Timelines: Speeds and Disbursement Methods

Zeal offers a range of Speeds and Disbursement Methods to give you flexibility in how and when they pay their workers. Understanding these two key concepts will help you determine the best payroll and contractor payments configuration for your business needs.

What Are Speeds?

Speed is an attribute on the Employer Check and determines how quickly funds enter into the Zeal system, through transactions like Company Debits (the withdrawal of payroll funds from the employer’s bank account). The chosen speed affects the payroll submission deadline and determines when worker payments can be disbursed.

Available Speeds

Speeds are presented from slowest to fastest:

• Four-Day Speed – Cutoff is 4 days before check date at 2:00pm PST

• Two-Day Speed – Cutoff is 2 days before check date at 2:00pm PST

• One-Day No Reserve – Cutoff is 1 day before check date at 11:30am PST

• One-Day with Reserve - Cutoff is 1 day before check date at 12:30pm PST

• Zero-Day No Reserve - Cutoff is day of check date at 9:30am PST

• Zero-Day with Reserve – Cutoff is day of check date at 11:30am PST

What Are Disbursement Methods?

Disbursement Methods is an attribute on the Employee Check and Contractor Payment that determines how employees and contractors receive their funds (the transfer of payroll funds to employees' bank accounts or other payment instruments). Each worker can have a different disbursement method, independent of speed.

Available Disbursement Methods

Disbursement methods vary in processing time and settlement speed (presented from slowest to fastest):

• Physical Check – Delivered 2-5 business days after check date. Cutoff is 11:30am PST on day of check date.

• Direct Deposit Next Day (default) – Cutoff is 2:30pm PST day before check date.

• Direct Deposit Same Day – Cutoff is 11:30am PST on day of check date.

• Push-To-Card – Delivered in ~30 min. Processing 24/7

• Paycard – Delivered instantly. Processing 24/7

• Download Check – Processing 24/7

• Prepaid – Processing 24/7, completed outside the Zeal system

How Speeds and Disbursement Methods Work Together

The strictest timing constraint, based on the cutoffs above, between the Speed and Disbursement Method dictates the feasible/available check date or pay date for a payroll run/employee check or contractor payment. For example:

• If you selects Zero-Day No Reserve speed (cutoff = day of check date at 9:30am PST), but choose Direct Deposit Next Day (cutoff = 2:30pm PST day before check date), the system will block check dates for the same day because Direct Deposit Next Day requires prior-day submission.

• The available check date depends on both the selected speed and disbursement method.

Best Practices for Choosing Speeds and Disbursement Methods

• Want the fastest direct deposit timeline without setting up a Reserve? Choose Zero Day No Reserve + Direct Deposit Same Day.

  • This will require you to provide your information by 9:30 AM of the check date in order for the worker to get their pay by the check date.

• Need last-minute pay or termination pay? Choose Zero-Day with Reserve + Paycard or Push-To-Card.

For more details, refer to our individual articles about Disbursement Methods.

By understanding speeds and disbursement methods, you can optimize payroll operations to ensure you have all information in Zeal on time and get employees paid timely.

Updated February 10, 2025 03:00