Tier 1 Payroll Services: Simple, Reliable Payroll for Business Owners

Managing payroll as a business owner involves more than simply paying yourself. You also need to keep accurate payroll records, manage payroll tax obligations, and ensure your financial statements reflect your payroll activity.

For business owners who are the only employee of their company, A Bigger Bottom Line (ABBL) offers Tier 1 – Basic Owner-Only Payroll, a service designed to simplify salary payroll processing while helping you stay organized.

What Is Tier 1 Basic Owner-Only Payroll?

Tier 1 is designed for business owners who are the only employee of their company — most commonly S-Corp owners paying themselves a salary. It covers one owner-employee with salary payroll only. Hourly payroll, additional employees, and bonuses are not available at this tier.

Tier 1 — Basic Owner-Only Payroll | QuickBooks Payroll Core | 1 owner-employee | Salary only

$145 / month

Standalone service — or add-on to Bronze bookkeeping

One-Time Setup Fee: $350 | Client-Run Oversight Alternative: $145/mo

SOFTWARE INCLUDED

QuickBooks Online Payroll Core is paid by ABBL and included in your monthly fee. Clients do not purchase or manage payroll software separately.

What's Included & What's Not

✓  INCLUDED	✗  NOT INCLUDED
Payroll processing — 1 owner-employee	Hourly payroll — Tier 3 only
Salary payroll only	Additional employees — Tier 2 or 3 required
Direct deposit (ACH)	PTO / vacation / sick time tracking
Federal & state payroll tax payments (1 state)	Benefits or garnishment deductions (add-on)
Quarterly payroll tax filings (Form 941)	Bonus or commission payrolls (add-on)
Annual filings (Form 940, W-2, W-3)	Multiple payroll schedules
Payroll liabilities tracked on balance sheet	Multi-state payroll (add-on)
Secure storage of filings in client portal	Time tracking setup
Client Payroll Manual	HR advisory or employee relations
Payroll Status Change Request Form	Benefits administration of any kind
QB Payroll Core software (paid by ABBL)	Payroll accruals on balance sheet
QB Workforce employee self-service portal

Who Does What — Ongoing Payroll

CLIENT DOES	ABBL DOES
Read & follow the Client Payroll Manual	Set up automatic salary payroll run
Fill out a Payroll Status Change Form for any and all payroll changes	Receive & process Payroll Status Change Forms
Notify ABBL at least 2 weeks before any changes take effect	Send e-signature onboarding packet to new employee (W-4, I-9, direct deposit, Workforce)
Approve payroll before each run (hourly payrolls: 2 days minimum)	File payroll taxes automatically (federal + 1 state)
Create and maintain employee handbook & company policies	File quarterly & annual payroll tax returns
Write and deliver offer letters, promotion, demotion & termination notices to employees	Email W-2 to employee by January 31 each year
Handle all discipline communications with staff	Upload W-2 and tax filings to client portal
Maintain job descriptions with duties, access requirements, and pay details	Onboard employee to QuickBooks Workforce
Forward all government tax notices to ABBL via HubDoc the same day received	File new hire documents in employee folder in portal
Contact and manage own HR resource provider when HR support is needed	Process terminations from payroll with signed Status Change Form
Set up own time-tracking system if desired (not included in Tier 1)

One-Time Setup Fee — Tier 1  |  $350

Tier 1 — Initial Payroll Setup

One-Time Fee: $350 — required before first payroll run

Applies to new ABBL-managed payroll only

Setup Includes

•      QuickBooks Core Payroll account purchase & initial configuration

•      Setup questionnaire sent to owner (W-4, I-9, 2 forms of ID, direct deposit, Workforce invite)

•      Federal employer account configuration

•      State payroll tax account setup — 1 state included

•         State registration via QuickBooks/CorpNet partner (~$199/state covered in this fee)

•      Authorization forms for e-filing / e-pay where required

•      1-hour Zoom meeting — owner bank verification & e-sign (owner required, not delegatable)

•      Bank account confirmation and micro-deposit verification

•      Payroll schedule setup

•      Owner-employee profile setup

•      Direct deposit configuration (up to 2 accounts)

•      Payroll item mapping to chart of accounts

•      Liability tracking configuration

•      Payroll tax settings, rates, and account number verification

•      Initial payroll test review

•      Initial payroll tax form authorization

•      Payroll tax forms folder setup in client portal

•      Client Payroll Manual & Payroll Status Change Form provided

MULTI-STATE NOTE

1 state included. Additional state setup: $200/state (includes CorpNet registration assistance). Multi-state is rare for owner-only payroll.

Setup Notes

•      Applies to first-time setup only — not routine employee adds or tier upgrades

•      Required even in Bronze cash-basis programs (payroll requires modified cash/accrual hybrid tracking)

•      Mid-year conversion may require additional historical cleanup — custom quote applies

Setup Add-Ons (If Needed at Time of Setup)

•      Benefits deduction setup: $150 per plan (does NOT include enrollment or plan selection)

•      Mid-year payroll migration with historical cleanup: Custom quote

•      Time-tracking setup beyond standard: $150 one-time

Payroll Add-On Services

Add-On Service	Description	Monthly	One-Time	Applies To
Off-cycle / bonus payroll run	Missed deadline or extra run	—	$50 / run	All tiers
New hire processing	Payroll setup + new hire reporting	—	$50 / event	All tiers
Termination processing	Final paycheck + PTO payout calc.	—	$50 / event	All tiers
Pay rate / status change	Promotion, demotion, FT/PT change	—	$50 / event	All tiers
Benefits deduction setup	Per plan (medical, dental, 401k, etc.)	—	$150 / plan	All tiers
Benefits deduction tracking	Ongoing payroll deduction entry	$50 / benefit	—	All tiers
Garnishment handling	Setup + ongoing tracking	$25 / garnish.	—	Tier 2 & 3
Hourly payroll processing	Time entry + approval workflow	$75 / mo.	—	Tier 2 only
Multi-state payroll	Additional state filings	$75 / state	—	Tier 2 & 3
Job costing payroll mapping	Classes / jobs mapping	$100 / mo.	—	Tier 3
Advanced time tracking setup	Rules + sync beyond standard	$75 / mo.	$150 setup	Tier 2 & 3
Payroll advisory & comp planning	Comp reviews + planning	$100 / mo.	$150 / hr	Tier 3
Additional state — setup	Registration + configuration	—	$200 / state	All tiers
Additional employee at setup	Beyond included count	—	$75 / employee	All tiers
Mid-year payroll migration	Historical cleanup + import	—	Custom quote	All tiers

Scope & Compliance Boundaries

 PAYROLL ≠ HR OR BENEFITS

Payroll services cover calculation, processing, filing, and payroll-related accounting only. Benefits administration, HR compliance, open enrollment, carrier communications, and ACA/ERISA/COBRA filings are NOT included and remain the client's responsibility.

SCOPE CHANGES

Changes to employee count, payroll type, benefits deductions, additional states, payroll accruals, or time-tracking complexity may require add-on services or a tier upgrade. ABBL will always communicate options clearly before changes are made.

Alternative: Client-Run Payroll — Owner-Only

If you already use a third-party payroll provider (Gusto, ADP, Paychex, OnPay, Rippling, etc.), ABBL provides Payroll Accounting & Reconciliation services only — not payroll processing.

Client-Run Payroll Oversight — Owner-Only

$145 / month starting price

+ $50–$100 / month complexity adjustments if applicable

What ABBL Provides (Accounting Only)

•      Payroll journal entry posting or import into QuickBooks

•      Payroll liability tracking and clearing

•      Review of quarterly and annual payroll tax filings

•      Storage of payroll returns in the client portal

•      Payroll for 1 state (additional states: $75/mo per state)

•      Coordination when discrepancies are identified

What ABBL Does NOT Provide (Client-Run)

•      Payroll processing, calculations, or tax submissions — handled by your provider

•      Payroll software — client pays their own provider directly

•      Benefits administration, carrier communication, or HR support

WHY THIS IS NEVER FREE

Payroll adds complexity to your accounting regardless of who processes it. This is why client-run oversight starts at $145/mo. In many cases ABBL-managed payroll is the more streamlined and cost-effective option.

California Compliance Thresholds — Know Before You Grow

Employees	New Compliance Obligations Triggered
1+	Minimum wage ($16.90/hr in 2026)  •  Payroll tax registration  •  Workers' comp insurance required
5+	Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA)  •  Mandatory harassment training  •  CalSavers retirement mandate
15+	ADA compliance  •  Expanded employment discrimination protections
50+	Federal FMLA  •  ACA employer mandate reporting  •  Enhanced harassment training

NEED A COMPLIANCE REVIEW?

As your employee count approaches a threshold, ask ABBL about the optional California Headcount Compliance Review ($650 flat fee). This educational review identifies newly applicable obligations — it is not legal advice.

Payroll services provided by A Bigger Bottom Line include payroll software, processing, and payroll tax compliance at the selected tier. Payroll software is paid by ABBL — clients do not purchase or manage it separately when enrolled in ABBL-managed payroll.

Interested in learning more about ABBL's payroll services? Visit abiggerbottomline.com to explore our services and schedule a consultation.