Taking on Payroll - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Taking on Payroll

morgwick · Senior Member

I have this same problem. Fortunately, at the moment I only have a couple of clients which are both monthly. I let them know when signing them up that there may be times when I wont be around. To get round it I give them as much notice as possible, and then calculate it as close to the payroll date as possible. If there are major differences I'll recalulate the payroll free of charge, but if the differences are minor they have been happy to adjust the following month.

I have been known to take the laptop on holiday with me and process the wages whilst on holiday just to keep the client happy, but this isn't always possible.

When your away, do you have access to the internet? Maybe an online payroll service would work?

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Ann-Marie,

that's the downside of payroll, it's unrelenting and you can't prepare it in advance for periods when you are not available.

Have you thought of taking someone on in order to cover when you're not in the office? (What about when another client needs you? Payroll doesn't wait for anything).

An accountant freind of mine lost a very lucrative position because she could not give 100% commitment to covering a clients payroll, which was just a low profit margin an add on service.

First time that employee's are paid late you will have someone bawling down the phone at you.

If they're paid incorrectly (even though it's normally because you've been given the information late, incomplete or incorrectly... Someone will be bawling down the phone at you.

All in all, unless you're really geared up for it and can handle the commitment to anything more regular than monthly payroll then I would let it go.

But that's just me.

All the best,

Shaun.

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Anne Marie

My solution, though not ideal I admit, is that I always take my laptop & blackberry away with me so that I can access my software & files. I do the payroll for a number of clients on a weekly, fortnighly and monthly basis and this is the only way round it for me otherwise I would never get a break. For the payroll I offer everything is dealt with electronically so I don't have to worry about the mail.

Regards

Mark

BudgetB · Guru

Same here, I do many payrolls so if I'm away from work then the laptop comes with me and I spend a day of my holiday working to get them done.

That said, I plan on getting the new employee trained up so I don't have to do that again in future!

Don Tax · Expert

Hi, I've always submitted a week's payroll in advance twice a year. Client's know this happens and know there will occasionally be a short delay in overtime being processed. I'm pretty sure one 'bungs' £xx cash to stop them kicking up a fuss and then reconciles it when the wage slip comes through.

I think they know its an add-on service and providing they're happy with everything else, they'd rather inconvenience the employee.

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Hello - Thanks for all the advice.

I would like to take some one on - but I'm not quite at that point in my business yet so unfortunately that's not a option. It's a bit of a catch twenty two, I need more business before I can employ anyone but can't take on some types of business as I don't have the cover.

Yes I could take my laptop with me but I don't have the access to the internet as I would do in the UK and I think that I would be uncomfortable relying on that.

I think that I am going to quote for the work but explain that I may not be around to process some on the fortnightly payroll therefore it may need to be backdated or corrected the following week if I am away. This way the client knows what service they can expect to receive from me and we both know where we stand from day one. I am hoping to have some additional help from next April so I might suggest that they could stay with there existing company for now and start with me in the new tax year as an option. What does everyone think?

Thanks for everyone's feedback and help.
Ann-marie

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Anne Marie With regard to the internet I make sure that when I go abroad I always stay where they have wifi. But there are also many cafes/bars which offer free wifi, well free for the price of a drink Regards Mark

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Hi Mark,

Yes I do try, but i'm going to China to visit the in laws and unfortunately the internet over there is not as reliable :(

Thanks
Ann-marie

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

And depending where in the far east you are the electricity is often not that brilliant either. (Not been to China but lived in Northern Thailand for a while... Certainly not somewhere that you would plug a computer in without surge and spike protection).

Anyway, enough of that. Tell us more about the impending trip.

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Shamus you do make me laugh - but yes it's quite true about power surges on electrical items, you do have to be careful!

Well this is my third visit to China, flying into Hong Kong for a couple of days and then spending two weeks in Guangzhou. Planning on doing plenty of shopping, sightseeing and hopefully a trip to Macau - really looking forward to it.

Amanda · Expert

We went to McDonalds in France and my Son was on the WiFi with his Ipod, apparently it was FREE, I didn't even realise or see the advert advertising FREE WiFi.

You may be able to find somewhere who knows!

semsley · Guru

I take a laptop. If no WiFi you can get a 3G Dongle.