How do I set up my organization for payroll?

Before you start: one question

Above Company setup you'll see: "Did this EIN pay anyone through another payroll provider earlier this year?" Answer No if this EIN hasn't paid anyone through another provider this calendar year, and setup skips the step for bringing over earlier payroll history. Answer Yes if it has. You need to answer before Start works.

Step 1: Company setup

Click Start (or Continue, or Review) under 1. Company setup. A secure page opens inside the portal where you enter:

• Business details, including your legal business name and EIN.
• Owner details for the person who owns or controls the business.
• Agreements and authorization. See PR-04 for what each one means.
• Banking, the account payroll will be funded from.
• Business documents, if requested.

Company setup opens in its own browser tab. When you're done there, come back and click Done. You can close the setup tab and come back later; Continue picks up where you left off.

You'll connect your bank one of two ways. If you connect it through Plaid by signing in to your bank, you're good to go. If you choose two small deposits instead, they arrive in 1 to 3 business days; when they do, click Confirm bank deposits and enter the amounts. You can keep going in the meantime; see PR-05.

You'll upload proof of your EIN. Can't find your EIN letter? See PR-17. The verification team may also ask for a certificate of good standing from your state; see PR-16 for where to get one in each state.

Have more than one EIN? Company setup runs separately for each one. See PR-11.

Step 2: Add a work location (W-2 only)

Click Add a work location and add each place your staff work. 1099-only clubs don't see this step.

Step 3: Taxes (W-2 only)

Use Set up federal taxes and Set up state taxes. 1099-only clubs don't see this step.

Step 4: Set a pay schedule (W-2 or Both)

Click Set pay schedule and choose Weekly, Bi-weekly, Semi-monthly, or Monthly. If you don't set one, payroll is monthly. The schedule applies to all your EINs.

Step 5: Approvers

Under Approvers, enter a Primary approver's name and email and, if you like, a Backup. Click Save approvers.

• Once approvers are saved, only those people can approve a payroll, and either one can do it.
• The person who approves is recorded with each run.
• If no approvers are saved, anyone with payroll access can approve. We recommend saving approvers.

Watch the Payments card

The Payments card at the top of the Organization page tells you when you can pay, and exactly what's still needed if you can't yet. See PR-12.