Setting up payroll

Payroll setup is like building a brick wall. You start at the base, because each step in the sequence depends on the previous step.

Company accounting plan should be in place. The chart of accounts, use of customers and jobs, and possible uses of classes, should all be firm decisions before starting payroll.

Payroll must be turned on and some choices made (below.)

Payroll items are the building blocks of the payroll system. They put the money into the pay check, and then take some back out, as we know all too well. Like billing items, they include descriptions, units, and amounts. They also connect to the appropriate accounts.

Employee template supplies basic information common to most employees. Federal and state withholding items, SUI, medical, and retirement plans are typical of items carried through the template. A good template is an efficient tool for setting up the employee records. The contents are copied into new employee records.

Employee records contain the obvious information, plus payroll items for hourly pay rate or salary, tax deductions, voluntary deductions, company contributions, and whatever else affects the amount of the pay checks.