Set up the business correctly
Choose the business structure, register the employer, get the EIN, and collect the payroll basics before the first run.
Small business
Small business payroll guidance without the usual overwhelm
Hiring, payroll setup, worker classification, and first-payroll planning all show up fast when a small business starts paying people. This page keeps the essentials together so you can move from planning into payroll with fewer mistakes.
Small business payroll guide
Build the right payroll foundation before the first check goes out
Start with worker setup and payroll basics, then use the linked calculators and state payroll resources whenever you need to verify take-home pay, withholding, or first-payroll assumptions.
Hire and classify workers clearly
Keep employee versus contractor decisions clean, collect worker details early, and set expectations for pay, tax forms, and schedules.
Run payroll without guesswork
Use the calculators, state payroll resources, and software workflow together so take-home pay and payroll records stay organized.
First payroll checklist
What to have in place before the first payroll run
The cleanest first payrolls usually happen when employer setup, worker details, and deduction inputs are gathered before you start calculating take-home pay.
Business setup
- Business name, address, and legal registration details
- EIN and state employer registration where required
- Pay schedule and first payroll timing
- Banking and internal payroll recordkeeping process
Employee setup
- Employee name, home address, and work-state information
- Pay rate, salary amount, or hourly wage details
- Federal W-4 answers and state withholding details
- Benefit deductions and any post-tax adjustments
Use the right tool
Pick the payroll route that matches the job in front of you
Start with the right calculator or guide, then move into payroll software once the setup details and paycheck assumptions are ready.
Salary paycheck calculator
Use this when the worker is paid a fixed salary by pay period.
Hourly paycheck calculator
Use this when regular hours, overtime, or shift changes drive the paycheck.
Payroll resources
Use the state guides when payroll rules or withholding vary by work location.
Payroll software
Open the self-service payroll workflow when you are ready to actually run payroll.
Next step
Ready to move from planning to payroll?
Start the payroll trial when you are ready to run payroll in one place, or open the calculators first if you still need to verify take-home pay and payroll assumptions.
Need state payroll context first?
Open payroll resources before the first run if work-state withholding or payroll programs still need a review.
Need paycheck math first?
Use the salary or hourly calculator first when the main question is how the paycheck should look before payroll is finalized.