Anyone who has ever had to manage a company’s payroll process at the end of the month, knows that it is no easy task. In fact, it is considered one of the most tedious tasks involved in running a small business.
This has been the reality for Milton Scott*, owner and operator of Pavers and Stones Ltd*, for the past seven years. Mr Scott employs about 15 fulltime workers at his company, which primarily deals with installing driveways and patios, using interlocking paved stones.
He noted that since starting his business in 2013, the payroll process has been one of his least favourite tasks. “Believe me when I tell you, payroll processing is no fun and it is very time consuming,” he lamented.
The young entrepreneur noted that each month the process requires him to carry out multiple steps, to ensure that pay is properly calculated, tracked and issued.
“Plus, we have to make sure that the correct amounts for tax, company benefits, and other deductions are withheld,” he informed.
Some of the procedures involved include: reviewing employee hourly schedules, determining overtime pay, calculating gross pay, determining deductions and calculating net pay.
And even if a small business outsources the process to an accounting professional it can still be a headache.
Nordia McKoy, manager at Therapy Plus, noted that although her small company employed an accountant to manage its payroll, it was sometimes still late each month.
Therapy Plus is a therapy and remedial extra lesson centre, operating in Kingston and Montego Bay, which employs 23 persons. The company provides therapy for children with autism and has been in operation for more than 20 years.
Ms McKoy noted that since her company acquired the BizPay Central payroll system, things have become much easier, noting that the system is fast, efficient and allows for increased transparency in the operation of business.
BizPay Central is an internet-based payroll processing application, which allows companies to enter all relevant data for their employees; process periodic payrolls and generate reports via a web browser. Reports can be viewed onscreen, saved as PDF, Microsoft Excel documents or printed. Pay slips can also be emailed to employees directly from the system.
The payroll system is designed and managed by MC Systems, the technology company of The Jamaica National Group.
Access to BizPay Central is also one of the unique benefits of having a JN Bank Visa Infinite Business Credit Card. The JN Bank Visa Infinite business credit card provides business owners with easy access to low interest secured or unsecured funding, as well as interest-free credit up to 51 days, pluas all the benefits of Visa.
But unlike other cards, it provides companies and business owners with access to business efficiency services, such as mobility services from the Jamaica Automobile Association; and payroll services, through BizPay Central.
“Before BizPay Central we had someone who was doing the payroll. The person did a good job overall, but it wasn’t perfect, because sometimes the payroll would be a bit late, because of the workload. Therefore, we were always dependent on that person and their schedule,” Ms McKoy said.
“Now, since BizPay Central, staff is paid on time,” she informed. “I’m also able to know what the deductions will be each month and I can put together a proper budget. Before we were not sure what our statistics would look like each month in terms of our overall gross pay-out. But with BizPay we know what our expenses and payroll will look like. Therefore, this also allows us to plan ahead,” she said.
She further noted that the use of the BizPay Cash app has also been an added bonus, because the reality is that “things happen” and employees will sometimes need emergency funds.
Employees can use the BizPay Cash app to apply for staff loans and the approved funds can be in their bank accounts in five minutes.
“And the fact that it is automatically generated makes it even better, so I don’t really have to do much,” Ms McKoy informed.
Ms McKoy said she would definitely recommend BizPay Central to other small businesses, because, let’s say you can’t afford to hire someone to do your payroll, it is something you can do on your own. Spend 15 or 20 minutes out of your day and do what you need to do and get abreast as to what is happening,” she stated.
Chad Gordon, Commercial Manager for Payroll Solutions, stated that the objective of BizPay Central is to make life easier for business owners.
“We understand the challenges associated with processing payroll and the BizPay Central payroll system removes several of the pain points your accounting department or functionaries now endure,” he stated.
He also noted that the system allows businesses to process payrolls far more efficiently and accurately, anywhere, anytime. “In addition, it reduces administration and operation overheads,” Mr Gordon said.
