Checkmate Offers Affordable, Community-focused Payroll Alternative

A majority of businesses probably don’t pay much mind to their payroll services – once set up, it’s largely out of sight, out of mind. That is, of course, until a problem occurs; when those tasked with dealing with a large, national payroll provider get lost amidst the myriad 1-800 numbers and endless bureaucracy.

But Steve Robinson, President and Founder of Checkmate Workforce Management Solutions, understood enough about the needs of the Granite State’s smaller employers to know there had to be a better way.

In 1994, Robinson – a Certified Public Accountant by trade – recalibrated his accounting firm and formed Checkmate, with the aim of providing a better, more responsive payroll services company for small and mid-sized businesses. In starting Checkmate, Steve sought to create a business partner for his clients and to create a culture of community engagement for his staff.

Nearly eighteen years later, Checkmate services over 500 clients across industries and sectors, priding themselves on their accessible, knowledgeable staff, most of which has been with the company for five years or more. In an industry dominated by a handful of national payroll companies, Robinson and Checkmate’s locally oriented focus has been a breath of fresh air for their growing list of clients.

“We recognized early on that the big players were exploiting their clients with mediocre service and high costs, simply because they were the only game in town,” Robinson recalls. “We were convinced there was a better way of providing a truly customer focused service, at a reasonable cost, without nickel-and-diming our clients.”

Working with state of the art payroll technologies, Checkmate’s advanced solutions result in more time for companies to focus on their actual business – that means more time for the things that matter and, it is hoped, more success and a stronger bottom line.

Additionally, Checkmate’s unique business model has in recent years broadened to include a growing green orientation. Shortly after launching their own internal Green Team in 2010, Checkmate switched to a mostly paperless system, helping reduce their own carbon footprint, as well as those of their clients.

Far from being a cynical acknowledgement of times and trends, Checkmate’s green focus is rooted firmly in Robinson’s past, and the hills and rivers that make up the Concord region’s uniquely picturesque geography.

“When I was growing up, my dad would wake me up at six in the morning to go take river water samples for the NH Rivers Council,” recalls Josh Robinson, now Checkmate’s Director of Sales and Marketing and – in case the last name didn’t tip you off – Steve Robinson’s son. “Environmental stewardship has always been a concern of ours.”

Josh and Steve further cited the dovetailing interests of certain staff members as a big reason for establishing the company’s Green Team.

“There’s definitely a similar mindset amongst a lot of people here in the office,” exclaims Steve Robinson. “It’s a big part of what I always hoped the culture of Checkmate would be about.”

But for all the sustainability-minded improvements on Checkmate’s radar, they’re even more proud of their steadfast commitment to myriad community initiatives and charities, including United Way, NHPR, Concord Young Professionals Network, and the Concord Boys & Girls Club.

Just last month, the company became the first of its kind to join Green Alliance, the Portsmouth-based “green business union” that helps certify and promote sustainability and community-minded businesses throughout the region.

“For us it comes down to putting your money where your mouth is – that things can’t be improved without everyone chipping in and lending a hand,” notes Steve Robinson. “We look at our commitments to the community and the environment as commitments to our staff as well.”

Ditto the local economy, which – unlike with their national competitors – stands to benefit most from Checkmate’s affordable, conscious-driven payroll alternative.

At the end of the day, Checkmate wants to be more than just a voice on the other end of the phone or a name on top of a paystub; they want to be part of your business’ family.

“It gives a company peace of mind to have that confidence in accuracy, and to know you’re not going to get ripped off because of that,” says Steve Robinson. “It’s about trust and fostering actual relationships, and that’s a huge part of who we are and what we’re about.”

For more information on Checkmate, visit www.checkmatenh.com

Learn more about Green Alliance at www.greenalliance.biz