Not one we lead with. We can board this if you want it. It is not one we know inside out, so we would be setting it up rather than advising you on it — and we would tell you that before you signed anything. Talk it through with us.
Payroll & HR · PayCompass
PayCompass Payroll
Payroll with tax filing on a published per-employee price list.
- Restaurant
- Retail
- Home services
- Professional services
- Salon & spa
- Any business
An independent assessment. Vigilant can place PayCompass Payroll, and is paid the same either way — which is why the drawbacks are on this page too.
What it is
The same job as ADP, priced as a line-item list rather than a quote. Payroll with tax filing runs a $100 setup and $65/month base plus $5/month per paid employee or 1099 contractor. Add HR and it is a $225 setup and $110/month base, same per-employee rate. Federal, first-state and first-local tax reporting are included; each additional jurisdiction is $15/month.
At real headcounts that works out to roughly $70/month for one employee, $115 for ten, $190 for twenty-five — or $115, $160 and $235 with HR added. White-glove service is an optional $100–$150/month.
The fees worth knowing before you sign are the exception fees, and they are published too: NSF $150, wire $45, direct-deposit reversal $25, late tax filing $295, filing amendment $275. Labour-law poster compliance is $75 to set up and $8/month. Annual W-2 and 1099 creation is $95 plus $3 per item.
Who it fits
Best for
Small and mid-size teams that want a payroll number they can budget rather than a quote they have to negotiate.
Probably not ideal for
Businesses needing deep HR, benefits brokerage or retirement administration — that is ADP's territory.
Key capabilities
- Published pricing
- $65/month base plus $5 per paid employee or 1099 contractor. Setup $100.
- Tax filing included
- Federal, first state and first local jurisdiction reporting and submission included.
- Payroll + HR tier
- $110/month base with HR added, $225 setup, same per-employee rate.
- Pay frequency
- Weekly, bi-weekly or semi-monthly.
- Compliance add-ons
- Labour-law poster service and pay-as-you-go workers' comp premium plans.
- Published exception fees
- NSF, wire, reversal, late filing and amendment fees all listed rather than discovered.
Strengths and tradeoffs
Strengths
- One relationship for payments and payroll, which means one point of contact when something needs fixing.
- Simpler and cheaper than enterprise payroll for a straightforward single-state operation.
- Direct deposit, filings and year-end forms handled without a separate vendor.
- Sensible for owners who already deal with PayCompass for processing.
- Less product surface to navigate, which suits a business without an HR function.
Tradeoffs
- Not built for complex payroll — multi-state, heavy tip handling or large headcount belong elsewhere.
- HR and benefits functionality is minimal.
- Bundling means the payroll decision gets tied to the processing decision, which we would rather keep separate.
- Smaller support bench than a national payroll provider.
- Filing risk is shared rather than fully carried by the provider.
Pricing
Payroll: $100 setup, $65/mo base, $5/employee. Payroll + HR: $225 setup, $110/mo base, $5/employee. Additional tax jurisdictions $15/mo each. W-2/1099 $95 + $3/item.
Pricing reflects what the vendor publishes or what we have seen quoted. Your actual terms depend on volume, card mix and what is negotiated — which is the part we do.
Vigilant's assessment
A reasonable convenience play for a simple single-location payroll, particularly if PayCompass already handles your processing. The moment tips, multiple states or real headcount enter the picture, move to a dedicated provider — the cost of a filing error dwarfs the saving.
How it compares
Convenience versus specialisation, with real consequences if you pick wrong.
| Criterion | ADP Full-service payroll & HR | PayCompass Payroll Bundled with processing |
|---|---|---|
| Best at | Complexity and compliance | Simplicity and one relationship |
| Right size | Roughly fifteen staff and up, or complex | Under roughly fifteen, single state |
| Tips & overtime | Strong | Basic |
| Setup effort | Moderate | Light |
| Cost | Higher, scoped by module | Lower, bundled |
| Risk if it goes wrong | Carried by ADP | Shared |
| Pick it when | Payroll is complicated | Payroll is simple and you want one bill |
Verdict. Simple payroll, one location, no tips: this is fine and cheaper. Anything more complicated is worth paying ADP for, and we have no financial reason to say so.
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