Whether you handle your own payroll or outsource it, you’re reading this because you need to make a change. That means you should switch as soon as possible, regardless of what the calendar says.
But, if your situation isn’t urgent, what are the BEST times to switch? If you’re looking at a provider with poor support, switch now in the fall – and for an established provider with great service, some business owners prefer to switch on January 1st. I’ll walk you through your options.
At CSI Accounting & Payroll, we’ve worked with small businesses for nearly 60 years. That means we’ve answered these questions thousands of times:
- When is the best time of year to start with a new payroll service? Why does it vary by the level of service provided?
- Should I start on January 1st?
- Should I switch as soon as possible?
Best Time of Year to Switch Payroll Services
If you’re switching to yet another provider that offers poor support, do it in the fall. If you’re switching to an established provider with great service (like CSI Accounting & Payroll), switching on January 1st (or whenever) is great. But overall, if you’re in a bad situation, it’s best to switch immediately.
So, why does the quality of the service influence when you should switch?
Since many business owners switch at the very beginning of the year, it quickly overwhelms struggling providers of all sizes. Data transfer errors, late payroll tax filings, delayed payments, system crashes… you name it. If you’re going that route, you need to switch before everyone else does.
If you work with CSI, we can take you on at any time with no issue – even if you really want to start on January 1st.
Switching at the Beginning of the Year
Many business owners want to switch at the very start of the year because their year-to-date numbers go back to zero. Others pick this date (or even the end of a quarter) because they think it’s a good time for change, even if that means staying in a bad situation for several more months than necessary.
Remember, since this is a popular start date, providers with poor service notoriously struggle – but CSI Accounting & Payroll does not. With a well-staffed, well-trained, and motivated service, there’s no “wrong” time to switch!
Switching as Soon as Possible
If you’re already dealing with payroll being late, incorrect, or confusing, it’s time to switch. If you struggle with getting customer service to fix these things, it’s time to switch. If your payroll person doesn’t even seem to care, it’s beyond time to switch.
Don’t wait for your employees to quit, penalties to stack up, or errors to snowball. If a new payroll provider says they can get you started within a few weeks at any time of year, take that as a green flag.
Switch Now & Reap the Benefits!
Now that you know that the best time of year to start with a new payroll provider is when you realize it’s time for a change, are you ready to check out our payroll services?
To see if we can be a good fit for your business, click the button below for a free consultation:
Not ready to talk? That’s okay! First, estimate what your per-process payroll costs may be by clicking the image below:
