Summer in Canada is short, but it’s packed with potential. And while most of us are thinking about patios, payroll professionals are quietly doing something just as transformative: switching systems.
Yes, really.
It might not be as thrilling as a long weekend at the cottage, but summer is when savvy small and midsize businesses retool their back-office operations, especially payroll. Why? Because timing matters, and for businesses that run lean, the right switch at the right time can unlock hours of admin savings and prevent thousands in compliance risk.
This post unpacks why summer is a strategic sweet spot for switching payroll platforms, what smart Canadian companies are doing differently, and how to make the move without getting burned.
Why Switching Payroll In Summer Gives You a Operational Advantage
Switching payroll mid-year isn’t just doable, it’s ideal. While many businesses assume year-end is the best time to change, summer provides the breathing room you need to set everything up correctly.
1. Summer Is Naturally Slower for Most Industries
From construction and hospitality to professional services and retail, Canadian businesses often experience a seasonal dip in the summer months. That downtime makes switching payroll providers easier, since you’re dealing with fewer new hires, bonuses, or statutory holidays.
2. Mid-Year Payroll Switching Reduces Data Complexity
Contrary to the myth, switching payroll systems mid-year can actually make it easier to clean up and reconcile payroll history. Most T4s and CRA filings are complete by summer, so it’s the perfect time to import year-to-date summaries and avoid Q4 chaos.
3. Switching Payroll Now Prepares You for Fall Hiring
Fall often brings growth initiatives, new hires, and expanded teams. Switching your payroll software in advance allows you to test, train, and optimize before the busy season begins.
The Cost of Not Switching Payroll When You Should
Sticking with your current provider may feel safer than switching payroll, but the hidden costs add up quickly. A study found that “only half of the organizations surveyed said they use cloud-based technology to process payroll, and 85% said they have problems with their payroll technologies.
Use the table below to see where time, money, and compliance may already be slipping through the cracks:
If any of these issues hit close to home, switching payroll providers sooner, especially in the slower summer months, could save your business stress and thousands of dollars.
Competitor Challenges: Why Many Canadian SMEs Are Switching Payroll Providers
We’re not here to push you into switching payroll providers just to make a sale. We believe in giving you the facts, plain and simple, so you can make the best decision for your business. The truth is, many Canadian SMBs are running into real, repeated problems with providers like ADP, Wagepoint, and Humi, and we think you deserve to see what they’re saying. Here’s what business owners are reporting, publicly, in their own words.
ADP Canada: Frequent Complaints Around Support & Accuracy
- Unresponsive and outsourced support: Users report being on long hold times, language barriers, and constant transfers.
- Reporting and data issues: Complaints include payroll tables doubling lines or miscalculating hours.
- Traceability and fee chaos: Reports are merged into hard-to-understand lumps, and billing continues even post-cancellation.
“They were very helpful in getting me signed up but then… continued billing after canceling our account.” “One lump sum captures the EE net pay, total taxes, mgmt fee and delivery fee…” “Entered my payroll and the table doubled the lines and doubled the hours for each employee.”
“They have absolutely no customer service and are consistently … disrespectful.”
“When it works… but if you have any trouble they do not support employees directly. … Horrible horrible strategy.”
Wagepoint: T4 and Support Issues That Hurt Compliance
- T4 filing mistakes and slow responsiveness: Some clients received amendment notices, only later to find Wagepoint failed to respond.
- Support limitations and data access: Complaints about limited historical data and poor consistency in customer contact.
“A T4 filing error affecting the customer’s employee occurred… I remained disappointed with how the situation was handled.”
“No direct way to contact someone over phone… they increase price after you sign contract.” “Somehow my account has changed… now I am only allowed to do payroll once a month.”
Humi: Interface and Support Frustrations
- Unpredictable payroll run dates: Users reported that payroll is processed early before the pay period is complete, causing forecasting issues.
- Complex UI and hidden settings: While powerful, some reviews noted difficulty navigating the system and making adjustments.
“Humi is quite complex and it can be difficult to find where to change certain settings.”
“When the payroll processing date falls on a long weekend… they move the payroll processing date to the previous Friday.”
Transparent Feedback: What Customers Have Said About PayEvo
We believe transparency builds trust. So here’s a candid look at some common customer criticisms of PayEvo, drawn from public reviews.
Reported Performance & Glitches:
Some users commented that the platform felt slow or glitchy during payroll runs.
“Extremely slow and glitchy program with every click… feels slower and unnecessarily more complicated”
Our Updates: We’ve rolled out major backend enhancements, including faster page loading, smoother payroll entry, and reduced click data-entry workflows. Performance benchmarks are now above industry standards.
Complex Navigation & UI Frustrations:
A number of administrators noted that certain workflows (e.g., custom reporting or pay run edits) required multiple clicks and weren’t intuitive.
“navigation: system can be difficult to navigate… sometimes requiring multiple clicks”
Our Updates: We launched iterative UI redesigns and updated our support guides. Now, key tasks like editing employee info, running reports, and exporting payroll summaries require fewer clicks, and we’ve added in-app walkthrough prompts. Additionally, we always have human phone and video call support.
Onboarding Process Too Rigid
“I am working for an accounting firm, using a lot of different platforms, and we wanted to try the newest platforms for payroll… Just don’t. We tried for 2 companies… ZERO of them were onboarded easily.”
Our Updates:We hear this feedback and we want to be clear. In 2025, we introduced enhanced onboarding protocols through our ePay verification process due to a significant rise in payroll-related fraud across Canada. While this made onboarding stricter than some platforms, it’s intentionally designed to protect your money. Funds are only released once accounts are verified and secure.
We’re continually improving the experience by providing more real-time updates, clearer documentation, and faster response times, without compromising safety. For accountants managing multiple clients, we also offer a dedicated support contact and pre-approval options for bulk onboarding.
What You Need To Know Before Switching Payroll Systems
Not all platforms are created equal. Here’s what Canadian businesses should prioritize when switching payroll systems this summer:
Canadian Compliance as a Core Feature
Make sure the provider supports CRA remittances, T4s, T4As, ROEs, and vacation tracking by default, not as a bolt-on.
Smooth Data Migration Support
One of the biggest barriers to switching payroll is fear of data loss. Ask if the provider offers help with migrating historical data, importing year-to-date earnings, and verifying records.
Contractor and Seasonal Staff Support
For companies paying seasonal or freelance workers, payroll flexibility is critical. Choose a system that handles both employees and contractors with the correct forms (T4/T4A) and deductions.
Transparent, Scalable Pricing
Many providers lure you in with a low base price, then charge extra for reports, remittances, or support. Make sure your new provider’s pricing is transparent and grows with you.
At PayEvo, we eliminate every one of the headaches listed above, so you don’t waste time, lose money, or put your business at risk.
Our platform automates manual tasks, handles CRA compliance, syncs seamlessly with your accounting tools, and supports flexible workforce setups like contractors and part-timers. Plus, our real human support team is just a call away.
A Step-By-Step Plan For Switching Payroll Providers Without Stress
You don’t need to overhaul your operations overnight. Here’s a simple process Canadian SMEs can follow when switching payroll providers:
Step 1: Audit Your Current System
What’s working? What isn’t? Identify pain points like late deposits, manual adjustments, or lack of CRA support.
Step 2: Gather Your Payroll Data
Prepare employee details, CRA numbers, year-to-date summaries, and past payroll reports.
Step 3: Research Providers and Book Demos
Look for companies that specialize in Canadian payroll , offer strong support, and provide clear migration help.
Step 4: Run a Test Pay Cycle
Before going live, simulate a pay run to check deductions, direct deposits, and reporting functions.
Step 5: Onboard Employees and Finalize Setup
Ensure your employees know where to access their paystubs, T4s, and digital onboarding docs.
PayEvo, for example, handles all of this with, personalized onboarding support, including historical imports and training sessions for your admin team.
Switching Payroll to PayEvo: Why More Canadian Businesses Are Making The Move
Thousands of SMBs across Canada trust PayEvo when switching payroll platforms, especially during the summer. Here’s what makes us different:
- Canada-first compliance: CRA, ROE, T4, and multi-province support built in.
- Full automation: From vacation accruals to payroll tax calculations.
- Contractor and seasonal pay support: T4As, variable pay, and no manual entries.
- Integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, and more: Say goodbye to double entry.
- Bank-grade security and local data hosting: Keep your data safe and in Canada.
- Human support: Speak to a Canadian payroll expert when you need help.
Conclusion: Payroll Isn’t Just A Cost, Its A Trust System
Payroll is where business promises meet employee expectations. Every late deposit, every miscalculated stat holiday, every unclear payslip, it all chips away at your credibility.
Switching to a better payroll system is about more than compliance, it’s about protecting your people, your time, and your reputation.
And summer? It’s your chance to do it right, before the snow flies in.
Ready to simplify your payroll?
Our team has helped thousands of Canadian businesses switch payroll systems seamlessly, often within a single week.
Book your free summer payroll review today and let us show you how smooth, secure, and supportive switching payroll can be.
Get started with PayEvo and make this the summer you simplify everything.
