In this guide, we’ll walk through the complete onboarding journey from the perspective of a partner adding a brand-new client.
Most of the process can be completed by a partner on behalf of their client, but there are a few items that must be completed by the Account owner or Authorized signatory in the client's account:
- The Account owner must log into their Wagepoint account and accept the Terms of Service
- The Authorized signatory must sign the pre-authorized debit agreement (PAD)
Check out this guide for a full list of what information you'll need to onboard your client.
This article covers a revised and improved FINTRAC-compliant client onboarding process that will take be available in-app on December 1st, 2025. You can find more information about FINTRAC and why these changes are happening here.
Before you start: Add your client and log into their account
Before you complete any account setup steps, you'll need to add your new client to your partner dashboard and log in to your client's account through your partner dashboard.
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1. From your Partner dashboard or Client directory, click Add client.
2. Under Does this company already have a Wagepoint account?, select either:- Yes, they already have a Wagepoint account
- No, they don't have a Wagepoint account
3A. If you selected Yes, they already have a Wagepoint account, then enter the Account owner email address and the Company ID.3B. If you selected No, they don't have a Wagepoint account, then enter the following details about your new client:
- Email address: Enter the client email address, then retype to ensure accuracy.
- Contact’s first name
- Contact’s last name
- Company name
4. Under Billing setup, select the relevant payment set up. Note that if you have not set up Partner pays billing, this option will be unavailable.
5. Indicate your requested permission access level:
- Payroll administrator
- Reports administrator
6. Under Plan type, select the appropriate subscription for this client.
7. Click Add.
8. Your client will be sent an email invitation to either accept or decline your invitation. Your client can also find the request in their own account by navigating to Settings > Accounting/bookkeeping firm.
Once your client has accepted the connection to your partner dashboard, you will be able to access their account and set it up on their behalf, if you'd like.
As an administrator, you can navigate into client accounts one of two ways: through the Client directory or via the drop-down menu in the top navigation bar.
Access client account via the Client directory
1. Log into the partner dashboard.
2. In the navigation menu, go to Client directory.
3. Locate the relevant client, and click Log in.
Access client account via the dropdown menu
1. Log into the partner dashboard.
2. In the navigation header, click the dropdown beside your company name.
3. Under Switch clients, use the search bar or select the client account you wish to access.
Set up your client's account
You can get started on setting up your client's account right away, but you will not be able to run payroll in the account until your client has signed into their Wagepoint account and signed the PAD agreement.
In this guide, we'll walk through each step of the Account setup process, which consists of six steps:
- Add company details
- Create a pay group
- Set up source deductions
- Add banking information
- Add authorized signatory
- Add business verification
- Submit account verification
When you first log into your client’s Wagepoint account, you’ll be guided automatically into the Account Setup workflow.
This screen gives you everything you need to get started, including:
A clear indication of your next step in the setup process
A checklist of required items you’ll need to complete setup (you can view the full list here)
A progress bar and checklist that shows exactly where you are in the process
To jump back into the account setup process from any page, use the Account setup widget at the top of your the navigation bar — it always includes a shortcut to your next step.
Step 1. Add company details
1. Let's start the first step! Click on Add company details.
2. On this page, enter your company details, including your company's Legal name, Company phone number, and Headquarters address. Optionally, you can enter a Doing business as name as well.
Note: You might notice that only certain characters are allowed in the fields. These characters are determined by the CRA's guidelines and include only the following symbols: hashtag (#), hyphen (-), dollar ($), period (.), ampersand (&), asterisk (*), and comma (,). You'll also note that PO Boxes are not accepted as a Headquarters address, as per the CRA guidelines.
3. Next, enter the business details for your client. First, select the type of account:
Personal
For Personal accounts, the Personal type will automatically be filled out as Nanny or caregiver. No further information is required. You can skip to step 6.
Business
For Business accounts, further information is required.
Depending on business type, you will be asked to input different details, including:
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Business type:
- Corporation
- Partnership
- Not-for-profit
- Sole Proprietor
- Incorporation type: For Corporations only, indicate whether the incorporation type is Federal or Provincial.
- Business number: This is a 9-digit identifier for your client's business, also used in your CRA account number.
- Industry subsector: Select the best fit category for your client's business.
- Main business activity: Select the best fit category for your client's business. The options available in this drop-down menu depend on your selection for Industry subsector.
- Business description (Optional): Enter a brief description of your client's business. You can use up to 256 characters.
4. For corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors, enter any beneficial owners. A beneficial owner is someone who directly or indirectly owns 25% or more of the company.
- Indicate if any individual owns 25% or more of the company.
- If yes, click Add beneficial owner, enter the beneficial owner's details including their percentage owned, and click Save. Repeat for each beneficial owner.
5. For all business types, add information for all current directors of the company.
- Under Directors, click Add director.
- Enter the first and last name of the director, then click Save.
- Repeat for each director. Add information for all current directors of the company.
6. When you've entered all company and business details, click Save.
Step 2. Create a pay group
In this step, you'll create your first pay group.
A pay group is simply a group of individuals who are paid on the same payroll frequency. 👯
A pay group frequency refers to how often those in a pay group are paid. This is typically Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Semi-Monthly, or Monthly.
Tip! New to pay groups? That's what we're here for! Our Guide: Pay groups has some helpful questions to ask yourself before you create your first pay group.
1. In the navigation menu, click Create a pay group.
2. Under Pay group details, enter the details for your pay group.
- Under Payroll frequency, select Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Semi-Monthly, or Monthly.
- (Optional) Under Pay group name, enter a name for the pay group. This field will auto-populate with the payroll frequency you’ve selected, but you can rename it.
- (Optional) Select Customize to edit the working hours for this pay group. If you make no changes, the system defaults to the standard working hours for the payroll frequency you’ve selected.
3. Under Pay period set up, enter the relevant information to set up your pay period schedule. These details are used to set up your pay period and pay date schedules.
Tip! The pay period is the date range during which employees work. This is the timeframe for collecting hours worked or salary owed. The pay date is when employees actually get paid for the work done during a pay period.
The pay period and the pay date are related, but not the same. There is often (but not always) a gap between the end of a pay period and the pay date. This allows some time for hourly employees and contractors to record their hours for the relevant pay period before the pay date.
The fields here will be different depending on which pay frequency you selected:
- Weekly or Bi-Weekly: Enter a start date. The end date will automatically populate for you. Then, input your desired pay date.
- Monthly: Input the cycle end date and the corresponding pay date. Indicate if the pay date falls within the pay cycle, or outside of the pay cycle. Example: If your cycle is 1st to month-end and you pay on the 1st of the following month, your pay date falls outside of the pay cycle.
- Semi-Monthly: Input the first cycle end date each month and the corresponding pay date. Then, input the second cycle end date of each month and the corresponding pay date. Example: If your first Semi-Monthly pay cycle is 1st - 15th, pay on the 15th. Choose the 15th as your cycle end date, and 15 as the corresponding pay date.
4. If prompted, select your preferred treatment if your pay date falls on a weekend:
- The Friday before
- The Monday after
5. Click Create a pay group to confirm your details.
6. Based on the information you've provided, Wagepoint will generate a schedule for your pay group. When you've confirmed that the pay schedule reflects the correct dates, click Confirm, create pay group.
- Be sure to review the dates here and check that they align with your expectations. When you create your pay group, your schedule for the whole year is generated based on these details. If you require changes to these details, it can impact your reports and you'll need to reach out to our support team for assistance. For this reason, we highly recommend that you double-check these dates when you first create the pay group to avoid stress later.
- If needed, click Continue editing to revise your pay group details.
Second step complete! On the Pay groups page, a card has been created for your Pay group.
If you would like to create additional pay groups now, you can click the Create pay group button to add another pay group using the same process.
If you'd rather finish setting up your account first, you can always come back to this later.
Step 3. Set up source deductions
1. In the Account setup widget, click Set up source deductions.
2. On the Source deductions page, enter your federal tax information:
- Enter your CRA payroll account number
- Select your remittance schedule. Your remittance schedule is assigned by the CRA. Please reach out to them if you are unsure about your schedule.
3. When you've entered your information, click Save.
You will now see your Tax remittance details saved on the Source deductions page.
Step 4. Add banking information
1. In the Account setup widget, click Add banking information.
2. On the Banking information page, enter your company's banking information:
- Select your Account type.
- If you would like a 3-day processing time, you must use a Business account.
- Select your Bank from the drop-down list
- If you don't see your bank on the list, select Other. You can then enter your Bank's information manually, including the Bank Name, Institution Number, Brand/transit number, and Account number.
- Enter your Branch/transit number and Account number
- Upload a Bank verification document. This is a void cheque, direct deposit form, or pre-authorized debit payment form from your bank.
3. When you've ensured that your information is correct, click Save.
Step 5. Add authorized signatory
1. In the Account setup widget, select Add authorized signatory.
2. Under Authorized signatory profile, enter the information for your authorized signatory.
- Select your authorized signatory from the drop-down menu. This will automatically populate with the name of the Account owner.
- If the Account owner is not the authorized signatory, use the drop-down menu to select Create administrator. The signing officer must be an administrator. If you have not yet created an account for the person who will be your Authorized signatory, you'll need to do that before you can make them your Signing officer.
- Enter the Authorized signatory's date of birth and home address.
3. When you've ensured that your information is correct, click Save.
Step 6. Add business verification
There are two parts of the business verification:
- The Authorized signatory for the company must sign the required document, which includes the pre-authorized debit agreement and business attestation.
- Upload a valid government ID for the authorized signatory. This part can be completed by you.
1. In the account setup widget, click Add business verification.
2. Download the required document, send to your client, have your client review and sign the form, and then upload it. Alternatively, the Authorized signatory can log into their Wagepoint account and e-sign the document.
- The document will pre-populate based on the information you've entered in the setup process so far. If you need to make any changes, you'll need to do so within Wagepoint.
- To edit the Business attestation, go to Company details.
- To edit the Pre-authorized debit (PAD) agreement, go to Company > Banking details.
3. Upload images of a government issued photo ID for your authorized signatory.
- You'll need to upload one image of the front and one image of the back.
- Accepted documents include a passport, driver's licence, provincial ID, or permanent resident card.
- Please ensure that all photos are clear, with minimal glare. Blurry or otherwise difficult to read images may delay the authorization process.
Step 7. Submit account verification
In this step, you'll complete and submit account verification using one of the following methods:
- Instant verification: Instantly verify your bank account information using Plaid. You will need online banking access to complete this step.
- Manual verification: A Wagepoint Risk Ops agent will review your bank account information. You will need to both complete the micro-deposit verification and send the account validation request form to your bank.
Select your method, and follow the steps below. If you are able, we recommend that you use instant verification to fast-track your set up!
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1. In the Account setup widget, click Submit account verification.
2. On the Account verification page, click Use Manual verification instead.
3. Under Micro-deposit verification, click Send micro-deposit.
4. We'll send a micro-deposit (less than $0.50) to your client's bank account within 1-2 business days. Click Save & Exit for now, and return to your account when your client has received this micro-deposit.
5. After your client receives the micro-deposit, log into your Wagepoint account.
In your Account setup widget, click Submit account verification to return to this step.
Then, enter the micro-deposit amount received in your client's bank account and click Confirm.
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6. Click Submit. Your verification status will now be Pending. Your information will be sent to the Risk & Compliance team for review. This step can take 3 to 5 business days.
7. Click Got it.
8. The Account Verification tab will show Bank account verification and Risk Operations verification as In progress until completed.
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1. In the Account setup widget, click Submit account verification.
2. On the Account verification page, click Verify with Plaid.
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3. When Plaid opens, click Continue.
4. Select your institution from the list.
5. Enter your card number or username and password.
6. Select the relevant bank account and click Continue. If you have multiple accounts, be sure to select the correct account. If you verify the incorrect account through Plaid, you will be prompted to re-do this step.
7. Review the financial data sharing settings and click Allow.
8. Your information will be instantly verified or rejected by Plaid.
If rejected by Plaid, an alert will display on your account letting you know the information provided by Plaid does not match what you have entered. You can resolve this by changing your banking information or by trying the Plaid verification again. If this still does not work, try the manual verification method instead.
If verified by Plaid, you will receive a message that your information has been submitted for review to the Wagepoint Risk & Compliance team. This can take up to 5 business days to complete.
Once successfully verified, you will see both verification steps displayed as “Verified” along with a green check mark.
To check on your status, log into your Wagepoint account. In the navigation menu, select Company Account verification. When your Bank account verification and Risk Operations verification say Verified, you're ready to go!
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FAQs: Account setup
- Your Onboarding rep is the best person to reach out to for personalized support! If you're not sure who that is, send us an email to support@wagepoint.com and one of our friendly agents will point you in the right direction.
- This is a tricky question to answer! It depends on several factors, such as whether you have all the information ready to go, how many administrators are involved in the process, whether you are connected to a Wagepoint partner, and your chosen method for account verification. For most small business owners, the process is complete within 2 weeks, including time for our team to verify your account.
- Great question! We use a monthly subscription model and we have two plans: Solo and Unlimited. If you’re not sure which plan is best for you or your client, check out our subscription and pricing guide here.
- The Solo plan includes one pay group and one payroll per month, while the Unlimited plan includes multiple pay groups and unlimited pay runs each month (including extra payroll runs, in case you want to run an additional bonus or missed payment cycle, for example).
Both subscription plans include direct deposit, tax remittances, year-end reporting, records of employment, an employee portal, as well as all the other features you can read about here! - If you are using Instant verification and cannot locate your bank, you may need to use Manual verification instead. If you don't see your bank in the list for Manual verification, select Other. You can then enter your Bank's information manually, including the Bank Name, Institution Number, Brand/transit number, and Account number.
If neither of these options work for you, please reach out to your Onboarding rep or our support team at support@wagepoint.com - If the PAD form is unavailable for you, it may be that you are not the authorized signatory. Only the authorized signatory can sign the PAD form.
- Most often, this happens because although the information was filled out, the Save button was not clicked and therefore the information was never submitted. Please try repeating the step again and ensure that you click the Save button. If your issue persists, please contact your Onboarding representation or our support team at support@wagepoint.com!
- We accept all banking institutions listed by Payments Canada.
At this time, we are unable to accommodate the following institutions:- Pateno Bank Accounts
- Loop
- Neo Financial
- Jeeves