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for a number of years I've used a local bookkeeper/accountant to process payroll and pay our bills. Looking at what I'm paying them I think I need to look around. It's about $780/month without taxes - it seems like a lot (and long ago I was an accountant). I was disappointed with QuickBooks prices, the per check amount seemed ridiculous. My current bookkeeper uses Sage which I'm looking into but would love to hear if there are others out there that are good value for money.

Thanks!

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Margi Swett
Vermont Awards and Engraving, Inc.
Saint Albans VT
802.862.3000
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I use a local company and pay $150 per month for payroll and monthly reports. Happy to introduce you. 

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Michael Weiss
Gleam & Glory
Hagerstown MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2025 15:17
From: Margi Swett
Subject: Bookkeeping & Payroll

for a number of years I've used a local bookkeeper/accountant to process payroll and pay our bills. Looking at what I'm paying them I think I need to look around. It's about $780/month without taxes - it seems like a lot (and long ago I was an accountant). I was disappointed with QuickBooks prices, the per check amount seemed ridiculous. My current bookkeeper uses Sage which I'm looking into but would love to hear if there are others out there that are good value for money.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Margi Swett
Vermont Awards and Engraving, Inc.
Saint Albans VT
802.862.3000
------------------------------

I was using the payroll section of QuickBooks and was paying through the nose for it.  My accountant told me about a program called Bookkeeper by Avanquest, which she has a number of clients use for payroll.  She said Avanquest keeps the tax tables up to date which was the main reason I was using QB.  I bought the program (yes, I own it) for $50.00, and it works fantastic.  Each week after I cut the payroll checks,  I send a report to my accountant and she handles the state and federal taxes for me.  I am now paying much less for payroll, and I can cut the checks when I want to,  not when QB tells me to.

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Randy Baldwin
Just Write Laser Engraving
Farmville NC
252.353.4005
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2025 15:17
From: Margi Swett
Subject: Bookkeeping & Payroll

for a number of years I've used a local bookkeeper/accountant to process payroll and pay our bills. Looking at what I'm paying them I think I need to look around. It's about $780/month without taxes - it seems like a lot (and long ago I was an accountant). I was disappointed with QuickBooks prices, the per check amount seemed ridiculous. My current bookkeeper uses Sage which I'm looking into but would love to hear if there are others out there that are good value for money.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Margi Swett
Vermont Awards and Engraving, Inc.
Saint Albans VT
802.862.3000
------------------------------

I've always done my own payroll using AccountEdge software.  I use it for all of my accounting work.  I've been using it for 38 years, in instances over the years where I have owned other businesses with as many as 50 employees on the payroll.  It's great for local, state and federal tax filings, as well as managing accrued benefits such as paid time off.  The company that owns the software now is transitioning everyone over to a monthly subscription model which I despise but have chosen to live with because I like the software so much.  With your accounting background you might consider taking payroll in-house.

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David Takes
Expressions Engraved
Saint Joseph, MO
816.232.6000
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2025 15:17
From: Margi Swett
Subject: Bookkeeping & Payroll

for a number of years I've used a local bookkeeper/accountant to process payroll and pay our bills. Looking at what I'm paying them I think I need to look around. It's about $780/month without taxes - it seems like a lot (and long ago I was an accountant). I was disappointed with QuickBooks prices, the per check amount seemed ridiculous. My current bookkeeper uses Sage which I'm looking into but would love to hear if there are others out there that are good value for money.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Margi Swett
Vermont Awards and Engraving, Inc.
Saint Albans VT
802.862.3000
------------------------------