--- title: Certified Payroll Companies in California: How to Choose url: https://wellstanding.com/guides/certified-payroll-companies-california/ description: Who does certified payroll in California? Filing services, software, payroll add ons and consultants compared by who files, who signs, and published prices. updated: 2026-10-16 type: guide publisher: WellStanding Certified Payroll --- # Certified payroll companies in California: service, software, or consultant? Four kinds of company help California subs with certified payroll. They differ in who does the recurring work, not in what the law asks of you. Under [Labor Code section 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4), each contractor and subcontractor furnishes its own records directly to the Labor Commissioner, so any company you hire is helping you make your filing. Last reviewed October 16, 2026 against the sources it cites The short answer Four kinds of company handle California certified payroll: filing services, software you run, payroll platforms with reports built in, and consultants. Choose by who will do the recurring work each payroll period, because each contractor must furnish its own records [directly to the Labor Commissioner](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4) at least monthly, or more often if the contract says so, and [DIR's Upload eCPR guide](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Guides/Upload-eCPR.pdf) has the submitter enter a signature. - Under [Labor Code section 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4), each contractor and subcontractor furnishes certified payroll records directly to the Labor Commissioner, electronically, at least monthly or more often if the contract with the awarding body says so. Monthly means at least once every 30 days while work is performed. - [DIR's reporting FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/FAQ-certified-payroll-reporting.html) says records must be submitted at least monthly, or more often if the contract requires it, and calls it best practice to submit weekly or at the conclusion of each payroll period. - The penalty for not furnishing the records is $100 for each day, up to $5,000 per project, under [section 1771.4(a)(3)(B)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4), and [(a)(3)(D)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4) says it accrues only to the contractor or subcontractor that failed to furnish them. - [DIR's eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) says submitting certified payroll records to other agencies does not put you in compliance with the state unless you submit eCPRs directly to DIR. - [DIR's Upload eCPR guide](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Guides/Upload-eCPR.pdf) has the submitter enter a signature before submitting. It labels the field Contractor Signature on the manual path and says Your Signature on the XML path. - [LCPcertified Plus](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/) lists $12 per report or $145 a month for up to 5 active projects, and its Professional option lists $1,900 a year for up to 10. [Sunburst](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm) lists $799.00 for a company license. The four kinds are a filing service, software you run, a payroll platform with certified payroll built in, and a consultant. Pick by who will do the recurring work each payroll period. If nobody in your office has the hours, a filing service fits. If a bookkeeper has them and your payroll system is supported, software costs less in dollars. We read each company's own pages on October 16, 2026, and say so where a page was silent. This is a sample, not a ranking. ## What the law fixes, whoever you hire Records go in at least monthly, or more often if your contract with the awarding body says so, electronically, on DIR's website, under [section 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4). Monthly means at least once every 30 days while work is performed and within 30 days after the final day of work. [DIR's reporting FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/FAQ-certified-payroll-reporting.html) says records must be submitted at least monthly, or more often if the contract requires it, and calls it best practice to submit weekly or at the conclusion of each payroll period. So the 30 day figure is the legal minimum unless your contract asks for more, and weekly is DIR's recommended practice. The penalty is $100 for each day in violation, up to $5,000 per project, under [section 1771.4(a)(3)(B)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4). Under [(a)(3)(C)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4), the Labor Commissioner cannot levy it until 14 days after the requirement in clause (i) of subparagraph (A). Under [(a)(3)(D)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1771.4), it accrues only to the contractor or subcontractor that failed to furnish the records. The statute names you, not your vendor. See our [Labor Code 1771.4 guide](https://wellstanding.com/guides/california-labor-code-1771-4/). DIR's [eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) says each company submits its own payroll for each project. It also says submitting records to other agencies does not put you in compliance unless you submit eCPRs directly to DIR, so a general contractor's portal is not the filing. See [GC portals and DIR](https://wellstanding.com/guides/gc-portals-and-dir/). [DIR's reporting FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/FAQ-certified-payroll-reporting.html) lists the exempt projects, so check yours before you pay anyone. Plan to sign yourself. [Labor Code section 1776(a)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB§ionNum=1776) requires a written declaration, made under penalty of perjury, that the payroll record is true and correct and that the employer complied with sections 1771, 1811 and 1815. It does not say who signs. [DIR's Upload eCPR guide](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Guides/Upload-eCPR.pdf) has the submitter enter a signature before submitting. It labels the field Contractor Signature on the manual path and says Your Signature on the XML path. See [who signs certified payroll](https://wellstanding.com/guides/who-signs-certified-payroll-california/). ## The four kinds compared | Kind | What it files, per its page | Who signs, per its page | Price | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Filing service | [Points North's Managed Service page](https://www.points-north.com/managed-service) says it submits reports on your behalf, including to DIR, using your login credentials, and does not name California. Its [certified payroll page](https://www.points-north.com/certified-payroll-reporting) lists the California Department of Industrial Relations among its portals. WellStanding (ours) files after you sign. | [Points North](https://www.points-north.com/managed-service) says it applies electronic signatures where required. At WellStanding you sign. | Points North shows none. WellStanding publishes its price. | | Software you run | Writes the file. [LCPcertified](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/) produces a California DIR XML file, and [LCPtracker's help article](https://kb.lcptracker.com/support/solutions/articles/154000243402-lcpcertified-dir-xml-export) has you upload it on DIR's website. [Sunburst](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm) lists California DIR electronic upload. | You. [The LCPtracker article](https://kb.lcptracker.com/support/solutions/articles/154000243402-lcpcertified-dir-xml-export) says to review before electronically signing. [Sunburst](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm) calls its reports ready for your signature. | [LCPcertified Plus from $12 a report](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/). [Sunburst $799.00](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm). | | Payroll platform with certified payroll built in | [Miter](https://www.miter.com/human-capital-management/payroll/certified-payroll/) says it enables direct submission to state portals in California. [eBacon](https://ebacon.com/products/certified-payroll/reporting) says it works with your existing payroll system or acts as your payroll solution. [Payroll4Construction](https://www.payroll4construction.com/certified-payroll/) lists the California Department of Industrial Relations among its electronic formats. | [Miter](https://www.miter.com/human-capital-management/payroll/certified-payroll/) says an authorized signer at your company reviews and signs first. Ask the others. | Miter and eBacon show none. Payroll4Construction [quotes after a form](https://www.payroll4construction.com/request-a-quote/). | | Consultant or course | [Public Works Consultant](https://publicworksconsultant.com/services/), in Upland, California, lists certified payroll reporting and submissions, plus [DAS 140](https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/230.html) and [142](https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/230_1.html) forms, and does not mention DIR. [AGC of California](https://www.agc-ca.org/training-education/prevailing-wage-certified-payroll-compliance-certificate-course/) lists a course, so your own staff do the filing. | Not stated on the pages we read. | Public Works Consultant shows none. [AGC](https://www.agc-ca.org/training-education/prevailing-wage-certified-payroll-compliance-certificate-course/): $225 members, $350 non members. | "Shows none" means the pages we read gave no price. AGC's page shows April 4 and 5, 2023 as the course date, so ask for a current session. [eMars](https://emarsinc.com/prevailing-wages/california) says it generates Payroll XML files that meet California DIR requirements. It also says it is tailored primarily for federal projects and select state jurisdictions, and shows no price. ## Payroll providers and add ons Two payroll pages we read stop at the federal form. [Paychex's certified payroll article](https://www.paychex.com/articles/payroll-taxes/certified-payroll) says states may also require certified payroll for state-funded projects and does not mention California or DIR. Intuit's [QuickBooks Online Payroll article](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/payroll-reports/create-review-certified-payroll-report-quickbooks/L5mWL9ujT_US_en_US) describes a [WH-347](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347) report you partly enter by hand, review and sign, and does not mention California or XML. Add ons fill the gap. [LCPcertified](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/) lists direct payroll import from Paychex. [Points North](https://www.points-north.com/certified-payroll-reporting) lists integrations with ADP, Paychex, Rippling and QuickBooks, among others. [Sunburst's page](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm) says it works only with QuickBooks Windows Desktop and lists the Intuit payroll services it supports. Check [which payroll systems export eCPR XML](https://wellstanding.com/guides/payroll-systems-that-export-dir-ecpr-xml/). ## What companies publish for a price - **[LCPcertified Plus](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/):** $12 per report, $145 a month for up to 5 active projects, or $1,300 a year for up to 10. Its Professional option adds bulk processing, auto distribution and summary reports, and lists $1,900 a year for up to 10 active projects. - **[Sunburst](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm):** $799.00 for a company license. - **WellStanding:** $995 one time setup, then $249 per month for crews up to 25 workers or $449 for 26 to 50 workers. Twelve months at $249 per month costs more than LCPcertified Plus's $1,300 yearly tier, before the $995 setup. The tiers are measured differently: LCPcertified by active projects, WellStanding by crew size. The software costs you the hours each payroll period instead. DOL's [WH-347 page](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347) gives an average burden of 55 minutes for the federal collection of information, which includes reviewing instructions and gathering data. It is a federal average, not an estimate for the California eCPR. See [who publishes pricing](https://wellstanding.com/compare/pricing/) or use the [cost calculator](https://wellstanding.com/tools/certified-payroll-cost-calculator/). ## How to choose Each eCPR goes in per project, and LCPcertified prices by active project. So the recurring work grows with your project count, not only your headcount. - **Nobody has the hours each payroll period.** A filing service. - **A bookkeeper has the hours, runs QuickBooks Desktop on Windows, and uses one of the Intuit payroll services [Sunburst lists](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm).** Sunburst. - **A bookkeeper has the hours and your payroll is on [LCPcertified's list of compatible providers](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/).** LCPcertified, which [its page](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/) describes as for self-performing contractors who are not responsible for other subcontractors' compliance. - **You are replacing payroll anyway.** A payroll platform such as Miter or eBacon. - **You work in several states.** [Miter](https://www.miter.com/human-capital-management/payroll/certified-payroll/) lists direct submission to portals in other states, and [Points North](https://www.points-north.com/certified-payroll-reporting) lists portals such as MD E-File. - **You have a compliance question beyond the regular filing.** A consultant. [Public Works Consultant](https://publicworksconsultant.com/services/) lists labor compliance consulting. Our [software vs service guide](https://wellstanding.com/guides/certified-payroll-software-vs-service-california/), [software comparison](https://wellstanding.com/compare/best-certified-payroll-software-california/) and [outsourcing guide](https://wellstanding.com/outsource-certified-payroll-california/) go deeper. ## Five questions to ask any company 1. Which DIR account does the filing go in from, and can I see a confirmation from a real customer filing? 2. Who enters the signature, and do I review the finished filing first? 3. Does it work from my current payroll export, or do I switch payroll? 4. Does it cover the apprenticeship forms and weeks with no work? 5. What does it cost in writing, with setup, renewals and per project fees? ## Where WellStanding fits **Disclosure.** WellStanding is a filing service, so we compete with some companies named here. WellStanding prepares the WH-347 and the eCPR from the payroll export you already run, and a person reviews every filing. You review the finished filing and sign the certification in one step, and nothing is filed until you have signed. The certification is always yours; we never sign for you. It costs $995 one time setup, then $249 per month for crews up to 25 workers or $449 for 26 to 50 workers. First filing free. A person answers Monday to Friday 7:00 to 5:00 Pacific. It fits a sub where nobody has the hours each payroll period. If you want to run software yourself, the software above fits better. ## Questions Which companies do certified payroll in California?** Four kinds do: filing services, software, payroll platforms with reports built in, and consultants. The table above names examples, not a complete directory. Is there a DIR approved list of certified payroll companies?** We found none. [DIR's certified payroll page](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Certified-Payroll-Reporting.html) tells XML filers to create their own template using the CPR XML schema V1.3 and names no vendors. Can a company file my certified payroll for me?** Some say so. [DIR's account sign up guide](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Guides/DIR-Account-Registration-Guide.pdf) describes a new user linking to a business with a registration code, or by requesting a link that the business's primary contact approves, and does not say whether a vendor can do either. Ask which DIR account it files from and who enters the signature. Do I still sign if a company files for me?** Plan to. Labor Code section 1776(a) requires the declaration under penalty of perjury and does not say who signs, and DIR's Upload eCPR guide has the submitter enter a signature. At WellStanding you sign, and we never sign for you. Does sending payroll to my general contractor's portal count as filing?** Not by itself. DIR's eCPR FAQ says submitting records to other agencies does not put you in compliance unless you submit eCPRs directly to DIR. See [GC portals and DIR](https://wellstanding.com/guides/gc-portals-and-dir/). ## Sources Every figure on this page links to its source where it first appears. The full list, in order: 1. [Labor Code section 1771.4(a)(3)(A)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1771.4) leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 2. [DIR's Upload eCPR guide](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Guides/Upload-eCPR.pdf) dir.ca.gov 3. [DIR's reporting FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/FAQ-certified-payroll-reporting.html) dir.ca.gov 4. [DIR's eCPR FAQ](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/ecprfaq.html) dir.ca.gov 5. [LCPcertified Plus](https://lcptracker.com/solutions/lcpcertified/) lcptracker.com 6. [Sunburst](https://www.sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com/certified-payroll-solution.htm) sunburstsoftwaresolutions.com 7. [Labor Code section 1776(a)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=1776) leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 8. [Points North's Managed Service page](https://www.points-north.com/managed-service) points-north.com 9. [certified payroll page](https://www.points-north.com/certified-payroll-reporting) points-north.com 10. [LCPtracker's help article](https://kb.lcptracker.com/support/solutions/articles/154000243402-lcpcertified-dir-xml-export) kb.lcptracker.com 11. [Miter](https://www.miter.com/human-capital-management/payroll/certified-payroll/) miter.com 12. [eBacon](https://ebacon.com/products/certified-payroll/reporting) ebacon.com 13. [Payroll4Construction](https://www.payroll4construction.com/certified-payroll/) payroll4construction.com 14. [quotes after a form](https://www.payroll4construction.com/request-a-quote/) payroll4construction.com 15. [Public Works Consultant](https://publicworksconsultant.com/services/) publicworksconsultant.com 16. [DAS 140](https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/230.html) dir.ca.gov 17. [142](https://www.dir.ca.gov/t8/230_1.html) dir.ca.gov 18. [AGC of California](https://www.agc-ca.org/training-education/prevailing-wage-certified-payroll-compliance-certificate-course/) agc-ca.org 19. [eMars](https://emarsinc.com/prevailing-wages/california) emarsinc.com 20. [Paychex's certified payroll article](https://www.paychex.com/articles/payroll-taxes/certified-payroll) paychex.com 21. [QuickBooks Online Payroll article](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/payroll-reports/create-review-certified-payroll-report-quickbooks/L5mWL9ujT_US_en_US) quickbooks.intuit.com 22. [WH-347](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347) dol.gov 23. [DIR's certified payroll page](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Certified-Payroll-Reporting.html) dir.ca.gov 24. [DIR's account sign up guide](https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Guides/DIR-Account-Registration-Guide.pdf) dir.ca.gov ## Related - [Best certified payroll software in California](https://wellstanding.com/compare/best-certified-payroll-software-california/) - [Certified payroll software vs a service](https://wellstanding.com/guides/certified-payroll-software-vs-service-california/) - [Outsourcing certified payroll: your options](https://wellstanding.com/outsource-certified-payroll-california/) - [Who publishes pricing](https://wellstanding.com/compare/pricing/) - [Labor Code 1771.4 explained](https://wellstanding.com/guides/california-labor-code-1771-4/) - [Who signs certified payroll in California](https://wellstanding.com/guides/who-signs-certified-payroll-california/)