Done-for-you payroll services for small businesses
Stress-free payroll that keeps your team paid and your business compliant.
Payroll touches every employee, every pay period, and every tax agency you answer to β so a small mistake compounds fast. At Cal The Bookkeeper, payroll is handled by Calicia Landry, a Certified Intuit QuickBooks Payroll Pro Advisor and Platinum Level Pro Advisor with 15+ years of experience, named the 2026 Best of South Lake winner for Bookkeeping Services. You hand off the pay runs, the tax math, and the filings; you get accurate, on-time payroll without doing any of it yourself.
We serve small businesses across Clermont, Minneola, Groveland, Winter Garden, and throughout Lake County, FL β with payroll that plugs directly into your bookkeeping so your financials are always reconciled.
Perfect for owners who are tired of DIY payroll, missed deadlines, and confusing tax rules.
Why use a Certified QuickBooks Payroll Pro Advisor instead of DIY
The real cost of payroll isn't the processing β it's the penalties. The IRS assesses substantial penalties every year for employment-tax errors, most of them from late deposits or incorrect filings by small employers. A Certified QuickBooks Payroll Pro Advisor catches those issues before they become costly, keeps every filing on time, and integrates payroll directly with your books β saving you hours and eliminating the expensive mistakes that come from "whoever has time" handling it.
You also work directly with Cal β not a call-center queue β so questions get answered by the person who actually runs your payroll.
"Calicia is an outstanding resource to have in your arsenal of professionals to utilize when it comes to bookkeeping."
Cyndi Forbes, local service business
Cal built us a simple payroll process that just runsβno more scrambling at month-end.
Why Florida Payroll Has its Own Rules
Running payroll in Florida is genuinely different from most states, and getting these details right is where a local specialist earns their keep.
No state income tax withholding. Florida is one of nine states with no personal income tax on wages, so there's no state income tax to withhold from paychecks. That simplifies one part of payroll β but it does not remove your federal obligations or your state employer tax.
Florida Reemployment Tax (the state's version of SUTA). Every Florida employer pays Reemployment Tax to the Florida Department of Revenue. It is paid entirely by the employer β it can't be deducted from employee wages.
New employers: 2.7% on the first $7,000 of each employee's annual wages (about $189 per employee per year).
Established employers: an experience-based rate ranging from 0.1% to 5.4% ($7 to $378 per employee), assigned after roughly 10 quarters of history.
Wage base: only the first $7,000 per employee is taxed, so most of this liability lands in Q1 β worth budgeting for.
Filing: quarterly to the Florida DOR (Form RT-6).
Federal payroll taxes still apply in full. No state income tax doesn't mean no payroll taxes:
Social Security: 6.2% employer + 6.2% employee, on wages up to the annual Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026).
Medicare: 1.45% employer + 1.45% employee on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% employee withholding on earnings over $200,000.
FUTA (federal unemployment): 6.0% on the first $7,000, reduced to an effective 0.6% for employers who pay state reemployment tax on time. (Florida is in good standing and is not a FUTA credit-reduction state for 2026.)
Federal income tax withholding: based on each employee's W-4 and current IRS tables.
Tax figures above reflect 2026 rules and should be reviewed each year; the Florida DOR mails your specific Reemployment Tax rate (Form RT-20) every December.
Payroll services tailored for small business owners
Whether you have your first hire or a growing team, Cal The Bookkeeper provides end-to-end payroll solutions that integrate with your bookkeeping and make tax time simple.
Full-service payroll processing
We manage each pay run from start to finishβhours, salaries, commissions, and reimbursementsβso your employees are paid correctly and on time, every time.
Payroll tax filings & compliance
We handle federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations and filings, so you avoid penalties and stay compliant with changing regulations.
Year-end forms & payroll reports
We prepare and distribute W-2s, 1099s, and key payroll reports your bookkeeper and tax preparer needβclean, organized, and on time.
Why should a business use a payroll service?
Outsource payroll, reclaim your time, and reduce risk.
Running payroll yourself can feel simple at firstβbut as soon as you add more employees, new states, or contractors, it quickly becomes a time-consuming compliance headache. A professional payroll service gives you accurate calculations, on-time filings, and peace of mind.
Save hours every month compared to DIY spreadsheets or manual calculations.
Avoid costly IRS and state penalties from late or incorrect payroll tax filings.
Improve accuracy with consistent calculations, deductions, and direct deposits.
Protect your team experience with predictable, on-time paydays.
Gain clean payroll data that flows into your bookkeeping and tax returns.
For many small businesses, the real question isnβt βWhy should I use a payroll service?ββitβs βHow soon can I hand this off?β
Signs itβs time to outsource your payroll
- Youβve missed or almost missed payroll tax deadlines.
- Youβre not confident your withholdings are correct.
- Your team has grown beyond just one employee or one state.
- Youβre using spreadsheets, paper time cards, or manual checks.
- Payroll tasks pull you away from sales, operations, or clients.
- Youβre worried about keeping payroll data secure and private.
Cal The Bookkeeper is built for owners who want reliable payroll support without hiring a full in-house team.
How our payroll services work
A simple, recurring process that keeps payroll off your plate.
1. Payroll discovery call
We review your current payroll process, platforms, team size, and states so we can design the right level of payroll support.
2. Setup & clean-up
We configure or optimize your payroll system, add employee profiles, and ensure tax accounts are correctly connected.
3. Recurring payroll runs
On your agreed schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly) we process payroll and ensure direct deposits and pay stubs are delivered.
4. Filings, reports & support
We manage payroll tax filings, send payroll reports, and answer questions as your business, team, and compliance needs evolve.
Whatβs included in our payroll services
We customize your payroll package around your team, industry, and systems while keeping everything simple to use and understand.
New hire onboarding and terminations
Employee and contractor payroll processing
Automated direct deposit and pay stubs
Federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations
Quarterly and annual payroll tax filings
W-2 and 1099 preparation and distribution
Garnishments and other required deductions
Integration with bookkeeping for clean records
Already on a payroll platform like Gusto, ADP, or QuickBooks Payroll? We can often work with your existing tools instead of forcing a full migration.
Benefits of partnering with Cal for payroll
Less admin, more focus
Spend more time serving clients and leading your team instead of tracking timesheets and updating tax tables.
Integrated with your books
Because payroll and bookkeeping work together, you get clean financials that make cash flow, labor costs, and taxes easier to understand.
Compliance oversight
We keep an eye on payroll requirements so youβre less likely to be surprised by notices, penalties, or messy corrections.
Support from a real human
When questions come upβabout bonuses, new states, or new benefitsβyou have a trusted advisor to walk you through the options.
The result: reliable payroll, happier employees, and clearer financialsβwithout adding more to your already full plate.
Payroll services for local, service-based, and online businesses
We support small businesses in a variety of industries, with an emphasis on owner-led teams that need reliable, relationship-driven support.
Home services and trades
Agencies and professional services
Online businesses and eCommerce
Health, wellness, and personal care
Nonprofits and community organizations
Consultants and contractors with 1099 teams
If youβre unsure whether your business is a good fit for our payroll services, weβre happy to review your situation and point you in the right directionβeven if thatβs not us.
Remote-friendly payroll support across the U.S.
Our clients are based in multiple states and often operate with remote or hybrid teams. We help you stay organized as you grow beyond a single location.
If youβre expanding into a new state or adding remote hires, weβll walk you through what needs to be set up from a payroll and bookkeeping perspective.
Payroll services FAQ
Get answers to common questions about outsourcing payroll, working with Cal The Bookkeeper, and what to expect when you switch from DIY payroll.
Still have questions? Bring them to your consultationβno pressure, no jargon, just clear answers.
Is my business too small to use a payroll service?
If you have at least one employee or pay regular contractors, a payroll service can be a smart move. Even simple setups still require accurate withholdings, tax deposits, and filings. For many owner-led businesses, the time and stress saved easily outweigh the cost.
Do you replace my existing payroll platform?
Not always. If youβre on a solid platform like Gusto, ADP, or QuickBooks Payroll, we can often manage and optimize what you already have. If your current setup is holding you back, weβll recommend and help implement a better option.
Can you help me clean up past payroll issues?
Yes. Many clients come to us with late filings, incorrect classifications, or mismatched payroll and bookkeeping records. Weβll review your history, coordinate with your tax professional if needed, and outline a plan to correct and move forward.
How does payroll integrate with bookkeeping?
Because Cal The Bookkeeper focuses on both, we ensure payroll entries hit the right accounts and match your financial reports. That means cleaner profit & loss statements, easier tax preparation, and better visibility into labor costs.
What does onboarding look like and how long does it take?
Most payroll onboarding takes 1β3 weeks, depending on your team size and existing systems. Weβll gather your current payroll data, confirm tax accounts, set up or refine your platform, and run a test cycle before going fully live.
Does Florida require state income tax withholding from payroll?
No. Florida has no personal state income tax, so there's no state income tax to withhold from employee paychecks. You're still responsible for federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, and Florida Reemployment Tax.
What payroll taxes do Florida employers actually pay?
Employer-side Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) matching, FUTA (effectively 0.6% when state tax is paid on time), and Florida Reemployment Tax (2.7% for new employers on the first $7,000 per employee, then an experience-based rate of 0.1%β5.4%). Reemployment tax is paid only by the employer.
Do you serve businesses outside Clermont?
Yes β we serve Minneola, Groveland, Winter Garden, and all of Lake County, FL, plus remote clients across the state.
Why use a bookkeeper for QuickBooks payroll instead of doing it myself?
A Certified QuickBooks Payroll Pro Advisor catches errors before they become penalties, keeps filings on time, and integrates payroll directly with your bookkeeping β saving hours and avoiding costly mistakes.
Ready to stop worrying about payroll?
Letβs walk through your current payroll, identify the gaps, and map out a clear plan. No pressure to commitβjust a helpful conversation with someone who lives and breathes small business finances.
Get in touch
Share a bit about your team size, states, and current payroll process so we can come prepared with recommendations.
Partner with Cal today to empower your business with expert bookkeeping, personalized support and the tools to reach your financial goals!
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1230 Oakley Seaver Dr. Suite 101
Clermont, FL 34711
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352-716-6700
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