Heather Landau

Getting started with ADP RUN is as easy as setting up an account and having your employees’ information handy. Learning how to use ADP to run payroll is also simple; processing only requires a few simple steps, including resolving any timecard issues, entering overtime and PTO, and approving your payroll details. A full-service payroll software with custom pricing, ADP RUN can be more expensive than other payroll programs, but it makes up for it in convenience and expertise. We recommend signing up for a free demo, so you can see how it works in real time. You’ll also get more details about its tiered pricing plans. Sign up to get a free quote today. Step 1. Set Up an ADP RUN Account When it comes to setting up an account, ADP RUN shines compared to other payroll services because it does the setup for you. First, you’ll call ADP and arrange to talk to a sales representative, who will discuss your needs and help you select the best plan, plus any add-ons, like time tracking software. They will ask about your accounting software, in case you need integrations. Once you’ve signed the contract, your account rep will send you a list of the information they need for each employee. It’s as easy as filling in the spreadsheet they send you, or you can send employee W-4s and I-9s (but they are not required). ADP will also need your bank information (routing and account number) for setting up direct deposit. They will handle the rest, including taxes and deductions, setting up direct deposits, and configuring pay rates. When you first sign up, ADP will add all your employees for you. But what happens when you have future hires or contractors? Step 2. Sign In & Click Run Payroll From the Home Page, click “Run Payroll.” It will lead you to your payroll page, where you can see the frequency and the pay period you are running payroll for. Then, select “Start.” Step 3. Resolve Timecard Issues ADP begins the process by flagging any time card issues. If there is an issue, such as a missing clock out, it shows up in a banner at the top. Click the button marked, “Resolve Exceptions.” It takes you to the timecard (seen below), where you can resolve errors. To electronically capture each employee’s time worked, you have a couple of options. You can either use ADP’s time tracking software—which costs extra—or stick to your own software and have it integrated into ADP RUN. Learn more about free time tracking options. Step 4. Enter Overtime or Vacation Once you’ve resolved issues, the next page invites you to review the payroll and enter any changes such as PTO or overtime. If you’re manually entering time altogether, which is only feasible if you have a few employees, you can add the regular hours on this page. This page is customizable, so you can add job codes, for example. Once you are finished, click “Next.” Step 5. Enter Contractor Information Add the hours and pay rate for any contractors you have in the system. ADP will process their pay as well. Then click “Preview Payroll.” If you don’t have any contractor hours to pay, skip this step and click “Preview Payroll.” Step 6. Approve Payroll You’ll see all of your payroll details listed. Take a minute to confirm that the total hours are correct. ADP handles the deductions and taxes, but it’s always a good idea to make sure they are included. If there are errors, just click “Previous” to go back. At this point, you can also enter a message on the check stubs. (See the button in the lower-left corner.) Once done, select “Approve.” Take note that once you approve the payroll, then you CANNOT go back to it. Step 7. Review the Confirmation Screen You’ve now run your payroll—just review the final screen, and you’re good to go. ADP takes it from here, filing federal, state, and local taxes, depositing pay to bank accounts or the , and sending out checks (or you can print them yourself if you did not get this service). From the final page, you can view important information. If you have your accounting software integrated with ADP RUN, click “Download Payroll Details to General Ledger,” and the information will go to it. ADP has 47 reports for payroll and HR and can create custom reports if needed. You can process reports on any payroll runs you’ve completed. Bottom Line By following the steps in this ADP RUN payroll tutorial, you’ve found one of the easiest ways to run your payroll for each cycle. To compare its payroll process with that of other providers, check out our ADP Payroll Competitors article and the following how-to guides: How to Do Payroll With Gusto How to Do Payroll With QuickBooks