Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Chicago, IL

Chicagoland CPAs, which also operates under the name Chicagoland CPA & Accountants, is a licensed Illinois public accounting firm on the northwest side of Chicago. Its clients are mostly small companies, self-employed professionals, individuals and corporations across the city and nearby suburbs. Payroll is one of the firm's main lines of work, alongside tax and bookkeeping.

That makes it a fit for owners who want one CPA office to manage wages, filings and the books instead of hiring separate vendors for each.

Payroll Services

For employers, the firm runs payroll processing, prepares and submits the related payroll tax returns, and monitors compliance requirements so employees are paid correctly and on schedule. The same staff also keep ledgers and prepare business tax returns, so payroll data can feed straight into monthly bookkeeping and annual tax work. The website presents payroll as a professional service.

It does not promote a proprietary software platform, so companies looking for a do-it-yourself payroll app should be aware of that difference.

• Ongoing payroll administration for small businesses
• Payroll tax return preparation and filing
• Wage and employment compliance oversight
• Outsourced and small business bookkeeping, including QuickBooks support
• Business and individual tax planning and preparation
• Representation during IRS audits and help with state and local tax matters

Industries and Specialties

Much of the firm's practice is organized by industry. Its largest group is construction and the building trades, including plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors, masons, roofers, drywall and flooring installers, carpenters, excavation and concrete crews, and demolition companies, from residential builders to subcontractors.

It also serves technology businesses such as startups, software developers, IT consultants, hosting and internet providers, and cybersecurity and eCommerce companies. Hospitality clients include restaurants, coffee shops, caterers, franchise food operators, motels and event planners. The firm also lists law firms, nonprofit organizations and mental health practices among the groups it supports.

Background and Team

The firm was started in 1994 by Dario C. Zanichelli, Jr., CPA, who still leads it as president. He ran his own business from age 16, growing a landscaping company into an operation with multiple crews before earning a commerce and accounting degree from DePaul University.

He has spent more than three decades advising business owners, with a focus on profitability, sound structure and long-term viability. His staff includes account managers Dianne Malara, CPA, MA, and Andrea Scheeringa, an Enrolled Agent; junior account manager Mike Zanichelli, MA; office administrator Lisa Rios; and staff accountants Catherine Ocampo, Lorie Joy Gocotano and Rachelle Rabulan.

The firm describes its working style as structured and built on long-term relationships. It sets clear expectations, holds clients to their commitments and helps them stay organized throughout the year. Prospective clients can request a no-cost first consultation.

The firm offers service in Spanish, Polish and Italian, and it provides an online client portal and secure document submission for exchanging records. For employers comparing payroll providers, the main draw is having CPA-level oversight of payroll alongside bookkeeping and tax work under one roof, plus industry experience that is especially deep in the construction trades.

Overview

Cornerstone Tax Advisors is a tax and accounting practice with an office on West 63rd Street on Chicago's southwest side. It operates through the getitnowtax.com website. The firm says its reach covers the entire Chicagoland region, which places employers in nearby communities such as Cicero within its stated service area. Its work centers on routine financial administration for companies. Payroll processing is presented as one of several core lines, alongside bookkeeping, tax work and advisory support.

Payroll Services

For employers evaluating outside payroll help, the firm presents its payroll offering as a way to lift the administrative load off business owners. According to its site, it pairs dedicated payroll software with staff who oversee each cycle. The stated aim is to cut down on processing mistakes and give owners back their time.

The practice takes on the more complicated parts of running payroll so that clients can concentrate on operating and expanding their companies. Because payroll sits next to bookkeeping in the same office, buyers may find it convenient to keep wage records and general ledger work with a single provider.

Broader Accounting and Advisory Work

Beyond payroll, the practice offers a range of related services that smaller organizations often need:

• Bookkeeping customized to each business, including handling of receivables and payables
• Payroll administration backed by software and in-house staff
• Tax planning and related tax assistance
• Regulatory compliance support, including internal controls and risk oversight
• Assessments of financial practices to spot weaknesses and areas to improve
• Budget-conscious guidance aimed at building savings and long-term wealth
• Capital raising help, from preparing investor pitches to running funding campaigns

The fundraising line is an unusual addition for a neighborhood tax office. The firm says it assists both companies and nonprofit-style organizations that are seeking capital. It draws on a network of contacts to introduce clients to investors or donors and helps shape the message presented to them. Its compliance work is described as ongoing rather than one-time. That work includes keeping clients updated on changing requirements and putting structured frameworks in place to protect their standing with regulators.

Team and Approach

The firm highlights collaboration with certified public accountants. It says they contribute to financial reporting, analysis, tax planning and the management of business risk. Its stated emphasis is on precision and careful upkeep of records. Services are adjusted to the circumstances of each client rather than sold as a fixed package.

Prospective clients can start by requesting a consultation or a financial analysis, by submitting an inquiry through the website form, by calling, or by using an online chat option listed on the site.

The website does not publish a founding date, staff size, specific industries served or the particular payroll platform the firm uses. Buyers who need those details should raise them during an initial conversation. For Cicero-area employers, Cornerstone Tax Advisors is a nearby option that brings payroll together with bookkeeping, compliance, tax planning and capital raising support from one Chicago office.

Overview

John Joseph Griffin, CPA, P.C. is a certified public accounting practice with an office on Irving Park Road on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The firm works mainly with small companies and individual taxpayers. It handles payroll administration, bookkeeping, tax work and business advisory under one roof.

For owners comparing payroll providers, the main appeal is that a CPA firm runs the payroll, and the same firm can also keep the books, prepare returns and plan ahead for taxes. That is a different model from a standalone processing service.

Payroll Services

The firm presents payroll outsourcing as a way for busy owners to hand off a time-consuming administrative task. Staff calculate pay for different kinds of workers, track filing deadlines and submit the related tax paperwork. The goal is for employees to receive wages promptly and for withholding to be remitted when due, so clients avoid unexpected penalties. Payroll clients can use the following services:

• Pay runs on a weekly, every-other-week or monthly schedule
• Direct deposit of employee wages
• Payroll tax returns filed with federal and state agencies
• Payroll reports tailored to the business
• Accounting summaries delivered weekly or monthly
• Year-end W-2 and W-3 forms, plus 1099s for contractors
• Support during workers' compensation audits
• Help responding to unemployment claims

Payroll sits alongside the firm's accounting work. As a result, wage and tax data can feed directly into a client's bookkeeping and tax planning, which can make year-end reporting more consistent.

Accounting, Tax and Advisory Work

Beyond payroll, the practice provides outsourced bookkeeping and financial statements. It also prepares budgets and forecasts, helps with cash flow management, and offers QuickBooks setup and ongoing support. Retirement planning is available for owners and their staff. Tax services cover proactive planning and return preparation for both businesses and individuals.

For startups, the firm explains the trade-offs among LLCs, S corporations and C corporations. It also helps founders develop a business plan and pursue financing. Growing companies that are not ready to hire a full-time finance executive can engage the firm as a part-time CFO or controller. In that role it handles financial analysis, forecasting, operations reviews, profit improvement and training for in-house bookkeepers. Project work includes interim CFO engagements, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, raising capital and risk management.

Clients and Approach

The firm serves both new and established businesses, from very small operations to midsized ones. It highlights construction, real estate and technology among the industries it works with. Each engagement starts with learning how the client's business operates. The firm then puts together a custom mix of services and looks for ways to streamline accounting routines and trim unnecessary costs.

Prospective clients can request a free initial consultation. Existing clients have access to a secure online portal and an online payment option. Client testimonials on the site describe the principal, John Griffin, as accessible and straightforward, and mention his help in resolving matters with the IRS.

The firm says it aims to build lasting working relationships with the businesses and individuals it serves.

Salary Solutions Ltd. is a Chicago payroll provider based on West Bryn Mawr Avenue on the city's North Side. It describes itself as a virtual, online payroll operation built by public accountants for owners and managers who want their payroll handled accurately. The firm is linked to an accounting practice, and its site names Chris Amundson. Existing accounting clients can keep their bookkeeping and payroll with one team.

Who They Serve

The company's messaging is aimed mainly at small businesses. That includes employers that are outsourcing payroll for the first time and those that want to leave another provider. Salary Solutions says it helps with the move from a prior service. It also handles payroll-related tax obligations along with paycheck processing, so the employer does not have to coordinate separate vendors for those tasks.

Payroll Services

The core offering is a complete payroll package. According to the firm, it covers:

• Employee pay by direct deposit, check stub, or printed paper check
• Electronic deposit of payroll taxes
• Preparation and on-time submission of required tax filings
• Year-end W-2 and 1099 forms
• Payroll summaries, registers, and supporting reports
• Round-the-clock online access for administrators and employees
• Customer support from accounting staff during weekday business hours

Clients can choose weekly, bi-weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, or quarterly pay cycles. Processing can be electronic or on paper, depending on the employer's preference.

Technology and Client Experience

Clients use a web-based payroll system that stays available at all hours. Through the administrator view, an employer can open reports, pay stubs, and employee records. The same view shows tax deposits, completed tax forms, and payroll registers. A separate employee portal lets staff retrieve their own stubs and W-2s and carry out some self-service tasks. This can cut down on routine questions reaching the office. Small businesses can enter and run payroll online themselves through the platform.

What Sets Them Apart

The firm's main point of difference is who answers the phone. Salary Solutions says that calls during business hours, Monday through Friday from 9 to 5, reach a public accounting professional rather than a general call-center representative.

It contrasts this with large payroll companies, where it says staff turnover and slow callbacks can let a small error grow into tax penalties. The firm presents its accounting background as protection against costly filing mistakes and against frequent changes in payroll rules.

It describes its approach as hands-on and says it works directly with each client's staff on accuracy and deadlines. Prospective clients can request a free quote by stating their preferred pay frequency, headcount, and check delivery method. The website also publishes short articles on financial topics such as Roth conversions, Federal Reserve rate decisions, and small business hiring trends.