Raising the Bar: Byway Brewing Company’s Payroll Transformation

Byway Brewing Company, a vibrant and family-friendly microbrewery in Hammond, Indiana, began as a dream among friends and family who turned their passion for craft beer into a community destination. As their reputation and team expanded, Byway faced the growing pains of manual payroll and administrative headaches that threatened to slow their momentum.

Byway’s partnership with Würk became a game-changer for the business. They streamlined manual processes, eliminated critical payroll errors, and empowered their staff with instant access to their personal information, like pay stubs and tax forms. This transformation didn’t just save time; it fueled Byway’s ability to focus on what they do best- brewing exceptional beer, creating memorable experiences, and building a business that’s as reliable as it is welcoming.

Business Challenges

Owning and operating a business takes many hats. Payroll is an essential part of that business, but it can quickly become cumbersome and prone to many unexpected errors. What were their biggest challenges?

• Time-consuming payroll preparation that required collecting and organizing every piece of information before sending it to an accountant to process.
• Limited Support made it difficult to get answers or identify errors early.
• Lack of Self-Service Tools left him fielding simple employee questions, taking time away from important daily operations.

Managing payroll was highly manual and inefficient, requiring Philip to extract data from the POS system, enter it into Excel, perform calculations, and coordinate with an external accountant. This process was time-consuming and decentralized, taking upwards of five hours per cycle. With growth goals on the horizon, something had to change.

Solution

Transitioning to Würk marked a turning point for Byway Brewing, transforming payroll from a stressful, error-prone chore into a streamlined, empowering experience for both management and employees. With Würk, Philip gained a centralized, user-friendly platform that replaced spreadsheets and back-and-forth emails with a seamless, one-stop solution.

Payroll processing time dropped dramatically, taking less than an hour every pay period, freeing up valuable hours each week to focus on the business. Payroll headaches were eliminated, and employees were paid accurately and on time, building trust and confidence in the company’s operations. Having Würk’s support team also ensured that any questions or issues were resolved quickly and knowledgeably. This level of support was proven invaluable during complex periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when Würk’s tax team helped Byway Brewing maximize relief opportunities and stay compliant.

“The ease of access for both myself and our employees is great! There wasn’t much training needed, and the system keeps improving.” – Philip

Impact & Results

By partnering with Würk, Byway Brewing didn’t just solve payroll problems, they unlocked time, confidence, and resources to fuel their continued growth and success.

80% Reduction in Payroll Processing Time
Used to take 5 hours, now takes 1 hour or less

67% Reduction in Payroll Errors
Used to average 3 errors a payroll cycle, now almost none

168 Hours Saved Annually
with Employee Self-Service and Onboarding Tools
Previously spent 14 hours a month fielding employee asks and onboarding tasks (ie. pay questions, seasonal rehires, document collection, etc.)

“We’ve been with Würk for nearly ten years, and I don’t see us going anywhere else. The support is always there when we need it.” Philip Sajn, General Manager

To learn more, visit:
https://enjoywurk.com/our-services-and-solutions/payroll-technology-and-compliance/payroll-and-tax-services/