SurePayroll Enhances Payroll Solutions for Accountants

New SureChoice service lets accountants access client payroll data online

CHICAGO — August 26, 2005 — Chicago-based SurePayroll today announced that it has launched SureChoice™, a turnkey solution for accountants that lets them quickly and easily access payroll data for their clients via the Web.

With SureChoice, accountants can refer clients to SurePayroll and, with client permission, gain access to payroll data. Alternatively, SurePayroll will create a private-label payroll service for the accounting firm, allowing the accounting firm to directly offer sophisticated Web-based payroll services, branded with the accountant’s brand name, to their small businesses clients.

"By giving accountants easy access to client payroll data, we've made it much easier for them to do their accounting work and improve customer service levels," said Michael Alter, President of SurePayroll. "In addition to our private label payroll service that has been embraced by accountants for many years, we now offer a strong referral option for accountants. Whether an accountant refers us two customers or 200, they receive one username and password to access their client's data. We aren't aware of any other referral program on the market that provides accountants with that kind of online access and convenience. In either case, they get access to SureChoice so they can manage their clients' data."

SurePayroll's online payroll service addresses many of the problematic issues that accountants have historically faced when considering getting involved with payroll processing:

• Getting payroll data from clients on a timely basis can be challenging and time-consuming. Payroll addresses this issue by allowing the accountant's small business clients to directly enter their payroll data via the Web. No faxes or phone calls are necessary. If a client is not Web-enabled, they can still fax or call in their payroll and the accountant can do the online data entry for them.
• Once payroll data is received, there is the complexity of doing the payroll calculations. Tax tables for Federal, State and local government agencies and other withholding amounts change frequently and must be factored into the calculations. SureChoice addresses this by doing all of the calculations automatically.
• Making the tax deposits is an error-prone process. Accountants will typically remind clients to make tax deposits, but if clients forget to make the deposit or make a late deposit, penalties will result. The IRS estimates that 40% of small businesses incur an average payroll penalty of $845 every year. SureChoice addresses this issue by automatically making all the necessary tax deposits.
• Accessing payroll data is problematic. When accountants or their clients use desktop software solutions to do payroll, it’s difficult to access the data. If the data is at the accountant’s office, the client has to ask for information from the accountant, which can be a time consuming task. The Web-based nature of SureChoice ensures that the data can be access by either party at any time from any location. Client employees can even access their payroll stubs online. This eliminates requests to the accountant for employee payroll information that typically occur when an employee is obtaining a loan, renting an apartment, or is preparing his or her taxes.
• Generating and delivering checks is problematic. SureChoice addresses this challenge by letting clients print checks directly. SureChoice also offers Direct Deposit. Historically, accountants could only offer direct deposit if they purchased expensive software or negotiated a relationship with a large bank. SurePayroll also offers a check printing and delivery service for a fee.
• Preparing quarterly and year-end filings is a tedious undertaking for accountants. SureChoice automatically prepares and submits all filings on behalf of the accounting firm and its clients.

With SureChoice, accountants can add more value to customers, enhance customer "stickiness," and improve workflows. Accountants who are interested in learning more about SureChoice — either the private label service or the referral program — should contact SurePayroll Account Development Manager Jason Copeland. Existing providers of SurePayroll’s Custom Payroll Service for Accountants will automatically be enrolled in SureChoice so they can receive benefits of ongoing enhancements.

About SurePayroll:

SurePayroll is the online alternative to ADP® and Paychex®. SurePayroll's service and team members are dedicated to providing an easy, convenient online payroll service at a price small business owners can afford. Tens of thousands of customers rely on SurePayroll to process payroll wherever they want in as few as two minutes.

In addition, SurePayroll offers small businesses solutions for managing 401(k) plans, health insurance, workers' compensation, HR compliance and employee screening. For accountants and banking partners, SurePayroll provides private-label services that enable them to offer payroll processing to their small business clients.

Over the last decade, SurePayroll has received numerous prestigious awards for its innovative technology and outstanding customer service, including recognition from PC Magazine, Inc. 500, Accounting Today, the Stevie Awards and many others.

For more information, you can visit http://www.surepayroll.com, call 877.954.7873 or follow us on http://twitter.com/SurePayroll.