We've been with Paychex (originally Oasis) for nearly 30 years, and it has been a slow, frustrating…read moredecline ever since Paychex took over. What used to be a supportive, reliable relationship has turned into an absolute nightmare. Customer service is almost nonexistent -- it takes multiple calls and emails just to get basic questions answered, if at all. There's no consistency, no follow-through, and zero sense of urgency. We've been passed around from rep to rep without ever getting real help. Worse, their pricing has become outrageous. Fees have ballooned, and there's no transparency in how they calculate what we owe. We strongly suspect we've been overcharged for state unemployment taxes and other employer costs, but getting a straight answer is nearly impossible. We are a small, family-run business -- the exact kind of client Paychex claims to support. But instead of helping us, they've taken advantage of our loyalty and made it clear that once you're in, they stop trying. We will be leaving Paychex as soon as our contract ends and will never return. We're actively warning other local businesses to avoid them as well. There is absolutely no benefit to working with a giant payroll provider that treats small businesses like we're disposable.

Paychex does not deserve any stars. They mislead clients with their pricing. While it may seem…read morereasonable, it comes with a lot of stress. The customer service and management are terrible--words can't express how frustrating the experience has been. You can send emails to management, but they are often away from their desks and limited to email communication. Every week, they assign a different representative to you, and it's almost impossible to get someone knowledgeable when you call. They consistently mess things up. I gave them a second chance, but the same issues persist. This has been a horrible experience, and I am taking my account to a different payroll company.

I have been a client of this company for over 10 years, where they prepared the personal tax return…read morefor my household. The person that usually does my return left the company (Donna) and I discovered this when I called to ask a question. Note that they did not contact me to let me know; I had to discover this myself. When I spoke to a person there about the change and commented how I was not happy with finding out this way, she promptly told me she "did not want to discuss that". So she didn't want to discuss their policy of not letting clients know about changing staff? Frustrating. Additionally, she let me know that they now had a $1000 minimum for tax prep fees (regardless of the complexity of the return). When I asked why, she said "it's hard to staff their organization". With policies and responses like this, I can understand why. To anyone that has the misfortune to continue doing business with this firm, I say "good luck".

After reading the reviews, I am not surprised that my experience has been this bad. I was given…read moreSandy's name by someone that recommended her and after several attempts and messages, over the last month, I still have not received any call back or communication. Looks like I dodged a bullet.

I have had Carol helping me with my business and personal tax returns for about 3 years now and she…read moreis awesome. She has made tax season so easy for me and has helped me maximize my deductions. Highly recommend her services.

From the owner: We specialize in Business and Individual Taxes, Payroll solutions for your business, as well as…read moremany other tax planning/business planning needs! Call today to schedule your free initial consultation .

Ive used Absolute for years now handling our payroll of for our hourly employees for our Real…read moreEstate company. Jamie and Drew are extremely knowledgeable, professional, timely and trustworthy. On top of these crucial qualities this is a local Sarasota business. What more could you ask for??

From the owner: As a locally owned and operated Florida company, Absolute Payroll offers the kind of personal,…read morehands-on customer service that the larger payroll services simply cannot provide. Absolute Payroll is a Florida payroll company that specializes in working with Florida business owners locally and Nationwide. We offer HCM, payroll and insurance solutions

At a time when personalized account servicing is more important than ever, the dedicated team at…read moreHoward Employee Services demonstrates that there a real value in the attention they give to their customers. In the years I have had the pleasure to work with them they have always endeavoured to ensure that expectations are exceeded. If payroll servicing or tax and accountancy are required, you will be very well served by this team.

From the owner: We provide relief from the burden of business administration, a wide range of employee service…read moresolutions, accounting services, and a team of professionals ready to assist you any time you need. We reduce liability and improve your employment practices with compliance and risk management. Howard Employee Services of Sarasota offers access to a comprehensive employee benefits package, allowing our clients to be competitive in the labor market! Your employees can enjoy individual or group health care, dental, and life insurance from trusted companies such as Aetna and Blue Cross & Blue shield. Volunteer benefits are also an option through Aflac providing coverage from; accident, disability, cancer, hospital, intensive car, life and long term insurance.

I have used this service over several years, upon the recommendation of my friend. As a CPA he is…read morealways pleasant and on-time, unlike my past tax preparers. An additional benefit, he will respond quickly to email requests for information during the year. I asked about "required distributions" and he fully explained the tax implications. No hedging on his answers.

From the owner: Personal & business income tax preparation, Payroll, bookkeeping & moreread more