Figuring out which QuickBooks payroll option is right for your business can be quite a daunting task; especially with all the payroll options that are now available. We all know one thing: if you have employees, you have to pay them! It’s that simple.

However, determining which QuickBooks payroll option is the right solution for your business is a different story – let’s take a look at the options available:

Intuit Online Payroll – Internet-based and totally removed from your QuickBooks desktop company data file. It comes in two versions – Basic and Plus.

• Basic includes the ability to process an unlimited number of payrolls each month, includes free direct deposit, or allows you to print checks and check stubs on your own printer, directly from the online system; electronic tax payments, quarterly and year-end tax returns, including W-2 forms. Pricing starts at $25.00 per month for a single employee, additional employees at $1.50 each, and if you file taxes in more than one state, each additional state is $12.00 per month.
• Plus includes all of the above plus E-File & Pay is available for federal and most state taxes and forms. When E-File is not available in a state; ready-to-sign forms or worksheets are available. Pricing starts at $39.00 per month for a single employee, additional employees at $1.50 each, and if you file taxes in more than one state, each additional state is $12.00 per month.

Basic Payroll – all of your payroll data lives in your QuickBooks file, which is extremely important if you want a good job cost. It comes in two versions: up to 3 employees and unlimited employees. Basic Payroll does not provide the ability to generate quarterly and year-end tax returns, including W-2 forms. You will need to do this manually or work with an accountant or bookkeeper.

• Up to 3 employees allows you to create paychecks for up to 3 employees at a time of your choosing (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.) and provides instant access to the latest federal and state payroll tax updates. The current price is $129.00 per year and as of August 23, 2010 it will be $124.00.
• Unlimited employees allows you to create paychecks for an unlimited number of employees at a time of your choosing (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.) and provides instant access to the latest federal and state payroll tax updates. The current price is $229.00 and as of August 23, 2010 it will be $249.00.

Enhanced Payroll – all of your payroll data lives in your QuickBooks file, which is extremely important if you want good job costing without duplicate data entry. It comes in two versions: up to 3 employees and unlimited employees.

• Up to 3 employees allows you to create paychecks for up to 3 employees at a time of your choosing (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.), provides instant access to the latest federal and state payroll tax laws via the Internet, performs a Track when payroll tax payments are due Complete federal and most state payroll tax forms, including W-2 and 1099 forms File federal and state payroll tax forms electronically without additional cost. Current price is $249.00 per year; however, as of August 23, 2010 the price will be $274.00.
• Unlimited employees allows you to create paychecks for an unlimited number of employees at a time of your choosing (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.), provides instant access to the latest federal and state payroll tax laws via the Internet, Track when payroll tax payments are due Complete federal and most state payroll tax forms, including W-2 and 1099 forms File federal and state payroll tax forms electronically at no additional cost. Current price is $349.00 per year; however, as of August 23, 2010 the price will be $374.00.

Assisted Payroll offers the best of both worlds and includes the convenience of having all your payroll data on your QuickBooks company file while someone else (Intuit) handles your taxes and files your tax returns, including W-Forms. two. It comes in two versions: Assisted and Assisted Plus.

• assisted your payroll is integrated into your QuickBooks company data file, you choose when you want to pay your employees (weekly, biweekly, etc.), enter your employees’ time at multiple jobs, send your payroll data to Intuit, and they are responsible for paying your taxes, filing your tax returns, and completing your W-2 forms (for an additional fee). Current pricing starts at $60.00 per month; however, as of August 23, 2010 it will start at $69.00 per month.
• Plus assisted includes all the features of assisted payroll and also includes direct deposit (no charge), payroll for additional states (no charge), W-2 processing at no additional charge. Current pricing starts at $115.00 per month; however, effective August 23, 2010 it will increase to $135.00 per month.