Running Payroll on Topsheet

Topsheet makes the payroll process easy for you by following the steps below:

• Create Your Project
• Register Payroll Project
• Transferring Funds
• Invite Employees
• Creating Call Sheets
• Scheduling Cast and Crew
• Managing Time Cards
• Processing Payroll
• Rinse and Repeat

We recommend you create your project in the Topsheet app at least a week before it starts. Start by going to the Projects tab, click the white plus sign at the top right corner to open a new project. You will then go through a series of questions. First pick your project type, then put in the name of your project, the budget of your project, select the workweek, typically Monday is the first day of your workweek,

Pro Tip: If you don’t select certain days of the week you will not be able to pick those days as either, Prep, Shoot or Post days. So make sure to select all possible days of the week you need.

Next, select the unions on the project. Now you will need to add in your Prep, Shoot and Post days.

Pro Tip: If you will be using a unique rate for Prep, Shoot or Post days please make sure you include all the appropriate dates for each so we know which days correspond to each particular rate.

Finally, click on the Create button and then add yourself in by choosing your position. There is no need to add any other crew or talent at this time since that will happen when you fill in your start form. See section 4. below.

Register your company and connect it to the project. Click on the image of your project and then click on the $ button in the top right hand corner above the word "Payroll." You will need to provide information like the shoot locations, and the risk profile for the project.

Fund your project by wiring the funds to your account with us, please contact hi@topsheet.io for assistance.

Invite your crew to your project by logging on to the desktop app. Now find the projects tab in the left hand menu, click Projects, then click on the project you are inviting crew to. Now click on the button at the top right that says "Invite Crew." You will see fields to input their name, cell phone, position, rate, and other information. We will then automatically contact your crew members to download the app, accept the invite and set up their profile in the application. The crew will need to fill out their W4 / W9 information and bank account information in the app to get paid.

Please note, time cards are mandatory for each and every cast and crew member that needs to get paid. There are two different ways to provide time cards to your cast and crew. 1). Creating a call sheet for every cast and crew member will automatically generate a time card for that day. Or, 2). Scheduling each individual cast and crew member will also automatically generate time cards for each day that the person is scheduled. (see section 6. below) We highly recommend option 1). since it is much easier and faster, especially with larger crews.

Creating a call sheet automatically schedules and creates a time card for your employees to work on a certain day. It will give them all the information for the day, such as call time, scenes, and crew list. You will be able to manage their time cards for the given day. You will want to wait to create a call sheet until after you have finished filling out the start form and all your cast and crew have accepted their invites. Once they accepted invites you will be able to add them to the call sheet. Click on your project, go to the top left hand corner and click on create call sheet. Now enter in crew call and cast call times and meal times etc., click next. Then enter in the information for all the scenes for that day and click next, now choose the location and click next, finally make sure to toggle on all the crew and cast members in that scene and you are done. If someone is not toggled on they will not be part of that Call Sheet and will not have a time card for that day.

You can schedule a cast or crew member by going to the project view section in the app, click on the project you want to use, then once inside the project, click on the cast or crew member you wish to schedule. After clicking on that member you will see a calendar come up, (see image above and screen shot on the left,) now click the circle on the right with the calendar on it that says “Schedule” below it. You will be given the option to quick select all prep, all shoot, and all post days, (see image above and screen shot on the right,) or you can select only the days you want by clicking on those days. After you are done choosing all the days you want to schedule that member for click the “SET SCHEDULE” button on the bottom. Now that member is scheduled for those days and will be able to go to their home view and see and sign time cards for those scheduled days. As an admin you must make sure to schedule yourself for all the days you have cast and crew scheduled so you can approved their time cards.

Managing time cards allows you to approve, reject, or fill in “standards” for your crew. Setting standards allows you to set the default times for your crew members for any given day. You can set standards for individuals, or for entire departments, making it easier for your crew members to finalize their time cards. You are the final authority of the flow of money to your crew. You can view, modify, and set any time card before approving the final time cards. Make sure to double check that all the adjustments, if any, are have been added to that crew members’ timecard.

If you need to add an adjustment, whether a Kit/Box Rental Fee, which is a Reimbursement, or a Travel Day, which is an Other Wage Bump, you can simply scroll to the button of the timecard, click on +ADD ADJUSTMENT scroll through the list of the adjustments until you find the one you want, add the amount they need to be paid or reimbursed, along with a description and you’re done, now click approve.

In “Manage Time Cards”, once you approve your crews’ time cards, we will process payroll for you. As long as your account with us is funded, we will direct deposit your crews' pay stub into their bank accounts. They should receive a paystub within their profile. The money should appear in their bank account within 2-4 business days.

For every day you are working on production for the same project, just repeat steps 5-7 to continue paying your crew. It’s as easy as that. Topsheet will help keep your payroll compliant.