If you have employees, chances are you’re doing payroll. It’s one of the mainstays of running a business, no matter how large or small.

Though payroll is commonplace, it’s often one of the more challenging tasks in either HR or accounting. With so many rules, regulations, and nuances to monitor, it’s easy for even the best payroll professionals to slip up.

It’s one of the reasons you’re considering a payroll service provider for your company, especially as you expand into new territories like the United States. Your team has enough on their plate without needing to learn an entirely new set of national and state rules.

The question you have now is, how can you find the best payroll service provider? These five tips can help.

1. Know What Services You Need

The first step to choosing a payroll provider is to step back and evaluate your company’s needs. How many employees do you have? Are you looking just for payroll services, or do you require help with preparing your American taxes as well?

Once you’ve evaluated your own needs, you’ll be in a much better position to find a payroll provider whose services suit your company culture, your must-haves, and your budget.

2. Look for Expertise on the Team

As you research payroll providers, you’ll want to search for partners who have the expertise you require.

There are two major considerations here. The first is which province you’re operating in. If you’re paying employees in California, you’ll want to hire a provider who has experience with the state’s rules about unemployment insurance and more. If, by contrast, you’re operating in New York, you’ll want someone who has experience there. If you expect to expand to several states, it’s a good idea to find someone who has experience with payroll across the US.

The second consideration is your industry. Different industries may have different regulations in some states, so a provider who has worked with other companies in your industry can give you another advantage.

3. Evaluate Their Customer Service

When looking for a service provider of any kind, many business leaders make the mistake of partnering with the provider who gives them the lowest estimate.

That doesn’t take the concept of value into consideration, and many HR managers and payroll professionals later find that the provider is actually costing them more as they have to fix mistakes or play phone tag to get answers.

Before you sign on the dotted line with any payroll service provider, take stock of their customer service. Can they answer your questions? How easy is it to contact them when you have questions?

A team that provides better customer service now is more likely to live up to your expectations and help you conduct payroll administration smoothly every week of the year.

4. Think about Growth

Right now, you’re looking for payroll services for a certain number of employees in a particular state.

What happens when you grow? Maybe you expand into another American state, or maybe you add more employees in your current state.

You’ll want to be sure your payroll provider can keep up with you.

You might also want to think about services beyond payroll alone. You may not need assistance with employee training and development right now, but what about in the future? How will you monitor and manage compliance?

By asking these questions now, you’ll be able to find a partner who can help you in the present and long into the future as well.

5. Ask about Costs

The final consideration for anyone shopping for the best payroll services is to think about the costs. Again, you should be thinking less about the bottom dollar and more about value.

By partnering with a team that provides the best value, you’ll save more than just money. With these tips in hand, finding the best payroll service provider is easier than ever.