by Brian Terrell

It’s no secret that owners of small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) wear many hats including payroll clerk, benefits manager, receptionist, office manager, and even mediator! In fact, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small business owners spend up to 25 percent of their time handling HR functions such as payroll, taxes, and benefits.

Unfortunately, once you consider the time spent on non-strategic activities, little time remains for focusing on the big picture goals we set for our companies. As an owner of a small business for over 20 years, I have seen this firsthand with my own business, our channel partners, and our channel partners’ clients. Luckily, I have also seen the benefits of automating and outsourcing these processes.

HR and Payroll have been a focus for CodePartners ever since we developed a link for a major software publisher connecting their payroll and leading mid-market HR applications. The automation is now a critical piece of operational success for many businesses in the US and Canada.

Personally, it took me a while to come around to the idea of outsourced payroll for CodePartners. I was familiar with the software so I didn’t think outsourcing was the right option for me. What I found, though, is that the best outsourced payroll companies are actually HR outsourcing (HRO) companies that provide high value HR consulting and direction, not just basic check and form printing.

Here are five reasons I believe now is the time for SMBs owners to outsource payroll and HR. You can:

1. Outsource compliance risk
2. Focus on what you do best (your products, services, and clients)
3. Free up your valuable time
4. Confidently meet the HR requirements of Obamacare, especially for businesses with 50+ employees
5. Offer an employee portal for viewing old pay statements and tax forms

There are many reasons why HRO is so effective and valuable for SMBs. Hopefully, you come to the same conclusion I did about saving time and increasing productivity in a way that really works for SMBs. Once you decide HRO is right for your business, contact us to learn about integration opportunities.