Payroll Services & Solutions
Simplified payroll services to fit your company’s needs.
Expertise means no headaches
HR Payroll Services
Payroll and payroll taxes can cause big business headaches. They must be done right and on time; otherwise significant penalties and fines can be levied.
Our Payroll Specialists have the right experience and human resources knowledge when it comes to handling the complex payroll needs of small and medium-sized businesses. We power your business with complete payroll management services to free you or your team from this tedious task.
Our team understands payroll laws and stays current with constantly changing regulations, leaving you to focus on what you do best.
As part of our signature human resources payroll services, we provide you with a designated Payroll Specialist who will work directly with you each pay period to process your payroll online, ensure that direct deposits or live checks are completed, produce management reports, file payroll taxes and complete other necessary items to keep your operation running smoothly.
Signature Payroll Management Service
HR and payroll services in one place
Many payroll errors start somewhere else — a missed new hire form, an unrecorded pay change, a benefits deduction that never got updated. Because Focus HR runs your HR and your payroll together, information flows from one team to the next without you re-keying it.
Hire to first paycheck
New hire paperwork, W-4 and state withholding forms, new hire reporting and direct deposit setup are handled before the first payroll runs.
Benefits deductions that match
Health, retirement and other benefit deductions are set up by the same team that administers your plans, so elections and payroll stay in sync.
Compliance built in
Overtime, minimum wage, PTO and workers’ comp reporting are checked by people who track federal, state and local rule changes.
Want HR, payroll, benefits and compliance handled together? See how our HR outsourcing for small businesses works.
In-house payroll vs. payroll software vs. Focus HR
Not sure whether to handle payroll internally, use a software-only solution or outsource it entirely? Here’s how the options compare for small and medium-sized businesses.
| Factor | In-house payroll | Payroll software only | Focus HR payroll services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated specialist | You or a staff member | None — self-serve | Your own named Payroll Specialist |
| Payroll tax filing | Your responsibility | Varies by plan | Included — filed on your behalf |
| Compliance monitoring | You track regulation changes | Software updates, no advisory | Team stays current on payroll law changes |
| Direct deposit & live checks | Depends on bank/setup | Usually included | Direct deposit, live checks or Paycard |
| W-2 processing | Your responsibility | Usually add-on cost | Electronic and paper W-2s at no extra charge |
| Time & attendance tracking | Separate system required | Separate system required | Integrated time and attendance software |
| Certified payroll processing | Manual, error-prone | Rarely included | Included for applicable clients |
| HR support | Separate provider or none | Not included | HR, benefits and compliance support from the same team |
| Penalty risk | High — errors are your liability | Moderate — input errors are yours | Low — specialist accountability |
| Time cost to business owner | High — ongoing every pay period | Medium — still requires your time | Low — handled for you each pay period |
Payroll changes small businesses need to know for 2026
Payroll rules changed more than usual this year. Your Payroll Specialist handles these for you — here’s what’s new.
New W-2 reporting
The 2026 Form W-2 adds Box 12 codes for qualified overtime (code TT) and cash tips (code TP), so employees can claim the new federal deductions. Only the FLSA overtime premium counts as qualified overtime. Source
Higher 1099 threshold
For payments made after December 31, 2025, Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC are required once you pay a contractor $2,000 or more in a year, up from $600. Source
Arizona minimum wage
Arizona’s minimum wage rose to $15.15 an hour on January 1, 2026. Tucson ($15.45) and Flagstaff ($18.35) set higher local rates. Source
Overtime exemption threshold
The federal salary level for the white-collar overtime exemptions is $684 a week ($35,568 a year), after the Department of Labor formally rescinded the 2024 increase in May 2026. Source
Frequently Asked Questions About Payroll Services
A payroll service handles the end-to-end process of paying your employees accurately and on time, every pay period. At Focus HR, that includes processing payroll, filing payroll taxes, managing direct deposits or live check delivery, producing management reports, tracking PTO, and issuing W-2s — all handled by a dedicated Payroll Specialist assigned specifically to your account.
Payroll service costs vary based on the number of employees, pay frequency, and the services included. Focus HR provides custom pricing based on your specific needs — contact us for a free consultation and we’ll give you a straightforward quote with no hidden fees.
Payroll errors and late tax filings can trigger significant IRS and state penalties. For example, the IRS failure-to-deposit penalty ranges from 2% to 15% of the unpaid tax depending on how late the deposit is, and unpaid trust fund taxes can become a personal liability for business owners. Beyond financial risk, handling payroll in-house consumes time that most small business owners would rather spend on growth. A dedicated payroll specialist eliminates both risks.
Yes. Payroll tax filing is included in Focus HR’s payroll services. Our Payroll Specialists file federal, state, and local payroll taxes on your behalf each pay period, staying current with regulatory changes so you don’t have to track them yourself.
Yes. Focus HR currently supports businesses with employees in 47 states. Our team understands multi-state payroll requirements and handles the complexity of varying state tax obligations across locations. See our HR outsourcing services for more on how we support businesses operating across multiple states.
Payroll software puts the responsibility of data entry, compliance monitoring, and error-checking on you. Focus HR gives you a dedicated human Payroll Specialist who processes your payroll each period, catches issues before they become penalties, and is directly accountable for accuracy. If something goes wrong with software, you’re on your own. With Focus HR, you have a named specialist you can call. Learn more about our HR technology platform and how it integrates with our payroll services.
A payroll service pays your employees and files payroll taxes. HR and payroll services add the people side — new hire paperwork, benefits administration, compliance guidance and employee support — so payroll data and HR records come from the same team. Focus HR offers both.
Key 2026 changes include new Form W-2 Box 12 codes for qualified overtime (TT) and cash tips (TP), a higher $2,000 reporting threshold for Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC, Arizona’s $15.15 minimum wage, and a federal overtime exemption salary level of $684 a week.
