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Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

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Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#61

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

mikemac wrote: post #15
SwellJoe wrote: post #4

I don't know much about this industry, but this seems like a hilarious response to the ADP lawsuit. When your partner/competitor screws you really hard, launching a free product that performs the most important function of their very expensive product line is just about the most satisfying form of vengeance I can think of. Also, I hate Intuit Payroll (and it's cost me a small fortune due to deadlines being missed and…

> a free product that performs the most important function of their very expensive product line There is zero chance I'd subject employees to a hacked together payroll system. Building one is far from trivial, considering the complexities of tax and employment law in 50 different states.

> There is zero chance I'd subject employees to a hacked together payroll system.

Not an ADP user I presume.

Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#62

Post by HillRat »

soccerdave wrote: post #2

What exactly does this line mean from their 'Pro' plan? "Includes everything from Self-Driving Mode plus the ability to directly customize deductions, earnings, and more." I don't have any clue if the free plan would work for me or not.

You might want to look at Visage (http://visagepayroll.com), which I think was first in the "free payroll" market; their revenue stream comes from Credit Karma-style financial product targeting, but all the payroll features are free. (No affiliation, but I've run into their CEO in the past and he's a very solid guy.)

Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#63

Post by gargarplex »

beachstartup wrote: post #50
kalvin wrote: post #43

PSA: Go with Gusto (formerly Zenpayroll) instead for payroll. We signed up for both Zenefits and Zenpayroll several months ago. Zenefits was a nightmare. Zenpayroll has been an absolute delight. They obviously don't offer identical functionality, but they're getting more similar now so this is a comparison of where they overlap. Customer support: Both Zenefits and Zenpayroll are very responsive, but Zenefits provides…

our zenefits sales guy was totally rude, and insinuated that i was wasting his time by rescheduling a meeting, so i just told him i wasn't interested right after that. i'm sure he's doing fine if he feels like he can talk like that to prospective customers.

what is your startup?

Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#64

Post by borski »

kalvin wrote: post #43

PSA: Go with Gusto (formerly Zenpayroll) instead for payroll. We signed up for both Zenefits and Zenpayroll several months ago. Zenefits was a nightmare. Zenpayroll has been an absolute delight. They obviously don't offer identical functionality, but they're getting more similar now so this is a comparison of where they overlap. Customer support: Both Zenefits and Zenpayroll are very responsive, but Zenefits provides…

We were among the first 10-15 customers at Zenefits (IIRC), and they were really great when they were small. The problem is that they scaled far faster than they could handle, and we are now happy customers of Gusto.

My only rule with Benefits and Payroll is: do not make me look like an ass in front of my employees. If they don't get paid, or if they lapse in coverage, that makes me look like an ass. They give exactly zero shits about which company failed and where and why; they only know that they lapsed in coverage or didn't get paid. Zenefits screwed that up multiple times, and Gusto has yet to let me down.

That's not to say Zenefits is filled with bad people - I happen to like Parker quite a bit, for example. They just aren't set up to help me win quite yet, whereas Gusto seems to have figured it out.

Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#65

Post by hinting »

kalvin wrote: post #43

PSA: Go with Gusto (formerly Zenpayroll) instead for payroll. We signed up for both Zenefits and Zenpayroll several months ago. Zenefits was a nightmare. Zenpayroll has been an absolute delight. They obviously don't offer identical functionality, but they're getting more similar now so this is a comparison of where they overlap. Customer support: Both Zenefits and Zenpayroll are very responsive, but Zenefits provides…

+1 went for months without insurance because Zenefits continually promised things they could not deliver. Could not imagine a worst experience for such a critical thing.

Gusto (Zenpayroll) has been peach perfect. Going to transfer our healthcare benefits to them as soon as we can.

Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#66

Post by beachstartup »

gargarplex wrote: post #63
beachstartup wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

our zenefits sales guy was totally rude, and insinuated that i was wasting his time by rescheduling a meeting, so i just told him i wasn't interested right after that. i'm sure he's doing fine if he feels like he can talk like that to prospective customers.

what is your startup?

i don't talk about it here.

Re: Zenefits launches free payroll software for small businesses

#67

Post by mikemac »

kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #61
mikemac wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a free product that performs the most important function of their very expensive product line There is zero chance I'd subject employees to a hacked together payroll system. Building one is far from trivial, considering the complexities of tax and employment law in 50 different states.

> There is zero chance I'd subject employees to a hacked together payroll system. Not an ADP user I presume.

I actually am an ADP user/administrator. As crappy as their system is (I could go on for days), their domain expertise is unmatched.

I wish a payroll startup would put resources into a nice UI and having some really season support too. Just doesn't seem to be there yet, unfortunately.

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