It’s more than just keeping you in business – that’s maintaining.

AHOLA CONFIDENTLY MOVES YOU FORWARD.

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HIRING & ONBOARDING

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HUMAN RESOURCES

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BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

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TIME & ATTENDANCE

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PAYROLL

WHY AHOLA?

Our cloud-based HR solutions adapt alongside your growing company, so you can focus on running your business. Plus, you’ve got a dedicated team in your corner, whenever you need us.

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Be sure to check out our free resources on all things Payroll and HR.

Ahola Uncovers Nearly $703K in Ohio Unemployment Refunds for Clients

At Ahola Payroll & HR Solutions, we believe in going the extra mile for our clients—and sometimes, that means going back in time. Through our proactive wellness audits, which are conducted at random to ensure accuracy and excellence in every client’s experience, we’ve uncovered a surprising number of overpayments sitting unclaimed in the Ohio Unemployment (ODJFS) system.These refunds are often left behind—sometimes due to errors or oversights from previous providers—but we make it our mission to ensure no dollar is left on the table. We’re proud to report that we’ve already recovered $702,897.76 in refunds for our clients—and that total continues to grow every day.These audits involve a deep, detail-oriented review of client unemployment tax accounts. In many cases, we’ve found overpayments spanning multiple periods, and when we do, our dedicated Taxation team—led by Director of Taxation, Thomas Hall—takes swift action to validate and recover those funds. As Tom explains:

“We complete these audits to ensure our clients receive the best experience possible. When we find discrepancies, regardless of the timeframe, we work hard to resolve them—often resulting in meaningful refunds for our clients.”

These surprise savings are being delivered across industries—from childcare to construction, martial arts to marketing, and everything in between. We’re thrilled to share just a few highlights from the many clients we’ve helped:
Otherworld
As a new client, Otherworld was surprised (and thrilled) to recover funds overlooked by their previous provider.
Noll Holdings LLC
Significant refund, real results.
All About Kids Childcare and Learning Center
A major win for Director Madeline Short, thanks to our attention to detail.
International Karate Centers Inc.
Focused savings, big impact.
Fitzgibbons Arnold & Company Agency Inc
Another refund delivered—one of many to come.
Bill’s Blue Ribbon Automotive Inc
Driving savings forward.
A&S Animal Control LLC
Proof that even smaller organizations can see big results.
Sage Partners LLC – Insurance
One of 79 refund checks we secured in just one week—totaling $124,229.85!
TapDancing Lizard LLC
Just one part of our $225,000+ in recovered funds (and growing!).
ROTH Construction Columbus Co LLC
Another success in the construction sector.
Hopewell Federal Credit Union
Helping financial institutions uncover unexpected opportunities.
Gross Builders
Building savings brick by brick.
YWCA Elyria/Lorain
A mission-driven organization receives unexpected support.
Gastronics
Gas detection, big discovery.
Enza Financial
CFO Diane Hackman was delighted by the unexpected windfall.
What This Means for You
If you’re an Ahola client, this is just one of the many ways we go above and beyond. If you’re not yet working with us, what other opportunities might be going unnoticed in your accounts?
We’re not just processors—we’re partners, uncovering hidden value through diligence, expertise, and care.
📞 Contact us today to learn more about our full-service payroll, HR, and tax solutions.
💬 Have questions about your refund?
According to our Taxation Director, this refund may need to be booked under this year’s Ohio Unemployment account in your general ledger (GL), even if the funds are from multiple past periods. Be sure to consult your CPA for proper recording.

[Watch Now!] Lunch and Learn Webinar Series: Navigating Increased ICE Enforcement – Expert I-9 Compliance Strategies

In case you missed it, catch up now as our experts break down the complexities of I-9 audits with practical, in-depth guidance.

3 Things Small Business Owners Need to Know About HSAs

As a trusted partner to small businesses for over 50 years, Ahola is here to help you stay ahead of changes that affect your team and your bottom line. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a smart way for employees to save money on healthcare—and for employers to support their staff with tax-advantaged benefits. Here are three key updates to know:

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WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING

There is no more compelling way to express the value Ahola offers than by sharing our customers’ own words.

4.1
Based on 154 reviews
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Ashley Lawson
19:55 26 Feb 25
Over the past year, partnering with Ahola has been transformative for our Ohio-based small business. Their expert guidance has enabled us to introduce several new and enhanced benefits, significantly elevating our workplace culture to be more supportive and enriching for everyone.Special thanks to Tina and Kennedy for their direction, patience, and genuine care throughout our journey. Their dedication has been instrumental in fostering a better workplace for our team, which, in turn, has enhanced our competitiveness and productivity for our clients.
Josh Androsac
17:52 16 Feb 25
A great family owned company that is there for the clients!!
Dennis M. Flood
16:47 15 Jan 25
Deciding to go with Ahola Payroll services was one of the best decisions we have made. The level of service is top notch and having a dedicated representative that I can call is a huge asset. I highly recommend Ahola for any business, small or large.
chris goebel
21:38 09 Oct 24
I have owned two companies, and both have used Ahola for their payroll. They have been great to work with for over 30 years
Marsha Davis
15:31 06 Mar 24
I highly recommend Proactive HR Consulting Services. In two short months, they gave our HR Department the push it needed, and in the right direction. Our management team presented them with our ‘wish list’ and one by one, they took them on; each time exceeding our expectations.Laurie always responded to all my questions in a timely manner with great suggestions and resources; so many resources that we were able to create a library of HR topics on how to navigate any HR issue we could think of. Always respectful of our time and eager to learn about our industry, she went above and beyond in helping us resolve current issues as well as pointing us in the direction of where we want to go.The flexibility this plan offers is key. The month-to-month agreement allowed us to ‘press pause’ when our company needed to focus on other issues. It’s great to know that we can return anytime and pick up where we left off. Like their parent company Ahola, we received the same great customer service, and attention to detail that we have come to depend on.
Ken Weinberg
11:24 01 Feb 24
I have worked with many payroll companies in the past, but none can compare with Jake and Ahola. As a tax professional, I am approached constantly by payroll companies. The problem is they promise the world and offer low initial fees and great customer service, but this is only a sales pitch. Soon after the sale, they disappear. Customer service is lacking and your sales rep seems to change every year. Only with Jake and Ahola are you assured consistent prices and always the best customer service in the industry..Because when you go with Ahola, you also get Jake and he will always go above and beyond to meet and exceed any expectations you might have.
Cynthia May
19:43 11 Jan 24
We have used Ahola for several years and cannot be more pleased.We are a small family business and they have always seen that we are well taken care of. CJ handles my payroll processing, and he is outstanding. He is knowledgeable and helpful. Ahola truly cares about their customers. I highly recommend them for your payroll needs.Malavite Excavating, Inc.
Terri Healey
10:58 28 Sep 23
Jake Krider and Ahola HR Solutions are dependable, responsive, and knowledgeable. They have provided excellent ideas for how we can streamline and improve our payroll processes. AND they provide a dedicated point of contact for your whole time with the company, not just during the sales and implementation process. Thank you!
Great company, great products, even better staff. Worked with several departments and people over the years and our experiences have all been great. Wont find a better payroll/hr company out there, than Ahola.
Shannon Kuhrt
19:11 20 Apr 23
We have been a customer of Ahola for decades. Their family business offers personalized service always by a friendly and knowledgeable staff member. We have had the same contact for many years and she knows our unique business which makes it super easy and reduces stress whenever questions or issues arise. She is always quick to respond anytime we reach out. At Ahola, you are a not a number....they treat each of their clients like family.
Janelle Kelly
19:17 13 Apr 23
I'm very impressed with Ahola's payroll processing platform. We are a small company, and they always take care of us no matter what the issue is. Everyone I've had the pleasure to speak with there is knowledgeable and helpful and makes our experience with them that much more impressive.-Universal Oil Inc
Melanie Gawne
01:26 03 Nov 22
I had the pleasure of meeting with Jake, his kindness and knowledge was outstanding. Not only did he take time to explain his business but also gave me guidance on how I can improve my own business. Jake is a genuine person who is willing to go the extra mile to help you. Thank you Jake!
Heather Olarte
04:29 17 Aug 22
Our company was very apprehensive with moving over to a new Payroll provider, however Ahola's Implementation Team was great through the whole process and made sure that even our specific situational needs were addressed and resolved to our satisfaction.
Pegasus Papatonis
14:51 06 May 22
Absolutely love everything about this company!! Family owned and operated, very talented staff specifically the 2 ladies i work with Shellie and Sandy 🙂 Way better than ADP, friendly attentive, and hands on.
Tom Lamb
23:16 22 Sep 21
Excellent customer service. Always willing to help with all issues. Enjoy working with Sheila !
Tim Raleigh
16:16 15 Jun 21
I could not be more pleased with the service we have received from Ahola. Everyone I have had the pleasure to deal with has been extremely friendly and more importantly helpful and quick to get the job complete. I have been extremely impressed from the very beginning with Paula and then Stephanie, Russell, and Corinne. I'm not sure why other payroll companies can't give this kind of service, but I am glad I found Ahola. Customer for life.
Susan George
13:59 20 May 21
I am new to Ahola - just implemented in January 2021 - and I am so pleased with this company. Running payroll is a breeze with Ahola! Must more efficient and user friendly than other software than I have used in the past. Sheila Hardy has been truly amazing to work with! I greatly appreciate her positivity and willingness to help in every situation. Couldn't ask for better service! When I have questions, she is always happy to answer them and gets back to me very quickly. I will certainly recommend Ahola to others in the business community! Fantastic job and fantastic people!
Pam Beran
21:57 11 Nov 20
I love working with Ahola! The team makes our payroll processing experience easy and uncomplicated. Our CSR, Tricia, the whole service team for that matter, is always just a phone call away. She/They truly care about our payroll needs and always go above and beyond every time.
Jennet Foster
20:40 11 Nov 20
We recently switched to Ahola for our payroll processing services. It's so helpful having my own personal payroll specialist who can answer all of my many questions! We've been super happy with everything. And I love working with a local, family owned business - just like mine! The switch over was so easy with my specialist walking me through it. It was a very good decision. Thank you Jake and the Ahola team!
Laura Brown
13:41 03 Nov 20
I have been working with Ahola for over three years now, and just want to say that they do a great job! The contact I have through Ahola is Kathleen and she is amazing! The processes that they have in place to help the businesses navigate through the payroll system makes it easy and simple.This is not a typical payroll company, they actually work with you from setting up vacation time, PTO time and of course anything else you might need help with. They offer weekly and monthly training for all their clients so you have the ability to join the training classes when it is convenient for you.Highly recommend Ahola, you will not be disappointed!
Doris Palermo
19:18 14 Aug 20
We have been a customer of Ahola for many years. Their software is very easy to use, with easy access to a wide variety of payroll and human resource reports. Processing and delivery has always been on time. There have never been any problems with tax returns they've filed on our behalf. Any questions I've ever had are always answered promptly. I'm very, very happy with them as our payroll processor.

Have questions about payroll, human resources, time management, or other Ahola services? Call us at the number above or use our form and we’ll contact you.

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