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The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. We’re a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Switching to an Employer of Record (EOR) is one of the simplest ways to change payroll providers—because it doesn’t require migrating all your historical payroll data. Instead of juggling a long checklist, you can be up and running quickly, even if you’re switching mid-year or mid-quarter.
With an EOR like Wrapbook, all payroll is processed under the provider’s federal ID number, and tax filings and compliance are handled for you. That means fewer moving parts, no duplicate filings, and far less back-and-forth between old and new providers. For many producers, the real win is not just avoiding complexity, but reclaiming the time that’s usually lost to slow, manual workflows.
Here’s what the process looks like with Wrapbook:
Even though payroll runs under our federal ID, your company still needs its own Employer Identification Number (EIN) for other tax responsibilities (like sales tax or corporate tax).
Payroll funds are pulled directly from your account, with all required federal and state payroll taxes withheld automatically.
You’ll still maintain Workers’ Compensation coverage, but we handle the coordination. If you use Wrapbook’s insurance, it’s even simpler—just file for each production, and we’ll place it under our name.
Once your account is ready, you can start your first production project in the system.
Crew members enter their own details—union status, payment info, tax forms—and complete startwork documents like NDAs and deal memos in one place.
From there, your payroll runs are managed by your EOR, leaving you to focus on the production itself. Your main role is simply to remind crew to submit timecards on schedule and let them know where to find paystubs and tax documents moving forward.
Switching providers will look different depending on who you choose—but with the right EOR, the process is less about “migration” and more about “getting started.”
Switching payroll providers can feel intimidating—but the real risk is staying with a system that slows you down. The right partner will save you time, streamline your workflow, and let you focus on the work that matters most.
With an Employer of Record like Wrapbook, making the change isn’t a hassle—it’s a straightforward, seamless step toward a more efficient production. When you’re ready to spend less time wrestling with payroll and more time producing, we’re here to make it happen.
A better payroll experience is closer than you think. Reach out for a demo to see how simple your transition can be with our next standard all-in-one platform.
Running a production company comes with its own challenges. Between juggling multiple projects, rotating crews, and tight budgets, payroll can become a real headache. Yet many payroll providers still haven’t caught up with the industry’s unique demands—leaving producers stuck with outdated tools and unnecessary hassles.
If your current provider isn’t cutting it, switching isn’t as daunting as it sounds. With the right partner, the process can be quick, painless, and even a time-saver—freeing you to focus on producing, not paperwork.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step to move to a payroll service that works for you. You’ll see that making the switch isn’t just doable—it’s one of the smartest moves you can make for your production company.
Not sure if changing payroll providers is worth the effort? Here’s a quick check:
If any of this sounds familiar, your payroll setup might be costing you more time (and energy) than it should. Many providers still rely on fragmented processes without proper integrations to budgeting or accounting tools—or direct connections between timecard systems and payroll. The result? Teams stuck manually keying in data, fixing syncing errors, and double-checking numbers when things go wrong.
Switching to an Employer of Record that handles tax compliance—and ideally offers a fully integrated system where payroll, timecards, and compliance work seamlessly together—doesn’t just solve these issues. It gives you back hours of your day, making the transition far easier than you might expect.
Timing matters. In many cases, the smoothest time to transition is at the start of a new year, a new quarter, or right before your first project of the year. This helps avoid potential issues like paying double unemployment tax for the same employee—a cost that can sneak up if you’ve already contributed earlier in the year.
That said, it’s worth talking with your prospective payroll provider about timing. A good partner will help you make the switch in a way that’s both reasonable and affordable. And if your current setup is already costing you hours in wasted time and avoidable inefficiencies, those costs may outweigh any temporary tax concerns. In the end, the “right” time is the one that gets you working with a better system sooner.
Switching payroll companies is easier than it sounds when you break it into a few simple steps. In fact, the hardest part is often just deciding to make the change—once you do, the rest follows naturally.
If you’re switching to a company like Wrapbook, there’s no heavy lifting on your end—migration is handled for you. The only exception is if you switch mid-year: in that case, your previous provider will still need to take care of tax filings for the portion of the year they covered.
Even so, it’s smart to keep your own records in order. Having copies of your payroll data not only gives you peace of mind, it also ensures a smooth handoff if questions ever come up. And when you handle those mid-year tax filings correctly, you can transition without hiccups.
Below, we’ll outline a few optional but worthwhile steps you can take to safeguard your data during the switch.
Confirm your current agreement’s notice period, auto-renew terms, and any fees. Knowing these dates gives you a clean transition timeline and a helpful reference point when comparing features with your new provider.
ROE requirements vary by region and provider. Verify whether ROEs are needed before your final run with the old provider and who is responsible for issuing them. Some Employer of Record (EOR) providers—like Wrapbook—handle this directly, so separate ROEs from your prior provider may not be required. Always confirm based on your location and provider setup.
Make sure you—or your new provider—can access year-to-date wages, taxes, and deductions per worker. You don’t have to mass-export everything; just confirm where the payroll register lives and that it’s complete—especially if you’re switching mid-year so quarterly and year-end reports reflect accurate totals.
Verify how employees will access historical paystubs and prior tax forms (e.g., W-2s, 1099s, W-4s) issued by the old provider. You can keep reference copies, but the key is having a clear path for employees to retrieve what they need. Communicate which provider hosts which documents during and after the switch.
Align on who is filing which returns for the periods they covered (quarterly, year-end, and any amendments). For mid-year transitions, it’s common for each provider to file for their respective periods. Confirm timing and deliverables so nothing is duplicated or missed.
Good news: With an EOR like Wrapbook that integrates timecards, payroll, and compliance, much of this is automated or handled for you. Your job is mainly to verify access and responsibilities, not to wrangle data.
