The Payroll Co. expands service area to Arkansas

The company, owned by Jeff Hunter, announced its plans June 17 to expand its service area to Arkansas.

Hunter said that earlier this year Paytime – a Fayetteville company whose services included payroll – sold its payroll clients to ADP, a national company. Now, The Payroll Co. hopes a discontent with a national company and a desire to keep dollars local will open the door of opportunity in Arkansas.

“National payroll firms aren’t always best suited for every company,” said Kemmi Rusciano, marketing director for The Payroll Co. “We’ve found that people like working with local Ozarks businesses. They like keeping their dollars local. … We saw it as an opportunity to expand to that area.”

The Payroll Co. already is serving some clients in the Fayetteville area, but Rusciano said no new Fayetteville clients have signed up since the company announced its plans.

There are not yet plans for opening Fayetteville office for the company.

“The plan is to have an office eventually in that area, but I don’t know the timetable at all,” she said.

Meanwhile, The Payroll Co. has begun marketing and advertising in Fayetteville. The company had a booth at a June 16 business expo in Fayetteville.

“The reception seems to be really good,” Rusciano said. “Feedback was exactly what we anticipated. People are unhappy with the national service and are looking to keep their business here in the Ozarks.”

Payroll outsourcing services are The Payroll Co.’s focus, but the company also provides direct deposit services, quarterly and annual tax returns and reports, new hire reporting, retirement plan file transmission, check processing, garnishments, payroll debit cards and pre-employment background checks.

Rusciano said The Payroll Co. serves about 230 businesses in Springfield, and the firm has nearly 100 percent client retention. The Payroll Co.’s largest client, Integrity Healthcare, has about 1,200 employees, and its second largest client, the YMCA, has about 600 employees, she said.

Other companies on The Payroll Co.’s client list include the American Red Cross, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Corporate Business Systems and Law Offices of Neale and Newman LLP.

The Payroll Co. also works with firms in Kansas City, St. Louis and Witchita, Kan.