Managed Payroll · Buyer's Guide
Every payroll company claims to save you time and money. Few tell you upfront what is actually included. Here is how to evaluate a payroll company honestly, plus a straight comparison of the four models companies choose between.
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Bottom Line Up Front
Payroll companies fall into four models: national software giants, local bookkeepers, software-only platforms, and fully managed services. The differences that matter are pricing transparency, whether the company runs payroll for you or hands you software to run yourself, and whether add-on fees show up after you sign. BEG is the managed model: $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive, no migration required.
First, the Basics
A payroll company calculates gross-to-net pay, withholds and files payroll taxes, and issues pay to employees each cycle. Beyond that core function, companies differ sharply on whether they run the process for you or simply give you software to run it yourself.
Search results for "companies that do payroll," "payroll solution companies," or "payroll processing companies" mostly return the same handful of national brands and roundup articles ranking them by feature checklist. Almost none of those roundups tell you the one thing that actually determines your monthly bill and your team's workload: whether the company processes payroll for you, or whether you are the one entering hours, reviewing runs, and clicking approve every single cycle.
The Buyer's Checklist
Look for transparent, published pricing; no forced platform migration; a named point of contact instead of a rotating support queue; and an all-inclusive rate instead of per-report or per-filing add-on fees.
If a company will not give you a price range before a sales call, treat that as a signal. Ask what triggers a charge above the quoted base rate.
Some payroll companies only run on their own proprietary software. Ask whether the provider can work inside the system you already use, so switching companies does not mean re-entering historical data.
Ask who handles your account after onboarding. A support inbox that assigns a new rep to every ticket is a different service model than one specialist who already knows your setup.
Ask directly whether multi-state filing, year-end W-2 processing, and off-cycle runs are included in the base rate or billed separately. A-la-carte pricing is where most surprise invoices originate.
Ask what happens when a filing is late or a paycheck is wrong. A company confident in its process gives a direct answer about who owns the fix and the penalty.
Ask how long the transition takes and whether it runs in parallel with your current process, so nobody misses a paycheck during the switch.
The Four Models
| Factor | National Payroll Giants | Local Bookkeeper/Accountant | Software-Only Platform | BEG Managed Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Quote-gated, tiered add-ons | Hourly or flat retainer, varies by firm | Published, per-employee software fee | $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive, published |
| Who runs payroll | You: enter hours, review, approve | Bookkeeper processes, limited automation | You: enter hours, review, approve | BEG: fully managed, you approve |
| Multi-state filing | Included per tier, confirm exact coverage | Often limited to bookkeeper’s expertise | Platform-assisted, you verify accuracy | All 50 states included |
| Dedicated contact | Support queue or account tier dependent | Often yes, one person, limited backup | Self-service portal, ticket-based support | One dedicated BEG contact |
| Migration required to switch | Usually yes, proprietary system | Sometimes, depends on their tools | Yes, full data migration | No, works in your existing system |
| Best fit | Large enterprises needing one ecosystem | Very small teams with a trusted local advisor | DIY teams comfortable running software | Companies that want payroll off their desk entirely |
Model descriptions reflect common industry patterns, not any single named competitor. Confirm exact terms directly with any company you evaluate.
Why the Model Matters
The employer, not the payroll company, remains legally responsible for federal tax deposits and filings. Choosing a company that owns accuracy and communicates clearly reduces the risk of the penalties the IRS assesses directly against the business.
The IRS is explicit that using a payroll service provider does not relieve an employer of responsibility for its federal tax deposits and filings. That is the real argument for choosing carefully rather than defaulting to whichever brand shows up first in a search. A payroll company that owns accuracy, files on time, and gives you a direct line when something goes wrong is protecting you from exposure that ultimately lands back on the business, regardless of which company processed the run.
Where BEG Fits
BEG is a fully managed payroll company, not a software vendor: $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive, live in 3-5 business days, and no migration required from whatever system you use today.
$25 PEPM in your existing platform, $45 PEPM on BEG’s isolved HCM. No separate line item for filings, corrections, or year-end forms. $500 monthly minimum.
BEG works inside the payroll system you already run. Migration is available if you want it later, never a requirement to get started.
One person who knows your account handles questions and changes. Not a rotating support queue or a ticket number.
Scope review, first-cycle setup, and go-live, fast enough that switching payroll companies does not mean weeks of disruption.
Want the outsourcing model explained end to end? See payroll outsourcing. Comparing this to a specific employer-facing use case? Read what an employer payroll provider actually does, or see how pay stub access works inside a managed service. For the full scope of what BEG runs, start at managed payroll services.
The Real Comparison
Every payroll company on every "top payroll companies" list falls into one of the four models above. The brand name matters less than whether you are buying software to operate yourself or a managed service that runs it for you.
See Your Number First
BEG publishes its pricing. Answer a few questions about your headcount and states, and see your exact monthly cost on screen, no sales call required to get the number.
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FAQ
"Payroll company" usually means the software or service brand itself (ADP, a local bookkeeper, BEG). "Outsourcing" describes the buying decision: handing the function to any of those companies instead of running it in-house.
No. National platforms are often quote-gated with tiered add-ons, local bookkeepers charge hourly or a flat monthly retainer, and BEG publishes a flat $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive rate with a $500 monthly minimum.
It depends on the company. Software-only platforms usually require full migration. BEG works inside your existing platform, isolved included, so switching providers does not force a system change.
Ask directly what the quoted price does NOT include: multi-state filing, year-end W-2 processing, and off-cycle runs are the most common line items vendors charge extra for. A company confident in transparent pricing will answer immediately.
Companies roughly 5 to 500 employees typically see the clearest value from a managed model: large enough to need real payroll expertise, often too small to justify a dedicated in-house specialist.
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