Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Fort Collins, CO

Avid Payroll is a Fort Collins, Colorado firm that handles payroll processing for small and mid-sized employers. It does not hand clients a self-service portal and leave them to run payroll on their own. Instead, its staff process each payroll on the client's behalf. Clients also get a locally based team they can reach directly with questions.

The firm cites a dozen years of experience. Its site reports roughly $30 million in yearly payroll processed, 1,251 employees paid and about 200 businesses served.

Payroll and related services

The core offering supports weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly and monthly pay schedules. It also covers the recurring tax filings that come due each month, quarter and year. Avid can pay staff by paper check, direct deposit or paycard. The company says direct deposit and W-2 tax forms are included without an additional charge.

At year end, workers can retrieve their W-2s or 1099s electronically or receive printed copies. The firm handles both W-2 staff and 1099 contractors, and it can process pay for employees who work outside Colorado. Beyond payroll itself, Avid provides:

• Workers' compensation on a pay-as-you-go basis. Premiums are spread across payroll cycles instead of requiring a large deposit up front.
• Timekeeping and attendance through a Swipeclock integration. Staff can clock in from a phone or computer, and the system automatically handles time-off requests, accruals and holiday pay.
• HR tools, including:
  • an online support center with articles, forms and a job description library
  • access to a live HR professional for questions
  • a custom employee handbook builder
  • paperless onboarding
  • remote worker management
• Background screening, covering single- and multi-state database checks, county criminal searches, verification of education and work history, and social media reviews.

How they work with clients

Getting started typically takes five to ten business days. For businesses switching from another provider, the timeline can vary with headcount and pay frequency. Bank approval of direct deposit details takes time, so the first payroll is generally issued on paper checks.

Each pay period, clients send their payroll data by email or through an online employer portal, and Avid's staff then run the payroll. Clients deal with a local account manager, and testimonials mention team members such as Lana and Deniese by name.

Employees get a mobile app and self-service tools, which the company says are part of its fee rather than an add-on. Avid will also build custom plans for businesses whose needs fall outside its standard packages, and it offers free consultations.

Who they serve

Avid focuses on small to medium-sized businesses and accepts clients with as few as one employee. Its clients range from single-member LLCs to larger corporations. Industries highlighted on its site include:

• Restaurants
• Professional services
• Health and medical practices, including dentists
• Contractors
• Entrepreneurs and owner-operated businesses

Avid sets itself apart for Northern Colorado employers in three main ways:

• direct access to a consistent local contact instead of rotating support staff
• payroll run by its own team rather than by the client
• direct deposit, an employee app and HR software bundled into its service

Testimonials from a restaurant owner, a transportation company and a health business describe on-time tax filings and responsive help.

Overview

Payroll Vault Fort Collins/Loveland is a payroll and HR outsourcing office in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is locally owned and also runs a second location on Oahu, Hawaii. The firm works with small and medium-sized employers who would rather hand off paychecks, payroll taxes and compliance work than handle them in-house.

In northern Colorado it lists Fort Collins, Loveland, Bellvue and Red Feather Lakes as service areas. It also has a program for accountants who want a payroll partner for their clients.

Payroll Processing and Tax Compliance

Full-service payroll is the core of the business. Clients can run checks and W-2s on a weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly cycle. The team sends payroll taxes to the agencies and handles deductions for the employer. Staff can be paid by direct deposit, with the option to split wages across accounts.

Workers without a bank account can use paycards, which saves them check-cashing fees. Reporting support covers new hire reports, garnishments, and general ledger exports or interfaces. Employers and employees can use a secure online portal and mobile apps at any hour to swap documents and view pay records. For contractors on government-funded projects, the office prepares Davis-Bacon certified payroll.

HR, Timekeeping and Related Services

Beyond payroll, the company offers several other workforce tools:

• HR outsourcing in three tiers: HR Online, a self-service library of policies, forms, job descriptions, law alerts and training; HR On-Demand, which adds unlimited questions to certified HR professionals plus custom handbooks and documents; and HR Complete, which assigns a dedicated HR professional who builds an action plan and helps put it in place
• Cloud-based time and attendance with web, GPS and voice punch options, plus PIN, swipe, biometric and punch clocks
• Background checks and drug screening before hiring
• Pay-as-you-go workers' compensation based on real payroll figures, so there are no large premium deposits
• Branded labor law posters with alerts when the rules change
• Help filing Beneficial Ownership Information reports

How They Work With Clients

The office calls its approach boutique-style. Each client gets a dedicated payroll specialist instead of a general call center. The firm commits to answering questions quickly, telling clients when labor laws change, and explaining the rules for paying employees.

There is no annual contract, switching from a previous provider is meant to be simple, and the firm describes its pricing as competitive. Businesses thinking about signing up can ask for a payroll check-up. An HR Fitness Test is also available to find gaps in current HR practices.

Background

The local team says it has more than seven decades of experience between its members. The office belongs to the wider Payroll Vault brand. The brand's co-founder and COO, Tricia Petteys, has spoken publicly about the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

Reviews on the site come from different kinds of businesses, including a construction contractor that uses the firm for certified payroll compliance. For buyers comparing providers, the main things that set it apart are a named local contact, no long-term contract, and HR, timekeeping and workers' compensation services from the same provider.

Unify Payroll is a payroll service provider based in Fort Collins, Colorado, that works with small businesses across the state. The firm presents itself as an alternative to large national payroll companies. It pairs a commercial-grade software platform with a local team of specialists who handle client accounts directly. According to its website, it has served more than 500 businesses, draws on over two decades of experience, and is a member firm of PASBA.

Payroll and tax services

Its core offering covers the full payroll cycle. Clients can pay staff on a weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly schedule. The company calculates, files and remits federal, Colorado and local payroll taxes. It also prepares year-end tax forms for employees and contractors. Unify Payroll says every client receives the complete feature set rather than choosing among tiered packages. Included capabilities are:

• Wages delivered by direct deposit, with printed checks also available
• Year-end W-2 and 1099 preparation and delivery
• An online portal where employees view pay stubs and tax forms and maintain their own details
• Handling of wage garnishments such as child support and tax levies
• Automatic Colorado new hire reporting
• Reporting that includes registers, labor distribution, tax summaries and custom reports

HR, benefits and compliance

Beyond payroll, the firm bundles core HR functions into its service. Paperless onboarding supports digital I-9 and W-4 forms, electronic signatures and checklists for new hires. Benefits administration covers medical coverage, 401(k) plans, paid time off tracking and Affordable Care Act compliance. A Colorado-focused compliance component offers guidance on COMPS, FAMLI configuration, mandatory workplace postings and HR document storage.

Businesses that need more can add modules from the isolved talent management suite. These include recruiting and applicant tracking, a learning management system for training, and tools for goal setting and performance evaluations. Time and attendance services are also offered. Pre-employment background screenings can be ordered online through a partner on a per-search basis.

How the firm works with clients

Unify Payroll emphasizes direct relationships. Each client is assigned a dedicated payroll specialist, and the company aims to reply within four business hours or on the same business day. Getting started follows three steps. First comes a short introductory call of about 30 minutes. A tailored proposal typically follows within one business day.

Onboarding then takes roughly two weeks, during which the team manages the move from the previous provider. Clients may call, email or visit the Fort Collins office. The website also offers a free library of IRS and Colorado forms, a guided packet for new employees, and links for state tax and FAMLI registration.

Background and team

The company is part of the Unify family of firms. That group also includes Unify CPAs, which provides accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation, and Unify Wealth, which handles retirement plans, 401(k) programs and investment management. While working with those sister firms, the founders repeatedly encountered payroll problems left behind by national vendors.

These included payroll records that did not reconcile with the books, missed tax credits, misaligned retirement contributions and incorrect FAMLI filings. Unify Payroll was created to coordinate payroll closely with a client's accountant and financial advisor.

The founding partners are Stephanie Kimak, CPA, who brings over 25 years of accounting and payroll experience and specializes in payroll tax compliance, and Andy Hairgrove, who leads onboarding. Partner Mariela Aballay, CPA, oversees operations and focuses on restaurants, HR and Colorado tax matters. Partner Mike Mehle, CPA, a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, manages integrations with third-party systems.

Client testimonials on the site come from a landscaping company, restaurants and a brewhouse, an auto repair shop, an energy company, an equipment business and a medical practice. The firm highlights its experience with restaurant payroll, including tipped employees. Its focus remains small and growing Colorado employers that want state-specific compliance handled alongside routine payroll.