[Fit Small Business | ]( HR Insights from Our Experts [HR illustration]( If youâre using HR software, itâs important to do occasional tech checks to assess if the tools you have still meet your needs. New business owners should also take a look at employee management processes they want help with to identify which [type of HR software]( to get. The perfect time to do an HR system check is before the year ends as it lets you include system improvement costs in your budget for the new year. Letâs talk about it! (TLTR) Too long to read? If youâre pressed for time, just check out these articles: [Types of HR Software]( What is Payroll]( How to Choose a Payroll Service](//link.fitsmallbusiness.com/click/29913983.30217/aHR0cHM6Ly9maXRzbWFsbGJ1c2luZXNzLmNvbS90b3AtZmlyZWFibGUtb2ZmZW5zZXMv/5da4de6d3f92a45a8360dd30B65d57055 [How to Switch Payroll Providers]( [Federal & State Labor Laws]( [State Payroll Directory]( [Image of woman in front of computer]( HR Tech Insight: Which HR Software Should I Get? HR and payroll software play an important part in improving HR productivity and automating all aspects of the employee lifecycle. Over the years, businesses in various industries and sizes have been investing in HR systems to help streamline HR tasks. In 2022, HR tech spending increased by an average of 21%, according to the [2022-2023 HR Systems Survey]( conducted by Sapient Insights Research Group. The survey covers data collected from more than 2,500 organizations (41% of which have fewer than 500 employees) across 65 countries. Recruiting software tops the list of HR systems on which survey respondents plan to spend. Meanwhile, half of the respondents are thinking of getting new payroll, time tracking, and HR analytics systems in the next two years. They also want robust reporting features and better learning tools. In [finding the right payroll software]( or HR system for your business, itâs important to: - Look at the size of your company, your business location, your budget, and the [types of employees]( you have
- Assess if you have in-house HR staff who can handle payroll and HR tasks
- Consider the features you need, such as time tracking, staff scheduling, [payroll](, and employee benefits
- Research and compare HR and payroll software providers ð Donât know which HR and payroll software to pick? Here are a few of our recommended providers. [Best HR Software]( [Best HR Payroll Software]( [Best Payroll Services]( [Best Payroll Software]( [Image of manager and remote employees]( HR and Payroll Compliance When looking for and replacing HR payroll systems, donât forget to check the compliance tools and support services offered. These features can make hiring, managing, and paying employees easy for you while ensuring youâre up to date with changing labor laws and payroll tax regulations. Below are some important regulations and compliance requirements you should pay close attention to. - State employment laws
- Common [federal labor laws]( like the Equal Pay Act, Affordable Care Act (ACA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
- [Payroll compliance]( requirements, such as workersâ compensation, Social Security, and tax forms ð Learn more about state employment regulations with our [state payroll directory](. HR Payroll Software & Services Spotlight [Image of Rippling interface]( If youâre looking for an HR system with robust workflow automation tools and reasonable pricing that can handle the entire employee lifecycle with ease, we recommend [Rippling](. It has a suite of integrated HR and payroll tools, including IT solutions for managing business apps and company-assigned computers. Whatâs also great about Rippling is you can choose the tools you need and the provider will create a custom quote based on your selected modules. For its core workforce management platform with payroll and time tracking tools, Rippling will charge a fee of $8 per employee per month plus a monthly $35 base fee (based on a pricing quote we received). However, if you donât have in-house HR staff and prefer to delegate specific HR tasks to an external provider, consider [HR outsourcing services](. For business owners who need a dedicated HR manager to streamline processes, prepare HR policies, provide expert advice, and identify compliance gaps, [Bambee]( offers its services for only $99 per month. Whatâs Hot In HR Content This Week Hereâs some of our latest (and greatest) HR content [Featured Article]( Switching Payroll Providers: Everything Employers Should Consider Changing HR or payroll software providers can be challenging. Not only do you need to find a system that fits your requirements, but you also have to do the following: - Work on an implementation plan
- Arrange software setup
- Identify the best time to switch to a new software Generally, the ideal times to change are at the end of the calendar year and the end of a quarter. However, regardless of when you choose to change providers, be sure to allot a sufficient amount of time to get everything in place and make the transition easier for you and your workers. [Get Our Tips]( [Template of the week]( For startups and small companies that are just starting and have fewer than 10 employees, investing in all-in-one HR software is not advisable as it typically comes with solutions that your business may not need. If you only require a payroll tool and operate in states that donât have complex labor and tax regulations, we recommend using an Excel template. To help you run payroll via Excel, weâve prepared an online guide and a free template you can use. [Payroll Template - download now]( [How to Do Payroll in Excel in 7 Steps + Free Template]( Our Expert Tip for Doing HR System Checks and Getting New HR Software [-Robie Ann Ferrer, HR and Payroll Software Expert] âWhen looking for HR and payroll software, itâs best to take your time researching the solutions available and evaluating whether these systems have all the features you need. Even after the software purchase, itâs advisable to do annual HR system checks. Make a list of the things that work well and donât work well. Before deciding to get a new system, reach out to your provider to see if its add-on tools, integration options, and upcoming feature improvements can address software gaps. If you have payroll software and need help changing providers, check out our guide on [switching payroll providers](." -Robie Ann Ferrer, HR and Payroll Software Expert With 2023 just around the corner, take this time to do your initial research so you can create a software implementation plan and set aside the necessary budget for the coming year. Donât forgetâthe key to getting a new system or switching to a different provider is understanding your needs and finding an HR solution that can meet your requirements now and in the near future. Best wishes, Robie Ann Ferrer For more quality resources on growing your small business: [Marketing]( | [Financing]( | [Accounting]( | [HR]( | [Retail]( | [Ecommerce]( | [Sales]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Alternate text] Want to change what you receive in your inbox? [Update Your Preferences]( [Image] We spend hours researching and writing our articles and strive to provide accurate, up-to-date content. However, our research is meant to aid your own, and we are not acting as licensed professionals. We recommend that you consult with your own lawyer, accountant, or other licensed professional for relevant business decisions. Our business model allows us to bring you the best answers to your questions, without editorial biases or cluttering the site with banner ads that everyone hates. The solutions we recommend to business owners often include products and services. Our expert team of writers make recommendations in our buyerâs guides and reviews based on independent quantitative and qualitative assessments. To maintain editorial independence from our business operations, our writers and editors always have the final say on whether a partner is included anywhere on our site. [Read our editorial policy here](. When a product or service is included in an article or an email, we sometimes earn a fee or a commission from the advertising partner based on readersâ actions. Learn more about [how we make money]( and see a list of [our full list of partners](. This message was meant for: {EMAIL} Our HQ: Fit Small Business - 355 Lexington Ave, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10017, United States Want to give feedback? Reply to this email! We monitor it daily. This helps us make your subscriber experience better. Want to change the content you're receiving? [Update your preferences](. Want to stop receiving emails all together? [Unsubscribe](.