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Payroll software review

Paycom

Payroll and HR software sold by quote, with a dedicated service specialist and Beti, where employees review and approve their own paycheck before payroll is submitted. Prices come in each proposal; public 2026 contracts show a fee per payroll run plus a monthly fee per employee, a 3-year term and an early termination fee.

By PaycomParent company: Paycom Software, Inc.

RTC SCORE

2.8

#22 of 22 with enough data

Not enough verified data yet

We've verified 9 of 12 key facts for this payroll provider. Until we reach 80%, this page shows what we have, with sources, and it isn't a full review.

Our verdict

Built for mid-sized and larger employers that want one HR system with a dedicated specialist. For a 15-person restaurant, quote-only pricing, a multi-year term with an early termination fee and no documented POS tip import weigh against it.

What we like

  • Files and pays federal, state and agreed local payroll taxes, with tax registration in all 50 states.
  • Each client gets a dedicated service specialist.
  • With Beti, employees review, fix and approve their own paycheck before payroll is submitted.
  • Daily pay (Everyday, Complete package) costs employees nothing.

What to watch

  • No published prices, and a non-refundable setup fee set as a share of the yearly contract value.
  • A term contract (3 years in 2026 public contracts) that renews automatically unless you give 90 days' notice, with an early termination fee equal to your average monthly fees times the months left.
  • Every payroll run is charged, and time tracking, scheduling, garnishments and daily pay require the Complete package.
  • No documented POS integration or tip import, and no documented tip credit make-up.
  • Pays tax penalties only for its gross negligence, and access to your data after you leave costs extra.

How the score breaks down

RTC Score2.8out of 10

Methodology v0.1.0

Data completeness72%

We could verify 72% of the scoring data

Strongest points
Who files payroll taxes, Payroll in all 50 states, Accounting integrations
Weakest point
POS integrations

Score by criterion

  • 12-month payroll cost (reference restaurant)Weight 19%No data
  • Who files payroll taxesWeight 7%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • POS integrationsWeight 6%Weakest0.0 out of 10
  • Published pricingWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • Tip credit and minimum wage make-upWeight 5%1.0 out of 10
  • Tips imported from POS systemsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • 2026 W-2 ready for No Tax on TipsWeight 5%0.0 out of 10
  • Initial termWeight 5%2.5 out of 10
  • Live support hours a weekWeight 5%2.7 out of 10
  • Payroll in all 50 statesWeight 4%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Time trackingWeight 4%5.0 out of 10
  • FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Weight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Tip pooling and tip-outsWeight 3%No data
  • Early termination feeWeight 3%2.5 out of 10
  • Unlimited pay runsWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Fastest direct deposit includedWeight 3%No data
  • Tax penalty guaranteeWeight 3%0.0 out of 10
  • Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsWeight 2%5.0 out of 10
  • Accounting integrationsWeight 2%Strongest10.0 out of 10
  • Notice to avoid renewalWeight 2%0.0 out of 10
  • Garnishments and new-hire reportingWeight 2%5.0 out of 10
  • Declared cash tipsWeight 2%No data
  • State and local minimum wages built inWeight 2%No data
  • Dedicated specialistWeight 2%10.0 out of 10
  • Paying 1099 contractorsWeight 1%10.0 out of 10
  • Early pay for employeesWeight 1%5.0 out of 10

All the data, with sources

Each value links to its source. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't disclose it; "Unconfirmed" means we looked and couldn't confirm it. Data points we have for fewer than four vendors are left out until we can compare them.

Pricing
Data pointValue
Base feeQuote onlySource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)No published price. Paycom bills a base fee for each payroll run plus a fee per check (in the City of Decatur, Alabama proposal finalized on 8/20/2026: $8.63 per payroll plus $0.95 per check), not a flat monthly fee.
Per employeeQuote onlySource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Set in each quote. Public 2026 example: $29.59 per employee per month for the full HR suite (time, scheduling, benefits, 508 employees, City of Decatur, Alabama). A 15-person restaurant can get a different rate.
Who counts as an employeeEach person paid that monthSource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)In Paycom's 2026 public proposal, the per-employee monthly fee is multiplied by the unique employees paid in the month.
Per contractor (1099)Quote onlySource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom doesn't publish a separate price for 1099 contractors; it comes in the quote.
Published pricingQuote onlySource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)The pricing page lists what the Core and Complete packages include, without prices. Paycom's agreement also asks clients to keep their pricing confidential.
Setup feeQuote onlySource: Paycom Software, Inc. (opens in a new tab)A non-refundable setup (implementation) fee of 10% to 30% of the yearly contract value, according to Paycom's annual report. In the City of Decatur, Alabama 2026 proposal the one-time cost was $49,066.38 for 508 employees.
Year-end forms feeQuote onlySource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)Year-end forms are charged apart. In the City of Decatur, Alabama 2026 proposal: $6.95 per W-2 plus $75 for the W-3 transmittal. Your quote sets your amounts.
Each extra stateQuote onlySource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)In the City of Decatur, Alabama 2026 proposal, each additional tax jurisdiction costs $6.00 (listed under monthly costs). Your quote sets your amount.
Other feesReturned payments (NSF) on taxes or Paycom's fees: $55 the first time, $155 the second and $230 from the third on. Returned direct deposit funding: $130 each plus $80 a day until paid. Late amounts accrue 1.5% interest a month. Amending a tax return because of your error costs extra. Access to your account or data after you leave costs an additional fee. In the 2026 City of Decatur, Alabama proposal: $10 per garnishment order, $20 per delivery, $0.31 per additional direct deposit split and $75 for each ACA Form 1094.Source: Paycom (opens in a new tab)
Taxes and forms
Data pointValue
Who files payroll taxesThe provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom collects and deposits federal, state and local payroll taxes and files federal, state and the local returns agreed with you.
Payroll in all 50 statesYesSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)
Year-end W-2 and 1099 formsPrepared and filed for an extra chargeSource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)Paycom processes W-2 and 1099 forms (its annual report counts them as recurring revenue) and charges for them per form.
Paying 1099 contractorsIncluded in payroll plansSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Contractors are paid in the same system and get their Form 1099 in the Paycom app. The cost per contractor comes in the quote.
Tax penalty guaranteeNo guarantee publishedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)No guarantee for ordinary errors: Paycom pays penalties only when they come from its gross negligence or willful misconduct. If Paycom alone files a return wrong, it helps amend it at no cost.
Garnishments and new-hire reportingFor an extra feeSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)New-hire reporting is in the Core package; garnishment administration only comes in Complete. The 2026 City of Decatur, Alabama proposal also charges $10 per garnishment order.
Paying your team
Data pointValue
Pay schedulesWeekly, Every two weeks, Twice a month, MonthlySource: Paycom Software, Inc. (opens in a new tab)
Unlimited pay runsNoSource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)Each payroll run is charged, including extra (off-cycle) runs; Paycom's annual report lists revenue from unscheduled payroll runs.
Fastest direct deposit includedUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom doesn't publish how many days before payday you must submit payroll for direct deposit; we looked at its payroll pages, the Payroll Service Schedule and the 10-K. The Vault pay card can give employees access up to two days early, and Everyday pays daily wages the next workday (Complete package).
Early pay for employees (earned wage access)Paid add-on for the employerSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Daily pay comes only in the Complete package (pricing page). Employees pay no fee to receive Everyday payments.
Tips
Data pointValue
Imports tips from these POS systemsSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom documents no tip import from any POS. We looked at its pricing, payroll, hospitality and time pages, the Toast and Square marketplaces (no Paycom listing) and its 2026 public proposal (which lists a generic time punch import).
Tip pooling and tip-outsUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)A Paycom blog mentions tip distribution software, but no product page, package or help article explains how it works or what it costs; it is not on the pricing page or in the 2026 public proposal.
Tip credit and minimum wage make-upYou calculate itSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom's payroll agreement leaves the tip credit and how it is computed to you, and Paycom documents no automatic minimum wage make-up.
FICA tip credit (Form 8846)Not supportedSource: Paycom Software, Inc. (opens in a new tab)Paycom's tax credit tool covers hiring credits (WOTC). Paycom doesn't document Form 8846; we looked at its tax credit and payroll tax pages and the 10-K.
Declared cash tipsUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom doesn't document how employees declare cash tips; we looked at its hospitality, payroll and self-service pages.
2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code)Not confirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom's blog explains the law but doesn't say its 2026 W-2 will report code TP and the tipped occupation code.
2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT)Announced or partly documentedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom says its reports adapt to No Tax on Overtime but doesn't confirm code TT on the 2026 W-2.
Service charges paid as wagesUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom explains that service charges are not tips but doesn't document how its payroll pays them; we looked at its tips, payroll and hospitality pages.
State and local minimum wages built inUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom doesn't document built-in state and local minimum wages; its payroll agreement leaves wage determinations to you. We looked at its payroll, time and hospitality pages.
Integrations and time tracking
Data pointValue
POS integrations (hours or sales data)Source: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)Paycom lists no POS integration. It can import time punches from a file, and its own time clocks come in the Complete package. Toast and Square have no Paycom listing.
Time trackingPaid add-on or higher planSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Time and attendance, time clocks and time-off requests come only in the Complete package.
SchedulingPaid add-on or higher planSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Scheduling comes only in the Complete package.
Accounting integrationsOthersSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)GL Concierge (in Core) builds a general ledger file mapped to your accounts to import into your accounting software. Paycom names no direct connector to QuickBooks, Xero, Restaurant365 or NetSuite.
Payroll engineThe vendor itselfSource: Paycom Software, Inc. (opens in a new tab)
Benefits and insurance
Data pointValue
Health benefitsNot offeredSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom doesn't sell health insurance. In the Complete package it administers the plans you buy elsewhere (enrollment, carrier feeds, COBRA).
Workers' compensationNot offeredSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom tracks workers' comp data (Core) but doesn't sell the insurance or a pay-as-you-go policy.
Contract and exit
Data pointValue
Initial term36 monthsSource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)The initial term is set in each proposal. In the City of Decatur, Alabama proposal finalized on 8/20/2026 it runs to 11/15/2029 (about 3 years). The FY2025 10-K says many clients can cancel with 30 days' notice, but Paycom's current agreement ties the term to the proposal and adds an early termination fee.
Automatic renewal36 monthsSource: City of Decatur, Alabama (opens in a new tab)The agreement renews automatically for the renewal term written in the proposal (3 years in the 2026 public proposal).
Notice to avoid renewal90 daysSource: City of Tomball, Texas (opens in a new tab)
Early termination feeFees left in the termSource: City of Tomball, Texas (opens in a new tab)Your average monthly fee of the last six months times the months left in the term. It also applies if you stop using Paycom as your only payroll provider.
Early termination clauseIf you leave before the term ends, or stop using Paycom as your only payroll provider, you pay your average monthly Paycom fees of the last six months times the months left in the term. If you never run a first payroll, the fee is the average monthly fee of your proposal times 36. It does not apply if you leave because of a material breach by Paycom that it doesn't cure after written notice.Source: City of Tomball, Texas (opens in a new tab)
Right to raise pricesPaycom may change its pricing during the term with prior written or electronic notice (General Terms and Conditions, section 14), and it may amend the agreement at any time by electronic notice; using the service after that counts as acceptance. Some signed versions of the agreement cap increases during the initial term (for example 0% in year 1, 2% in year 2 and 4% after that), but the cap depends on your contract.Source: Paycom (opens in a new tab)
Your records when you leaveLimited or lost access after you leaveSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)After you leave, access to your account and data costs an extra fee, and Paycom says it is not your official record keeper, so download what you need before you go.
Support
Data pointValue
Support 24/7NoSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Employees have 24/7 self-service in the app, but live help is weekdays.
Live support hours a week45Source: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oklahoma City headquarters (Central time). Day-to-day help comes from your dedicated specialist; Paycom publishes no other hours.
Dedicated specialistYesSource: Paycom Software, Inc. (opens in a new tab)
Language
Data pointValue
Employee app in SpanishApp, pay stubs and onboardingSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)The same page lists checking pay stubs, completing W-4s and I-9s before day one, clocking in and enrolling in benefits.
Owner's dashboard in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom documents Spanish for employee self-service only; it says some applications come in 15 languages with Global HCM but doesn't say the owner's dashboard is in Spanish.
Pay stubs in SpanishUnconfirmedSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Employees can view their pay stubs in the Spanish self-service, but Paycom doesn't say the pay stub document itself is printed in Spanish.
Support in SpanishNoSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)Paycom doesn't publish support in Spanish; we looked at its contact, client support and Spanish self-service pages.
Contract or terms in SpanishNoSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)The agreements page publishes the terms and service schedules in English only.
Website in Spanish for the USNoSource: Paycom (opens in a new tab)paycom.com has no Spanish version (paycom.com/es/ returns not found); only one English page describes the Spanish self-service.

More about Paycom

How we score