Category: Payroll

  • What is the Difference Between a PEO and a Payroll Company?

    What is the Difference Between a PEO and a Payroll Company?

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    NO ONE starts a business to be bogged down by paperwork and administrative encumbrances. Sadly, it’s essential!

    If yours is a small business with only a handful of employees, these tasks may not take up much of your time. However, in a growing enterprise, paperwork compounds to occupy a sizeable portion of time and resources, taking the focus off the bigger picture.

    That’s where PEOs and payroll companies come into the picture! But, what do they do, how are they different, and which one is more beneficial?

    To find answers to these questions and more, read along!

    PEO vs PSP: Meaning

    A PEO or Professional Employer Organization specializes in services related to Human Resources for enterprises of varying scales, especially small and medium-sized.

    In the US, roughly 175,000 organizations resort to PEOs.

    They partner with businesses to take over their gamut of HR duties such as hiring staffs, managing and training a team, seeing to payrolls, compensation & claims, taxes, and employee benefits, among others.

    A PSP or payroll service provider is exclusively concerned with payroll solutions. They disburse the salaries as per the schedule and take care of related taxes.

    Although some PSPs might offer additional services, the liability of human resources rests with the concerned business.

    Essentially, a PEO is a partner, whereas a payroll company is a service provider.

    Thus, when outsourcing human resources for your small and mid-sized business, consider whether you need a service provider or a partner.

    PEO vs PSP: Who is the Employer of Record?

    An employer of record assumes all the responsibilities of human resources, from hiring employees to worker’s compensation and paying federal taxes. It is to be held liable in case of discrepancies in the same.

    When you use a Professional Employer Organization, it becomes the employer of record. Thus, a PEO bears any fine or expense arising out of the HR department. PEOs and payroll form a significant connection for any small and mid-sized company since it divvies up the liability.

    Fact: More than 33% of small companies managing HR duties on their own pay fines every year to the IRS.

    In case you use a payroll company, you are responsible for those liabilities since you continue to be the employer of record while the PSP merely sees to salary and tax payments.

    PEO vs PSP: Cost Savings

    Entering into a partnership with PEO might cost more than using a PSP, but the investment pays for itself on many fronts.

    In fact, according to a NAPEO report, 70% of companies have reported an uptick in their revenues ever since they became a PEO client. Near about 66% of enterprises registered significant profitability by signing up with a Professional Employer Organization.
    Savings on employee health benefits is one of the more essential points to that end. PEOs have access to discounted rates of health coverage only available to large corporations.

    Premised on the state in which you are based, savings in health insurance policies can be as much as $2400 per employee annually with a PEO. Similarly, for 401(k), your business can save significantly on a per-employee fee since you’ll be benefitting from a PEO’s large investment capacity.

    Your business can also gain a competitive edge with premium worker’s compensation programs at reasonable rates, exclusively offered to large organizations.

    With a PSP, these benefits are not available. You remain liable for securing a health insurance policy and worker’s comp program. Although, PSPs might extend relevant options from their network. Even in the case of 401(k), you need to pay charges per your employee strength and cannot leverage a larger company’s investment capacity for reduced fees.

    The aforesaid points only cover the direct distinctions between using a PEO and a payroll company. A PEO extends several other advantages over a payroll company.

    Most notably and recently, PEO clients were reported to be 119% more likely to receive Paycheck Protection Program Loans, a financial aid extended by the US government in response to the economic upheaval the Covid-19 pandemic caused. PEOs facilitated applications for PPP loans even before banks started to accept those.

    Nonetheless, no single solution can fit all.

    Evaluate your business’s requirements and scale to judiciously select a PEO or payroll company. Schedule a free consultation with us today to gain further clarity into which one would be a better fit for your business.

    Request your quote for payroll or PEO services today

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  • 2021 Tax Deadlines for Small Businesses

    2021 Tax Deadlines for Small Businesses

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    Many business owners are scrambling to effectively run their business. The last thing you want on your plate is having to recall the various tax deadlines for small businesses, not to mention the various changes. We’ve created a list of key deadlines to note to make taxes a breeze.

    2021 Income Tax Filing Deadline Moved to May 17th

    The IRS has moved the income tax filing deadline This date change is for individuals for the 2020 tax year and is extended from April 15, 2021 to May 17th, 2021.

    Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17. (IRS)

    Many self-employed individuals and businesses must submit estimated tax payments quarterly and file an income tax return annually. The filing dates vary primarily on your entity structure i.e., partnership, S corporation, or sole proprietorship. Sole proprietorships use the same tax schedule s individuals, so 2020 returns are due May 17th 2021. If you are an S corporation or partnership however the return is due on March 15, 2021.

    Estimated quarterly tax payments

    If you are self-employed, sole proprietor, partner, LLC member or independent contractor and pay estimated taxes, quarterly tax payments are due by the following dates:

    • April 15th, 2021 for Q1
    • June 15th ,2021 for Q2
    • September 15th, 2021 for Q3
    • December 15th, 2021 for Q4 (C corporations only)
    • January 18th, 2022 for Q4

    The IRS is a great resource of quarterly estimated tax payments.

    Employment Taxes and Payroll Withholdings

    Form 941 states that small businesses must deposit employment taxes monthly or semi-weekly. Items subject to this requirement include federal income tax, federal unemployment (FUTA) tax, and Social Security / Medicare (FICA) withholdings. Employers must also report their payroll withholdings either on an annual basis or quarterly basis using IRS form 941, 943, 944, or 945.

    Form 941 deadlines:

    •  April 30th, 2021
    • July 30th, 2021
    • October 29th, 2021
    • January 31st, 2022

    Corporate Income Tax Returns

    Tax returns for companies are due on April 1thth, 2021 for income received in 2020. By filing Form 7004 businesses my request an extension of six months. The first quarterly estimated tax payment of the year is also due on this date.

    S Corporations and Partnership Income Tax Returns

    For businesses classified as either an S corporation or partnership, you deadline for submitting your tax return is March 15th 2021 or the third month after the end of your organizations tax year. Partnerships must complete form 1065 which is used to generate a Schedule K-1 earnings statement for each partner. For S corporations, Form 1120S is needed to prepare the Schedule K-1.

    A six-month extension can be requested by submitting Form 7004 along with a deposit equal to the amount of estimated tax owned.

    2021 Tax information and resources

    This guide is intended to be a resource for business owners and individuals related to tax deadlines. With the various changes as a result of COVID-19, some of the dates may change in addition to being able to qualify for various tax credits for certain expenses. The IRS Small Business and Self- Employed Tax Center is a great resource. If you are a business owner and need assistance with payroll, FICA, FUTA, and other taxes related to business ownership Fortune Business Consulting is also a great resource. Payroll processing services, tax remittance, and HR management are other areas that can assist with being prepared for all of the various tax deadlines.  

    Request your quote for payroll or PEO services today

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  • Human Resources Outsourcing for your Small or Mid-sized Business

    Human Resources Outsourcing for your Small or Mid-sized Business

    Increase your bottom line

    Every small business owner has thought of ways to increase their bottom line. Whether as a result of saving on expenses or increasing sales. Those cost savings, however, can come at the expense of efficiency and profitability for the business. For example, some business owners think that human resources (HR) are unnecessary if they don’t have many employees. That is far from the truth! Every business has human resources functions whether huge or small, that are critical to the business. Not only is it needed, but can ultimately make and save you money. Thankfully there are alternatives to traditional means of having HR. Human resources outsourcing has become the go-to for small and mid-sized businesses looking to increase their bottom line while having effective HR.

    HR’s not so hidden benefits

    HR functions bring in plenty of benefits small business owners overlook. The contrasting functions of HR in small businesses are hiring and termination. Additional services that often fall under the HR umbrella include payroll, training, compensation, benefits, performance management, labor, employee relations, organizational development, legal compliance, and risk management. Ignoring the huge need for HR due to the potential expense can be a huge oversight on what it can actually save and bring you.

    Lawsuits and HR functions

    Since 2000, 99% of Fortune 500 companies have paid settlements in at least one discrimination or sexual harassment lawsuit, according to a report from Good Jobs First. That does not include the cases without a public record or incidents victims didn’t report. If you think you are too small to be sued, think again. In today’s day and age, employers are paying out thousands of dollars in settlements. The reality is you cannot afford to not have proper HR functions and practices in place. Not only does HR support providing a safe working environment for employers and employees. It makes for a more efficient and productive workplace.

    More time to focus “on” your business not “in” your business

    Assigning HR functions to other personnel can free up time for tasks business owners highly need to prioritize. With HR functions you can create an employee handbook that can feature various policies, an employee handbook ensures that employees are aware of what is expected of them. For example, the handbook can emphasize a sickness policy in detail, so employees are aware of what process they need to do if they are sick.

    Human Resources Outsourcing Companies & PEOs

    If your business decides to make an HR hire, making use of a PEO’s tools can help free that person’s time to focus on making your company a fantastic place to work. A PEO (Professional Employer Organization) can provide employees access to health coverage and rates on par with those of a large business. Also, PEOs (Professional Employer Organizations) cost less than In-House HR. A major way that PEOs can help your small business is by reducing needless expenses by performing the services of a full-time, in-house HR for a fraction of the cost. In fact, a recent study found that overall employee turnover rates were reduced by 10% to 14% for businesses that teamed up with a PEO (according to Napeo.com).

    You are now likely coming to the conclusion that HR or human resources outsourcing is something that your business needs. Thankfully, Fortune Business Consulting specializes in finding the right HR and PEO solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. If you have questions about how a PEO can support your business contact us today. We offer complimentary consultations. At FBC We focus on giving you the passion for your business you had on that very first day and getting back to what matters most, your clients and employees! Our Mission Is to empower individuals in the areas of risk management, payroll, and human resources with the tools to create an internal culture where the alignment of employee and company visions results in achieving their strategic goals. 

    Find the right human resources outsourcing company for your business

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  • Payroll & PEOs: The Great Connection

    Payroll & PEOs: The Great Connection

    Payroll defined

    Investopedia has payroll defined as the total of all compensation a business must pay to its employees for a set period of time or on a given date furthermore, It is usually managed by the accounting or human resources department of a business; small-business payrolls may be handled directly by the owner or an associate.- Investopedia

    Payroll means everything to a business, but what does it mean to you?

    Payroll frequency determines how often your employees are paid. The standard payroll schedules include weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly’s owners to manage payroll processing on their own will always be available. However, the concept of putting employee information together, providing paychecks, and identifying required taxes and withholdings can be intimidating. When contemplating the various options to DIY payroll, you want to ensure you get the best out of your selection. In addition to payroll, small and medium-sized businesses need other services – such as HR, compliance, and taxes – consider working with a professional employer organization (PEO).  

    Fact or Fiction?

    When a business recruits a PEO for payroll operations, the PEO turns into a co-employer, and remits taxes on the client companies behalf?

    Fact

    If you pick a standard finance processor, you are capable, as a business, to be protected for specialist’s pay if your state’s laws require it?

    Fact

    Payroll frequency defines how often your employees are paid. Do the standard payroll schedules include weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly?

    Fact

    What are the differences between standard payroll services and PEO payroll services? 

    Well for some, organizations, utilizing payroll service is a confirmation that their organization’s payroll handling is done effectively. Also, having one less errand to oversee can make recording assessments and representing the financial year a lot simpler. Additionally, with standard payroll services, employers retain sole responsibility of their workforce while offering standard HR services. PEOs handle all compliance and help their clients avoid legal missteps and mistakes when hiring and managing employees.

    How do we fit in?

    Fortune Business Consulting takes all of this information into consideration when working on your behalf. At FBC we take a consultative approach to make sure our solution is the best fit for your unique business needs and strategic goals. We learn about your business, the challenges you are currently facing, what’s been implemented, and how to best position you to reach your goals. Our 15 step process helps to assure you receive a high level of service and solution that meets your business needs. We work to give you peace of mind, increase your bottom line, and give you the time needed to run your business.

    Main benefits of using a PEO for payroll services

    Three employee benefits of working with a PEO.

    • Access to big-business employee benefits. Through a PEO arrangement, employees now have access to benefits such as 401(k) plans; health, dental, life, and other insurance.
    • Job security is typically improved when a company partners with a PEO
    • Job satisfaction and productivity are typically increased as a result of a PEO arrangement.

    Through Fortune Business Consulting you will find solutions for 

    • Human resources services
    • The administration of health insurance and other employee benefits
    • Employee onboarding and training
    • 401(k) and retirement plan administration
    • Workers’ compensation insurance
    • New hire recruiting
    • Regulatory compliance assistance

    As the above list clearly illustrates, there is a lot more to PEOs than meets the eye. Small and medium-sized businesses that are growing and are finding themselves buried under administrative paperwork can find significant benefits. Issues such as compliance and payroll taxes can keep your HR and payroll departments busy on tasks that may not best address the firm’s needs. Outsourcing the less employee-focused work can allow your HR team to focus on such initiatives as employee development and satisfaction.

    Here are 3 guarantees Fortune Business Consulting can ensure while parenting with us to provide the best solution.

    • Allowance to choose a payroll / PEO services provider that will allow you to easily migrate to the right solution and experience at each level of growth.
    • We will help you serve your employees so you can focus on growing your book of business.
    • First-class service will be given to you are your team while we focus on findings solutions to your payroll and HR-related challenges

    Key take away

    Simply put using a PEO for payroll assists in saving money on the benefits you offer your employees. These rates are generally significantly less expensive than if you were to seek them out on your own or hire a full-time HR professional. One of the most impactful reasons to use PEOs is because of the many complicated and always changing regulations that affect both payroll and general employment and labor law. Working with a PEO allows companies to focus on their core lines of businesses, and allow a dedicated co-employment team to handle many administrative duties.

    Start your free quote today

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  • Protected: COVID-19 and Payroll: Why You Need to Outsource Your Payroll

    Protected: COVID-19 and Payroll: Why You Need to Outsource Your Payroll

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