Customer Reviews

Checkmark Payroll

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As a payroll professional, I have used payroll software products that range from basic to high-tech. I bought this product to replace a basic one I had been using at home to process payrolls for several small businesses. Within an hour of opening the box, I was creating paychecks. It is remarkably easy to use, comprehensive, and contains features that many of the more expensive programs do not offer. AND you don't have to pay extra to get the current tax tables installed before you can use the product (like you do if you make the mistake of buying Quickbooks). Another great feature is that if you choose not to buy the annual updates after the first year, you can manually change the federal and state tax tables yourself.

This payroll runs year after year and that saves me money. It prints the checks and tax forms, but not the state tax forms. After setup, running the checks takes a few minutes. And I can run a payroll anytime I want. Love the printed manual.

(I'm posting this review wherever I can, hoping to get this message across to as many people as possible. And NO, I do NOT work for CheckMark. I'm just an extremely grateful customer!)

I rarely ever write reviews, but felt compelled to do so after seeing that I am apparently one of many who have been beaten to a pulp (emotionally AND financially) by Intuit's QuickBooks (for Mac) use of Aatrix Payroll software.

A few weeks ago I resorted to searching the web for answers to my MANY Aatrix issues as my recent support calls to Aatrix regarding THEIR BUGGY SOFTWARE GLITCHES had me on hold for 3 hours (but only a mere 45 minutes the next day). And no, it was NOT an 800 number. The tech staff was very nice and helpful, but 3 HOURS ON HOLD????? I'm NOT exaggerating. Thank god for speaker phones, but it still ruined my day. What I did find on the web was LEGIONS of people having the same woes as me.

I do give Aatrix credit for stepping in when Intuit failed to support the Mac community by not including this basic payroll function in their for Mac products. However, after using Aatrix for the past 5 years, I finally reached my limit and searched for a Mac-based payroll alternative. Believing that I was somehow stuck with Aatrix, I was thrilled to find another company that not only makes one, but makes a far cheaper, easier, and IMHO superior program:

CheckMark Payroll.

And the best part is, YOU CAN IMPORT TO QUICKBOOKS. So far all my pay data has landed safely and perfectly in QB6. I could go point-for-point and compare, but please take my word. It is SOOOOOOO much simpler to use. No more jumping through hoops, no bugs, no missing numbers, no crashes, works like a charm, AND CHEAPER. Over the past 5 years, I've paid probably $1000. in version and tax table updates to Aatrix. Now you can't even generate forms such as 941, W-2, etc. You have to PAY FOR A FORMS SUBSCRIPTION! CheckMark's pricing structure makes Aatrix look like F***ING pirates! If it worked like magic, yeah OK, but it's so frustrating to use it will make you want to hang yourself.


Thank you CheckMark. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

I bought this software from Amazon; last March (05). I spent weeks looking, calling and trying different payroll and accounting software. CheckMark is awesome; I run a small business with four employees. You can't get setup and running any faster or easier. If you like effortless software with great support get CheckMark - Like one of my bosses said to me one time "keep it simple stupid" CheckMark is simple but powerful and easy! You can't go wrong; it might have taken me a year to write this; but that benefits you! Get it!

I found this program easy to set-up and use. I was using it in less than an hour.

THIS SOFTWARE IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE COMPARED TO OTHERS. IT IS EASY TO SET UP AND EASY TO USE. DIRECT DEPOSIT FEATURE TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO SET UP WITH YOUR OWN BANK. I LIKE ALL THE FEATURES FOR PRE TAX DEDUCTIONS.

I was in search of a payroll software. After reading the reviews posted on Amazon, I decided to try the software for myself. I went Checkmark's website and downloaded the demo version. I was intimidated at first, but after an hour of playing with the software, I became very comfortable with it. I decided to purchase the software, and it has been a great investment. Instead of paying a outsource payroll company, I have saved thousands of dollars by doing it myself.

I bought this program thinking it would save a lot of time. Yes, it does once you've manually set up your state & local withholdings. But be prepared to shell out money each year to keep it operational even though the manual says the updates aren't mandatory. THIS IS FALSE !

The real problem I have with the product is that you need to buy a mandatory update each year ($125) in order to access the W2 forms for the current year. For example, I bought this in 2007 and ran my company payroll through it. Now that I want to print W2 forms for 2007 I HAVE TO BUY THE 2008 UPDATE - This is BS !! (bait and switch marketing).

So your real cost will be $165 PLUS $125 update just to use it in the current year.

Of course these subtlties don't surface until after the 60 day customer support period is over at which point Checkmark will be glad to charge you for this information. I'm giving it here for free !

Found this more difficult to use than the simple Quicken payroll I used on my PC. Switched to Checkmark b/c Quicken does not work on Mac. I preferred the print outs more in Quickpay. I found some of the data I put in as for example : hours rates were changed in the calculations and I had to go back and correct them manually.
Admittedly, some of this may be due to my inexperience.

I need to be able to generate 1099 forms as well as W-2, but this program assumes that you never have to deal with contractors. For crying out loud, would it really be that difficult to include a template? And of course, the competing manufacturers' business software will allow you to print 1099 forms--unless you have a Mac, like I do.