About Farnsworth Industries:
Company Size: 10+ employees
Where: Miramar Beach, FL
Client Industry: Technology and consulting services
Joined OnPay: October 2021
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Powering vacation rentals from behind the scenes
Located along Florida’s Emerald Coast, Farnsworth Industries helps vacation rental owners stay operational and guest-ready. Founded by Max Farnsworth, the company blends hands-on technical expertise with consulting support across properties from Destin to Inlet Beach.
On the technology side, Max and his team manage and install systems — from smart home security and Wi-Fi to TVs and fan controls — keeping properties running smoothly for both owners and guests. On the consulting side, the team oversees construction projects, acting as a superintendent or general manager to coordinate vendors, approve work, and keep projects on track. With deep industry experience, they help clients reduce waste, control costs, and maintain high-performing properties.
THE CHALLENGE
Going from manual to operational
Max briefly experimented with a well-known payroll provider, but it didn’t quite fit the way that his business operated. At the time, the tech services firm relied on a custom-built bookkeeping system to manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll tracking. Much of the process was still manual. Between logging information into spreadsheets and issuing paper checks, processing payroll took 4.5 hours every month. Max needed an upgrade with a few non-negotiables:
- Automation to take the complexity out of payroll tracking and tax filings
- The ability to pay employees with direct deposit instead of paper checks
- An easy-to-use system he could run himself without an HR department
THE SOLUTION
Finding the right fit with an accountant’s advice
So how did OnPay come into the picture? The suggestion came from his accountant, who had hands-on experience using the platform to manage payroll and tax filings for their other clients. That said, Max still did his homework. After evaluating several cloud-based alternatives, Max found that OnPay offered the most comprehensive combination of functionality and ease of use. The onboarding experience reinforced that impression — what could have been a complex transition was instead simple, with a setup process that felt simple, intuitive, and straightforward from the start.
Technology and consulting review
“OnPay saves us a massive amount of time and handles ALL federal filings. We no longer have to calculate taxes and deal with IRS or state forms. Reemployment tax, workers’ comp, and monthly/quarterly/annual filings are done for us. It’s the easiest payroll service that we’ve found. The monthly cost is well worth it, considering it allows us to work and invoice for hours that we DON’T have to spend on payroll.”
— Max F., Owner and President, Lead Technician, Farnsworth Industries
THE RESULTS
Taking the stress out of payroll with OnPay
Since switching to OnPay, tax filings and employee onboarding have become significantly easier. Max pays employees quickly via direct deposit and can take a step back from admin work, letting his team manage day-to-day payroll. That reclaimed time provides the perfect balance: more time on his calendar to take care of clients with enough downtime left over to explore Florida’s coast on his Harley-Davidson.
