Payroll Companies & Payroll Services in Saint Cloud, MN

Arnold A. Kahara, Ltd. CPA is a certified public accounting practice in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Local directories also list it as Payroll Services of Minnesota. Since 1983 the firm has worked with individual clients and small companies throughout the St. Cloud region. It merged with Anfinson Thompson & Co. and now runs as that firm's St. Cloud office.

For employers comparing payroll providers, it is a locally staffed alternative to national processing platforms. The same accounting team that handles payroll also does the tax and bookkeeping work.

Payroll and accounting services

Payroll is one of the four main service lines the firm promotes. Its local payroll service takes the paperwork of paying staff off the owner's plate so managers can focus on the business itself. Because the same office also keeps the books and prepares tax filings, payroll data can flow into a company's wider financial records instead of sitting in a separate system. Its main offerings include:

• Local payroll processing for small employers
• Bookkeeping and ongoing financial recordkeeping
• Tax preparation for individuals and businesses
• Accounting and financial guidance for small companies
• QuickBooks Pro Advisor support
• Consultations to define accounting and tax needs

Who they serve and how they work

Most clients are individual taxpayers and owners of small businesses in and around St. Cloud. The firm says it tailors its work to each client. Instead of a fixed package, the team puts together the mix of yearly tax work, recordkeeping and payroll help that suits each client. New clients usually start by booking a consultation.

Existing clients can log in to an online portal and send files to the office securely. The firm also offers a monthly email newsletter with news and practical tips. Client comments shown by the firm highlight personal attention, responsiveness and the quality of the service.

Background and credentials

Arnie Kahara started the practice in 1983. He earned his accounting degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota and led the firm until he died in 2022. His son, Andrew (Andy) Kahara, CPA, is now president. Andy helped out part-time for years before joining full-time in 2019.

He brings almost twenty years of earlier experience leading teams in data analytics, payment integrity, process improvement, finance, accounting and information technology. That work was in the financial services, technology and health care sectors.

He holds a Master of Accountancy and a graduate certificate in accounting from Auburn University, a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota, and a certificate in IT project management from Northwestern University. He belongs to the AICPA and the Minnesota Society of CPAs. The practice is licensed in Minnesota, and its accountants hold Minnesota CPA certificates.

What sets them apart

For buyers weighing payroll options, the firm's main strengths are its long history and its integrated approach. It has more than forty years of local history and a CPA-led team. It can also coordinate payroll with bookkeeping, tax returns and QuickBooks work in one place. The merger with Anfinson Thompson & Co. adds the resources of a larger regional CPA firm, and the existing St. Cloud office stays open for clients.

Central MN Payroll Services is a payroll processing firm on the southeast side of St. Cloud, Minnesota, near Saint Augusta. It focuses on one thing: running payroll for employers. Directory listings say its clients vary widely in size and are spread across several states, so its work isn't limited to local employers even though it is based in Central Minnesota.

Who they serve

Clients' payroll needs vary a lot. Some only need hourly wages processed. Others have more involved setups that combine direct deposit, retirement plan contributions, cafeteria plan deductions and tax withholding for workers in more than one state. Third-party descriptions point especially to small and mid-sized organizations that would rather hand off wage and benefit processing than do it in-house. For a business owner comparing providers, the company can handle both simple single-state payrolls and employers with staff in several states.

Payroll services

• Processing of hourly employee payroll
• Direct deposit of employee pay
• Handling of retirement plan deductions
• Administration of cafeteria plan deductions
• Withholding for employees working in multiple states
• Weekly, bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay schedules
• Support with payroll tax compliance

How they work with clients

Scheduling is flexible. The firm runs payroll on whatever calendar a client uses, whether every week, every other week or twice a month, and will process a run whenever the employer needs one. In most cases the finished payroll is back with the client the next day, which suits employers who want little delay between submitting hours and paying staff.

Listings also stress accuracy, timeliness and confidential handling of employee wage data, plus help keeping clients in line with tax rules.

The company describes its goal as keeping its service affordable and reliable while giving each client individual attention. Rather than using a self-service portal from a national vendor, clients work with a small local team that fits the setup to the employer's own deductions, benefits and pay frequency.

Background

Business records show Central MN Payroll Services was founded in 2004 and is incorporated, so it has been processing payroll in the St. Cloud area for about two decades. It is a small firm with a handful of staff, which is typical of independent payroll services that work for regional employers.

Buyers who want a dedicated payroll specialist rather than a full accounting practice or a large national processor may find that this focus, along with its multi-state capability and next-day turnaround, sets it apart from other payroll providers in Central Minnesota.

Overview

Miller, Welle, Heiser & Co., Ltd. is a certified public accounting firm based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It handles payroll processing alongside tax, bookkeeping and advisory work. The firm is licensed in Minnesota and works with business owners, company executives and independent professionals, as well as individuals and nonprofit organizations.

For buyers comparing payroll providers, the key difference is that a CPA practice runs the payroll, not a standalone processing company. That means wage reporting can be coordinated with the same team that keeps the books and prepares the business's returns.

Payroll Services

The firm has a dedicated payroll department led by a Payroll Manager. It pitches the service as a way for employers to hand off a time-consuming task and lower the risk of expensive payroll tax filing errors.

Payroll is offered on its own and as part of the firm's wider business services, where it comes with help meeting state and federal payroll tax obligations. Clients get an online payroll portal and a secure file transfer tool for sending documents straight to staff. Payroll-related offerings described on its site include:

• Payroll processing tailored to each employer
• Help with state and federal payroll tax obligations
• An online payroll portal for clients
• Bookkeeping backed by current payroll software
• Advice on HR-related and payroll tax questions
• Secure electronic document exchange

Who They Serve

Its bookkeeping and payroll clients range from sole proprietors working out of their homes to small and midsize companies with employees. The firm says it works across many industries. It also supports nonprofit organizations, helping them keep the income and expense categories the IRS reviews when deciding tax-exempt status. Beyond payroll, business clients can use the firm for audits, reviews and compilations, cash flow projections, financial planning, succession planning for family-owned companies, and advice on forming a new business.

Background and Team

The firm was founded in St. Cloud in 1977 and has grown steadily since, adding clients, partners and experienced staff. Much of its recent growth has come from client referrals. The team includes six partners, all CPAs, plus a firm administrator, a manager, senior and staff accountants, an administrative assistant and a payroll manager.

According to the firm, several employees hold CPA, CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst) or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) credentials. The CPP is the one most relevant to payroll buyers. The firm builds its approach around professionalism, responsiveness and quality, and it stresses ongoing training for its staff.

How They Work With Clients

The firm emphasizes personal attention, and each client can draw on the knowledge of the whole practice rather than a single preparer. Prospective clients can ask for a free first consultation to work out which services fit their needs.

Existing clients can use a client portal, the payroll portal, online invoice payment and a monthly newsletter with tax and business tips. The same office also handles individual and business tax returns, tax planning, estate and trust work, valuation services and IRS problem resolution. Employers who want one local firm for both payroll and accounting may find that combination convenient.