There are many entertainment payroll services available for producers and accountants who need help managing their finances and paying people on time. One of those solutions is Wrapbook.
In this post, you’ll learn what this platform does, who it’s for, and whether it’s worth considering.
What is Wrapbook Payroll?
Wrapbook is a payroll software specifically designed for those in production. It connects everyone on the team, including producers, cast, crew, and accountants.
If you’re in charge of payroll, Wrapbook allows for the creation of crew profiles that monitor union and non-union workers from one job to another. Their mobile time cards allow for the correct calculation of their pay.
The service also shows all expenses in one place, including payroll, purchase orders, and petty cash, and users can generate reports whenever the need arises.
Wrapbook Review
Here’s a breakdown of all Wrapbook features to help you decide if this production payroll company is what your production needs right now.
Wrapbook Features: How Does Wrapbook Work?
Here are some of the available features when you use Wrapbook for your production.
Entertainment Payroll
The most important Wrapbook feature is arguably its payroll capabilities. The tool aims to ensure everyone gets paid on time by recording hours, reimbursements, expenses, kit fees, and more.
Pay the whole crew with the click of a button, and automate compliance for union dues like SAG-AFTRA, DGA, and more.
The whole crew accesses their information through the iOS app, where information updates in real-time.
Onboarding
Wrapbook allows for the addition of new workers to an existing crew with its onboarding feature. Collect signatures electronically and store them within the platform. If they forget to sign something, you can send a reminder and you can keep track of their documents, like I-9s and W-4s, in real-time.
This feature also lets you invite candidates to a project. There’s also a record of everyone who’s worked on projects, so it’s easier to rehire.
Cost Tracking
This platform allows you to create, manage, and share purchase orders with other stakeholders in your production. You get to see everything in real time, so there are (hopefully) no surprises at the end of the production run.
The iOS app allows users to log receipts on the go. Then, generate reports at the end of the production to know how much was spent overall.
Production Accounting
Accountants access all the information they need in one location, including the total budget, timecards, cost reports, and the general ledger. Plus, with everything done digitally, there’s no need for manual re-entry if there are changes to job costs. As soon as someone changes job costs, it will show up for all users with access to that information.
Reporting
To find specific records, filter your reports by worker type, department, payroll ID, and more. Then, generate reports with the exact information needed. The filters are also useful when you need to create reports without sensitive data that isn’t appropriate for everyone to see.
Wrapbook logs every change made to the records. So if there are disputes, refer to the logs for a quick resolution. Plus, reports are available in real-time and everyone has access to their records whenever they need them.
Wrapbook Pros
Here are some advantages of using the Wrapbook platform:
- Straightforward onboarding process
- Seamless tracking & auditing
- Offers many features you might need for contractor payroll management
Wrapbook Cons
While Wrapbook is a strong platform, it does have some limitations:
- It can be expensive, especially for smaller productions
- Crew can get confused by the UI, like not understanding how to add kit fees or rentals
- Accountants have no control over where payments get sent (for example, it sends checks to talents directly and not their agencies)
- The app is only available on iOS
Pricing
There is no publicly available pricing information. You’d have to send an inquiry or book a demo if you’d like to learn more.
Wrapbook Reviews
There are positives and negatives to using Wrapbook. Accountants seem to enjoy its clean and simple interface. However, some claim that it’s not so easy for crew members to understand. They’d often have to explain the system, which takes up valuable time.
Its users praise the built-in features. However, it is a costly solution. The platform charges a percentage of the salary amount it processes. There are complaints about talent needing to sign off where their checks go. And there’s no way for accountants to override it at this time.
Some would like Wrapbook to offer different budget levels, especially for smaller production companies just starting.
Wrapbook Alternatives
If you’ve used Wrapbook before and aren’t pleased with the product, or are doing your due diligence before committing to a payroll management software, we have you covered!
Here are some Wrapbok alternatives for your review.
1. LÜK Network
LÜK provides comprehensive production payroll services, crafted to accommodate the intricate dynamics of the entertainment industry. The services extend to independent contractors on a studio shoot in LA or a full cast and crew on set. They take care of precise freelancer categorization, administer workers’ compensation, and handle payroll taxes with proficiency and simplicity.
LÜK simplifies all payments into one clean, straightforward invoice, therefore alleviating the need for their clients to manage multiple payment channels and a myriad of invoice emails. Clients can merely approve or contest a single invoice per production, and LÜK manages the rest.
Of note, with the shifting landscape of freelance work and the implications of laws, LÜK’s services ensure that all talent is compensated as contractors, in compliance with each state’s labor laws, thereby simplifying and taking over these responsibilities for their clients.
Services
- Integration with 1099 contract workers comp to ensure all your cast and crew are covered
- Holds liability for paying talent as contractors, adhering to specific states’ labor laws such as the AB5 law in California
- Comprehensive tax oversight and handling
- Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
- Acts as an AOR for productions, taking on all liability for financial and legal procedures
- Accurate worker classification
LÜK is ready to become your 1099 payroll hero. Welcome to a streamlined payroll at your fingertips.
2. Cast & Crew
Cast & Crew is an accounting and financial company serving the entertainment industry. Aside from handling a production outfit’s finances, the tool also assists in processing payrolls and fulfilling certain HR tasks.
Businesses use it to set up budgets, track day-to-day costs, and pay vendors. Its metrics and insights function allows users to collect, filter, and visualize their company data with custom reports. They also offer digital asset management capabilities to store and access your documents and files in a central location.
Services
- Tools for speeding up payroll operations
- Custom reports
- Built-in onboarding tools
- Customizable interface
- Digital asset management for production and payroll documents
3. Entertainment Partners
Entertainment Partners (EP) provides entertainment payroll, workforce management, residuals, tax incentives, finance, and other production management solutions.
Their software offerings include accounting systems along with Movie Magic Budgeting and Scheduling programs, which they tout as industry standards. Additional services, such as casting and payroll for background actors, are facilitated through their Central Casting division.
The company provides hands-on training for production accounting teams and production workers as part of the onboarding process. For more information, check out our Entertainment Partners Review.
Services
- Payroll and residual services
- Production management
- Crew scheduling
- Digital document management solution
- Real-time overview of all your ongoing productions
- Corporate and government compliance requirements documentation
Is Wrapbook worth it?
Wrapbook is an established player in the entertainment industry. Their payroll solution aims to keep your business in compliance with industry regulations, and aid with hiring and managing employees, vendors, and contractors.
However, when comparing Wrapbook to LÜK, the choice is easy. In addition to the meticulous handling of payroll, worker classification, and seamless tax management, LÜK simplifies the entire process from onboarding to approvals, payments, and reporting.
What truly sets LÜK apart from Wrapbook is its all-encompassing nature. It’s not just a payroll wizard, but a comprehensive talent-booking platform–so that every tool a production needs is all in one place.
So, is Wrapbook worth it? While Wrapbook qualifies as a credible contender in the entertainment payroll space, LÜK has been shaped by industry expertise to keep producers moving through their workday with confidence and speed–backed by a trusty source at every turn.
“Knowing that they create a portfolio of available talent for us and then manage the booking and payments from start to finish has been a true LIFESAVER for us.” Tim Abney, Global Director of Education, Cosway Beauty Brands
Ready for a modern, streamlined, and stress-free payroll?
LÜK 