Starting a business takes more than a good idea. Even after you’ve found funding and investors, created a business plan and collaborated with your attorney and certified public accountant (CPA), the hard work still isn’t over. “Keeping your business running smoothly is just as involved as getting it off the ground,” says Jennifer McConnell, a business banking team leader at Fifth Third Bank. “When determining what employers need, we focus on how you take in money, send it, and keep it safe.” To help your business run as seamlessly as possible, consider the following tools:

Electronic Deposit Manager^® allows you to make deposits without ever leaving the office, which saves time and money. Using a Web-based application, you can scan checks and send them electronically to your financial organization, which then deposits the money into your account. “Not only does the Electronic Deposit Manager save you time in preparing deposits, it also allows faster access to your deposited funds – up to 24 hours faster than coming into a bank,” says McConnell.

Cash management services allow you to handle your revenue easier. From wire transfers to information reporting, cash management services, such as Internet portals, give you access to all of your business products and services.

Lock boxes can help companies with larger needs, such as those who receive thousands of payments each month. Instead of employers scanning these checks themselves, the bank will do it for them. “This improves the flow of cash and how fast you get credited,” says McConnell. “It can also reduce salary costs because often, you would need to hire a person specifically for this job.”

Internet banking and bill payment allows you to manage your money online 24/7. From utility companies to distributors, you can pay bills any time as well as transfer funds and manage payees.

Payroll services can make salary distribution less overwhelming and time consuming. Payroll services can help reduce your burden no matter how many employees you have. Payroll services include:

• Automated Payroll Tax Filing takes filing all federal, state, local, county and school district payroll taxes off your shoulders.
• Direct Deposit allows payroll funds to be automatically deducted from the employer’s account and transferred to the employee’s.
• Official Check streamlines account reconciliation, making checks to employees easily negotiable. Fifth Third Bank offers this product through an agreement with Paycor.
• Standard and Customer Payroll Processing offers 30 standard reports with your payroll package, including general ledger, new hire, quarterly and 401 (k) reporting.
• Multiple Entry Options allow you to choose between Internet, phone, fax and PC-based entry.

Credit card processing allows you to take credit cards as an additional form of payment. In addition to enabling you to accept credit cards, this service also offers a variety of authorization methods, allowing you to take payment easier and grow your business faster.

“At Fifth Third, we want to save you time,” McConnell says. “No matter what your industry, our services allow people to focus on growing and maintaining their business.”

To learn more about helping your business run smoothly, contact Fifth Third at (866) 475-4201 or visit 53.com.