Tips for Choosing Your First Payroll Software  

Tips to choose payroll software

When your business grows too big for manual payroll, moving to payroll software makes sense. Automated payroll tools cut down on time, mistakes, and help you follow the rules. They also make HR work easier. But there are so many payroll systems out there—some in the cloud, some on your computer, some part of bigger HR systems, and some just for payroll—that picking one can seem tough. 

Picking the right payroll software isn’t just about getting a tool. You’re choosing a system that can grow with your company, stay in line with MOM rules, and make payroll easy for years. Here’s a detailed guide to help you make a smart choice you’ll feel good about. 

Why Picking the Right Payroll Software Is Important 

Payroll plays a crucial role in keeping employees happy and businesses compliant. Even tiny mistakes in CPF contributions, tax calculations, or salary payments can result in fines, penalties, or loss of trust among staff. This is why companies need to research and assess payroll software carefully before making a choice. 

Today’s payroll software does more than just work out wages—it connects with HR functions, monitors attendance, handles statutory submissions , and offers insights to help HR make smart decisions. Selecting the right software helps your business run and in the long run. 

Tip #1 – Look into the Provider Carefully 

Before you start comparing features take a close look at the company that makes the software. A well-known provider will give you better security quicker updates, and reliable compliance. 

What to Look For in a Provider 

  • How long they’ve worked with HR or payroll solutions 
  • A good name backed by reviews or case studies 
  • listed business entities (like ACRA in Singapore) 
  • Clear pricing and support info 
  • Local teams who know Singapore payroll rules 

Why this matters: Payroll deals with private employee info—bank details, pay data, tax records—so it’s key that your provider is real, safe, and well-known. 

If you’re buying online, check the company’s contacts before you pay. Scams are getting smarter so double-check company details and reach out to confirm who they are. 

Tip #2 – Know Your Payroll Needs 

Every company has specific payroll needs. Knowing what you require helps you steer clear of paying too much for extras you don’t need or picking a system that’s too simple for your business. 

What Most First-Time Payroll Software Users Look For: 

  • Automatic payroll math 
  • Less paperwork and manual data input 
  • No more mistakes in salary and tax figures 
  • Easy CPF e-submissions 
  • User-friendly control panel for HR staff 
  • Quick help from the software company 
  • Syncing with leave, claims, attendance, or accounting tools 

Set aside time to list your main issues. The more you know what you want the easier you’ll find the right software. 

Tip #3 – Review and Plan Your Spending 

Payroll software costs change based on features how it’s set up, and what it needs to work with other systems. Some companies charge you for each person using it, while others sell you a whole HR package. 

Think About These Things That Affect The Price: 

  • How much you pay each month or year 
  • One-time costs to get started 
  • Extra charges for things like expense claims tracking attendance, or timesheets 
  • How much it costs to add more people as your company gets bigger 
  • Whether you get free updates and help included 

Sometimes, paying a bit more can give you much better value—like getting automatic updates for new laws or working well with other HR tools you use. 

Keep in mind: The right payroll software saves you money over time by cutting down on mistakes and helping you avoid big fines. 

Tip #4 – Pick Between Online or In-Office Software 

The software you pick shapes your workflow, data access, and system security. 

Cloud-Based Payroll Software 

  • You can use it anywhere anytime 
  • It updates and backs up data on its own 
  • You need little IT setup 
  • It works well for remote teams 
  • It grows with your company 

On-Premise Payroll Software 

  • You run it on your office computers 
  • You must update and back up 
  • You can use it in the office 
  • It costs more to set up and maintain 

Most companies now like cloud software because it’s flexible, mobile, and cheaper in the long run. But some businesses with strict offline data rules might still want on-premise options. 

Tip #5 – Make Sure You Get Great Customer Support 

Even the most user-friendly payroll systems require time to learn. Great customer support ensures you have help when questions come up or when you need to fix problems. 

What Great Customer Support Looks Like: 

  • Quick responses 
  • Help through many ways (phone, chat, email) 
  • Support teams who know local labor laws 
  • Clear help guides, videos, and FAQs 
  • Help during setup and getting started 

Feedback from actual customers can show you how dependable the provider’s support is. 

Are You Ready to Pick Your First Payroll Software? 

Picking your first payroll software can be simple. Begin with a free trial to test features firsthand. Companies like Info-Tech provide a complete free trial for you to try the software, check integrations, use the mobile app, and see if it meets your company’s needs. 

Info-Tech’s Payroll Software Has These Features: 

  • Easy to use 
  • Follows MOM rules 
  • Works on iOS and Android 
  • Backed by a quick-to-respond support team 

To get a walkthrough or to see the system in action contact Info-Tech. 

  • I’ve always been drawn to the power of writing! As a content writer, I love the challenge of finding the right words to capture the essence of HR, payroll, and accounting software. I enjoy breaking down complex concepts, making technical information easy to understand, and helping businesses see the real impact of the right tools.