Note: Payroll Features Are Available Only for S Corp Tier Members
Payroll functionality — including adding and managing 401(k) deductions — is currently available only for members on Collective’s S Corp tier. If you are on the LLC tier, payroll is not included in your plan.
Overview
This article continues from Payroll Setup Steps at Collective. After completing onboarding in Gusto and signing all required payroll forms, the remaining steps involve account approval and, if applicable, the completion of payroll migration. The following sections outline exactly what happens next, what you’ll see in your dashboard, and how you will know when payroll is ready to run.
What Happens Next:
Account Approval and Getting Ready to Run Payroll!
After you've completed all onboarding steps and signed all required forms, there are a few final steps before you can run your first payroll. The timeline varies depending on your specific situation.
Step 1: Account Approval
What happens:
- After you submit all forms and complete onboarding, we review and approve your account
- This is a verification process to ensure all information is accurate and complete
Timeline:
- Most cases: Instant approval - Your account is approved immediately and you'll see payroll schedule details.
-
Some cases: 1-2 business days - We may need to manually review certain details
- This can happen if there are unusual circumstances
- If additional verification is needed
- If any information needs clarification
How you'll know:
- Instant approval: You'll be able to run payroll immediately in your dashboard
- Pending approval: You'll see "We are finalizing your payroll details. You will receive an email in ~2 days when it’s ready to run"
- You will receive an email notifying that you are ready to run payroll!
Step 2: Payroll Migration Completion (If Applicable)
If you indicated you've run payroll before in Step 3:
Your account setup is complete, but you cannot run payroll until the migration process finishes. This is critical to ensure accurate year-to-date tax calculations.
Migration timeline:
- Typical duration: 1-2 weeks from when you authorize access to your previous provider
- Timeline depends on:
- Complexity of your payroll history
- Number of quarters to migrate
- Any discrepancies that need resolution
During migration:
- You'll see a message: "Payroll migration in progress. You will receive an email when it’s ready to run."
- Your payroll calendar may show upcoming dates, but you won't be able to submit payroll runs yet
- All other features are accessible (you can review settings, add employees/contractors, etc.)
Communication during migration:
- If questions arise: Collective support will reach out to you via the messaging center in your Collective dashboard
- Check your messaging center regularly during the migration period
- Respond promptly to any requests for clarification or additional documentation
- Common requests:
- Confirmation of tax liability status (what's been paid vs. what Gusto needs to pay)
- Clarification on specific pay stubs or quarterly totals
- Verification of benefit deductions or special circumstances
How you'll know migration is complete:
- You'll receive an email: "Payroll transfer complete - you're ready to run payroll"
- Your Collective dashboard will update to enable you to run payroll
- The migration status message will disappear from your Gusto account
- You'll be able to submit payroll runs according to your schedule
Once you’ve completed these steps, continue to Running Payroll at Collective.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or tax advice. It is not intended to be a substitute for obtaining legal, accounting, or other financial advice from an appropriate and/or licensed adviser, or for the purpose of avoiding U.S. Federal, state or local tax payments and penalties.