{"id":1855,"date":"2019-02-09T09:25:13","date_gmt":"2019-02-09T14:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atyourbusiness.com\/blog\/?p=1855"},"modified":"2019-02-09T09:25:36","modified_gmt":"2019-02-09T14:25:36","slug":"how-to-do-payroll-yourself-a-no-nonsense-guide-to-small-business-payroll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atyourbusiness.com\/blog\/how-to-do-payroll-yourself-a-no-nonsense-guide-to-small-business-payroll\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Do Payroll Yourself: A No-Nonsense Guide to Small Business Payroll"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Does the thought of doing payroll yourself make your head spin? You’re in for a surprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you get the hang of it, payroll is like second nature. You just need the right tips and tools to get there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow this guide on how to do payroll yourself, starting from square one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

How to Do Payroll Yourself Without Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It never hurts to take a course before jumping in the waters. Understanding the basics of accounting can make a world of difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take an introductory accounting course at your local community college. Some Universities even offer free accounting courses<\/a> through Coursera and edX. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For payroll training specifically, check out Lorman, Ashworth College, and the American Payroll Association. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees vs. Independent Contractors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Payroll is not a one-size-fits-all process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businesses with one employee will have a different process than mid-size companies. Some businesses exclusively use independent contractors, so they’ll have a different process as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, independent contractors are self-employed, so they take out their own taxes. You aren’t responsible for payroll taxes either. These are called 1099 employees because they require a 1099 tax form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hourly employees are called W-2 employees. Unlike independent contractors, you are responsible for payroll taxes, worker’s comp, and unemployment benefits for each W-2 employee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Hires<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several elements to payroll. The payroll process for one employee starts the moment they’re hired and ends with their final paycheck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step of payroll is to from a new hire. This includes a copy of their ID, contact information, and social security number. You can obtain this information through your W-4 and l-9 forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees also enter how many dependents and allowances they have on their W-4. This impacts how much payroll taxes are taken out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paying Your Employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, you need to choose a time clock system that works for you and your staff. Gone are the days of the punch card. Now, it’s all about time-tracking software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quickbooks has its own time-tracking system. If you only have one employee, you probably need nothing more than a spreadsheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few more time-tracking options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n