Patriot’s Account Creation Guide | Video Tutorial
This article walks through the steps to create your Patriot Software account, from email verification through entering your company information. This guide is part of a series — after completing account creation, continue with the Payroll Setup Checklist.
Video summary: This video walks through the full Patriot account creation process. It begins with the steps covered in the How to Sign Up with Patriot video (Go to patriotsoftware.com, click Create Account, enter your name, email, and phone number, and verify your email address by clicking the link sent to your inbox). The written steps below continue from that point and cover the remaining account creation screens in detail.
After Email Verification: Step-by-Step Account Setup
Once you have verified your email address, complete the following screens to finish creating your Patriot account.
Step 1: Existing Login or New Login
After email verification, Patriot asks whether you already have a login to Patriot Software.
Choose “Yes, I’ll use my existing login information” if:
- You already use Patriot Software for another company (for example, you run payroll for a different business), AND
- You want to access this new company using your same username and password.
💡 This is common for accountants, bookkeepers, or business owners with multiple companies.
Selecting this option creates a multi-company umbrella login — a single set of login credentials that gives you access to multiple companies within Patriot. Read more: Multi-Company Account Access.
Choose “No, I need to create a new login” if:
- You are a brand-new Patriot customer, OR
- You have used Patriot before but want to keep a separate username and password for this new account.
Step 2: Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) — a security requirement that verifies your identity using two separate methods, making it harder for unauthorized users to access your account — is required for all Patriot accounts. During sign-up, you must set up two MFA methods.
- Primary MFA method — Choose one: mobile phone number, email address, or an authenticator app (such as Google Authenticator).
- Backup MFA method — Choose a second, different method in case you lose access to the first. For example, if your primary method is your phone number, use an authenticator app or email address as your backup.
Having a backup MFA method on file means Patriot can verify your identity without you needing to contact support if you lose access to your primary method.
Step 3: Select Your Products
Choose the Patriot products you want to add to your account. All products include a free trial, and you can cancel at any time without obligation.
Step 4: Enter Your Company Information
Complete the following fields about your business. Each field is explained below.
Business Name
Your Business Name is the name your customers see — on your website, storefront, invoices, and printed checks. In many cases, the tax filing name and the DBA (Doing Business As — a trade name or assumed name that a business uses publicly, which may differ from its legal registered name) are the same.
Tax Filing Name
Your Tax Filing Name is the legal name the IRS recognizes for your business. This name is required for tax filings such as W-2s, 1099s, and payroll tax returns, and must match what the IRS has on file. Using the correct tax filing name helps avoid rejections when Patriot files forms with the IRS or sends payments via direct deposit.
- Sole proprietors: If you have not registered a business name with the IRS, your legal tax filing name is your full personal name as it appears on your Social Security card.
Estimated Number of Employees and/or Contractors
If you have signed up for Patriot Payroll, enter your best estimate of how many employees or contractors you will be paying. This does not need to be exact — it helps Patriot configure your account.
Business Type
Your Business Type is the legal structure your business is organized under (for example, sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, or partnership). If you are unsure, check your most recent business tax return, registration paperwork, or EIN confirmation letter. You can update this field later if needed.
Industry Type
Select the industry that best describes your business from the dropdown.
NAICS Code
The NAICS Code (North American Industry Classification System — a standard numeric code used by federal agencies to classify businesses by industry) identifies your business type for government reporting. If you don’t know your NAICS code, start typing what your business does (for example, “coffee shop,” “cleaning service,” or “consulting”) and Patriot will suggest matching codes. Select the closest match.
Mailing Address
Enter the address where your business receives mail. If you are using Patriot Payroll, this address will appear on IRS tax forms.
Time Zone
Enter the time zone where your business primarily operates.
Primary Contact Phone Number
Enter the main phone number for the primary account contact.
Watch the next step, in the sign up video series, “Payroll Setup Checklist“, to continue learning the
asked if you already have an account, or need to create new log in credentials (username and password).
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