— Starting a business
Your first payroll should feel clear — not intimidating.
You have enough decisions to make. We set up the payroll accounts, deadlines, classifications, and pay schedule your California or Nevada business needs — then show you exactly what happens next.
- No payroll experience needed
- One person to call
- Owner pay planned from day one
California + Nevada
— Built around you
Start clean. Stay compliant. Pay yourself.
The hard part is not clicking a payroll button. It is knowing the setup behind it is right before the first payday arrives.
Employer setup
We organize the federal and state payroll details needed to run in California, Nevada, or both.
W-2 or 1099
We review how each person works so you do not build the business on the wrong classification.
Paydays & filings
A clear pay calendar, tax-deposit rhythm, new-hire reporting, and year-end forms from the start.
Owner pay first
Your payroll is built around a real owner paycheck instead of hoping something is left over.
— A clear handoff
From first conversation to first payday
- 01
Map the business
We review your entity, state, team, pay frequency, and the date you want the first payroll to run.
- 02
Build the setup
We collect the right records, organize tax accounts, add workers, and create a calendar you can understand.
- 03
Approve and run
You review the numbers before anything moves. We run payroll, handle filings, and remain your direct contact.
— What matters
What you will know before payday
No jargon dump and no mystery checklist. We explain the decisions that affect your cash, your workers, and your compliance.
- Who belongs on payroll and how each worker should be classified
- What comes out of each payroll and when taxes are due
- How much cash to reserve before approving the run
- How owner pay fits into the Profit First system
- Who to contact when a hire, raise, bonus, or notice changes the plan
Ready to make the first payday the easy part?
Bring your questions, even if you are not sure what to ask. In 20 minutes, we will map the next steps and tell you what payroll setup actually requires.
— Founder story
Built by blue-collar, for blue-collar.
Profit First Payroll was founded by Matt Frechette, who brings 20+ years of hands-on experience in blue-collar environments. He's seen shops thrive — or unravel — because of poor cash flow, inconsistent owner pay, late crew checks, and workers' comp audit nightmares. PFP is built explicitly for trades and labor-heavy businesses: proper crew classification, project-based volatility, and protecting profit in high-risk industries.