Start with a federal Employer Identification Number if you don’t already have one. You cannot process payroll without an EIN. Apply on the IRS website and you’ll receive it immediately. This number identifies your business for all federal tax purposes.

Register with your state tax agencies. In Massachusetts, you need to register with the Department of Revenue for income tax withholding and with the Department of Unemployment Assistance for unemployment insurance. Both registrations give you account numbers you’ll need for filing and paying state payroll taxes. If you have employees in multiple states, you’ll need registrations in each state where people work.

Collect the required paperwork from each employee before their first day of work. Form W-4 tells you how much federal income tax to withhold. Form I-9 verifies employment eligibility. Massachusetts also requires a state withholding form if employees want different withholding than their federal W-4 indicates. Keep these documents organized because you’ll need them for compliance and if you’re ever audited.

Decide how you’ll actually run payroll. Manual calculation works if you have one or two employees and feel confident with the math, but the margin for error is high. Payroll software like Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, or ADP handles calculations, tax deposits, and filings automatically. Full payroll system setup services configure everything correctly from the start and can manage the ongoing processing too.

Choose a pay schedule that works for your business and employees. Weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly are the standard options. Whatever you choose, stay consistent. Massachusetts requires you to pay employees within six days of the end of a pay period, which rules out monthly payroll for most hourly workers.

Understand your tax deposit schedule. Federal payroll taxes deposit either monthly or semiweekly depending on your total tax liability. New employers typically start on a monthly schedule. Massachusetts withholding follows a similar pattern. Missing deposit deadlines triggers penalties that add up quickly, so build this into your calendar from day one.

File quarterly and annual reports on time. Form 941 goes to the IRS quarterly. Massachusetts requires quarterly wage reports. At year end, you’ll prepare W-2s for employees and file them with the Social Security Administration. Most payroll software handles these filings automatically.

Get workers’ compensation insurance before you hire anyone. Massachusetts requires coverage for nearly all employers. Rates depend on your industry and your claims history. This protects employees injured on the job and protects you from lawsuits.

The setup process itself is manageable, but the ongoing compliance is where small businesses run into trouble. Incorrect withholding, missed deposits, and late filings create problems that compound over time. Many business owners in the Merrimack Valley find that Andover, MA advisory services pay for themselves by avoiding these costly mistakes.

If payroll feels overwhelming before you’ve even started, that’s a sign to get help. The cost of professional setup is usually less than the penalties and back taxes from doing it wrong yourself.