroll Processing
Payroll processing with Zenefits is designed to be simple, automated, and accurate. Here are some of the key features:
Payment Options
Zenefits supports multiple payroll payment options, including:
- Direct deposit: Employees can have their net pay automatically deposited into their bank account(s). This is the most popular and convenient payment method.
- Pay cards: For employees without bank accounts, Zenefits offers pay card integration. Funds are loaded onto a reloadable debit card.
- Paper checks: Traditional paper paychecks can also be issued if needed, although this incurs an additional fee.
To set up payroll payments, you just need to collect payment information during onboarding or through self-service employee profiles.
Payroll Tax Payments
Zenefits automates complex payroll tax calculations and payments, including:
- Federal taxes: Income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are automatically withdrawn.
- State taxes: State income tax is automatically calculated and paid if applicable.
- Local taxes: Local taxes like city/county taxes are also calculated and paid automatically.
Tax payments are seamlessly integrated with payment processors like Quickbooks. All you need to do is approve the calculated amounts each pay period. Zenefits then handles transmitting payments to the appropriate agencies on time.
This automated payroll tax system saves HR teams significant time and ensures full compliance with no missed deadlines or penalties.
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Additional Features
Vintti specializes in providing top-tier accounting and finance professionals to businesses. As such, additional features beyond core payroll functions are not the focus. However, some complementary capabilities that support their core staffing services include:
Employee Self-Service
Vintti provides web and mobile tools for the accounting professionals they staff to conveniently access pay stubs, manage time off requests, and more. This empowers the employees while reducing administrative tasks for clients.
Analytics Dashboard
Basic analytics and reports on payroll spending, taxes, deductions, and other metrics are available through Vintti's platform. However, advanced analytics is not a strength as they focus exclusively on staffing rather than software. Their goal is to fill vital accounting roles so clients can focus on core operations.
In summary, Vintti aims to simplify hiring and managing specialized accounting talent rather than provide a full-scale HRIS system. Their additional features support this target goal, but only focus on areas involving the staffing process. For supplementary needs outside accounting staffing, integration with other HR platforms may be required.
Integrations
Zenefits Payroll integrates with various software platforms to streamline HR, payroll, time tracking, and accounting processes. Key integrations include:
Time and Attendance Software
Zenefits Payroll seamlessly connects with popular time and attendance platforms like:
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TSheets - Offers GPS-enabled time tracking from mobile devices. Integrates hours worked into Zenefits for automated payroll calculation.
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Deputy - Provides shift scheduling, timecards, and absence management. Syncs with Zenefits Payroll for easy processing.
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Homebase - Enables employees to clock in/out from a mobile app. Homebase sends approved hours to Zenefits Payroll.
These platforms eliminate manual entry of hours and ensure accuracy for payroll. Employees can clock in/out from mobile devices and managers approve timesheets online. Integration with Zenefits Payroll removes double data entry and saves administrative time.
Accounting Systems
Zenefits Payroll integrates with accounting platforms like:
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QuickBooks - Syncs payroll data including paychecks, taxes, deductions and more. Reduces data entry and reconciliation tasks.
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Xero - Automates transfer of payroll details after each pay run for simplified accounting.
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Sage Intacct - Connects payroll information like earnings, deductions, and tax liabilities with General Ledger.
Automatic syncing of payroll data to these accounting systems reduces manual efforts for accountants. It also minimizes errors by eliminating duplicate data entry between payroll and accounting.
Customer Support
Zenefits provides comprehensive customer support to help businesses get the most out of their HR and payroll software.
Onboarding Specialists
All Zenefits customers are assigned an Onboarding Specialist when they first sign up. The Onboarding Specialist will:
- Walk you through the software setup and configuration process
- Ensure all integrations with third-party software are properly connected
- Transfer historical payroll and HR data into Zenefits
- Train staff on using the Zenefits dashboard and tools
- Answer any questions during the implementation phase
This white-glove guidance ensures your company's transition to Zenefits is smooth and efficient.
Ongoing Account Management
In addition to onboarding assistance, Zenefits provides ongoing account management and support. Each customer is assigned an Account Manager who will:
- Monitor software usage and adoption
- Provide monthly reports and recommendations
- Assist with additional employee training
- Troubleshoot any issues
- Connect you with Zenefits product experts if needed
The Account Manager acts as your single point of contact for anything related to your Zenefits system. This helps optimize utilization of the software and maximize your return on investment.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Key Advantages
Zenefits Payroll offers several key advantages for businesses looking to streamline HR and payroll processes:
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Seamless integration: Zenefits Payroll seamlessly integrates with Zenefits' HR software, allowing easy access to payroll and HR data in one unified platform. This saves time switching between systems.
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Automation: Zenefits automates several manual processes like calculating taxes and deductions, preparing W-2s, and filing payroll forms. This simplifies payroll tasks for HR teams.
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Mobile access: With Zenefits' mobile app, employees can access pay stubs, submit time off requests, update info, and more on-the-go. This improves convenience.
Potential Drawbacks
However, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well:
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Reliance on single platform: Zenefits houses both HR and payroll functionalities in one system. Some businesses may prefer separate platforms if one goes down.
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Learning curve: Zenefits has many features so initially setting up and learning the platform can take some time upfront before seeing the full benefits.
Overall, Zenefits Payroll stands out for its seamless integration, automation, and mobile access. For businesses seeking an all-in-one HRIS and payroll system, it's a compelling option to streamline processes. Those wanting standalone platforms may need to evaluate further based on their unique needs. But for most, Zenefits delivers meaningful time and cost savings.
