ADP RUN vs QuickBooks Payroll

It’s hard to measure value without upfront pricing. If figuring out the price is more complicated than cost-per-employee with a few basic pricing tiers, you may want to look for a payroll provider with a simple, transparent pricing structure. Many payroll providers include essential services like multi-state payroll with integrated workers’ comp plans, tracking PTO and time-off accruals, and electronic offer letters in their basic package.

Both ADP Run and QuickBooks charge fees for services outside of basic everyday payroll, like setup and migration, year-end filings and payments, operating in multiple states, or local city taxes. And neither offer any sort of customizable report. Some providers include these services in their basic plan. Also, ADP charges per pay run, while Intuit’s QuickBooks charges a flat monthly fee. If you pay employees more than once a month (like most businesses), that can mean ADP Run is more expensive than it looks.

When you choose the right combination of payroll, time tracking, and accounting softwares, your business can sync all its finances and save a lot of time. Good payroll software should allow you to integrate your favorite apps seamlessly.

Many small business owners choose QuickBooks Payroll because they want a service that integrates smoothly with QuickBooks accounting software. And while QuickBooks’ two products do integrate well, ADP does offer a QuickBooks Online integration (for an extra fee). It should also be noted that we found other providers that offer QuickBooks integrations that are even more nuanced and customizable than QuickBooks’ own integration. Similarly, both companies offer basic payroll reporting, but it’s less flexible than some competitors we found.

The purpose of a payroll service is to save you time by simplifying the process of paying your team. But having a team also means hiring, maintaining paperwork, and keeping employees in the loop. Since you’ll already be needing to take care of these HR to-dos and more, it’s worth looking for a payroll provider that can streamline employee management with tools like electronic offer letters, custom onboarding workflows, storing and auditing employee documents, and tracking time off.

Both these companies save small businesses time by offering employee portals that allow workers to answer questions on their own. ADP Run can service most basic HR needs as well, but only if you’re willing to pay extra. On the other hand, QuickBooks doesn’t offer any built-in HR functionality (though you can get access to outside HR advisors by upgrading). Neither provider simplifies the onboarding process with services like reporting new hires, e-sign for offer letters, or org charts. Other providers offer a lot more functionality in this area at a lower price.

Failure to stay compliant with federal, state, and local employment laws can result in unexpected fines and potential liabilities. In this age of remote work, a good payroll provider will ensure compliance in every state with services like integrated workers’ comp, access to harassment training, and lifetime employee accounts that let former employees access key documents without your help. A great payroll provider will also offer integrated 401(k) plans, and health benefits like medical and dental plans.

For an extra fee, both QuickBooks and ADP RUN can help with the workers’ comp policies that almost all small businesses are required to carry. They can also both help with multi-state payroll, but ADP Run charges additional fees for that as well. As your payroll gets more complex, it’s also good to have proactive expert help by your side, so it’s worth taking a close look at how current clients rate the service they receive.

You should have access to real experts for help, whether it’s a complex tax issue, or just getting started. Customer reviews lend valuable insight into how each company’s support teams treat their customers. But in addition to their reviews, you should also look out for any extra fees to get that support, as well as when it’s available to you.

QuickBooks will let you start a chat for free, but extended phone support can require long hold times, and extra fees for help with setup make it a little harder to get started. ADP also charges for setup and migration help, and while it comes with expert phone support, long hold times and no option for online chat can make asking a quick question difficult. Other providers receive higher customer ratings for their support, so if it’s important to you, it may be worth looking further into other payroll providers.