Compare Workful Payroll Service

Updated Dec 21, 2021


The right tool can help you handle payroll quickly and effectively. As you continue to build your business and scale your company, you will need assistance from a payroll system that can simplify your daily tasks.

Workful is a relatively new payroll service for startups and small businesses. It is suitable for any type of business from any industry, with up to 20 employees. Developed by TaxSlayer, the payroll system allows you to file taxes, track employees' attendance, process payments, run reports, and communicate with your team.

If you are looking for a full-service solution that will add value to your business' day-to-day operations, look no further than Workful payroll service.

Why Use Workful Service?

Workful was created by TaxSlayer, a tax preparation app that started as a small company in 1965 but soon developed into a well-known business that today serves thousands of customers. Workful made an excellent start, providing something other payroll services in this group don't offer free-of-charge - a time clock built into the platform which supports geolocations. The simple navigation and impressive user interface are a huge bonus to most users. They make it super easy for both experienced and newcomers payroll managers to manage the platform and its other features.

The system is like a mini POS and HR-division that a business owner can use while on the go. Workful payroll service works like any other software - it syncs with the employees' data, allowing small business owners to run payrolls in a few clicks. You can also view, create, edit, and share payroll reports on tax liability, weekly/monthly costs, and timesheets.

Human Resources departments using Workful payroll service can store private documents such as business guidelines, employee handbooks, or expense reports in a safe repository. The platform also regulates time-off requests and tracks workers' schedules, allowing employees to access their PTO balance whenever they desire.

Workful is a cloud-based solution, meaning small businesses won't have to worry about software installation, maintenance, and other technical details. You can access a Workful database from any device and at anytime. Compared to other payroll software solutions, Workful doesn't come with an app for administrators, which is a minor inconvenience. However, most users don't mind using a web browser to access their accounts as long as the process is quick, straightforward, and gets the job done.

If you run a small business, you can definitely take advantage of Workful payroll service. In just a few steps, you can scale up your business by automating the payroll process.

Compare Workful Prices

Compared to other payroll services in terms of prices, Workful is much more expensive than the majority of the competition, meaning they don't have a base price like the rest of the payroll solutions. Users are charged $5/employee/month with a $25 minimum charge. It doesn't matter if your business has less than five employees, it is obligatory to pay $25. A price like this makes Workful payroll service one of the most expensive solutions out there.

There is only one all-in-one online payroll service that costs more - QuickBooks, which costs $80/month and $4/employee/month. If we compare payroll services currently popular among small business owners, Patriot Software is the cheapest solution with a pricing plan of $10 per month and $4/employee/month (at this price, the payroll service doesn't submit payroll taxes).

There is a reason why Workful has a higher price than the rest of online payroll services. They try to combine everything from payroll service to employee tools to help small business owners increase their productivity and focus on running their business.

What's included in the monthly price?

  • Unlimited payroll runs
  • State and federal tax forms
  • Multiple pay rates
  • QuickBooks integration
  • Employee portal
  • Expense tracking
  • Manager roles
  • PTO tracking
With all of the options you get, the price is good value. Some of the best online payroll service solutions, such as GoGo, Paycheck, Gusto Payroll, and Paycor, don't offer as many options as Workful. There is no limit on how much you can run through the payroll process, which is a significant advantage for Workful.

Unlimited payroll runs
Multiple pay rates
Built-in time tracking
QuickBooks integration
50.00
Average Bill/Month
@ 10 Employees
5.00
per employee/mo
Visit site

Workful Payroll Features

Workful payroll service is loaded with useful features, including check printing, 401(k) tracking, tax compliance, W-2/1099 preparation, leave/vacation tracking, and wage garnishment.

The payroll system features a built-in time clock that allows you to set your parameters. A feature like this puts Workful among the best online payroll service solutions, mainly because there is no other system out there that offers the same functionality. All you need to do is add your company's information, office hours, and specify whether you want breaks to be incorporated. The employees should know how they can clock in or out. Workful offers two options: employees can use the company's internet network or clock in and out from one of the office locations. That way, Workful can detect the employees and add them to the system.

Employee Records is another excellent feature that puts Workful among the big players. Users love how the Workful payroll system presents employee details in separate files. Similar to competitors' Time Clock and Expenses, there are six individual department tabs. You can click on the Profile section to add Social Security Number, birthdate, and contact information.

In the Documents section, there is a database for personal files, including employee information, evaluation, and analysis. If one of your employees has submitted monthly costs, you can find them in the Expense section. What's impressive about Workful is how they present the time-off details. If you compare payroll services, you will discover that Workful has the most comprehensive descriptive screen for time-off information. There are three time-off options supported - PTO, sick, and vacation. Below on the page, there is a table that lists the time-off history of all of your workers.

The tax information regarding federal, state, and city taxes is automated. Workful calculates the tax commitments and informs you of the tax filings due, but it doesn't submit the charges automatically, which is a big drawback for the service. Most of Workful's competitors offer the option of sending taxes automatically. With Workful, it is your responsibility to fill in the tax forms and submit them manually.

Another limitation worth exposing is the number of report templates available. Although Workful does offer free report templates, there are only seven for you to use, which is a lot less than what other payroll solutions provide (some competitor sites offer more than 100 report templates). One is a list of workers with their contact information and hiring dates, and others present monthly employee expenses. The reports can only be seen on the site - there is no option to export them to other formats.

Workful Integrations

Workful supports QuickBooks integration (no other integrations with payroll services are supported). QuickBooks is an accounting system that provides payroll assistance and outsourcing, remote access capabilities, online banking, and electronic payment options. It has email options through Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook and marketing features through Google, employee time tracking functionality, and much more.

You can set up the integration via your Workful account, and you can assign permissions that allow admins, managers, and owners to access, view, edit, and approve different elements. The options are more specific than those of other competitor online payroll services (such as Gusto). Users can authorize or restrict permissions for particular situations.

With QuickBooks integration, Workful users can:

  • Send invoices with one click
  • Sync contacts from Workful to QuickBooks

Workful Ad Ons

Workful's flexibility makes payroll processing fast and simple. It is an excellent option for both startups and small businesses, including those with specific, advanced needs. However, in terms of add-ons, it is not the most popular software on the market.

This is largely because everything you need is already included within the software. From payroll to time tracking and employee tools, Workful makes sure business owners have the necessary functionalities to automate the payroll process. The competitors' sites have add-ons to buy, but Workful offers the same and then some more in the monthly plan.

 

Workful Screen Shots

Workful Video Demo

Workful Video Demo 5

Top 5 Workful Complaints

  1. No Dedicated Mobile App Workful doesn't have a dedicated mobile app for administrators - or at least not yet. Although small business owners don't mind accessing their accounts via a web browser, remote work can be more complex and take more time.
  2. Expensive Pricing Structure Workful is specially designed to suit the needs of small businesses. However, the price is a bit unusual, and some business owners may find it expensive.
  3. Doesn't File Payroll Taxes Workful will remind you of your tax due and inform you how much you owe, but that's it. The payroll taxes service doesn't cover filing tax returns, which is a big drawback for the payroll as small business owners will have to submit the online tax returns manually.
  4. Can't Outline Earnings Types Under the Payroll tab, you will find the necessary information you need to add for the employee, such as local and federal withholding, deposit details, starting balances for previous payrolls, and earning types. The earning types come as part of the Workful's Reporting and Analytics plan, but you can't edit the types or add your own. Other competitor payroll services such as OnPay offer the option to add and outline your own earning types.
  5. Difficulty Storing Previous Year W-3 Workful payroll service tracks your state and federal taxes, so you don't have to worry about them. The system provides you with annual W-2 wage and tax statements, form 941 employer's federal tax return, and FUTA tax. However, some users report issues with storing previous year's W-3. If you experience such a problem, don't hesitate to contact the support team.

Top 5 Workful Pros

  1. Value: Workful's payroll price isn't cheap, but you do get an excellent selection of features to use. Although the system isn't the most innovative on the market, the fact that you get all-in-one payroll service, including payroll reporting and analytics and tax form submission, makes it more attractive. That is what we call a product of value.
  2. Simplicity: Workful isn't your regular payroll service. Even though it is loaded with a lot of features, it is still pretty straightforward. Everything you need to do is a few clicks away. It is easy to use, does not require complex operations, and is good enough for old and new users. The interface is clean, and if you ever get into trouble, the customer support team is here to help you. You can reach out to the Help Center, connect with other users, or visit the Workful blog, where you will find plenty of helpful resources.
  3. Easy Set-Up: Setting up an online payroll account can be one of the most challenging processes out there, but not with Workful. They make sure everything is as easy as possible. Once you create an account, Workful will ask you for your contact information, company name, and the number of employees. You can request live help with the account set-up if you don't know how to fill in the data. Workful makes sure the payroll service is simple and easy to use so that everyone with or without previous experience can take advantage of it.
  4. Built-In Time Clock: One of the most impressive things about Workful online payroll service is the detail within the built-in time clock. None of the competitors offers this feature. The time clock includes a list of all of your employees with their work status next to them. There is an option for employees to clock in and clock out. Next on the dashboard screen, there is a toolbar with options such as Employees, Reports and Settings, Calendar, and more.
  5. Impressive Employee Records Functionality: Workful is known as one of the best online payroll service solutions for a reason. It is a full-service system that includes essential POS and HR elements in one package. The employee records functionality is an excellent addition to the service. The records are divided into six different sections with built-in time clock and expenses features.

Summing It Up: Does Workful Work?

Workful payroll service is an excellent option for small businesses. It is loaded with useful features, is easy to use, and provides you with unique functionalities at no extra cost (time clock, employee portals, employee records, granular user permissions, and much more). While your business is still in its early stages, you may find Workful suitable for your company, but as your brand evolves, you may grow out of the Workful online payroll system. One thing is for sure - as long as you are using Workful payroll service, you can rest assured knowing that your employees will be paid on time every month.