For many accounting firms, payroll is the next natural step. But figuring out how to offer it (especially without overextending your team or confusing your clients) is the hard part.
If you're weighing options like ADP Wholesale or the Whirks Network Partner Program, you're probably asking:
- How do I keep control over the client relationship?
- Can I actually make money doing this?
- And who’s going to help me pull this off?
On the surface, both options give you access to payroll technology. But how they handle support, training, pricing, and client relationships couldn’t be more different. This comparison lays out the most important things to consider so you can choose a payroll solution that aligns with your firm’s goals, staffing, and service model.
1. Target Market & Client Fit
ADP Wholesale: The 800-Pound Gorilla in the Payroll World
ADP is the biggest name in payroll. With over 75 years in business, they process payroll for 1 in 7 Americans. They’re the standard a lot of other platforms measure themselves against.
Their wholesale program is built for accounting firms, financial advisors, and even insurance brokers who want to resell payroll services. You typically engage in one of two ways:
- Referral: You send your client to ADP, and they take over.
- Wholesale: ADP bills your firm directly. You mark up the price and invoice your clients however you want.
Most firms use Run Powered by ADP for small clients, and Workforce Now for businesses with 100+ employees. These two platforms are extremely different. Run is designed to be easier to use. Workforce Now is built for scale, but it’s complex, less intuitive, and feels more like a database than a payroll tool.
You Might End Up Managing Two Platforms
If you’re serving a mix of clients, you’ll likely be working inside both Run and Workforce Now. That means more training, more complexity, and more friction for your team.
Whirks Network Partner Program
Whirks Network Partner program is designed specifically for accounting firms, not a broad reseller audience. Our model operates on one platform (isolved) whether you’re servicing 5-person companies or multi-location businesses.
Firms don’t need to juggle multiple systems or segment support by platform. This makes it easier to scale and simplifies internal training. Whirks meets firms where they are and helps them adopt payroll at a sustainable pace, whether they’re just getting started or expanding an existing service line.
2. Product Offering & Platform Management
ADP Wholesale: A Powerful System, But You’re on Your Own
ADP’s wholesale platform gives you access to all kinds of services—payroll, HR, compliance, benefits, integrations. However, they provide little operational support.
You’re responsible for:
- Getting your clients set up
- Training your internal staff
- Managing ongoing platform updates
- Supporting clients day to day
Workforce Now is powerful but difficult to use without significant training. Firms need internal experts to understand its complexities. If your firm doesn't already have process volume or payroll-specific staff, it's easy to feel overwhelmed trying to maintain efficiency and accuracy.
Whirks Network Partner Program
Whirks provides access to the full isolved platform, but partners don’t need to manage the backend. Whirks takes on the heavy lifting of:
- Client setup and conversions
- Tax compliance and processing
- System updates and platform changes
You don’t need to hire a team of payroll specialists to operate the system. Instead, you get hands-on training and operational support from day one. The goal is not just access to tools, but reliable help using them so your firm can deliver payroll confidently and correctly.
3. Service & Support Model
ADP Wholesale: The Giant With Tools, But Little Support
Many firms cite ADP’s support as a frustration. The rep model is highly transactional and has a high turnover rate. If you lose a good rep, you’re often assigned someone without context or adequate training. You may find yourself restarting conversations repeatedly or struggling to resolve urgent issues on your own.
Clients may also interact directly with ADP support, even though you're technically the service provider. This can create tension, miscommunication, and a lack of accountability.
Whirks Network Partner Program
Whirks assigns every firm a Partner Success Team. These are dedicated people who understand your firm, your clients, and your goals. They help with implementation, provide ongoing strategy, and guide you through client challenges.
Unlike ADP, Whirks does not communicate with your clients unless requested. You remain the primary contact, and we stay behind the scenes. Your team receives regular training, operational support, and access to monthly Whirkshops to strengthen internal payroll capabilities and client service processes.
4. Pricing Structure
ADP Wholesale: Complicated and Hard to Forecast
If you’re trying to build a sustainable payroll offering, knowing your margins is critical. But ADP’s pricing can make that tricky.
While their structure is based on a base fee per FEIN and a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) rate, the real costs vary widely based on:
- Platform selection
- Add-on services
- Seasonality
- Current promotions
One firm told us: "I couldn’t figure out what ADP was charging me, let alone how to price my clients."
And that’s a problem if you’re trying to run a payroll bureau where profit and transparency matter.
Whirks Network Partner Program
Whirks offers a transparent pricing model tailored for accounting firms that want to deliver payroll services under their own brand. Costs are based on our Core Payroll Services and apply at the partner level, not directly to clients. Here’s a breakdown:
- $7.70 PEPM for the first 20 employees; $5.25 PEPM for each additional employee
- $2,000 minimum monthly spend requirement
- $2,500 one-time investment for training and client conversion
- $8 setup fee per new employee added post-implementation (minimum $100 spend)
- Annual fees:
- $75 per FEIN + $5 per W-2
- $125 per FEIN + $7.95 per 1095 (for ACA clients)
While Whirks bills the partner, partners decide how much to charge clients and handle all billing for their clients. This allows you to upcharge for added services, include payroll as part of a broader package, or adjust your fees based on your clients' needs.
Partners can also earn a 20% discount on ancillary add-ons like Time and Attendance, ACA Services, People Services, and Benefit Services.
5. Client Experience & Brand Control
ADP Wholesale: White-Label in Theory, Co-Branded in Practice
Although ADP claims to offer a white-label solution, the client experience is often co-branded. Clients see the ADP logo in portals, communications, and support interactions.
That opens the door to questions like: "Why am I going through you instead of just going straight to ADP?"
This blurring of roles can be a hurdle for firms who want to stay front and center in the client relationship. While ADP’s brand is recognizable and respected, it may also compete with yours for visibility.
For firms that want to offer payroll as a service without giving up control or branding, this distinction is important.
Whirks Network Partner Program
Whirks stays invisible to your clients. The platform is branded under your firm, and all communication goes through your team. You control the client experience, pricing, messaging, and service delivery.
If needed, Whirks supports you behind the scenes with expert guidance, client setup, and system management, but clients always see you as the provider. This preserves and strengthens your brand relationship with clients.
6. Notable Limitations: What Could Hold You Back?
ADP Wholesale:
- Rep turnover is frequent, leading to inconsistent support
- Managing two platforms (Run and Workforce Now) can create operational complexity
- Pricing lacks transparency, making margins hard to predict
- Co-branded experience may confuse clients about who’s really servicing them
- You’re on your own for client setup, training, and support
Whirks Network Partner Program:
- $2,000 monthly minimum means it’s best for firms with an existing or growing client base
- Upfront investment required for training and onboarding
- Needs a dedicated team member to champion payroll internally
- Built on the isolved platform, so less customization than going direct
So Which One Fits Your Firm Best?
Choose ADP Wholesale if:
- You’re comfortable managing setup, training, and client support internally
- You don’t mind navigating multiple platforms
- You want the recognition and scale of the ADP brand
Choose Whirks if:
Choose Whirks if:
Choose Whirks Network Partner Program if:
- You want a true partner, not just software
- You’d rather not handle every backend task
- You want consistent, hands-on support without the rep roulette
- You need clarity on pricing and help protecting your margins
- You want to scale payroll while staying front and center with your clients
If You’re Re-Evaluating Your Payroll Setup, Start Here
Now that you’ve seen what ADP’s wholesale model really involves (multiple systems, unclear pricing, and limited support), you might be wondering if there’s a smarter way to grow payroll services at your firm.
There is.
The Whirks Network Partner Program was built for accounting firms like yours. We’ve learned that most firms don’t just need software. They need clarity, process, and support. That’s why our model is designed to be a true partnership, not a software license.
You stay client-facing. We support your operations. Curious what saying yes actually looks like? Here's exactly what to expect during your first 90 days.
If ADP feels too big, too scattered, or too disconnected, let’s talk about a model that’s built around you.
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