Human Resources: PowerPayroll by PayMaxx

How much time do you spend preparing the payroll for your employees? If it´s anything more than fifteen minutes, it is too long. At least according to PowerPayroll, which promises to help, you complete the payroll process within fifteen minutes and with only 12 mouse clicks.

What is the PowerPayroll?

PowerPayroll by PayMaxx is an Internet-based payroll and tax filing service that allows you to process all your payroll needs from preparing the paychecks to printing out the W-2s. You don´t have to purchase any software; all you need is an Internet connection to get started. You can input the payroll data from any personal computer and PowerPayroll prints your checks and reports for next-day delivery. The program also ensures compliance with all tax regulations.

How does PowerPayroll work? The software has eight fields that can be accessed:

1. Payday
- this option allows you to:

Create and submit payrolls
Prepare manual checks
Prepare void checks

2. Employees

Allows you to add or edit personal and payroll information for an employee

3. Company Info

You can change the company information and accounts.

4. Customer Corner

Gives the customer (the company administrator) access to news, the support team, contact information, production view and the ability to download forms.

5. Reports

This section can be used to view and print payroll reports going back three years.

6. General Ledger

General Ledger exports can be created in Excel, ASCII, and QuickBooks formats.

7. Payview

Allows the viewing of check stub details and W-2´s.

8. Employee Self Service

Employees can use this window to change their own information.
The employer sets the access fields to indicate exactly what will be visible and accessible to a particular employee.

In order to provide the most updated information, the software is updated every 90 days. The client is provided with the changes as part of the purchase.

Scalability
PowerPayroll is marketed to companies with 150 and under employees. However, there is really no limit to the number of users.

Price

For each payroll processing, the base price is $33 plus $1 for each employee.
This includes:
- $10 for the process
- $10 for per State tax filing
- $10 shipping charge (This may be excluded if you choose to use PayMaxx''s Check Print option that allows you to print the payroll checks inhouse.)
- $3 for direct deposit charges
The online reporting is free
There is no charge for check signing and W-2s
There is no charge for year-end processing
Note: A small fee for the year-end processing has now been introduced.

Integration

PowerPayroll allows you to download information from BestSoftware.

System Requirements

All you need is a Internet connection

Implementation

The turnaround time depends on the amount of information that needs to be imported.

Security

PayMaxx uses encryption and firewall technology
It complies with Bank/Industry standards
The mainframe is not connected to the general system so the information is store in a secure place

Technical Support

Clients are provided with their own personal support team. This team consists of certified payroll professionals as well as other experienced people.
The "Customer Corner" option in the main menu of the software introduces the client access to his or her particular team and provides the necessary contact information.

Major Competitors

PayChecks, Ensure Pay, Priority Pay, ADP, Ceridian

HR.COMmentary
PowerPayroll appears to be a well-developed system backed by a great team. The customer service department is wonderful to deal with - a rare find these days. The company prides itself on providing "high touch" customer service and satisfaction and it really shows.

With the purchase of PowerPayroll, the company offers training, which provides additional service and education for the program. It seems that the company really cares about you and wants to provide you with the best product and service.

Overall, it seems that PowerPayroll has covered all the basics and even seems to go above and beyond. The program has eight options as outlined above and each option has easy to navigate tools.

One thing that I have a beef with is the confusion surrounding the names of PayMaxx´s products. I still can´t be sure if the product I have just given you an overview of is called "PowerPayroll" or "Payload" or if it even matters!(I have now been told that "PowerPayroll" is targeted at companies with 150 or less employees, while "PayLoad" will appeal to companies with 150 or more employees because of the additional functionality included in PayLoad.)

Important tip for HR.COM users If you do decide to purchase this product, don´t pay the $100 Conversion Fee. I was told that 90 % of the time this fee is waived as a sales pitch to ´close the deal´.

Note: The waiver and the amount of conversion fee depends on the size of the company.

Company Information PayMaxx, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, is a privately owned corporation. Originally founded as a business software development firm, PayMaxx entered the payroll outsourcing market in 1991. PayMaxx is one of the first companies to offer a WINDOWS-based data entry system, PayLoad^TM and an Internet-based payroll solution, POWERPayroll^TM.

PayMaxx allows integration of tax filing services, 401(k) plan administration, custom electronic time and attendance, and 401(k) and general ledger interfaces into its payroll system.