As I was writing this article, I realized that I live and breathe all things Tennessee. My favorite things are the Grizzlies, Morgan Wallen, Justin Timberlake, Knoxville, and UT Football (in that order).
Ranked as the second cheapest state to live in the United States, and the number one state to retire, Tennessee is a great state to live in.
UpHomes
From the Mississippi River sunsets to the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee is a fiscally stable state that has been ranked #1 in the U.S for advanced industry job growth, aka, manufacturing cutting edge technology.
If you're a business owner, you probably didn't start your business because you enjoyed maintaining federal compliance, paying taxes, or dealing with employee issues -- but that's a big part of owning a business.
This is why you may consider outsourcing your back-office processes to a payroll provider; it frees you up to focus on what you love best.
At Whirks, we're passionate about serving our fellow business owners (especially in our home state!) so we've researched the top 5 payroll providers in Tennessee to help you on your quest for a new partner.
How We Determined the Top Five Payroll Providers in Tennessee
So, how did we come up with the top five payroll providers in Tennessee?
When we started doing the research on companies, we evaluated several different criteria to decide what makes a company a top provider. For example, we considered how many clients and industries they serve, their commitment to the community, and insights into their software and service.
Payroll providers in Tennessee serve other states, too. However, it can be helpful to choose a local provider near your own city, because they have an intimate understanding of state-specific taxes, laws, and compliance regulations.
Google Reviews
We chose the top five best payroll providers in Tennessee based on the number of their Google Reviews and their average rating.
Customer service model
It's important to keep in mind that the following payroll providers are not national payroll providers. This means that each one will provide a dedicated account specialist that will serve as your contact for all customer support requests.
We read through their websites and customer testimonials and compared them with their Google Reviews.
Scope of Service
Lastly, we considered how many services they offer in addition to payroll, and the different industries they serve.
For example, bookkeepers and accounting firms offer payroll processing, but they don't offer additional features such as timekeeping, benefits, and other HR-related services. For this reason, we could not include them as potential candidates.
Why aren't we on the list?
While we did meet all of the above criteria, our goal at Whirks is to educate you on the provider that fits your business best. We want to provide as many resources as we can so that you're empowered to make an informed decision that will better your back office and help you and your team thrive.
Southern Payroll and Benefits
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Rating: 5 Stars / 27 Reviews on Google
Pricing: No annual contracts, free month of service, transparent pricing
Best Fit: Start-ups and small businesses
Southern Payroll and Benefits was founded in 2019 by owner George Wilson, who passionately approaches customer service with the belief that clients and customers leave because they feel neglected, especially in the payroll and accounting industry.
Their software is powered by Gusto, the industry leader for payroll and HCM management for startups and small businesses. Southern Payroll serves a wide variety of clients and helps them approach their business goals day by day, year by year.
Services
In addition to payroll, HR, and benefits, Southern Payroll also offers:
- Business insurance
- Merchant processing
- Retirement planning
- Tax Planning
- Accounting and bookkeeping
What Makes them Different
Southern Payroll & Benefits pledges to give back 2% of their proceeds to charity and provides the opportunity for their employees and clients to do the same.
Time & Pay
Location: Johnson City, Tennessee
Rating: 4.9 Stars / 48 Reviews on Google
Pricing: Request a demo or Request Pricing
Best fit: Construction, Trade, Blue-Collar Services
Time & Pay was founded in 1992 by founder Steve Scheu. His son, Andy, now owns and operates this small, thriving payroll company in the heart of the Tri-Cities. They are praised for being pleasant and easy to work with for small and midsize businesses alike.
Services
Time & Pay helps several different industries in forty-seven states, from construction and trade to retail stores. Their service offerings include:
- Payroll Services
- Automated Time & Attendance
- Benefits Management
- ACA Compliance Management
- HR Management
- Worker's Comp Administration
What Makes Them Different
Clients of Time & Pay go out of their way to praise their customer service. Their team is made up of experienced individuals who have invested several years working for the company.
Inova Payroll
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Rating: 5 Stars / 10 Google Reviews
Pricing: Request pricing
Best Fit: Midsize professional industries
Inova was founded by Farsheed Ferdowsi who noticed that employers were incredibly frustrated with customer service from payroll providers. Founded in 2010, Inova services small and large businesses with up to 1,000 employees.
Services
Inova offers the full suite of HCM services including payroll, timekeeping, benefits, and HR. They additionally offer:
- Background screening services
- Worker's compensation
- Early Wage Access
- 401(k) Plans
What Makes them Different
Because of their ability to serve larger clients, Inova offers several integrations, with everything from accounting to benefits software, but with the added advantage of seeing all of your employee and financial data in one place.
People Processes
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Rating: 5 Stars / 59 Reviews on Google
Pricing: Monthly Packages start at $1,150
Best Fit: Businesses with heavy HR needs
People Processes was founded in 2009 by Rhamy Alejeal. It began as an insurance agency that helped companies design benefit programs for employees but has grown into a full-service payroll, HCM, and HR provider.
Praised by several happy clients for their professionalism and quick responses to all questions, both urgent and minor alike.
Services
People Processes provides payroll, benefits, time & labor, and compliance. Their HR services included live support and assistance with building your HR department, like writing an employee handbook. They also offer:
- Background Checks
- ACA Tracking
- Labor Law Posters
What Makes Them Different
Founder Rhamy Alejeal's book, People Processes, was an Amazon #1 best seller in the HR category, and one of Inc's Top Ten leadership books in 2018.
Dominion Payroll
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Rating: 4 Stars / 6 Reviews on Google
Pricing: Request a Quote
Best Fit: Midsize to Larger Businesses
Dominion Payroll was founded sixteen years ago in Richmond, Virginia by Dave Gallagher and David Fratkin. They are the only payroll provider on this list with locations outside of Nashville, including Richmond, Dallas, Charlotte, Louisville, Jackson, and Tampa.
Their customer reviews indicate that their onboarding and implementation process is a breeze, which is a huge concern for business owners when switching payroll providers.
Services
Dominion Payroll offers talent acquisition, time & attendance, payroll processing, human resources, and benefits administration.
What Makes Them Different
Dominion is an established payroll provider that has rapidly expanded across the southeastern United States. Because of their support size and brick-and-mortar locations in seven states, Dominion Payroll has the power to process payroll and provide white-glove customer service to employers with thousands of employees.
Honorable Mentions
Although this article was written to introduce you to the top payroll providers in Tennessee, additional payroll companies deserve to be mentioned in the event that they're a better fit for you and your team.
Payroll Cents
Payroll Cents is owned and operated in East Tennessee by Steven Ledbetter. They offer services directly related to payroll processing, such as wage garnishments, direct deposit, and new hire reporting.
Legacy Payroll Solutions
Located outside of Nashville in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Legacy Payroll Solutions offers payroll, employer benefits, worker's comp, and HR services to their clients.
So Much to See (and be) in Tennessee
Whether you're a brand new startup, a quickly growing business, or an established, well-oiled machine, choosing the right payroll provider can elevate your business, your brand, and your team.
By outsourcing complicated administrative tasks, you alleviate the burden of your back office so you can hire the best employees, grow your business, and guide your team towards success.
No matter where you reside in our beautiful state, any of the above competitors will be an optimal choice to help your business thrive.
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