How-To Guides
Step-by-step guidance for common payroll and HR tasks. Whether you’re setting up payroll for the first time, preparing for a merger, or figuring out how to pay yourself, these guides walk you through it.
You Approved the Raise. Now What? How to Calculate and Process Retroactive Pay (With Examples)
5 Dealership Payroll Mistakes Costing You Money (And How to Fix Them)
Frequently Asked Questions
Setting up payroll involves obtaining an EIN from the IRS, registering with your state for income tax withholding and unemployment insurance, collecting W-4s and I-9s from employees, choosing a payroll schedule, and selecting a payroll system. Most businesses also need to set up direct deposit and establish a process for tracking time and attendance.
How you pay yourself depends on your business structure. Sole proprietors and partners take owner’s draws from business profits. S-corp and C-corp shareholders who work in the business must pay themselves a reasonable salary subject to payroll taxes. Each structure has different tax implications — consult a CPA for your specific situation.
Payroll preparation for an acquisition typically includes determining whether it’s a stock or asset purchase, setting up new employer accounts if needed, running final payroll under the old entity, transferring employee records, and establishing payroll under the new entity. A payroll provider with acquisition experience can help avoid gaps or double-withholding.
Netchex Customer Testimonials
Payroll Specialist
I love the integrated platform. With our old payroll company you would have to make the same change in several different areas of the software. With Netchex, it only takes once. This system is so user-friendly, it makes training a breeze. And the customer service is second to none!
Payroll Administrator
Netchex has been fantastic. We enjoy personalized service, we know the people that we deal with, and they bend over backward to get what we need done.
HR Director
Netchex is wonderful. Everyone has been continuously impressed by the services they provide. Back when the new ACA regulations went into place, and even now with the whole COVID-19 situation, Netchex just continues to knock it out of the park
HR Director
Netchex has been in the business, and they understand what companies are looking for, what companies need, and they listen to what companies have to say what their needs are. They take care of their employers.
HR Support
Everybody always wants to help, and always has a smile on the face. On the times that I have to go pickup payroll because the school’s closed, everyone is just so nice.
HR Generalist
Love how Netchex strives to grow and be better by really listening to their clients needs. We have grown a lot alongside Netchex in the last few years and it’s excited to see our progress on both sides.
Payroll Administrator
I stepped into this role with little training and Netchex has made the transition much easier than I expected.
Legal Administrator
We used to print out each email and application (sometimes hundreds a day), write who it was for, and then go stick it in that managers mail box. Now, we dont even have to do ANY of that since we use NetRecruiter now. Soooooo much less paper and less time consuming for HR!!!
Legal Administrator
I love that I can create numerous reports that I may need so easily. Also, knowing that I can login 24/7 is wonderful as I did not have access to any payroll records at the company we used prior to Netchex.
Assistant Controller
Netchex has made my job easier. I wear multiple hats in my position and Netchex has helped to make things more efficient. This gives me more time for my other duties that aren’t HR/payroll related.
HR Director
Netchex has helped my job be so much easier and faster with all the tools it has. I love learning new things.
Payroll Coordinator/HR
Coming from an in-house payroll company and moving to Netchex has opened so many wonderful doors. Netchex provides so much assistance with my payroll and HR needs, allowing me more time with other important duties.
HR Director
Netchex has been in the business, and they understand what companies are looking for, what companies need, and they listen then to what companies have to say what their needs are. They take care of their employers.
Crowd 4.5 / 5 star
Google 5 / 5 star
Capterra 4.5 / 5 star
Software Advice 4.5 / 5 star
GetApp 4.5 / 5 star
Trust Radius 4 / 5 star
Get the Platform Behind the Process
Netchex gives you the tools to handle each of these tasks without the manual back-and-forth. See how Netchex simplifies payroll setup and ongoing operations.