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Running payroll can take hours if you do it by hand. Full-service payroll software streamlines the payroll process by handling payroll tax calculations, filings, and deposits. But, you typically need to log in and click a few buttons to process payroll. You might be wondering, Is there a way to automate payroll? The answer is YES, with payroll automation.

What is automated payroll?

Automated payroll is a feature on certain payroll software that fully automates recurring pay runs. Generally, you can automate payroll if you pay the same employees the same amount each period.

Once you set it up, payroll automation:

Calculates employee wages, deductions, and taxes
Processes payroll automatically
Pays employees via direct deposit
Handles federal, state, and local payroll tax deposits and filings (with a full-service system)

Look for a payroll software provider, like Patriot Software, that offers an AutoPay feature to get started.

Benefits of payroll automation

Using software with an automatic payroll processing feature is significantly more scalable than manual payroll processing. Payroll automation removes the administrative responsibility off your plate entirely, giving you time to grow your business.

Automatic payroll:

Saves you time: Manual payroll can take hours each payday. Using software can cut this process down to minutes, but payroll automation eliminates the repetitive process entirely.
Guarantees you pay employees on payday: Because the process is automated, you don’t need to worry about missing the cutoff day for running payroll. Automatic payroll also accounts for when payday falls on a bank holiday.
Eliminates costly mistakes: Payroll automation eliminates manual entry, reducing the risk of errors.

How to automate your payroll process

Running payroll manually can be time-consuming and open your business up to costly mistakes.

Payroll automation streamlines the payroll process and eliminates consistent manual intervention entirely.

How to automate your payroll process:

Choose your payroll software
Compare payroll providers to find a system that fits your business’s unique needs and budget. Look for time-saving features such as automatic payroll, free direct deposit, a free employee self-service portal, and tax filings and deposits.
Set up your account
Set up your payroll system by entering employee, pay rate, tax withholding, and deductions information.
Schedule payroll
Once you’re set up, you will typically run one regular payroll to create a template. Then, you can schedule automated payroll to run automatically according to your pay frequency (e.g., biweekly).

Each pay period, the system will automatically run based on your settings. You should receive a notification before the payroll processes, allowing you time to stop or adjust payroll.
Make changes as needed
Adjust auto payroll if you hire a new employee, give employees a salary raise, or make another change that impacts your repetitive payroll.

Automate payroll with Patriot Software

Pay your team on time, automatically with Patriot’s AutoPay. You can cross payroll off your to-do list if you have recurring pay runs (i.e., pay the same employees the same amount each period).

AutoPay is included with both Basic and Full Service Payroll options.

Once you set up payroll for your hourly and salaried employees, the system handles payroll automatically. You’ll receive advance notice before scheduled runs are processed.

Try Patriot for free today, and see how much time you can save with automatic payroll!