By Cindy Waxer. Most small businesses understand the value of smart payroll practices. But many fail to anticipate the negative impact of this business-critical activity if poorly executed. While a solid payroll system can keep employees happy and the government satisfied, poor payroll practices can create tax-related nightmares, send labor costs skyrocketing, and prompt an employee exodus. Fortunately, small businesses need not invest millions in high-end software programs or...

If you find that processing payroll is becoming an increasingly burdensome task, it may be time to turn to one of the many payroll firms eager to do it for you By Christopher Freeburn One of the greatest burdens faced by small business owners is dealing with the voluminous amount of paperwork generated by their businesses. Even small businesses with just a handful of employees create enough paperwork to inspire dread in the most ambitious entrepreneurs. One of the most vexing sources of this...

When most people think of the term embezzlement, what often comes to mind are unscrupulous money manager's at large corporations who take millions of dollars through scams and fraud. However, embezzlement can and does happen even at the smallest of firms. The employee that manages payroll and cuts themselves an extra paycheck, or the employee that manages accounts payable and makes a payment to a "mystery firm", even the employee who handles petty cash and uses a few bucks without authorization...