Ran across this relatively recent article on 9 business apps released in 2014 that are worth a look.  I’m especially interested in Mailbox, as I am one of those users whose email inbox doubles as a to-do list to some extent.  I like the idea of hiding an email and returning it to my inbox on a specified date.  Lingua.ly sounds like an app that might get me back on track with my abandoned Spanish and French skills — articles based on my interests, but in foreign languages.

I already use Hightail for sending large/secure files, but WeTransfer sounds like a nice, less secure, much cheaper version that I can imagine some of my clients using, as well as a couple of the time-tracking, mileage-tracking, flight-tracking products noted.  Worth a quick read.

9 of the Best New Business Apps of 2014 | QuickBooks.

At the Sleeter Accounting Technology Conference earlier this month, I had the opportunity to review Zen Payroll with the CEO and some of the fantastic staff.  I had gone in hopeful (because one of my favorite clients loves the service), but skeptical (the price is too low to be real).

I was intrigued.  Upon return, I scheduled a demo to learn the program more in-depth, and to ask all the multitude of questions I had.  And guess what?  I’m a fan.  They may be missing a few bells and whistles that some payroll systems have (most notably, departmental reporting, which they are bringing online in March), but they are affordable, integrate well, and are easy to use.

[UPDATE AS OF 2/16/2015 — THE INTEGRATIONS DO NOT WORK ANY BETTER THAN THE ADP AND PAYCHEX “MAPPING”.  THIS MEANS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY RECONCILE THE PAYROLL TRANSACTIONS AGAINST YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.  I AM PRETTY FURIOUS THAT THE METHOD OF INTEGRATION WAS NOT REVIEWED IN EITHER MY DEMO OR MY TRAINING.  THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND YET PRESENT IT AS IF THEY HAVE A FUNCTIONING INTEGRATION, BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, IT WORKS.   I WILL POST A BLOG ABOUT THE DETAILS ON THIS SOON AND LINK TO IT HERE.]

And they do the one thing I consider the most important characteristic of payroll software — they take the liability for making timely tax payments and filing timely payroll tax returns off the small business owner’s shoulders and onto theirs.  It’s like ADP or Paychex, but easy to use and affordable.

Today, I saw that Business News Daily agrees with me! See their review below.

ZenPayroll Review: Best Payroll Service for Sole Proprietors.

If you’re intrigued too, let me know — I’ll get you in touch with my rep, Jarell, and he’ll get you set up (they offer free conversion, so I encourage you to contact me before year-end so we can make sure everything’s ready to go before it’s time for W-2s).  Since I don’t accept commissions, I’ve chosen their “10% discount for more than 5 accounting clients” option, so on top of their already low fees, you get to share in this discount.

(I’ve never been excited about payroll services before.  It feels odd to be so enthusiastic about this.  Did I drink the Sleeter Group Kool-Aid?)

[UPDATE AS OF 2/16/15: APPARENTLY EVERYONE AT SLEETER IS DRINKING THE KOOL-AID IF THEY THINK THIS INTEGRATION WORKS.  BLOG POST ON THE TOPIC TO FOLLOW SOON.]