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Agency Payroll: Software vs Managed, Which Wins? | BEGl Service (2026)
Payroll software gives a marketing agency the fields; managed payroll gives it someone accountable for filling them correctly, which for marketing agencies means 1099 vs W-2 freelancer classification, project-based bonuses and multi-state remote teams configured against the rules cited here rather than left at defaults. BEG: $25 per employee per month in your existing platform or $45 on isolved, live in 3 to 5 days.
What software leaves to a marketing agency to get right
Copywriters, designers and other creative staff can be exempt creative professionals only if paid a salary of at least $684 per week and their primary duty requires invention, imagination, originality or talent in a recognized artistic or creative field. Work that mainly depends on intelligence, diligence and accuracy does not qualify, and the test is applied case by case.
Account managers may fall under the administrative exemption only if salaried at the standard level, performing office work directly related to management or general business operations of the employer or its clients, such as advertising, marketing or public relations, and exercising discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance.
The honest comparison
Software at roughly $40 to $150 a month plus $5 to $12 per employee handles a single-state, all-W-2, hourly-and-salary payroll well, and the customer owns every configuration decision, every deposit and every notice. Managed payroll at $25 to $45 per employee per month owns the configuration, the deposits, the filings and the corrections, and carries a $500 monthly minimum. For marketing agencies the deciding question is who documents the exemption status of account managers and copywriters and who rebuilds the pay codes when the rule changes.
The rules behind this page, with sources
General information, not legal advice. Every rule below was read on the agency page linked next to it.
- Copywriters, designers and other creative staff can be exempt creative professionals only if paid a salary of at least $684 per week and their primary duty requires invention, imagination, originality or talent in a recognized artistic or creative field. Work that mainly depends on intelligence, diligence and accuracy does not qualify, and the test is applied case by case. [DOL Fact Sheet #17D]
- Account managers may fall under the administrative exemption only if salaried at the standard level, performing office work directly related to management or general business operations of the employer or its clients, such as advertising, marketing or public relations, and exercising discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance. [DOL Fact Sheet #17C]
Read the full guide to fully managed versus self-service payroll, and the rest of the marketing agency payroll library.
Managed Payroll, Handled.
BEG manages payroll at $25-$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. Get an instant cost comparison for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does payroll software get wrong for marketing agencies?
Copywriters, designers and other creative staff can be exempt creative professionals only if paid a salary of at least $684 per week and their primary duty requires invention, imagination, originality or talent in a recognized artistic or creative field. Work that mainly depends on intelligence, diligence and accuracy does not qualify, and the test is applied case by case.
When is software the right answer for a marketing agency?
A single state, all W-2, hourly and salary pay, no 1099 vs W-2 freelancer classification, and under about 20 employees where the $500 managed payroll minimum makes the effective rate high.
What does managed payroll cost for a marketing agency?
$25 per employee per month inside your existing platform or $45 on BEG's isolved HCM, all-inclusive, with a $500 monthly minimum. 1099 vs W-2 freelancer classification, project-based bonuses and multi-state remote teams are configured at setup, not billed as add-ons.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Marketing & PR Agencies. BEG manages payroll at $25-$45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
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