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Referrals matter in business, and asking for them is a brilliant idea. A referral comes from a happy, loyal customer who receives a benefit when mentioning the company to a friend or family member. Creating a referral plan can be a great marketing strategy that works independently. How to Be Referred Aside from creating an incentivized plan, there are some simple courtesies that all business owners should express. These simple habits are small gestures, but they can mean a lot to customers.
Why Customers Are Essential for Marketing Aside from running ads online and keeping social media updated daily, a huge part of marketing comes from customers referring other people to the company. They will recommend a great business if the customer service is excellent and the products or services exceed expectations. As long as the quality is prioritized in the way the employees work, the business can expect to get these loyal customer referrals. Adding an incentivized referral program can also do a lot to boost these numbers. Depending on the company, each method will work differently. Marketing is essential for any business, and creating a great referral program that will entice customers to spread the word is a win-win situation. They receive benefits while the company has an influx of new customers. The post Earning Referrals for Your Business first appeared on Joseph C Odierno Buffalo | Business & Entrepreneurship.via Joseph C Odierno Buffalo | Business & Entrepreneurship https://josephodiernobuffalo.com/earning-referrals-for-your-business/
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Small businesses often have razor-thin profit margins. They can’t afford to lose money to inaccurate timekeeping and inefficient processes or they’ll never be able to expand. That’s probably why you’re considering a time clock to record hours, generate timesheets for payroll, and clock in your team seamlessly. But to protect your bottom line, you need software that does everything you need and suits your budget. Otherwise, you may as well spare yourself the hassle and stick to punch clocks. We’ve compared some of the best time clocks for small businesses to put you on the fast track to finding the right one. Plus, we’ve included a checklist for essential features, a step-by-step guide on how to buy the software, and a list of common mistakes to avoid. Key features to look for in time clock softwareBefore you compare time clocks, it’s important to have a list of must-have features. That way you know what you should be looking for and you won’t get sidetracked by unnecessary add-ons that drive the cost up.
Top 10 time clocks for small businesses in 2023
1. Homebase
Source: https://joinhomebase.com/Caption: Homebase has a versatile range of tools to make time tracking easy, quick, and more accurate than everTop featuresUnlike many of its competitors, Homebase has an extremely robust free plan. It includes essential scheduling, time tracking, and communication tools. That means you can create a schedule, send it to your staff, and track their hours without paying a cent. The communication tool also integrates with the scheduling and time tracking software. So, you can send reminders about shifts, contact your team quickly about no-shows, and arrange covers straight from the platform. But the main draw of Homebase’s time clock is the array of features that help you manage your staff. The GPS time clock verifies each employee’s location so there’s no risk of buddy punching. You can also set labor cost controls to prevent early clock-in and automatically clock staff out. Then you can avoid costly compliance issues with overtime and missed break alerts for the whole team. Pros and consOne pro that differentiates Homebase from the competition is its payroll management options. Homebase is one of the few time tracking apps with built-in accounting tools so you can move seamlessly from generating timesheets to paying your staff. But we also offer a range of payroll integrations so you can pick from popular tools like Gusto or ADP as well. Another way Homebase stands out is pricing. Homebase offers essential time tracking tools on the free account and most upgrades on the starter plans. As we also only charge by location, it’s easier to keep your costs low if your staff levels fluctuate. One drawback is Homebase doesn’t have a location tracking system. Although you can verify where your employees are when they check in, you can’t track them as they move. This means you can’t monitor traveling teams as easily as you can with some other time clocks. PricingAs well as its free account, Homebase has three monthly paid plans:
Homebase payroll is on a separate account that’s $39 per month plus $6 per employee. 2. Sling
Source: https://getsling.com/employee-time-clock/Caption: Sling is a user-friendly time tracking system that lets you monitor businesses in different timezonesTop featuresTracking hours across locations in different time zones can be challenging because there’s a higher chance of getting confused. If this happens, you might record the wrong hours and pay your staff incorrectly. Sling sidesteps this issue by letting you monitor each site in its local time which makes it a good option for international businesses. Pros and consThe main advantage of Sling is its ease of use. Customers have praised the software for its intuitiveness and simplicity. However, Sling is less versatile than some other apps on this list as it only has scheduling and time tracking features. If you later need payroll, hiring, or HR tools, you’ll have to download more apps and juggle the different software. PricingAlthough Sling has a free plan, this only includes scheduling and communication features — not time tracking. They also have a 14-day free trial. Sling has two paid plans:
3. Connecteam
Source: https://connecteam.com/employee-time-clock-app/Caption: Connecteam includes a GPS tracker tool to help you accurately record traveling workersTop featuresWhen you have traveling workers like delivery crews or moving teams, it can be hard to prevent time theft. Employees could be taking unnecessarily long routes or making too many pit stops without you knowing. Connecteam’s GPS location tracker eliminates this issue by verifying the location of remote workers on the go. Pros and consLike Homebase, Connecteam has a robust free plan for up to ten users. This makes it a good option for very small teams with modest needs. But once you exceed ten employees, Connecteam requires users to make a lot of upgrades to access all its time tracking tools. For example, the GPS location tracking tool is only available on the highest-cost plan. Other apps on this list include more features in their lowest-cost plans and could be more budget-friendly for small businesses like yours. PricingAs mentioned above, Connecteam has a free plan for up to ten users with basic time tracking tools and a 14-day free trial for unlimited features. The paid plans are as follows:
4. When I Work
Source: https://wheniwork.com/Caption: When I Work combines its time tracking tools with a handy team messengerTop featuresWhen I Work shares Homebase’s built-in messenger tool. That means you can oversee hours and chat with employees about late arrivals or no arrivals in the same place. If you’re busy arranging cover or confused over hours, this can simplify matters and reduce some stress. Pros and consOne pro of When I Work is their generous admin limit. If you need to delegate time tracking tasks to other managers, you can add up to three to each account. But one con is the lack of phone support. Most small businesses need help with set-up and technical issues and these may be more challenging if you have to rely on chat and email. That’s especially true for small teams that can’t dedicate much time to fixing IT problems. PricingWhen I Work has two paid plans at $4 and $8 per user per month. But the only difference for the time clock feature is that the higher cost plan has custom attendance reports. 5. Deputy
Source: https://www.deputy.com/features/employee-time-clockCaption: Deputy’s task management tools let you check productivity as well as attendance
Top featuresIn some industries, you may lose money due to low productivity as well as time theft. For instance, your cleaning or construction crew may take longer than necessary to finish a job. Deputy’s task management feature lets you track attendance and output with its combined task management and time clock tools. All you have to do is assign a checklist to each employee and you receive a notification once they’ve finished. Pros and consAlthough Deputy mostly focuses on scheduling and time tracking, it boasts a wide range of integrations. So, users are more likely to find the payroll integration that suits their needs from the selection. One problem is that Deputy isn’t user-friendly. Customers say there’s a steep learning curve and complex features which isn’t ideal for busy managers with no spare time to learn new tech. PricingDeputy charges $3.50 per user per month for the plan with its time tracking features but you can test them for free in its 31-day trial. You have to pay extra for scheduling tools. 6. Fourth (formerly HotSchedules)
Source: https://www.g2.com/products/hotschedules/reviewsCaption: Fourth lets you keep detailed track of staff to prevent labor budget and compliance issuesTop featuresKeeping track of hours and rates for tipped staff can be challenging. But if you don’t stay on top of it, you may end up accidentally paying staff below minimum wage and incurring fines. Fourth’s compliance tools help you monitor tips and stay compliant. Pros and consFourth is one of the few platforms on our list with built-in payroll. That means you can move seamlessly between time tracking and paying your staff instead of changing apps. The downside is Fourth only integrates with its own payroll tool. If you’re happy with your current accounting software, this means unnecessarily overhauling your system. PricingFourth’s prices are not readily available. 7. Quickbooks Time (formerly TSheets)
Source: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/kiosk/Caption: Quickbooks Time’s tracking and management tools make it easy to track offsite progressTop featuresSimilar to Connecteam, Quickbooks has a mobile workforce tracking system. Users can receive updates about their teams’ locations throughout the day alongside photos and task updates. That makes it ideal for managers who want a clear picture of their remote workers’ progress. Pros and consThe combination of Quickbooks’ tracking and task management tools makes it a good pick for traveling construction and repair crews. Managers get a clear picture of how each job is progressing and how many hours their teams are working even if they move between several sites in a day. But the pricing may deter some users. Quickbooks charge per location and employee which makes it less cost-effective than other time tracking apps. PricingQuickbooks Time has two paid plans:
There’s also the option for a 30-day trial to test all the features. 8. Time Doctor
Source:https://www.timedoctor.com/employee-time-trackingCaption: Time Doctor lets you screen capture your employees’ work as well as track their hoursTop featuresWhen employees use a computer for work, it’s easy to develop a bad habit of checking social media or other time-wasting websites. Time Doctor helps your team stay productive and reduces time theft by monitoring website usage and taking sporadic screenshots. But the app doesn’t track anything during breaks or outside of company time to protect your team’s privacy. Pros and consThe upside of Time Doctor is the range of integrations. There are over 70 apps for everything from task management to accounting and communication. But the downside is Time Doctor focuses on office-based work so it may not be suitable for businesses with employees on their feet. For example, if you run a shop, restaurant, or salon, you may find you’re paying for a lot of unnecessary tools or using a system that’s too complex for your needs. PricingThere are three monthly paid plans:
Time Doctor also offers a free trial for 14 days. 9. Clockify
Source: https://clockify.me/feature-list#features-time-trackerCaption: Clockify’s time tracking helps you calculate how much to pay staff and how much to bill clientsTop featuresWhen you provide a service, you don’t want to bill the client for admin tasks and staff meetings. Clockify lets you differentiate between billable and nonbillable hours easily so you know exactly how much to charge clients. That makes Clockify a great option for graphic design and marketing teams. Pros and consLike Homebase, Clockify has a versatile free plan which includes time tracking, timesheets, and a mobile app for employees. But like Time Doctor, Clockify targets office-based work and isn’t the best option for restaurants, shops, and similar businesses. That’s because if you need to grow as your business needs change, you’ll probably end up paying for unnecessary add-ons. PricingAside from its free account, Clockify has four monthly paid plans:
10. ClockShark
Source: https://www.clockshark.com/tour/employee-time-tracking-appCaption: ClockShark lets you write questions for staff to answer when they clock out from their shiftsTop featuresOne interesting feature of ClockShark is its custom clock-out questions. Admins can write questions for employees to answer at the end of each shift and receive a notification when there’s an unexpected answer. For instance, you could ask how many staff are on shift to check for no-shows or check essential stock levels to make sure you’re not running low. Pros and consClockShark users report the software is intuitive and easy to navigate. That’s essential for busy managers who don’t have time to learn and manage new software. But compared to other software, ClockShark has a high starting price. It also charges per employee on top of the base rate which means the more employees you hire, the greater your costs. PricingClock Shark has two paid monthly plans:
You can also test their features with a 14-day free trial. How to buy time clock softwareNow you have more information about the best time clocks on the market, you need to know how to select the right one and how to implement it. Here’s our step-by-step guide:
Common pitfalls to avoid when buying time clock softwareWhile you’re choosing your new time clock, a lot can go wrong. Here are some common problems for you to be aware of:
Why Homebase is the best time clock for small businessesTime clocks can protect your profit margins by recording hours more accurately. That’s why it’s important to find software that lets you pay for exactly what you need so you don’t end up overspending. If you’re in certain industries, that might be Quickbooks Time or Clockify. Traveling workers like repairmen and delivery crews may benefit from Quickbooks’ GPS location tracking system. Whereas Clockify helps managers at office locations keep check of their employees’ productivity levels. But when you’re looking for robust, all-around software that covers all your needs, the best time clock for small businesses is Homebase. The free account with flexibly priced upgrades makes it an affordable option for very small and growing teams. There’s also a range of versatile time tracking tools to assist you with tasks from creating virtual fences for off-site work to reminding employees to clock in. With their help, you can track time easily and accurately without adding tasks to your workload or paying out of pocket. ReferencesThe post The 10 best time clocks for small businesses in 2023 appeared first on Homebase. via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/best-time-clocks-for-smbs/ Geofencing time clocks are time clocks — but better — and can save you time and money. Geofencing uses GPS (or similar) so that employees can only check in and check out when they’re physically in the right location at the right time. This means that they let you keep track of staff even if you’re remote, or have a large workforce in several locations. You can see how many people are on-site, prevent time theft (where employees check in even if they haven’t arrived), and accurately calculate pay based on hours. But choosing the right tool can be a mission. There are a ton of options out there, each have different features, and some come with other tools that you may or may not need. Comparing and contrasting them can feel like a full-time job in itself. We know you just want to find the right tool that does what you need and get back to work. So that’s why in this post, we’re covering:
Key features to look for in geofencing time clocksWe recommend looking for the following features when choosing a geofencing time clock tool for your business.
Our top pick for geofencing time clocks in 2023 (+ the rest ranked)With its comprehensive set of features designed for small businesses and hourly staff, we believe that Homebase is one of the best geofencing time clock tools out there. It offers geofencing and has an all-in-one dashboard to manage other tasks like payroll, PTO, scheduling, HR and compliance, onboarding and hiring, and team happiness. But no tool is perfect, and there are others available that could work better for your business, depending on what you need. Let’s take a look.
Comparison chart: Top 10 geofencing time clock apps in 2023
A breakdown of the 10 best geofencing time clocks1. Best all-in-one solution: Homebase
Source: JoinHomebase.comCaption: Homebase’s geofencing tracking tool works on almost all mobile devicesHomebase is an all-in-one team management and communication system that includes a geofencing time clock as just one of its tools to make time clocking, tracking, and payroll easier. Compatible with almost any mobile device, the time clock uses GPS. It also sends automated alerts and messages to help confirm that staff are where they need to be, make sure no one forgets to clock out, and help managers avoid costly or illegal overtime. It also integrates with payroll for super-streamlined payments and more accurate hourly time tracking. Top features
Pros and consThe geofencing time clock tool integrates seamlessly into a wider suite of useful tools. Users say that it’s easy for employees to use “every day”, with a “clean design” and functions that are “comparable to much more expensive software.” However, it may offer more tools that you need if you are looking for a simple time clock only. Pricing
2. Best for restaurants: 7shifts
Source: 7shifts.comCaption: 7Shifts uses a wide range of tools to ensure accurate geofencing7shifts offers a range of powerful tools, and is designed for hourly employees in the restaurant industry. Its mobile time-clocking capability is included in the “schedule” part of its platform and aims to make labor compliance and scheduling easier, all while reducing the risk of time theft and pay errors. Top features
Pros and consIt offers a wide range of powerful tools for team management, and users praise the “ease of use” and “streamlined reporting”, and particularly like its communication tools. However, it was created for the restaurant sector, so may not be the best choice for other industries. Pricing
7shifts also offers a free 14-day trial. 3. Best for simplicity: When I Work
Source: WhenIwork.comCaption: When I Work has simple team communication tools to help manage hours and PTOWhen I Work lets employees track time with any device, and manages when employees can or can’t take on new shifts. It lets them request PTO, tracks shift data, and automates alerts. For managers, it helps you to use timesheets to run payroll, via integrations with popular payroll providers. Top features
Pros and consWhen I Work is simple, with a few straightforward features that work well. Reviewers say that it’s “easy to navigate” with a “simple and elegant” design, “agility”, and the ability to give staff access to their work schedule and rules in the “palm of their hand.” In contrast, it does not offer as many features as some all-in-one tools — for example, payroll can only be done via an integrated, separate tool. Pricing
4. Best for ease of use: Deputy
Source: Deputy.comCaption: Deputy has a color-coded, bright interface that helps make it easy to useDeputy’s time clock app aims to make payroll as accurate as possible, and also helps employers make sure that only staff who are scheduled to work do so. Its color-coded interface makes tracking time easy, and it uses both GPS and facial verification to ensure location-accurate punching in. Top features
Pros and consIt includes a range of innovative features like touchless clock-ins, and is intuitive to use. Customers especially like “the straightforwardness of the application” and “how easy it is to navigate”, plus its ease in handling “multiple location options.” However, to access all tools including time clocking you need to be on the more expensive plans. Pricing
Deputy also offers a free 31-day trial. 5. Best for payroll integration: Quickbooks Time (Tsheets)
Source: Quickbooks.intuit.com/Caption: Quickbooks Time uses GPS as part of its geofencing time clock toolsFrom the payroll and invoicing company of the same name, Quickbooks Time (formerly known as Tsheets) lets managers track time accurately. It aims to make payroll painless and includes dashboards designed to show who’s working and when at a glance. It also prioritizes accurate reporting. Top features
Pros and consA major pro is that it syncs with Quickbooks’ existing powerful software and includes many must-have features. Users say that it’s “convenient and easy to use”, with extra useful features like “the ability to add notes when you clock in to easily track projects,” and keeps “all of our timekeeping needs in one app.” However, it’s not ideal if you don’t use or need the rest of Quickbooks’ software. Pricing
6. Best for multiple-location businesses: Sling
Source: Getsling.comCaption: Sling’s time clock tool works on nearly any smartphoneSling’s time clock tool is part of a wider suite of features that also includes task management, labor cost monitoring, labor compliance, and team communication. It also helps you manage multiple work locations with ease and lets you track and optimize labor costs. Top features
Pros and consSling is designed for all types of industries that rely on hourly teams. Many users said that they like how it syncs instantly between devices, and “increases efficiency.” On the downside, you need to upgrade to Premium for mobile time tracking. Plus, some users say the app has “glitches”, and others say that they have found the platform to be slow. Pricing
7. Best for construction businesses: ExakTime
Source: Exaktime.comCaption: ExakTime lets employees use their phone to check-in, or an on-site device designed for construction environmentsExakTime is a cloud-based time clock that’s designed specifically for construction businesses and busy workers who are constantly on the move. It works whether you have one site or many more, and is intended primarily to help companies manage labor costs and track attendance while in a hectic environment. Top features
Pros and consExakTime has a super-simple interface designed to be used in busy, fast-paced environments. Users say that the “GPS is helpful” and that the payroll feature is reliable, “user-friendly, and efficient.” In contrast, it’s designed primarily for the construction industry, so may not be ideal for other workplaces. Pricing
8. Best for mobile teams: Timesheet Mobile
Source: Timesheetmobile.com/Caption: Timesheet Mobile sends alerts to staff when they’re leaving a work locationAs its name suggests, Timesheet Mobile is designed especially for the mobile workforce, and offers geofencing time tracking along with scheduling, timesheets and reports, team messaging, and alerts. It also lets employees manage PTO and sick days, and offers task management checklists to make shifts more efficient. Top features
Pros and consTimesheet Mobile includes EU working time compliance laws, so a good option for Europe-based businesses. Customers also praise how it lets employees “track working hours remotely, which means anytime and anywhere”, more efficiently than other timesheet tools, while others particularly like the live chat support. However, it’s primarily designed for mobile workforces, so it may not work if your business is more ‘on-site’. PricingTimesheet Mobile calculates its pricing depending on the number of employees that use it, and whether they clock in and out multiple times a day. For example, for 10 employees:
After three months, Basics rises to $3.49 per employee for unlimited punches + $14.99 company subscription. Per Punch rises to 15 cents per punch + $29.99 company subscription. Small Business rises to $9.95 per employee for unlimited punches + $29.99 company subscription. Medium Business rises to $2.49 per employee for unlimited punches + $149 company subscription. 9. Best for time-saving automation: Buddy Punch
Source: Buddypunch.comCaption: Buddy Punch makes it easy to create accurate time cards for each employeeBuddy Punch aims to simplify tracking, no matter where staff are working. Its automation saves hours of work in reviewing, checking, and verifying employee timesheets before processing payroll. It also aims to create accurate reports and sheets via digital punching in and out. Top features
Pros and consBuddy Punch is simple and easy to use, with photos and color-coded dashboards. Customers like “how quick it is to punch in and punch out”, its ability to “allow remote check-ins”, and how easy to navigate it is. On the downside, it requires extra software Buddy Punch Payroll if you want to run payroll on the same platform. Pricing
Buddy Punch also offers a free trial. 10. Best for larger companies: Hubstaff
Source: Hubstaff.comCaption: Hubstaff has a wide range of tools and provides detailed data reportingHubstaff is a powerful employee and workforce management platform, which includes time tracking as part of its toolset. It uses GPS for mobile geofencing, as well as employee monitoring functions like screenshots and photos. It also has payroll, invoicing, and scheduling tools. Top features
Pros and consHubstaff is a fully-fledged, powerful platform for larger companies. Users say they like how it saves time compared to manual time tracking, and how it improves the “efficiency of the work team”. However, it may offer more tools than you need, depending on your company size and requirements. Pricing
Hubstaff also offers a 14-day free trial. What to consider when buying geofencing time clock softwareThere’s no such thing as a single “best” platform: it all depends on what you need. Here’s what to think about when buying geofencing time clock software, to make sure it’s right for your team.
Common pitfalls to avoid when using geofencing time clock softwareEven the best software might fall short if it’s not being used correctly. Here are some pitfalls to avoid, so you can get your platform running optimally.
Geofencing time clocks: Location is just the startGeofencing time clocks are a must for any business owner who needs to keep track of staff remotely, or wants to make sure that the hourly-paid wages employees receive are as accurate as possible. Geofencing ensures that staff are where they say they are, avoids costly and illegal overtime, and saves you major time and stress translating hours on the ground into accurate wages (including tips, PTO, and breaks). With so many moving parts, it makes sense to use a digital, geofencing time clock to streamline the process — rather than trying to do everything manually, or using a complicated stack of separate tools. When looking for a geofencing time clock, you likely want to consider key features including reliable geofencing technology, integration with payroll tools, real-time monitoring, a mobile app, and insightful reporting capabilities. Homebase specializes in offering a geofencing time clock that not only tracks accurately and integrates with payroll (and for free too!), but also connects easily with a suite of other functions that small businesses need to thrive. These include team communication, scheduling, hiring, HR, and team happiness. So you can time clock with ease, calculate pay accurately, and save time and money on overtime and manual scheduling too — all within the same platform. References**The information above is based on our research on geofencing time clock tools. All user feedback referenced in the text has been sourced from independent software review platforms, such as G2 and Capterra, in February 2023. The post 10 best geofencing time clocks in 2023 appeared first on Homebase. via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/best-geofencing-time-clock/ Payroll takes a lot of time and energy out of small business employers. As anyone who regularly runs payroll will tell you, it’s not a simple matter of paying employees a check for the same amount every week or two. You have to make sure you take overtime, breaks, and tips into account so you don’t upset team members. And you need to stay on top of taxes and compliance to avoid getting fined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for late or insufficient payments. That’s why it’s not surprising that many businesses use small business payroll software to help streamline their processes and make sure they’re error-free. We’ve created this guide to help you understand the top features and pros and cons of the best payroll tools available in 2023.** Plus, we give you tips on how to buy small business payroll software and the pitfalls to avoid. That way, you can start running payroll safely in the knowledge that you’ll stay on the right side of your employees — and the law. Key features to look for in small business payroll softwareChoosing a payroll software solution can be overwhelming. But depending on the provider you select, the platform can take you from the beginning to the end of the payroll process — from the moment employees fill out and e-sign their tax documents to when you have to file payments and reports. So, let’s take a look at some elements you should prioritize while making the best choice for your business:
Our top pick for small business payroll software in 2023 (+ the rest ranked)Homebase is our top recommendation for small business owners who want to simplify payroll in 2023 — and integrate it with their other staff management tasks. Why? We offer:
And unlike many other tools we’ve included on this list, our pricing is transparent, so you can easily compare our paid plans before you make your decision. But Homebase isn’t the only payroll software solution out there. Here are the rest of our best picks for 2023:
Comparison chart: Top 10 small business payroll software in 2023
A breakdown of the 10 best small business payroll softwareNow you’ve seen a side-by-side comparison of the top payroll providers for small businesses, let’s look at each one in more detail to see what makes them stand out. 1. Best all-in-one solution: Homebase
Source: https://joinhomebase.com/payroll/Caption: Homebase automates your payroll process so you can pay team members quickly and easily.Top features
Pros and consUnlike many other payroll tools on this list, Homebase’s free plan includes an unlimited number of employees. And while you have to pay most platforms for services like scheduling and time clocks, Homebase offers scheduling, time tracking, messaging, and hiring tools without having to upgrade. Homebase is also an all-in-one solution, which makes it perfect for small business owners who want to access all the tools they need in one place — and don’t have the budget for multiple platforms. And both managers and employees will love the fact that they can access almost all of Homebase’s features on the mobile app, too. However, Homebase doesn’t offer features for performance management or training and development. So if that’s what you’re interested in, it might not be the right fit for you. PricingHomebase offers:
You can add payroll onto any of those plans for $39/month and $6/month per active employee. 2. Best for fast payroll processing: Run Powered by ADP
Source: https://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/products/run-powered-by-adp.aspxCaption: Run Powered by ADP helps small businesses schedule payroll and calculate and file taxes.Top features
Pros and consUsers find the feature to easily track and change employee addresses and direct deposit data very handy. Plus, it requests additional data that helps you maintain compliance and stay on top of taxes. However, its performance management and benefits mean it’s more suitable for companies with salaried employees, like accountancy firms, rather than agile teams in the restaurant or retail industries that employ hourly workers. Additionally, you have to switch to an ADP Workforce plan if you want to access ADP RUN’s features on its dedicated ADP RUN mobile app. PricingPricing information isn’t readily available on ADP’s website, but users say the Essentials plan starts at $79/month plus $4 per employee. 3. Best for direct deposits: QuickBooks Payroll
Source: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/accountants/products-solutions/payroll/Caption: QuickBooks Payroll lets you streamline your accounting, payroll, and HR workflows.Top features
Pros and consQuickBooks Payroll is an intuitive platform that lets you process payroll quickly and easily, even if you don’t have any accounting experience. The tool is regularly updated to comply with federal and state payroll tax laws, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. It also offers multiple payment options, including direct deposit, paper checks, and pay cards, making it easy for businesses to pay their employees. However, QuickBooks can be expensive, especially if companies need to upgrade to a higher plan as they grow. Another potential issue is the limited functionality of the mobile app, which may be inconvenient if users want to access payroll information on the go. PricingQuickBooks plans include:
4. Best for accounting firms: Gusto
Source: https://gusto.com/Caption: Gusto is a payroll, benefits, and HR management software solution that helps you automate payments and file taxes.Top features
Pros and consGusto is ideal for small business owners in the accounting and personal finance industries since it offers benefits like revenue sharing, client discounts, and continuing professional education (CPE) credits. Another Gusto benefit is the Gusto Wallet app for employees, which lets them access, track, budget, and spend their paychecks. However, one drawback of choosing Gusto is that your costs will increase as you hire more staff. So, if your business has the potential to grow quickly, it might not be the best choice for you. PricingHere are Gusto’s plan options:
Businesses with more than 25 employees can contact Gusto’s sales team for a custom Premium plan quote. 5. Best value for money: Square Payroll
Source: https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6083-set-up-automatic-payrollCaption: With Square Payroll, you can run payroll, manage employee benefits, file payroll taxes automatically, and understand how your labor costs change over time.Top features
Pros and consSquare’s affordable, flat-rate pricing makes it great value and affordable for small businesses. Its payroll tool is easy to use and has time-saving features like automatic tax filing and compliance. It also integrates with Square POS so you can streamline data entry and reduce the chance of errors. However, Square has fewer customization options than some other payroll systems, and it doesn’t have HR features like performance management or benefits administration. So, while it’s a solid option for small businesses that require basic payroll management services, it may not be the best fit for those with more complex payroll needs. Pricing
6. Best for CPAs and bookkeepers: Patriot
Source: https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/Caption: Patriot is an accounting and payroll platform with functions for accounting, payroll, time and attendance, and self-service HR management.Top features
Pros and consPatriot is easy to navigate, even for users with little payroll management experience. It’s also competitively priced, which makes it a good option for small businesses. Even better, it offers customization options that let users tailor the system to their needs and provides excellent customer service support via phone, email, or live chat. However, Patriot Payroll has limited integrations with other software tools, which might be a disadvantage for businesses that need it to fit with the rest of their systems. Additionally, it doesn’t offer HR features and only lets users pay workers through automated clearing house (ACH) or direct deposit, which could be inconvenient for those that use other payment methods. PricingPatriot’s pricing plans include:
7. Best simple solution: Xero Payroll
Source: https://www.xero.com/my/accounting-software/payroll/Caption: Use Xero’s integrated Pay Run feature to pay employees, run pay reports, and manage basic staff information.Top features
Pros and consXero Payroll is ideal for small businesses who already use Xero as their accounting software as there’s no additional cost for using their payroll features. This is especially useful for growing companies that would otherwise have to pay an extra fee for each new team member. It’s also an easy-to-use tool that requires minimal training and setup. However, for more sophisticated payroll functionality, it’s better to integrate with another platform like OnPay or Gusto to take advantage of more advanced features. Additionally, its reporting could also be more visual and in the form of graphs and charts to make it easier to understand. PricingXero’s pricing plans all include free payroll software:
8. Best one-size-fits-all pricing plan: OnPay
Source: https://onpay.com/payroll/softwareCaption: OnPay handles day-to-day payroll processes quickly and easily.Top features
Pros and consOnPay is easy to use and offers excellent help center support. It also saves businesses time since employees create their own personal profiles within the tool, which they can then use to access their own tax documents and paystubs. And its specialized payroll services for companies like restaurants, farms, nonprofits, and churches make it ideal for organizations in those sectors. However, the lack of built-in time tracking means OnPay users need to integrate with another platform, which might deter those who want to stick with a simple solution. PricingOnPay offers a single paid plan with the same monthly fee of $40 (plus $6 PEPM) for all business sizes. 9. Best for tax calculations: Paychex
Source: https://www.paychex.com/Caption: Paychex lets you choose your payroll plan based on your company sizeTop features
Pros and consThe Paychex platform and customer support features make business owners’ lives easier since, in addition to self-service tools, it provides analytics on what employees use the app for most frequently. Paychex also offers a number of pricing packages, but it bundles HR, payroll, and time and attendance features separately, making it hard to work out the true cost of each tool. For small business owners who employ hourly teams or offsite workers on the move, the platform could do with more scheduling and communication tools. Pricing
10. Best for integrations: Rippling
Source: https://www.rippling.com/payrollCaption: Rippling syncs all your HR data with payroll so you don’t have to manually enter data like hours or deductions.Top features
Pros and consRippling gives businesses a single space to manage all aspects of HR, IT, and finance, which helps prevent knowledge silos and miscommunication between departments. Its ability to pay employees in their local currency (following applicable compliance laws) is great for remote teams dispersed across the globe. Plus, the platform is very fast — it only takes 90 seconds to generate payroll. However, it’s not the cheapest solution on the market, and there’s no free trial, so customers don’t get the chance to try it out before making a final decision. It can also take a while to set up all the automation wizards, although they’re very useful and speed things up once you have them installed. PricingRippling’s pricing starts at $8 per user per month, but you’ll have to contact the sales team to get a custom quote based on the services you need. How to buy small business payroll softwareNow that you’ve read our breakdown of popular platforms for small business payroll, we hope you’re closer to making your decision. Here are a few other considerations to keep in mind. Determine your business’s payroll needsThis includes factors like the number of employees you have and where they’re located. If you have fewer than 20 staff members in just one state, you’ll have more options to choose from than if you have a bigger team spread across the US (or even worldwide). It’s also a good idea to think about whether you need to track employee hours and convert them into wages and timesheets or mainly work with salaried staff members. Research and compare available optionsUse the comparison table above to help you weigh up some of the best options on the market. For instance, not all payroll platforms have features like messaging or mobile apps for all users, which might be important factors for you. Consider the cost and pricing optionsThink about what your budget for a payroll tool is. Not all payroll software solutions have free plans available, and the more employees you have, the higher your monthly cost will be in most cases. If you have a dedicated team member responsible for payroll, you might only need a simple tool to help them work more efficiently. But if you’re wearing a lot of hats and doing payroll alongside other tasks (like the day-to-day management of your store), you might want a more advanced platform that makes your life as easy as possible. Evaluate customer support and security measuresNot all tools offer 24/7 customer assistance. If you’re a technical or accounting whiz, this might not matter. But having access to great customer support will improve your confidence as you set up, automate, and run your payroll processes. Security-wise, you want an absolutely water-tight system that keeps your employee data and bank details safe. Common pitfalls to avoid when using small business payroll softwareAs anyone who has processed payroll before can tell you, there are several unseen pitfalls you need to be aware of. To make sure your bases are covered when you’re working with a new payroll solution, keep the following potential errors in mind:
How Homebase takes the pain out of payrollRunning payroll can be a pain for small businesses, especially when you have a dozen other things to do — from managing staff to keeping customers happy and thinking about how you can grow sustainably. It’s no wonder small businesses look for payroll software to lend a helping hand. We’ve had a look at the ten best small business payroll software available in 2023 and found that Run by ADP is the standout choice for fast payroll options, while Gusto is best for accounting firms. For employee turnover, we recommend Xero Payroll. And Quickbooks is great for direct deposits. But for small business owners, Homebase is our number one pick. As well as offering a free plan, it’s easy to set up and use. Plus, our scheduling, time tracking, team communication, and hiring tools interact seamlessly with our payroll product, giving you an all-in-one team management solution that truly makes your life easier. With Homebase payroll, you can let us do the heavy lifting of figuring out payments, overtime, taxes, and compliance, which gives you back the time you need to focus on what really matters. **The information above is based on our research on small business payroll software. All user feedback referenced in the text has been sourced from independent software review platforms, such as G2 and Capterra, in March 2023. The post 10 best small business payroll software in 2023 appeared first on Homebase. via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/best-smb-payroll-software/ As a small business owner, you need staff to reliably show up ready to work their scheduled shifts. But what happens when people start getting in late, missing shifts, or frequently requesting days off? That’s when having an employee attendance policy comes in handy. Attendance policies are tools that help you educate your team about what you consider a one-off absence or absenteeism, which means frequently missing work for unjustified reasons. They should also include information about all your internal processes and leave policies so everyone is clear about expectations. Employee attendance touches almost every aspect of your business. That’s why it’s important to have an all-in-one HR platform like Homebase to help you simplify time tracking, scheduling, payroll, and employee performance. Plus, our platform can store your internal policies and make them easily accessible for team members. So, let’s explore everything you should include in your policy. What is an employee attendance policy?An employee attendance policy is a document that contains a set of guidelines, policies, processes, and consequences regarding work attendance. Usually, it outlines business expectations for scheduling, punctuality, and leave requests. Team members should have access to this policy as soon as they join so they know how to manage days off, absences, or tardiness. And small business employee attendance policies can be divided into sections that:
Pro tip: Create, update, share, and reference your employee attendance policy frequently to encourage your team to follow workplace rules. Why are employee attendance policies important for small businesses?Small businesses need employee attendance policies — and not only because they foster accountability. They also:
Where do small businesses usually store employee attendance policies?Many small businesses store these kinds of policies in a big binder with a label on the cover that says: The Employee Handbook. But having a physical copy is inconvenient, hard to update, and easy to misplace or damage. A cloud-based employee handbook is a much better alternative. If you choose to use Homebase to track employee attendance, you’ll get access to HR and compliance experts who can review your policies and procedures to ensure you’re abiding by the regulations that apply to you. Plus, Homebase simplifies hiring and onboarding. Once you welcome a new employee, they’ll automatically get a welcome packet with everything they need to know to succeed in their position, including:
You can then access all signed employee documents within your Homebase account — and feel at ease knowing they’re safely stored. 
Source: https://joinhomebase.com/hr-compliance/Caption: Digitize your paperwork. Use Homebase to keep all your employee documents in the same place.The key components of an employee attendance policyEmployee attendance policies are detailed documents that explain all attendance-related matters. To create one that’s comprehensive and easy for employees to navigate, use these components as a template:
1. Absence tracking and documentationThe first act of every movie sets the rules of the world you’re about to explore. So, the first part of your employee attendance policy should explain the rules of your business. Define your attendance expectations, explain the meaning of absence without official leave (AWOL), and state the intention and scope of the document. Within this section, you should also cover how you’ll measure employee performance, as well as the potential consequences if people fail to comply. Overall, the document should invite them to find, read, and follow processes to avoid having a poor attendance record. It’s important that you build processes for every leave-related action. We all have unconscious biases and might end up being more relaxed with certain employees over others, depending on our relationship with them. So, tracking absences in a documented and standardized way reduces the chances of making gut decisions and ensures you treat people fairly and equitably. And an automated system can save the time you’d otherwise have to spend transcribing attendance records, which reduces human error and eliminates the possibility of losing or deleting files. We recommend using a solution like Homebase so employees can track their clock ins and outs — including breaks — and attendance from any smart device using a secure PIN code. That way, their hours will be securely recorded in a dashboard that supervisors can approve or edit directly from the app. They can then use that information to pay their team directly through Homebase or a built-in payroll integration. 
Source: https://app.joinhomebase.com/daily_rosterCaption: Use a secure time clock app and keep digital attendance records with Homebase.2. Leave policiesHere’s where you explain all the different leave policies, what each type entails, and how to request days off. This section should link out to relevant documents and include information regarding:
3. Schedules, shift changes, and overtimeUse this section to share expectations and regulations regarding schedules, overtime, and shift adjustments. For example, list the number of hours full-time and part-time employees are expected to work and how much overtime they’re allowed to do.
Source: https://joinhomebase.com/employee-scheduling/Caption: Schedule shifts and review who’s working each day for free on the Homebase app.4. Communication and policy enforcementThis section is mostly aimed at supervisors and managers as it usually outlines:
To encourage people to follow the rules, remind team members about your policy regularly. For instance, when you hire someone new, they’re probably expected to read and learn a bunch of new processes in a short period of time — and that can be overwhelming. So, you can’t assume a new employee will remember everything you mentioned or taught them during the first week. When management frequently refers back to their attendance policy, they also:
If you use an all-in-one HR platform like Homebase, the team communication app lets you shout individuals out for being attendance policy champions. And such reminders and acknowledgments encourage others to emulate the same behavior. 
Source: https://joinhomebase.com/team-communication/Caption: Celebrate team wins and reinforce business expectations and values with the Homebase team communication app.5. Accommodations and exceptionsBe sure to outline the need for accommodations for employees with specific requirements in your attendance policy. For example, let’s say you hire a person with a disability that needs to do physical therapy every day at 12:00 pm, but your afternoon shift starts at noon. You could allow them to start their shifts at 2pm instead. You might also need to make accommodations for people due to religious beliefs or medical conditions. Explain how they should request those adjustments and the processes that managers should use to approve them in an unbiased way. And if you find yourself having to make the same type of accommodations over and over again, add it as an attendance policy exception. Then, include an established process for requesting each one. Some other exceptions that you might need to account for are:
6. Procedure for reviews, feedback, and updatesThe employee attendance policy is a living document — it isn’t a one-off task you can simply cross off of your to-do list. Instead, come up with a process to ensure you view and update it regularly based on employee feedback, lessons learned, and new regulations. The moment your policies feel outdated and stop reflecting reality, people will stop paying attention to them. For example, if your leave policy says staff need to request vacation days one month in advance, but in reality, you need two months to organize your rosters and find replacements, you should adjust your policy. Should you have an employee attendance policy?Even small businesses need employee attendance policies in place to ensure they monitor staff performance in a fair and well-documented manner. And creating a document that outlines all of your business policies regarding punctuality, schedules, and leave is easier than you think. At least if you’re using Homebase. An all-in-one tool like Homebase connects you with a team of HR experts who can give you advice on your employee attendance policy and share examples you can take inspiration from. Then, you can host your finished document within a digital employee handbook and use the same app to track your team’s hours, schedule shifts, pay their salaries, and chat with them. The post A guide to creating an employee attendance policy for your small business appeared first on Homebase. via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/employee-attendance-policy/ If you have employee shifts to manage, you know you need a robust schedule maker. Digital platforms save time, reduce errors, and enable you to schedule many employees at once. Plus, some even integrate with other core functions like time tracking, communication, payroll, and compliance, making scheduling more accurate and staff coordination simple. But with so many schedulers out there, it can be complicated and time-consuming to know which will work best for your business. Comparing their features, pricing, and strengths — and even knowing what to look for — can be a full-time job in itself. So we’ve done the hard work for you. In this post, we cover:
Key features to look for in shift schedule makersWe recommend looking for the following features when choosing a shift schedule maker for your business.
Our top shift schedule maker pick in 2023 (+ the best of the rest)Of course, we’re biased, but we believe Homebase is one of the best shift schedulers out there because it offers an all-in-one dashboard that lets you manage scheduling as well as time tracking, availability, and team communication. But no tool is exactly right for everyone, and there are others available that could work better for your business, depending on what you need. Let’s take a look.
Comparison chart: Top 10 shift schedule makers in 2023
A breakdown of the 10 best shift schedule makers1. Best all-in-one solution: Homebase |
| Software | Time tracking | Employee scheduling | Hiring and onboarding | Payroll | Labor compliance | Team communication | Mobile app | Free plan | Pricing |
 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Plans range from free to $100 per location per month
Homebase payroll costs $39/month base fee and $6/month per active employee |
 |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | Pricing not readily available |
 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Pricing not readily available |
 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Plans start at $10
per employee per month |
 |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | Plans start at $40 per month plus $6 per employee |
 |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ -- onboarding only | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Plans start at $5 per month per employee |
 |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Essentials plan is free for teams with up to 50 employees. Then plans start at $3 per user
per month |
 |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | Pricing starts at $8 per user per month |
 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ -- onboarding only | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ -- for up to 10 users | Plans are free for businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Then, plans range from $35 to $119 per month |
 |
✗ | ✗ | ✓ -- onboarding only | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Plans start at $49 per month and can exceed $599 per month |
A breakdown of the 10 best small business HR software solutions
1. Best all-in-one solution: Homebase
Source: https://demo1.joinhomebase.com/schedule_builder#week/employee/2/23/2023
Caption: Homebase’s advanced scheduling tool makes it easy to see exactly who’s working (and who can’t work) each day.
Top features
If you want to keep all your HR processes under the same roof, turn to Homebase.
A big differentiating factor for Homebase is its HR and compliance feature. The tool helps you organize all your team information in one safe place, set custom PTO policies, and accurately track and report employee hours so you can ensure you’re following local, state, and federal guidelines.
Plus, you get access to a team of expert HR advisors who can help answer your questions and guide you through compliance. Some of Homebase’s other key features include:
Homebase also helps you promote employee happiness by giving your team early access to their wages, tracking performance metrics, and collecting feedback so you can make your business a better place to work.
Pros and cons
One of the big pros for Homebase is that it offers a robust free plan with time and attendance tracking, time clocks, scheduling, job posts, applicant tracking, and an employee app.
And as we mentioned, Homebase offers live HR guidance so you never have to feel lost or confused about compliance issues. We’ll even notify you when laws change at the state or federal level, so you can be sure you’re always following regulations.
However, Homebase doesn’t offer the robust performance management or learning and development tools that some other platforms do, which is important to keep in mind if those features are essential to you.
Pricing
Homebase offers a free plan that comes with unlimited employees. Paid plans include:
- The Essentials plan, which starts at $24.95 per location per month. It provides more features for team announcements and employee performance tracking.
- The Plus plan, which starts at $59.95 per location per month. It gives you more tools to track labor costs, budgeting, and employee PTO.
- The All-In-One plan, which starts at $99.95 per location per month. It has more features for new hire onboarding and employee document storage, as well as more robust HR and compliance options, including access to in-person HR experts.
You can also add payroll to any plan for $39 per month and $6 per person per month.
2. Best for hiring and onboarding: BambooHR
Source: https://www.bamboohr.com/hr-software/employee-self-onboarding/
Caption: BambooHR makes it easy for new team members to introduce themselves and feel integrated with their coworkers.
Top features
BambooHR comes with numerous useful features, like time tracking, PTO management, benefits administration, and payroll. But where they really shine is their hiring, onboarding, and offboarding features.
The tool has a built-in applicant tracking system (ATS), a mobile hiring app, and comprehensive new-hire onboarding features like customizable templates and tasks. You also get digital signature capabilities and offboarding tools that make things easier when team members leave you.
Pros and cons
Customers state that BambooHR is incredibly user-friendly, allowing you to get up and running in a short period of time. The hiring and onboarding features also make it easy for business owners who have to hire a number of employees in a short period of time.
But some users say that some features, like the ATS and performance management tool, are still pretty basic.1 And other users complain about the limitations of the tool’s reporting feature.2
Pricing
You can’t find any transparent pricing on the BambooHR website, but review sites say the Essentials package starts at around $6 per employee, and the Advantage plan starts at around $8 per employee. The platform also offers add-ons for features like payroll, time tracking, and performance management.
3. Best for payroll: Paylocity
Source: https://www.paylocity.com/our-products/payroll/
Caption: Paylocity makes expense management easier, lets you offer employees early access to earned wages, and makes it easy to pay team members in other countries.
Top features
Paylocity really stands out for its advanced payroll feature. The HR and payroll software helps with expense management, offers tax support, and facilitates global payroll. Plus, the platform offers expert support for garnishment management so you can ensure you’re staying compliant.
Some of Paylocity’s other noteworthy features include time and attendance, employee scheduling, compliance, recruiting, onboarding, and benefits administration.
Pros and cons
Paylocity offers a wide range of features, meaning it allows you to centralize all your HR processes. And it’s an especially helpful tool when it comes to running payroll and filing taxes.
But some users state that customer support isn’t as helpful as they’d like, and they don’t always get an answer to their questions in a timely manner.3 That means implementation and adoption of the tool can be a challenge.
Pricing
Paylocity’s pricing isn’t readily available, but review sites say plans can range between $18 and $15 per employee per month, depending on the features you choose for your plan.
4. Best for employee benefits: Zenefits
Source:https://www.zenefits.com/benefits/
Caption: Zenefits makes it easy for employees to understand their benefits, and you get insights into how your benefits strategy is working.
Top features
Employee benefits is where Zenefits shines (which doesn’t come as a surprise given the tool’s name). The platform lets you carefully select your benefits plan and brokers, educate and enroll your employees in plans, and analyze how your benefits strategy is performing.
Zenefits also offers other HR features like onboarding, performance management, time and scheduling, recruiting, people analytics, and payroll.
Pros and cons
Zenefits is easy to use, both for employees and employers, thanks to its clean and intuitive interface. Another benefit is that it really is an all-in-one platform, which makes it easy for you to centralize your HR processes.
But be aware that some Zenefits users have had issues with customer support4, and data transfer can be cumbersome if you’re moving over from another HR system.5
Pricing
Zenefits has three base plans: Essentials ($10 per month per employee), Growth ($20 PMPE), and Zen ($27 PMPE). You can also choose to add on other features, which include:
- Payroll ($6 PMPE)
- Advisory services ($10 PMPE)
- Benefits admin using your own broker ($5 PMPE)
- Recruiting (starting at $62/month)
5. Best for talent management: Gusto
Source: https://gusto.com/product/hr/talent-management
Caption: Gusto facilitates employee reviews, performance tracking, and team development.
Top features
You need to invest in your employees if you want them to stick around, and the performance management features that Gusto offers can help you promote team growth and retain staff. These tools make it easy to give and receive feedback, set up performance reviews, track progress, and invest in your employees’ professional development.
Gusto’s other features include payroll, employee benefits, time and attendance, hiring and onboarding, insights and reporting, and access to HR experts.
Pros and cons
Customers like how easy the platform is to navigate. And because it has a talent management feature, it can be a good option for growing businesses that are concerned about employee retention and development.
But many users complain about the tool’s customer service.6 And the Gusto mobile app offers limited capabilities for employees, which can cause issues for people who manage their team remotely.
Pricing
Gusto offers three paid plan options:
- The Simple plan starts at $40 per month plus $6 per person per month
- The Plus plan starts at $60 per month plus $9 per person per month
- Contact the sales team to get a custom quote on the Premium plan
For contractor-only businesses, you pay nothing for six months, then pay $35 per month plus $6 per person per month.
6. Best for leave management: PurelyHR
Source: https://www.purelyhr.com/product/timeoff/
Caption: PurelyHR’s time off feature makes it easy to track time off, customize time off policies, and approve PTO requests.
Top features
PurelyHR started as a leave management tool over a decade ago, and that’s still the area where it excels. The platform makes it easy for employees to submit (and you to approve) time off requests, and the tool’s shared leave calendar syncs with Outlook, Apple, and Google calendars.
You can also create custom time off policies, automate policy changes and balance renewals, and easily generate reports. Some of PurelyHR’s other features include time clocks and time sheets, performance management, and a centralized hub for all your employee information.
Pros and cons
If tracking time off causes real issues for you, PurelyHR can be an excellent tool to ease your workload. Customers love how easy it is to use and that you can clearly see whether teammates are working or out on any given day.
But the tool lacks key features, like employee scheduling and payroll, that many small businesses require. Another factor to consider is that it doesn’t have a mobile app.
Pricing
PurelyHR’s pricing starts at $5 per month and increases depending on how many employees you have and which features you choose to adopt. For example, for a team of 10 that signs up for all the tool’s features, the price would be $10.50 per employee per month.
7. Best for employee engagement: Grove HR
Source: https://www.grovehr.com/products/performance-enablement
Caption: Grove HR’s performance enablement tool can help you invest in your employees’ progress and growth.
Top features
Grove HR helps you engage your employees and make them feel connected and appreciated. Its employee engagement tool helps team members communicate through a company social feed and interest groups, and the performance enablement feature makes it easy to organize and track performance reviews.
Grove HR also comes with recruitment, onboarding, employee management, time and attendance tracking, and payroll features.
Pros and cons
Grove HR users like how well it fosters team interaction and makes it easy for staff to clock in and out. Plus, the tool is easy to navigate, and opinions regarding customer service are generally positive.
However, some customers state that the onboarding feature could use some improvement7, and the tool doesn’t help with scheduling.
Pricing
The Grove Essentials plan is free for teams with up to 50 active employees. If you have more team members, the Essentials plan starts at $3 per month per employee.
Grove HR also offers a Perform plan that starts at $4 PMPE and an Engage plan that starts at $6 PMPE.
8. Best for remote teams: Rippling
Source: https://www.rippling.com/benefits
Caption: Rippling makes it easy for new hires to set up their benefits 100% online, and the platform supports any broker you choose.
Top features
Rippling can make it easier for you to manage a fully remote team, with features like 100% online new hire benefits enrollment, global workforce management, country-specific policies, and a role-based permission system.
You can also enjoy features like workflow automation, talent management, workforce analytics, and payroll.
Pros and cons
Rippling helps you order and ship a work computer to your remote employees, meaning they can get onboarded and up to speed in no time. The platform is also good for managing employee expenses and corporate cards remotely.
Just be aware that implementation can be quite complex8, so if you’re looking for a tool that you can sign up for today and start using tomorrow, Rippling may not be the best choice.
Pricing
The monthly cost for Rippling starts at $8 per user, but you’ll have to contact the sales team for a custom quote depending on the size of your business and the features you need.
9. Best for deskless teams: Connecteam
Source: https://connecteam.com/employee-time-clock-app/
Caption: Connecteam helps your employees track their time while they’re on the go and gives you full visibility of them wherever you are.
Top features
Connecteam is a great tool for teams that aren’t confined to a desk or office. The platform’s features let staff clock in and out while they’re on the go, and you get visibility over where your employees are when they’re tracking their time.
It gives you a real-time overview of employee schedules and makes it easy to notify staff of any changes or updates. Other key features include a staff directory, knowledge base, surveys, instant messaging, employee recognition, training, and onboarding.
Pros and cons
Connecteam makes it easy to manage deskless teams, especially when your staff is spread out over a large geographic area. The time tracking feature is easy to use, and both you and your employees have access to a convenient mobile app.
However, if you want access to all the tool’s features, it can get quite expensive.9 And it lacks a time off feature, which a number of customers state is a limitation of the platform.10
Pricing
Connecteam organizes its pricing options into three main “hubs” — Operations, Communications, and HR and Skills.
Each of these “hubs” has three plan options:
- Basic plan for $35 per month
- Advanced plan for $59 per month
- Expert plan for $119 per month
Connecteam also offers a Small Business Plan, which is free for teams with up to ten active employees for each of these categories.
And be aware that prices go up after you reach 30 users.
10. Best for global teams: Deel
Source: https://www.deel.com/global-payroll
Caption: Deel lets you pay employees in over 90 countries while maintaining compliance and making all the necessary tax and benefits deductions.
Top features
Deel is designed with global teams in mind, making it simple to hire, pay, and manage your employees wherever they are. Its payroll tool is equipped to pay employees in over 90 countries, and you can easily send and manage team equipment.
The platform even serves as an employer of record (EOR) to ensure you stay compliant when hiring staff globally. Deel also comes with other helpful features like background checks, onboarding, employee records, and global expense reports.
Pros and cons
If you’ve got employees around the world, Deel is one of the most comprehensive solutions you can find. It even offers visa support for over a dozen countries, making it easy to hire global talent and bring them to you.
But Deel doesn’t have a mobile app, and it lacks employee scheduling and team communication capabilities, so it may not be the right choice if these are priorities for you. And you may not need all its functionalities if you don’t plan on hiring international employees.
Pricing
Deel plans include:
- A free plan, which lets you manage employees in 90 countries and comes with payroll, onboarding and offboarding, benefits, and time off management features.
- A Contractors plan that starts at $49 per month, which gives you more advanced features for hiring and managing international freelancers.
- An EOR Employees plan that starts at $599 per month, where Deel acts as EOR for you and handles localized agreements, taxes, and benefits.
How to buy small business HR software
Remember that when buying HR software for your small business, you can’t just turn to any old tool. Software that’s geared towards larger companies and enterprises won’t have the features your business needs, and you may not get the attention you need to make the most of the platform.
Here’s what you need to do to pick the best software for your business:
- Do your research. Look into a tool’s features, and take note of whether the tool will let you consolidate all your HR processes.
- Consider the costs. Compare pricing options and costs to ensure it’s a sustainable, long-term solution.
- Read user reviews. You can find the opinions of real users on websites like G2 and Capterra. That way, you can get people’s honest thoughts about the tool.
- Look into ease of use. You want a tool that minimizes hassle, and doesn’t cause you headaches. So read user reviews about how easy each product is to use.
- Think about customer support. G2 and Capterra reviews are a good place to turn to for honest user opinions about how much onboarding and ongoing support you’ll get.
Common pitfalls to avoid when using small business HR software
Just because you’ve purchased the right tool doesn’t mean you can fully let go of the reins. The best HR software will help automate and simplify your job, but you still have to take the time to set it up and periodically review all your employee information.
To make your software work for you, avoid these common mistakes that small businesses can make when using HR software:
- Not properly setting up employee information. In order to avoid errors and make sure your HR recordkeeping is accurate, take the time to set up all your employee information and double check that it’s all correct.
- Not regularly reviewing and updating employee information. It’s important to make a habit of staying up-to-date on employee information. Failing to do so could mean compliance issues and potential fines.
- Not properly training employees on the software. You want your employees to make the most of the software you’re paying for to make your and their jobs easier, so be sure to train your employees on the tool and ensure their efficient and accurate use of it.
- Not regularly backing up data. No software is foolproof, and you want to manually back up your information periodically to protect yourself against data loss in case you experience technical problems or an unforeseen disaster.
- Not making the most of all the features. Just because you purchase a tool primarily for payroll doesn’t mean you should ignore its other features—take advantage of all the tools available to you, and experiment to see how they can help ease your workload.
Find the HR tool that will work for your small business
With all the small business HR software platforms out there, we’re sure you’ll be able to find one that’s a perfect fit for your business. Remember to prioritize the features that are most important to you, read reviews from real users, and take pricing into consideration.
When you’re setting up your software, take the time to accurately input all your data and properly onboard your employees so they make the most of the tool. And finally, enjoy the time you get back in your week thanks to the ways your tool automates and centralizes your HR processes.
References
- G2 review for BambooHR
- G2 review for BambooHR
- G2 review for Paylocity
- G2 review for Zenefits
- G2 review for Zenefits
- G2 review for Gusto
- G2 review for Grove HR
- G2 review for Rippling
- Capterra review for Connecteam
- Capterra review for Connecteam
**The information above is based on our research on staff management software. All user feedback referenced in the text has been sourced from independent software review platforms, such as G2 and Capterra, in February 2023.
The post 10 best small business HR software solutions in 2023 appeared first on Homebase.
via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/best-smb-hr-software/
After a higher-than-expected February jobs report, the Fed has again positioned itself to continue raising rate through 2023 to curb inflation.
Our data from the US and Canada reflects a slight decline in core employment metrics during February – and notably, a stark decline in wage inflation.
Higher non-farm payroll adds than expected in February have renewed interest in the Federal Reserve’s immediate plans to raise rates in an effort to put the brakes on a hot economy. As in prior iterations of this report, Homebase seeks to understand how the broader economic environment is affecting small businesses and their employees during the start of 2023 by analyzing behavioral data from more than two million employees working at more than one hundred thousand SMBs.
Summary of findings: February saw a slowdown in hours worked and employees working, across most industries and major metro areas
- Core indicators have been relatively flat through the first 2 months of 2023; compared to the same time period last year, we do not see the monthly growth that we saw at the same time in 2022.
- Core indicators have been relatively flat through the first 2 months of 2023; compared to the same time period last year, we do not see the monthly growth that we saw at the same time in 2022.
- We see relatively low month-over-month variance in economic performance across metro areas, with the average MSA experiencing declines across core employment metrics.
- Wage inflation, while still positive, hit its lowest point since October 2021.
February employment grew slower than in recent years
After a strong January, February saw a large drop in employment growth. Homebase data also showed declines across hours worked for employees
Employees working
(Monthly change in 7-day average, relative to January of reported year)
Businesses open
(Monthly change in 7-day average, relative to January of reported year)
Source: Homebase data.
Most industries saw a decline in employment, with Hospitality and Entertainment as the outliers
After a strong start to the year, key industries declined in February. Entertainment, food and drink, and hospitality are still up relative to December employment.
Employment metrics are down about 1% for the retail sector, which has seen a significant downturn in recent weeks
Percent change in employees working
(Mid-February vs. mid-January, using Jan. ‘19 and Jan. ‘23 baselines)1
1. February 17-23 vs. January 13-19 (2019) and February 19-25 vs. January 15-21 (2023). Pronounced dips generally coincide with major US Holidays. Source: Homebase data
Regions fared differently in February, with weather and seasonality driving some of the differences
Note: February 19-25 vs. January 15-21. Source: Homebase data
February saw wage inflation hit its lowest level since 2021
Wage inflation
Month-over-month change in average hourly wages
Employee
Pulse Check
A February pulse survey of approximately eight hundred employees shows a consistent, positive outlook towards job prospects.
Employees see their job prospects improving in the coming year
Most employees surveyed see their job prospects improving (40%) or staying the same (35%) in a year, while only 6% think they’ll have worse options than they do today. This represents a slightly less negative outlook compared to mid-2022, and increased uncertainty compared to the beginning of last year. With inflation top of mind for many, small business workers have remained confident that they’ll continue to have options on where they work in the future.
Survey question: Do you think your job options will be better, about the same, or worse in 12 months compared to today?
Source: Homebase Employee Pulse Survey. N = 873 (Feb. 2023)
Nearly 25% of employees plan to look for a new job in the coming months
While a majority of workers are generally pleased with their jobs, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they plan to stay with their current employers long-term; just 57% of workers surveyed have no plans to look for a new opportunity in the next 6 months, even though 78% report being happy with their job. As the labor market stays hot, small business employees are aware of the choices that they have in front of them.
That said, our October survey saw 48% of employees say that they weren’t planning to look for a new job in the coming year, indicating that economic fear is boosting retention compared to prior months.
Source: Homebase Employee Pulse Survey. N = 873 (Feb. 2023)
Inflation isn’t just a talking point for economists – it’s the top concern for workers, too
Of all issues that employees are facing – both at and outside of work – only inflation was cited as a concern for a majority (64%) of those surveyed. Workers feel secure about their jobs and the hours available to them, but worry about how far their paychecks will go for them in an inflationary environment.
Source: Homebase Employee Pulse Survey. N = 873 (Feb. 2023)
In the face of inflation, wages remain the top priority for worker
It should come as no surprise that the biggest factor in where respondents decide to work is wages, as 54% cited wages as a top 3 factor in their employment decisions. Benefits and employer-sponsored upskilling are close behind, indicating that employers need to be investing in their workforces in order to attract and retain talent.
Source: Homebase Employee Pulse Survey. N = 873 (Feb. 2023)
For a PDF of our February report, please visit this PDF; if you choose to use this data for research or reporting purposes, please cite Homebase.
Link to PDF of: February 2023 Homebase Main Street Health Report
The post With Eyes on Policymakers, Cooldown Begins to Take Hold appeared first on Homebase.
via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/cooldown-begins-to-take-hold/
As a manager of a small business with hourly employees and long shifts, you may want to rotate work schedules to ensure that you always have enough staff to cover all your hours of operation.
But rotating schedules can be difficult to organize, and present serious challenges if not managed well. Staff can become disillusioned, tired, and frustrated, and you risk no-shows and poor results
By getting on top of your rotating work schedules, you can increase productivity, improve work-life balance, and reduce burnout.
That’s why, in this post we explain:
- The most common types of rotating work schedules
- The main advantages of rotating work schedules
- Some of the challenges that rotating work schedules can present
- How to create a rotating work schedule, and how Homebase can make it much easier compared to doing it all manually
- Best practice tips for managing a rotating work schedule
Types of rotating work schedules
A rotating work schedule is as it sounds: a schedule where shifts rotate (change), so that team members don’t always do the same shift over and over. For example, the same workers don’t always do the morning shift or the evening shift, but rotate between them.
There are a lot of different types of rotating work systems, but these are some of the most common examples.
Continuous rotation
A continuous rotating system means that workers rotate shifts in a continuous loop. For example, one day they work in the morning, the next day in the afternoon, and the following day in the evening, before starting again.
Backward rotation
A backward rotation schedule is when later shifts are followed by earlier shifts (moving backward in time). For example, if you have a period of working night shifts or afternoon shifts, this will be followed by morning shifts.
Forward rotation
A forward rotation schedule is when earlier shifts are followed by later shifts (moving forward in time). For example, if you have a period of working morning shifts or afternoon shifts, this will be followed by afternoon or evening shifts.
Oscillating rotation
An oscillating rotation pattern is when employees rotate back and forth between shifts, for example, they might work mornings for a while, and then change back to afternoons. If you have three shift periods, the third shift usually remains fixed.
For example, a team member always works the morning shift, but then switches (oscillates) backward and forward between afternoon and evening shifts after that.
Skip rotation
In a skip rotation system, a worker will do a block of the same shift, take days off, and then come back to do a block of another shift. For example, a team member could do a week of morning shifts, take two days off, and then return for a week of afternoon shifts.
Advantages of rotating work schedules
Rotating work schedules offer some major advantages for both employers and team members.
Increased productivity
Changing up employees’ shifts can help to boost variety and therefore productivity, as team members are not always working the same hours, with the same tasks or challenges. This can help prevent boredom, complacency, and disillusion among staff.
Similarly, changing up the staff ‘on duty’ means that different skills are brought to each shift and balanced between work hours. So it’s not always the same person, doing the same things, with the same skills.
This can bring variety and freshness to the job, boosting productivity and improving outcomes.
Perceived as fairer
For example, some industries pay staff differently for different shifts, or require more difficult work at certain hours. This happens in restaurants, where people who work in the evening get more tips, or a coffee shop where the toughest shift is the early morning rush.
In this instance, working different shifts means each worker has an equal chance overall of earning tips, or not always working the hardest.
Better work-life balance
Team members who work rotating shifts may experience a better work-life balance, because they are not always ‘unavailable’ for their life outside of work at the same hours.
For example, when they‘re working the evening shift, they can spend more time during the day with their kids, or head to an afternoon gym class. And when they’re working the morning shift, they’ll have more time to spend with friends in the evenings, or put their kids to bed, for example.
This variety may suit some workers better than others, depending on their needs outside of the workplace.
Reduced burnout
A better work-life balance can help reduce burnout and mean that workers are less likely to get sick or need time off work overall.
Offering workers different shifts can give them much-needed variety and mean that they don’t always have to commit to working at the same time, on the same days.
This can give them flexibility to pursue interests or side-hustles outside of their shifts, or simply give them time to rest, boosting satisfaction and energy.
Challenges of rotating work schedules
However, rotating schedules can present some challenges if not managed well.
Fatigue
Constantly changing shifts can be tiring for staff, who may struggle to get a consistent sleep pattern in place when their hours are changing — especially from night shifts to morning shifts or vice versa. This can cause fatigue and even mean that employees turn up late to their shift, as they struggle to adapt.
Working evening and night shifts also contributes to a range of health problems, including insomnia, heart complaints, and digestive issues, because they conflict with people’s 24-hour ‘internal clocks’ and circadian rhythms (the way that the body keeps time, and wakes up with the sun, for example).
Lack of stability
One of the most obvious challenges of rotating work schedules is the lack of stability and constant change that it presents to workers.
While some workers may welcome the variety, others may find it stressful, and want consistent working patterns so they can organize activities outside of work, like evening classes.
This constant change, especially if it happens without much warning, can become difficult for workers who need a more predictable or consistent schedule.
Lack of productivity or quality
Assigning workers rotating shifts without much thought for the balance of the team, or the skills of those assigned, can mean that productivity and quality vary considerably between shifts.
Similarly, if the workload differs a lot between shifts, like when there’s more work to do in the morning than the afternoon, this can affect quality and productivity too. The best rotating schedules will take all of this into account, to avoid peaks and dips in output and skillsets between shifts.
Decreased morale
Some staff may experience dropping morale as a result of rotating work shifts due to the uncertainty, fatigue, and constant change it can bring.
If workers feel as though their shifts are constantly changing, especially without much predictability or warning, they may feel as though their employer doesn’t respect or care about them, and become disillusioned.
How to create a rotating work schedule
At its most basic, creating a rotating work schedule is fairly simple. Find out when each of your team members is available, and put them into groups by shift (for example, put them into groups according to when they work, e.g. morning, afternoon, or evening). Then, assign them to one of the three shifts, taking into account their role, skills, and availability.
However, doing this manually can quickly get complicated, especially if there are a lot of different roles or experience levels, changing availability, PTO, and sick days; and you have a lot of staff to assign quickly.
Homebase can make this much easier, by automatically populating a schedule for you based on your rotation pattern, employee roles, and availability. You can also create a template based on a schedule that worked well once, and repeat it, so you don’t have to build each schedule from scratch every time.
Here’s how you do it.
First, set up your ‘perfect’ schedule, based on the rotating pattern you choose.
- In your Homebase dashboard, hit Schedule. This is on the left-hand sidebar.
- Firstly, set team members’ availability. Hit Team Availability to block out days or times when staff are not available. The scheduler will then take this into account on your schedule, and alert you if you accidentally schedule a team member at a time when they’re not available.
- Under Departments/Roles, you can assign the staff you need across your business for each shift. For example, in a restaurant, in the Back of House you may need a Cook and a Prep worker. In Front of House, you need a Cashier and a Server. This ensures that you always have the right staff available for each new shift (so, for example, you don’t end up with two Servers and no Cooks, when you need one of each.)
- Then assign staff to each day or hour, rotating their shifts on a daily, weekly, or bi-weekly basis (depending on the pattern you choose). You can toggle between views so you can get more detail on each week or day, by hitting the Day / Week / Month dropdown at the top of the screen. To assign a team member, click on the day or hour you want to give them, on the line where their name appears to the left of the screen (see the image below).
Once you’re happy with your schedule, you can then copy it as a template so you never have to start with a blank page again. You can then use your template as a base, and switch out team members depending on their changing availability.
- To create a template of your current schedule screen, click the Tools button with the spanner icon, in the top right-hand corner.
- Click Templates (see the image below.) Then give the current view a name, and hit Create. This will make a template out of your current view, so you can refer back to it and use it to build another schedule.
You can also copy the current view to another date if you want to repeat a week’s shift schedule for two weeks or a month in a row, for example.
- To copy one week’s schedule to the next, hit the Copy button in the top right-hand corner.
- Then choose the dates that you want to copy the current view to (see the image below.)
Once you’re happy with your schedule, hit Publish in the top right corner.
In Settings (on the left-hand sidebar), you can toggle how you want your schedule to be sent to team members, as well as other parameters.
For example, under Schedule Enforcement, you can choose the day that your work week starts, and the hours you want to have available for scheduling.
Under Alerts & Permissions, you can choose to Text the schedule to employees (see the image below). This is a major advantage of using Homebase, because staff receive a notification about a change to the schedule via their smartphone.
This makes it easier for staff, as it reduces the chance that they won’t see changes in time, and they don’t have to check a piece of paper physically to know when they’re scheduled to work.
It also saves managers major time and stress because they know that every team member has received an alert about a new schedule, and they don’t have to worry about printing out a new calendar or manually letting everyone know every time there’s a change.
Best practice tips for managing a rotating work schedule
When managing a rotating work schedule, we recommend keeping the following tips in mind for a happier and more productive workforce.
Continuously manage employee availability
Rotating shift schedules work best when you assign times to employees who are not only available to work then, but also happy to do so.
Of course, as a business, you’ll sometimes have to ask a team member to work at a time when they’d prefer not to — maybe everyone wants to work mornings. But keeping availability and preference in mind is key to a happier and more productive workforce. It also keeps scheduling problems to a minimum.
By ensuring that you’re always aware of factors like PTO, sick leave, other commitments, or anything else that could impact availability, you’ll keep staff happier and have fewer no-shows or last-minute changes.
Homebase’s scheduling tool makes it really easy to manage availability, as staff can submit their availability via the app (and you can approve it there too). The tool will also alert you if you try to schedule a team member at a time when they’re not available, so there’s no risk of clashes.
Finetune your communication and feedback processes
One way of ensuring staff preferences and availability for scheduling is to maintain excellent communication and feedback processes among your team.
Work to implement a culture of open communication, where staff feel comfortable letting you know their availability, what’s working, and what isn’t. You could have a system where staff communicate their availability in advance, but feel comfortable letting you know if that changes.
You can also encourage autonomy among your workforce by encouraging open and friendly communication between colleagues. That way, staff share knowledge between shifts to maximize productivity and handovers.
A platform like Homebase makes transparent team communication between workers and managers easy, and emphasizes a culture of transparent and professional messaging.
The Homebase app is specially designed for easy communication between managers and staff, and lets them chat among themselves too, all within the same platform. You can share information about shifts, send documents, and alert them to schedule changes instantly.
They can switch shifts between themselves, and managers can choose whether to require approval or not without the Homebase dashboard.
You can also do things like create groups, for example, for everyone working a particular shift, so you can send messages to the entire on-duty team in one go.
Stay flexible and keep an open mind
Whichever rotating shift schedule you choose, you’ll likely have very good reasons for doing so. However, when it comes to scheduling staff, it’s always a good idea to stay flexible and keep an open mind (because everyone knows what they say about the best-laid plans).
Stay compassionate and open to changing availability, and don’t assign staff to work at times that really don’t work for them. Doing so will cause disillusion, and risks more no-shows and workforce churn.
Using a communication platform like Homebase can make this easier, because staff can organize themselves and switch shifts with minimal input from managers. This gives them flexibility without requiring you to plan out a whole new schedule.
It’s easy to change shifts in the Homebase platform, as you can do the whole thing digitally on the calendar dashboard, and push alerts and changes to staff via text or app.
Keep shifts as predictable as possible and plan ahead
Scheduling shifts in advance will be popular with your workforce as they’ll be able to plan ahead and figure out other commitments in their life.
This will improve morale, as staff will feel that you’re respecting their time and needs outside of work. For example, a restaurant worker may find it easier to psych themselves up to be productive and alert on a long night shift, because they know that they have PTO and daytime shifts lined up for next week.
You’ll also improve productivity and ease scheduling issues, as giving people time to plan ahead increases the chance of everyone turning up to their shifts.
It’s simple to let staff know their schedule in the Homebase app, as they can see a calendar view of their upcoming shifts. You can also toggle between letting them see everyone’s shifts, or only letting them see their own schedule.
Consider your rotation rate
It may be easier for your team to adapt to changing shifts if you slow down the rotation periods, or change them up depending on staff demand. Rather than rotating over a period of 24 hours (so staff shifts change every day) you could rotate over a period of a week, fortnight, or month.
This will depend on your industry, and the availability and preferences of your staff. But slowing down your rotation rate could help reduce burnout and fatigue, so it may be the right choice for you.
Rotating work schedules for success
Rotating work schedules is a tried and true method of assigning team members to shifts. It makes sure their hours align with their availability, and you have the team you need when you need it.
But it can be tough deciding on the type of rotation schedule, and ensuring you get the best of the benefits without the worst of the challenges.
Homebase can make the entire process much easier compared to scheduling manually using pen or paper or juggling spreadsheets. It lets you automatically factor in staff availability, PTO, and staff roles.
It highlights clashes, and you can copy schedules from week to week so you can plan schedules well in advance — saving you time and stress, and alerting team members early. So you can rotate staff schedules with success.
The post A complete guide to rotating work schedules for small businesses appeared first on Homebase.
via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/rotating-work/
Collaboration is key to the success of your business if you want to learn from mistakes, share best practices, and ensure alignment toward common goals. But it can be tricky to achieve when you don’t usually share the same office.
What you need is an easy-to-use solution that can help you foster a collaborative culture without breaking the bank. A team communication app could be exactly what you need, not only giving you in-app messaging, but integrations with tools like shift reminders to increase efficiency.
With so many to choose from, we’ve come up with a comprehensive guide to the best team communication apps to try in 2023. Here’s our top ten.
What are team communication apps?
Team communication apps are software that let you interact with your colleagues online through private or group messaging. But depending on the app, these could do so much more. You can use team communication tools to conduct live and asynchronous video chats, manage pending tasks, and share documents for real-time editing.
Why are team communication apps important for small businesses?
Team communication apps are important for small businesses not only because they promote collaboration and fast response, but also because they:
- Help employees be more proactive. Instead of having your employees wait until you get to the shop to solve an issue — like telling you they’re out of paper for the invoice printer — they can proactively message you through a team communication app.
- Promote collaboration. Employees can chat privately or in group chats, so they can announce if they’re running late or need help covering a shift without management intervention.
- Encourage transparent communication. Simplifying the way you make announcements to the team despite the shifts they do, allows you to have and promote open and transparent communication.
- Foster engagement. Use your team communication app to ask your team questions and run ideas by them easily. Ask about scheduling preferences and try your best to fit their requests.
- Make quick announcements. Create groups to share information with the people who’re working on a particular shift. For example, letting them know the milk supplier will be there earlier or delivering a smaller order.
- Add reminders. Send weekly reminders about who’s working that week and on which shifts to avoid schedule misunderstandings.
Key features you need to look for in team communication apps
Your team communication app needs to be functional and have a zero learning curve. It should also come with most of these features:
- Schedule-based groups. Apps like Homebase let you create automatic groups with the people that are working that day so you don’t need to add them by hand or tag everyone on a company-wide channel.
- Connections with a whole suite of tools. You want your team communication app to integrate with other tools to simplify task creation, scheduling, and time tracking. Homebase time communication app is part of a bigger all-in-one solution that connects with its scheduling, time clock, payroll, HR & compliance, and hiring & onboarding platforms.
- Granular settings. Set personal preferences for your chats and send messages to individuals, custom groups, or the entire team. Choose to make them public or private.
- Mobile app. Your team probably already communicates through their mobile phones. Pick a tool that comes with a mobile app so they can chat about work during business hours and turn off notifications when they leave.
- Reminders and alerts. Your team communication platform can also work as your reminders app. Look for one that lets you automate notifications related to shifts, schedules, ins and outs, or company announcements.
- Cost. Many team communications apps are free forever for small businesses. That’s a great way to start using it, test it out, and upgrade your plan as your business grows. Homebase lets you message your team in individual or group conversations and use the mobile app as part of the free plan.
Our top team communication app pick in 2023 (+ the rest ranked)
Use this list as a starting point and deep dive into the companies that pique your interest. These are our top ten:
- Best all-in-one solution for small businesses: Homebase
- Best for project-based businesses: Flock
- Best text and video collaboration app for medium-sized businesses: Chanty
- Best for hourly employees at desk-based jobs: Connecteam
- Best for organized and topic-based conversations: Slack
- Best for big corporations: Microsoft Teams
- Best self-hosted chat app: Troop Messenger
- Best for Google Workspace users: Google Chat
- Best team communication app for tech-savvy users: Rocket.Chat
- Best team communication app with scheduling features: When I Work
Comparison chart: Top 10 team communication apps for 2023
| Software | One-on-one chat | Group messaging | Time tracking (for an additional price) | Scheduling or time off requests (for an additional price) | Mobile app | Notifications and reminders | Pricing |
|
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free forever plan. Then, $20-80 per location per month (plans contain other tools) |
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free version. Then, starting at $4.50 per user per month | ||
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free forever for up to 10 people. Then, starting at $3 per user per month | |
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free up to 10 users. Then, prices go from $29 to $99 per month + costs per additional user. |
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free forever with limitations. Then, pricing starts at $7.25 per user per month. | ||
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free version with user limitations. Paid plans start at $4 per user per month. | ||
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 7-day free trial. Prices range from $2.5-$9 per user per month. | ||
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free to everyone with a Gmail account. Then, Google Workspace plans range from $6-18 per user per month. | ||
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free as it’s open-source. Enterprise plan is available at $7 per user per month (max 25), and $35 per agent per month (max 5). | ||
 |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | Free trial. Then, prices start at $2.5 per user per month. |
A breakdown of the 10 best team communication apps
There are hundreds of team communication apps in the market. Most of them are high-performing and easy-to-use platforms, but not all are necessarily suitable for your type of business. These are the 10 we recommend you try in 2023:
1. Best all-in-one solution for small businesses: Homebase
Source: https://www.q2developer.com/marketplace/apps/homebase/marketing
Caption: Use Homebase’s team messaging app to chat with your team and update them on changes or specific requests.
Homebase is an HR and team management platform that simplifies your life and daily work with a suite of solutions crafted specifically for small businesses. These tools include team communications, time clock, scheduling, payroll, and hiring and onboarding solutions.
Top features
Homebase team communications app is packed with features that bridge the gap between you and your employees. These are the most used functions:
- Individual and group messaging. Talk to your team in private one-to-one, group, or team-wide conversations.
- Integration with Homebase tools. If you’re using other Homebase products like the time clock or scheduling app, you can automate notifications regarding shifts, reminders for time tracking, or schedule changes.
- File sharing. Send important files and allow your team to read and sign through the chat app.
- In-app notes. Create notes and add them to your employees’ profiles so you can guide performance conversations.
- Shoutouts. Promote a culture that celebrates each other’s wins with these features. Everyone on your team can shout out someone for doing a good job.
Pros and cons
Homebase’s biggest advantage is that it was designed specifically to solve hourly-based business needs. It comes with a suite of tools to solve all your people management problems and it’s highly cost-efficient as you pay for location and not users. Plus, each tier gives you access to multiple platforms. Not only will you be paying less, but you won’t have integration issues, risk missing information, or spend time trying to understand each tool.
However, while you can send individual and group messages for free, you need to subscribe to a paid plan to unlock the team communication app’s complete features.
Pricing
The messaging app for individual and group text is free forever. Prices for the Homebase team communication platform begin at $20 per location per month and include access to time tracking, scheduling, hiring, and performance tracking solutions. To handle all your HR and people operations, get the all-in-one plan for $80 per location per month.
2. Best for project-based businesses: Flock
Source: https://www.flock.com/indexb
Caption: Use Flock to chat with your team, create tasks, and send files to group conversations.
Flock is an online collaboration tool that comes with an integrated messaging platform. This chat app lets you organize information in channels and connect to other apps to boost team productivity.
Top features
Flock is a team messaging app packed with features for better communication, productivity, and security. These include:
- Advanced search. Flock lets you add filters to your searches to find what you’re looking for faster. That way, you can look for messages including a particular word, sender, or channel.
- Channel messaging. Similar to tools like Slack, Flock lets you create topic-based channels to organize conversations and avoid talking about multiple subjects in the same place.
- In-app to-do list. With Flock, you can create to-do lists right from the app and add tasks for yourself and other team members. You can also add reminders and reorganize your pending tasks in order of priority.
Pros and cons
Flock is a comprehensive and secure tool. It lets you host private conversations on an individual and channel level. Flock is a great tool for your team to be on top of pending tasks as it has a task management tab. It also helps boost productivity as it can automate to-do lists or send information to CRMs.
However, Flock isn’t necessarily the best tool for a small business like yours as it’s crafted for more corporate and project-oriented businesses. Also, the message storage is limited — 10GB per team member on the pro version.
Pricing
Flock offers a free plan with limitations on search, storage, and size of video calls. Then, prices go up to $4.50 per user per month. Enterprise plans are available on a custom quote.
3. Best text and video collaboration app for medium-sized businesses: Chanty
Source: https://www.chanty.com/communication-software/restaurants/
Caption: Chanty lets you create tasks and assign them to others for instant approval.
Chanty is a secure and friendly team collaboration app for instant communication. It lets you host online team meetings with video and chat on different devices.
Top features
Chanty is mostly catered to corporations, but can also be used for small businesses, restaurants, and shops. These are three of the most popular features:
- Team-wide notifications. Tag one person or the complete group to notify them when they need to read an important message. You can use this to announce that a supplier will be coming over at 4 pm.
- Pin messages. Highlight important messages by pinning them to the conversation for easy access. Use it to have easy access to your timetables or schedules.
- Task management. Turn messages into tasks, assign deadlines, and assignees without switching apps.
Pros and cons
One of Chanty’s advantages is that it lets users add their availability and time off directly to their profiles. It’s also highly intuitive and user-friendly. If you have a small team of up to 10 people, Chanty is completely free to use.
However, while Chanty can be used for restaurants and small businesses, it’s more suitable for corporate environments and developers that need to collaborate with their teams. Hence, its current integrations are mostly developer tools and project management apps like Jira and Trello.
Pricing
Chanty has a free forever plan for businesses for up to 10 employees and one group chat conversation. Then, prices start at $3 per user per month with extra charges per additional group conversation.
4. Best for hourly employees at desk-based jobs: Connectteam
Source: https://connecteam.com/employee-communication-app/
Caption: Use Connectteam on your phone or computer to chat with your team members and send files.
Connectteam is a complete team communication app. This tool also comes with different products to handle operations and HR like a scheduler, time clock, and a recognition and rewards system accessible at an additional cost.
Top features
Connectteam’s communication tool lets users chat with others through text, audio, and video. Here are the most popular features:
- Surveys and polls. Launch in-chat questions in the form of polls or surveys to get your team’s thoughts and take their opinion into account before you make decisions that affect them.
- Employee handbook. Add a knowledge base of your business-specific information regarding benefits, processes, menus, or price lists so your people always have it at hand.
- Easy to use chat. Hold private one-on-one and group conversations with your peers and managers. Connect with other peers online easily even when you’re working separate shifts.
Pros and cons
Connectteam is a powerful tool for small businesses to connect and simplify communication. Users on GetApp value Connectteam’s support team and their fast responses.
While users are happy with this tool, some users believe the Connectteam app isn’t as intuitive and comes with a somewhat steep learning curve.
Pricing
Prices for Connectteam’s communication app vary depending on the size of your team, storage size, and accessible features. Its basic plan is free to use for up to 10 team members. Then, prices go from $29 to $99 per month. Each plan has a user limit that you’re able to exceed for between $0.5-3 per additional user per month.
5. Best for organized and topic-based conversations: Slack
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/slack
Caption: Teams who use Slack hold organized and topic-based conversations through different channels.
Slack is a popular team collaboration app for focused and organized message exchanges. It lets you hold live or asynchronous conversations through text, audio, or video.
Top features
You can use Slack in your preferred browser or by downloading the app. Its features include:
- Time-bound notifications. Slack lets you adjust notifications so you only get alerts during your working hours so your employees don’t need to be on top of messages unless they’re at work.
- Group conversations and channels. Make it easy for teams to communicate in real time by creating group conversations and topic-specific channels. Small shop employees can create channels for specific shifts, updates, feedback, or help needed.
- Automate workflows and reminders. Use Slack’s automation feature to create a workflow based on your teams’ scheduled shifts and send out automatic weekly reminders of shifts and notifications about when to start and stop the time clock.
Pros and cons
Slack allows you to have conversations with your colleagues without people having three simultaneous conversations. Instead, you can use the channels to organize topic discussions and have more focused chats.
However, some users believe that Slack isn’t as intuitive to use for non-tech savvy people and it can take some time to get used to it. Also, you need to pay for the more expensive plans to adjust security policies.
Pricing
Slack offers a free plan for unlimited users but with storage, automation features, integrations, and security limitations. Then, prices range from $7.25-12.50 per user per month, based on annual billing. There’s an enterprise plan available for a custom quote.
6. Best for big corporations: Microsoft Teams
Source: https://www.itprotoday.com/office-365/quick-tip-how-save-chats-microsoft-teams
Caption: Host group or individual conversations and reply to others within the group chat with Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Teams collaboration software allows colleagues to communicate, share information, and work together on projects online. You can do that by chat, video, audio, or phone conversations.
Top features
Small businesses can use Microsoft Teams to hold secure, focused, and effective communication between employees. Features include:
- Calling plan. Use Teams as your store’s phone and allow customers to call your business easily. This feature comes with a voicemail, caller ID, and automated menus.
- Collaborate on files. If you use the Office suite of products, you can upload and create documents directly from OneDrive and get your employees to collaborate on files online. You can use this feature to fill out time off or shift change requests.
- Video calling. Teams lets you host video conferences with your people, so you can hold monthly meetings with all your team members to recognize the employee of the month or announce changes even when some aren’t physically present.
Pros and cons
One of the main advantages of Microsoft Teams is that you can move your phone calls from one device to another easily, so you can start the conversation from your laptop and finish it on your mobile.
On the downside, Teams can feel a bit too complex to adopt for users who aren’t familiar with online collaboration tools. Also, while you can use Teams for small businesses and local shops, it really caters to corporations who need to connect with teammates in multiple locations.
Pricing
Microsoft Teams offers a range of pricing plans, including a free version and paid plans starting at $4 per user per month (based on annual billing).
7. Best self-hosted chat app: Troop Messenger
Source: https://www.troopmessenger.com/
Caption: Send text, audio, or video messages through Troop Messenger’s chat app.
Troop Messenger is a business chat app that provides an array of features for teams to hold conversations, share files, and be more effective. You can use it on the web or from an app as software as a service (SaaS), or you can choose to host it on-premise, i.e. have your data stored in local servers.
Top features
Troop Messenger offers several features tailored to small businesses thanks to its ability to text, share files, and manage tasks in real time.
- Forkout. Share files and messages to multiple people in bulk. This is an alternative to group messaging that you can use to remind people about shift changes or notify employees that you’ve approved their PTO.
- Private, time-sensitive chats. Hold one-on-one conversations with your colleagues in a private chat. Your messages will disappear after an established time.
- Read notifications. Trooper Messenger lets you activate read indicators to know when your team has seen your message.
Pros and cons
Troop Messenger’s platform is user-friendly and intuitive. It’s also great for managers who work remotely as you can take control of someone else’s screens and walk them through how to use a new order system, for example.
However, Troop Messenger’s pricing can be confusing for non-technical users as you need to choose where you want to host the platform. Plus, you’ll need to pay additional fees for file storage and screen monitoring.
Pricing
Troop Messenger’s SaaS version comes with a 7-day free trial. Then, prices range from $2.5-$9 per user per month.
8. Best for Google Workspace users: Google Chat
Source: https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/07/building-larger-spaces-in-google-chat%20.html
Caption: Create Spaces on Google Chat to communicate with larger, topic-based communities of up to 8,000 people.
Google Chat is a communication and collaboration platform available from a web browser or mobile device. It allows you to chat, send gifs, share files, and invite colleagues to jump on a Google Meet meeting in one click.
Top features
Google Chat is part of the Google suite, so everyone with a Gmail account can use this tool. Here are its top features:
- Spaces. Create separate group conversations and make them private or public to people with your business domain. This and the ability to answer messages in threads makes conversations more organized.
- Integrations. Google Chat integrates natively with Drive and Meet, so you can continue the conversation by editing a document live or hopping on calls from the chat tab. This is useful in case you need to call your employees and notify last-minute changes to the menu or prices. You can chat in real-time on a tab on the document, or show them what you mean on a video call.
- Schedule meetings. As it integrates with Google Calendar, you can invite people to meetings immediately or at a future date directly from your chat app.
Pros and cons
Google Chat is just for texting so it’s easy to use. It’s also free to all Google users so you can talk to your clients or vendors without having to call.
But its simplicity also makes Google Chat fall short. This tool doesn’t have as many features as other comprehensive team communication apps like Homebase or Slack. Also, you need to have a Google account and use its suite of products to make the most out of this tool.
Pricing
Google Chat is part of Google Workspace, so you get it for free as soon as you pay for your business domain. This solution is free to individuals, and Workspace plans range from $6-18 per user per month. Enterprise plans are available on a custom quote.
9. Best team communication app for tech-savvy users: Rocket.Chat
Source: https://www.rocket.chat/
Caption: Rocket.Chat lets you organize your conversations on channels and answer with text, audio, or video on the desktop or mobile app.
Rocket.Chat is an open-source and self-hosted team collaboration and chat tool. It’s free to use (for small teams) and community-based. Plus, all data is stored on local servers so you can edit the code and add features. It allows teams to communicate and share information.
Top features
Rocket.Chat comes with a large set of plugins for you to customize the app to your business needs. Its main features include:
- Shared inbox. Answer all of your customers’ questions from multiple sources (i.e. email, social media, webpage chat, SMS) in the same place. That way, your employees can answer easily as they continue with their daily activities.
- Automation. Rocket.Chat integrates with chatbot apps so you can create automated messages to answer your customers fast and with no manual intervention. For example, you can redirect them to your open hours or catalog.
- Chat history. This tool lets you host any kind of one-on-one or group conversation through text, audio, or video and keep track of everything on an archive. Users can always see the previous messages when they join a chat.
Pros and cons
One of Rocket.Chat’s biggest advantages is that it’s open-source and highly customizable to your liking. It also comes with easy-to-install plugins for better performance.
But the open-source aspect is a double-sided sword. You only get community support on the free version – which is probably all you need for your type of business. And, while customization is available, it’s not easy to do it if you’re not a developer.
Pricing
Rocket.Chat is free to use for small businesses and individuals. They offer an enterprise-level plan with web support and advanced features like identity management with a maximum of 25 users and 5 agents. Prices on the enterprise plan are $7 per user per month and $35 per agent per month.
10. Best team communication app with scheduling features: When I Work
Source: https://help.wheniwork.com/articles/troubleshooting-workchat/
Caption: Talk to your team members individually or in groups using When I Work’s WorkChat app.
Designed for small and medium-sized businesses When I Work is a cloud-based employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication software.
Top features
When I Work was built for clock-based businesses, and its team messaging app comes with these popular features:
- Broadcast messages. Ping all your contacts at once using this feature. Use this function only when you need to announce relevant team-wide information, e.g. when your store is closing for fumigation.
- Accessibility. Use this tool on a web browser or mobile device so you can get notified and caught up with important information at any time.
- TeamTxt. When I Work lets you send text messages from the app so you can communicate easily with employees who don’t own a smartphone or don’t have storage to download the app.
Pros and cons
When I Work’s team communication app is easy to use and highly secure. Managers and team members can craft messages and hold conversations in a simple way.
However, the team communication platform is only available when you pay for When I Work’s scheduling app.
Pricing
When I Work offers two different plans for scheduling. You can upgrade each of these plans to track time and attendance. Prices for the Standard plan vary from $2.5-4 per user per month. Advanced features start at $6 per user per month.
Which team communication app is right for you?
Team chat apps can encourage open communication and collaboration. The platform that you choose needs to be a plug-and-play solution that’s easy to use and integrates with your scheduling, payroll, and time-tracking tools. These are the ones we recommend:
- If you want to organize your conversations, Slack or Flock are your best options as they let you create channels for topic-based discussions. However, these tools cater more to big corporations and people who use task management apps.
- If you want a fully customizable tool, Rocket.Chat is ideal. As it’s open-source, you get to add features, customize the branding, and configure it to your liking. But you need to know how to code in JavaScript to do that.
- If you’re looking for an all-in-one HR and team management platform, you can’t go wrong with Homebase.
Homebase comes with a large suite of tools that lets you handle your entire people operations without having to increase your team. It’s extremely easy to use and has a zero learning curve. The team communication app connects to the time clock and scheduling tool to simplify changes in shifts and send reminders and alerts. Plus, with Homebase, you have a team of friendly experts on hand to answer all your HR questions.
References
**The information above is based on our research on team communication apps. All user feedback referenced in the text has been sourced from independent software review platforms, such as G2 and Capterra, in February 2023.
The post 10 team communication apps to boost collaboration in 2023 appeared first on Homebase.
via Homebase https://joinhomebase.com/blog/10-team-communication-apps-to-boost-collaboration-in-2023/
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