Payroll Peace of Mind for a Mortgage Microbusiness

Meet Zana Financial  

• Company: Zana Financial & Equity Group, Inc.

• Industry: Financial Services

• Specialty: Mortgage Lending

• Team Size: 3 full-time employees

• Customer Since: 2007

Overview

Zana Financial & Equity Group, Inc., a three-person mortgage lender in Michigan, has built its reputation on transparency and trust. Since 2007, owner Violet Gojcaj has relied on SurePayroll® By Paychex online payroll service to simplify payroll and taxes—freeing her to focus on clients and team. With intuitive tools, responsive support, and automated features, SurePayroll helps deliver peace of mind for microbusinesses navigating these complexities.

Key Takeaways

• Payroll Made Simple: SurePayroll eliminates manual tasks with automated direct deposit and easy online access.

• Tax Confidence: Year-end W-2s and clear reporting reduce stress during tax season.

• Time Savings: Streamlined payroll processes free up hours for client service and business growth.

• Employee Experience: Staff enjoy convenient access to pay stubs and deposits via the SurePayroll app.

• Trusted Partnership: Reliable service since 2007 helps Zana Financial focus on what matters most—clients and team.

Helping Borrowers Buy with Confidence

At Zana Financial & Equity Group, Inc., education is just as important as mortgages.

"People want to know what they're getting into, what their options are," owner Violet Gojcaj says. "That’s where we come in."

As an Albanian immigrant, Gojcaj remembers what it’s like to navigate complex decisions in a new environment. It’s one reason she’s able to connect so deeply with the diverse clients her Shelby Township, Michigan, mortgage company serves.

"I know how scary something is when you don't understand it," she says. "You're afraid someone is going to take advantage of you. Now imagine you're buying a home; that's the most expensive thing you're going to purchase."

Her approach? Radical transparency.

"I tell the people who come to us everything. When you explain it to them and they can say, 'Let’s do it this way,' they’re happy. They made a decision. Helping them is my job, and I love it."

Weathering a Crisis, Building a Legacy

While Gojcaj thrives as a small business owner today, her journey began during one of the toughest moments in recent financial history. She was working as a lender when the subprime mortgage crisis and the Great Recession forced her employer to shut down — and forced her to make a life-changing decision.

"It was either go work at a bank or open your own company," she says. "I decided to open my own."

It wasn’t exactly a dream time to launch a mortgage company.  

"There was the stigma that nobody could trust financiers, loan officers, or real estate agents," Gojcaj says. "Our challenge was gaining back the trust."

Gojcaj accepted that challenge and earned a reputation for trustworthiness one borrower at a time. Eighteen years later, the company is thriving.

Trust that Spans Generations

That longevity, and the relationships she's built with borrowers over the years, are sources of great pride for Gojcaj.

"When I start working with their kids or grandkids, when they trust you so much that they refer their family members, that's the greatest compliment anybody can give. It actually makes me very emotional."

She’s equally proud of her team and their role in the company’s success.

"I truly was blessed with amazing staff. They're the heart of the company."  

Creating a culture where employees feel appreciated pays off in loyalty, she says.

Making SurePayroll Part of the Team

Gojcaj’s focus on loyalty doesn’t stop with her employees. It also guides the tools she chooses to support her business, tools like SurePayroll® by Paychex, which she’s trusted since launching Zana Financial.

SurePayroll's affordable payroll solutions are designed for small businesses like Gojcaj's. It’s one way she simplifies operations so she can focus on what matters most: her clients and team.

"The service is excellent," she says. "SurePayroll is very easy to work with, and I love that. I’m not a very computerized tech person, so if it’s easy for me, trust me — I love it."

When Gojcaj started her company, using a payroll service wasn’t on her radar. She knew she needed to pay employees, but she wasn’t sure how to get started. A friend who owned an insurance agency recommended SurePayroll.

"She said, 'No, don't deal with any of that stuff. Just use them.' And she was right. They are amazing."

SurePayroll offers an intuitive platform, responsive customer service, and peace of mind. For Gojcaj, the service is a highly dependable ally. SurePayroll is a tool that makes a potentially stressful task feel effortless.

"Instead of worrying about running payroll or getting taxes right, I know I can rely on SurePayroll," Gojcaj says. "I’ve got to pay all these people. I don’t want to mess up their FICA. I don’t want to deal with that, and with SurePayroll, I don't have to."

Gojcaj also appreciates the extras, like alerts for upcoming holidays, automated direct deposit, and clear reporting.

"I recommend SurePayroll to everybody. I tell them, 'Just go through SurePayroll and you’ll never have to worry about anything. They take care of everything. I get my reports, payroll is always on time, and they send notifications, so you don’t forget anything. I love it, love it, love it. SurePayroll makes my life super easy."

Simplifying Payroll and Saving Time

Working with SurePayroll also helps Gojcaj run her business more efficiently.

"SurePayroll took away the guesswork," she says. “And it's more cost-effective than doing payroll myself.”

She knows that from experience. Early on, her bookkeeper offered to help with payroll, but that quickly became a source of stress.

"He did it one time, and I said, no, no, no. I don’t want to write checks, deal with paperwork, or figure out how much tax to take out. I just want to get everyone paid."

She quickly returned to SurePayroll.

"It’s much easier," she says. "I just enter a few numbers, and we’re done. The automated direct deposit is great. If anyone needs pay stubs, everything’s online. SurePayroll eliminates a lot of extra work.

"Even if I were by myself, I would still want the help," she adds. "Just the simplicity and ease of it."

Stress-Free Tax Season

SurePayroll also shines during tax season.

"At the end of the year, you get all your W-2 forms. They ask if you need anything else. You have everything you need for your federal and state taxes. If you need a report—for a loan or your accountant—it’s super easy to pull one up. And if you need help, you’ll always find someone at SurePayroll to answer your questions."

Employee Experience: The SurePayroll App

Zana Financial’s employees value the service, too. One long-time team member, processor Erisa Ulaj, says she likes using the SurePayroll app to monitor direct deposits and access pay stubs.

Looking Ahead: Growth with Payroll Peace of Mind

As Gojcaj looks ahead to growing Zana Financial and helping more homebuyers, she’s confident she has the right tools in place to succeed—with SurePayroll playing a behind-the-scenes role in her ongoing success.

"SurePayroll eliminates a lot of headaches. They literally eliminate all the work for you."

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