[In_Safe_Hands]

Hi Guys,

I have had a look through previous posts using the Search function but have found nothing that specifically answers my question.  I'm hoping that I can find someone out there with direct experience of this package!

I am fairly new to the domestic cleaning business but (hallelujah) am in a position where I need to start employing some staff.  Having said this I'm still very much 'small fry' so want to save unnecessary costs on accountants by doing my own payroll.  I'm looking for a pretty basic payroll package that will calculate NI and Tax and print off payslips.  Sage Instant Payroll has been recommended to me and the price seems pretty reasonable.  I was just wondering if there was anyone out there who has used this specific package.  What do you think of it?  I'm looking at having less than 10 employees to start with - if I need more then I will probably go via an Accountant.

In a previous topic, someone suggested Quickbooks but from what I can see this is not Payroll specific so I don't think that's the way forward.  Iris has something I could use but is around double the price of Sage.  If it's the best option then I don't mind paying the extra but I don't want to spend needlessly if Sage will do the job.

Thanks in advance!
Kerry

[Clean 'n' Tidy]

Hi,

I use sage payroll and it is really easy to use. You are only allowed to have up to 10 employees though.

I did not bother with the yearly charge for help and assistance. so far I have not needed it. i have been using Sage Payroll for about 1.5 years and (touch wood) have not had a problem with it.

Rgds
Kim

[Jan K]

Hi Guys!

Funny you should be talking about this, but I am thinking about this myself. Today, some I know mentioned Quicken, and he is kindly going to let me have a look over the weekend to see if it any good, if you are happy to bear with me I will post next week and let you know what I think of it.

Incidentally, I am just about to employ my 3rd lady in as many months, and Sage was contemplated by me, but if there is a staff limit of 10, I think it may be better to start off with a package that deals with more then 10 staff, just in case!

[Fox]

Hi

I have alot of experience with Iris payroll and have been using this package for about four years now.  I have looked at others but always come back to this for the simple reason that it is so easy to use and you can have unlimited employees.

Kerry you say you would probably pass the payroll onto an accountant when you get past 10 anyway but I suspect once you realise how easy payroll and PAYE is you will continue to do this yourself.

I don't know whether you realise either that sage might only work for maybe 3 or 4 employees even though it states up to 10.  The fact of the matter is we are in a high staff turn over business.  For every employee that leaves Sage will count that as 1, so for example you have 5 cleaners, after 2 weeks 3 leave and you have to replace them, still giving you 5 cleaners but using 7 of your spaces on Sage so you might in 3 months time still have 5 people working for you but used your whole 10 employee numbers.  (I hope I've explained that ok!).

Go to the iris web site you can download the payroll package and use it free for seven days to see if you like it, theres no obligation to buy. 

If you need any further info don't hesitate to ask.

Fox

[adl]

We use sage payroll for 50 employees, i know how to use it but i get a book keeper to come in on a wednesday to do the payroll and keep sage accounts updated she is a valuble asset to my business, as what used to take days of my time to do is know done in four hours and the accounts are always up to date and right.

regards dave ADL

[ICG]

I currently use Sage Instant accounts & payroll and both are very easy to use. If you take Sage, make sure you pay for the support on the payroll, as you wont get the necessary updates at the start of every tax year.

[In_Safe_Hands]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.  V. interesting to hear what you've all got to say.  I'm seriously edging towards the Iris package but I think I'll give the free trial a go first (thanks, Fox). 

Jan, I would still be interested to hear how you get on with Sage.

All going well, perhaps I won't need an Accountant for payroll after all..

Thanks again.

[dustycorner]

Hi,

I agree with fox on this i also use Iris software its called payemaster, and really straight forward and simple to use. The support is very good as well, i can't recommend this package higly enough. If you want any more info pm me.

Cheers Mark.

[Fox]

I recieved my iris update this morning, which reminds me to let you know all updates and support are included in the price you are quoted.

Fox

[In_Safe_Hands]

Even better!

Thanks very much.

[Jan K]

Hi guys!

I downloaded a demo of iris today, but it isn't going to work for me as far as I can see, as there are only 3 options for pay days......once a month, once every 4 weeks or the same day each month. I pay my girls on the last Friday of each month. However there is a version of Sage specifically aimed at start up/small/medium business called TAS. The software is a lot less expensive than Sage, but the downside is there isn't a downloadable demo...link here if anyone interested  http://www.tassoftware.co.uk/home.asp 

[dustycorner]

Hi Jan,

I have been using Iris software for last 4 years its a really good system the one i'm using is called payemaster on that you can run payroll weekly, fortnightly, 4 weeks and monthly also each month it will give you a very staright forward report on you tax and n.i liability for the period. The other good thing about Iris software they provide really good support and there is no restriction on the numbewr of staff on the payroll system.

Cheers Mark.

[Fox]

Jan

Have you downloaded the correct version?  PAYEMASTER as posted by Dusty, we pay weekly and it works great.

In Safe Hands
Just for the record I bought the payroll package AND the accounts package by Iris for £250.

One tip - they do charge quite a bit for their pre-printed wage slips and invoices, I print my wage slips on plain paper instead as they are still very easy to understand.

[Jan K]

From what I can see it definately won't work for me as, like I said, I pay on the last Friday of each month. So my pay days aren't 4 weekly or even monthly, it realy all depends on which date the last Friday falls. I suppose I could reconsider the day I pay, but at the moment as my business is still so small, and I invoice all my Clients the Friday beforehand, the last Friay of the month works ok.

I may have to reconsider buying a payroll package until the business grows a little more. I really would like to pay my girls on a weekly basis, but can't warrant it at the moment, so I think I will hold fire.....I have to say I was impressed with Iris, it really was only that one element that put a hold on it for me.

Useful info tho guys, ta!

[dustycorner]

Hi Jan,

 Can i make a suggestion , why don't you make regular dates for payroll and invoicing for instance the last friday this month is good friday do the staff get their pay on bank holiday ?. A lso i think it would look more professional and disciplined to send your invoices out on a specific date each month.

Cheers Mark.

[dustycorner]

Hi Jan,

me again another suggestion why do you want to pay your staff weekly do you invoice weekly  as well. staff payroll will be your biggest expenditure. If you are paying staff weekly and invoicing monthly do not foresee cashflow problems ?. Why not pay staff monthly.

Cheers Mark.

[garyj]

If anyone is interested I have a brand new unopened Iris Payemaster for sale. Its advertised on the buy and sell section or you can phone me on 07764819392.