Rippling

Rippling is a unified workforce platform that combines HR, payroll, benefits, and IT management (device provisioning, app access) in one system. When an employee is hired, Rippling can set up payroll, enrol them in benefits, provision a laptop, and grant access to company software in a single workflow.

Accounting firms encounter Rippling at client businesses that have adopted it as their workforce platform. The payroll module handles federal, state, and local tax calculations and filings, and provides general ledger integration for exporting payroll data to accounting software. Rippling also offers global payroll for businesses with international employees.

The platform is best suited for tech-forward businesses that want payroll, HR, and IT administration unified in one tool. It tends to be adopted by startups and growth-stage companies. Firms serving more traditional small businesses typically recommend payroll-focused alternatives like Gusto or OnPay.