It is not difficult to set-up the Payroll if you have the knowledge to do so. In your particular case I would suggest that an expert like myself or another like individual do this on your behalf.

You can run tests on the payroll module to ensure it is giving you the same entries as what is provided by your 3rd party supplier.

Hope this helps!

NS1 said:

I can't say i'm familiar with payroll at all, I've had no experience managing/handling it.

Depending on the number of employees and the complexity of your payroll, you may need some training.  Sage used to include a tutorial PDF Ebook in the 2006 and 2007 software, that tutorial or others may still be floating around on the internet somewhere.  Be careful when buying any tutorial to make sure it is for the CANADIAN Sage 50 (formerly Simply Accounting) software.

NS1 said:

My question is, is it difficult to set up the payroll module and to manage payroll given that I have zero experience in calculating any deductions, benefits, wcb, etc?

I've found it easier to enter hours and make payroll entries, record changes, cost projects, and manage payroll. 

The set up is already done for your service, so all that work in Sage 50 is going to be additional.

Remittance filings are of course more work than having someone else do it, but it's not that difficult to do, especially if you're set up online