When you’re signing a payroll service agreement for your small business, do you know what’s included in your fee? Different providers have different ideas of what “payroll services” are, so just knowing the price doesn’t mean you know the value.
Customization is important! You'll want to know the separate costs of necessities and add-ons so you can just pay for services that you’ll be using.
For the past several decades at CSI, payroll has meant more to us than just paying your employees. Consider things like timekeeping, PTO tracking, HR services, payroll taxes, and other things that go beyond a paycheck... all comparable in cost to the large, national providers. We answer these questions daily:
- What services are included in CSI’s payroll fee?
- Which additional services do most client use?
- What are the differences between what CSI offers and what large payroll providers offer?
The Services Included in CSI’s Payroll Fee
What are the services that are commonly included in a payroll package for no additional fee? At CSI, we include the basics in our payroll fee and price separately for “add-on” services. The simpler your payroll is, the less time your dedicated payroll specialist needs to commit to it. Because of this, we can pass on a “thank you” in the form of a lower payroll fee.
A basic payroll package includes:
- Payroll check processing
- Direct deposit
- Electronic payroll tax payments
- Federal (941) & State withholding tax returns
- Federal (940) & State unemployment tax returns
- Workers' compensation audit reports
- Payroll tax audit representation
- Personal portal logins for your employees
- Employer portal login for your admin account
- Standard report package
- Cash requirement report
- Payroll journal report
- Check register report
Read more about the services that CSI offers here.
The Add-On Services of CSI’s Average Client
More services are offered for additional fees. You will not be charged for them unless you opt to use them. So, what does our average client add on?
Many of our clients find paying an additional fee for these services to be worth it:
- Conducting annual workers' compensation audits
- Timekeeping services
- PTO tracking
- HR Services
Do any of these interest you? We have more on the list! Read about more add-on payroll services.
CSI vs. Large Providers
There are some reasons why a small business owner may choose a national payroll provider over a local service. After all, they’re well-known for a reason, right?
However, you’ll find that CSI Accounting & Payroll offers similar services at similar prices as large payroll providers. Here are the two major service differences between CSI and large providers:
- Professional Employer Organization (PEO) benefits.
- Customer service.
Professional Employer Organization Benefits
CSI does not offer the services of a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), but some large payroll providers do. A PEO essentially “employs” your employees for you and offers them benefits based on a much larger "pool" of employees. This process can sometimes result in lower premiums for medical insurance.
However, PEOs only pay off if you have a large number of employees and offer a lot of benefits. Instead, CSI offers various levels of HR services that can cover many of the same benefits as PEOs. See what each tier of HR service through CSI offers here.
Customer Service
Customer service is the biggest reason why small business owners switch to CSI Accounting & Payroll. According to our clients, our customer service is better than national providers’. Many of our Google reviews talk about our customer service.
With CSI, you’ll never wait in a phone queue. If you can't speak to your dedicated payroll specialist on their direct line right away, you can leave a message and expect to hear back shortly. Plus, if you’re also local to the Twin Cities or Baltimore/Columbia area, you have the option to drop by our office if you’d prefer to have in-person conversations or to pick up printed checks and reports.
Want to Customize Your Payroll Services?
If you only know the price of a payroll service, you don’t know the value of what it can provide for you. Other payroll providers can charge higher fees for services that you don’t want, or they may charge less but not provide everything that you were hoping for. That’s why price shopping for such an essential service can be so tricky!
Luckily, CSI Accounting & Payroll includes the basics in our payroll fee, and we only charge extra for things that are commonly considered “add-ons”.
After taking a look at what our average client uses for payroll services and the differences between us and national providers, you might want to consider having a conversation with us by scheduling a free consultation!
Not quite ready to talk? Check out our pricing calculator first!
