Payroll Beacon is a state-by-state compliance platform that gives employers, HR teams, and payroll professionals instant access to verified payroll, HR, and tax rules across all 50 states.
What is Payroll Beacon?
Payroll Beacon is a web-based compliance tool that takes a user’s state footprint and business scenario (e.g., hiring, running payroll, or termination) and outputs a plain-English checklist with exact legal citations, required forms, and agency contact info. Every rule links back to the official .gov statute. The product is built by payroll and HR compliance specialists with over 15 years of hands-on experience.
Key Features
- 50-state coverage — Includes minimum wage, overtime, paid sick leave, final paycheck, vacation payout, new hire reporting, state and local taxes, workers’ comp, pay frequency, meal/rest breaks, pay transparency, and more.
- 500+ data points tracked — Each state guide covers 60+ requirements (wage rules, reporting obligations, penalties, and agency phone numbers).
- Official source links — Every checklist and calculation ties directly to the underlying statute so you can verify the rule yourself.
- Interactive tools — Final Paycheck Calculator, Penalty Calculator, Termination Checklist, and more—each generates state-specific outputs in seconds.
- Tiered state footprint — Plans let you select 1–10, up to 20, or up to 50 states so you only pay for the coverage you need.
- Always current — Laws are updated through Q1 2026, with a dedicated law-update section listing recent changes (e.g., California minimum wage to $16.90/hour effective Jan 2026).
Who is it for?
- Small business owners who hire across state lines and need onboarding requirements (new hire reporting, minimum wage rules, required notices) without guessing.
- CPAs and accountants managing payroll for 10+ clients across multiple states—use the multi-state comparison and state-specific tax rates.
- HR teams at 20–100 person companies handling terminations, final pay deadlines, and PTO payout laws across a growing geographic footprint.
What can you do with Payroll Beacon?
- Hiring across state lines — Get state-specific new hire reporting requirements, wage rules, and required labor posters in one page (New Hire Reporting, Minimum Wage Rules).
- Running payroll — Run a Payroll Audit, check vacation payout rules, and stay ahead of recurring filings like SUI/SDI and local withholding.
- Handling a termination — Use the Final Paycheck Tool to see state-specific deadlines and avoid waiting-time penalties; generate a termination checklist instantly.
How does it work?
- Pick your footprint — Select the states where your team works (tiers from 10 to 50 states). 2. Choose your milestone — Pick your scenario (hiring, running payroll, termination) to get instant guidance. 3. Execute with confidence — Receive a plain-English checklist with the exact rule, legal citation, and agency phone number—no more “Google-lawyering.”
Pricing
Payroll Beacon offers three paid tiers with a 7-day free trial. Starter is $29.99/month for up to 10 states. Growth is $49.99/month for up to 20 states with priority support and AI assistant access. Pro is $89.99/month for up to 50 states, designed for scaling HR teams.
FAQ
Is Payroll Beacon free?
You can try it free for 7 days. After the trial, you must choose a paid plan (starting at $29.99/month) to continue accessing state-specific compliance guides and tools.
