Getting started with OnePayroll
This guide provides an overview of the OnePayroll setup process. Follow the steps below to go from installation to processing your first payroll run.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- Business Central subscription — OnePayroll requires Dynamics 365 Business Central, version 26 or later
- Admin access — You need administrator permissions to perform setup tasks
- Chart of Accounts configured — Standard GL accounts for payroll expenses (Salary Expense, Tax Payable, etc.)
Onboarding checklist
Use this checklist to track your setup progress. Each section links to a detailed setup article.
Foundation
- [ ] Install OnePayroll — Install OnePayroll Core and your regional extension
- [ ] Generate setup data — Use the built-in Contoso Coffee demo dataset to create foundational payroll configuration
- [ ] Choose the Payroll Manager role center — Set the Payroll Manager as your default role center
Configuration
- [ ] Configure GL accounts — Set up general ledger accounts for payroll expenses and liabilities
- [ ] Review and customize pay types — Adjust the pre-configured pay types to match your organization
- [ ] Review and customize pay cycles — Verify pay schedules match your pay frequencies
- [ ] Review and customize pay groups — Adjust pay groups and assign journal templates for GL posting
- [ ] Review employee types — Verify the pre-configured employee types or create new ones
- [ ] Review benefits — Review benefit types and configure enrollment
Employees and payments
- [ ] Create departments and work locations — Set up your organizational structure
- [ ] Create employees — Add employee records with payroll-specific settings
- [ ] Set up payment methods — Add bank account details for direct deposit
- [ ] Configure tax withholding — Set up tax withholding and deduction settings (US localization)
Validation
- [ ] Run test payroll — Create a payroll run for a small group to verify configuration
- [ ] Review payroll entries — Check that pay types, deductions, and calculations are correct
- [ ] Verify GL posting — Ensure payroll entries post correctly to your general ledger
Setup articles
| Article | What you'll do |
|---|---|
| Install and generate setup data | Install OnePayroll, choose the Payroll Manager role center, and generate foundational setup data |
| Configure payroll settings | Review and customize pay types, pay cycles, pay groups, employee types, benefits, and tax settings |
| Set up employees and process your first payroll | Create departments, add employees, configure payment methods, and process a test payroll run |
Navigation and interface
Key pages
| Page | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Payroll Runs | Create and process payroll batches |
| Employees | Maintain employee master data |
| Pay Groups | Organize employees by pay frequency |
| Pay Types | Define earnings and deductions |
| Pay Cycles | Set up pay schedules |
| Payment Methods | Configure payment delivery options |
| Payroll Setup | Configure system settings |
Searching and finding pages
Use the Search feature (Alt+Q) to quickly find pages:
- Search for Payroll to see all payroll-related pages
- Search for Employees to access employee records
- Search for Pay Type to access pay type configuration
Best practices
Data quality
- Ensure each employee is assigned to a pay group
- Verify pay types are correctly linked to GL accounts
- Keep employee payment method bank details current
- Review and validate tax withholding settings before first payroll
Process discipline
- Always review payroll entries before posting
- Use test payroll runs to verify configuration changes
- Reconcile GL accounts after posting
Regular maintenance
- Update pay types and deductions as business needs change
- Review and adjust tax withholding annually (or as tax laws change)
- Maintain employee payment method records