If I will be gone, can I run a payroll early?

Yes! You can run payroll anytime, lisam5.

If you will be submitting payroll through direct deposit, then you can schedule the checks for the next 4 pay periods.

Here's how:

1. Go to Workers or Payroll > Employees.
2. Select Run payroll.
3. Choose the Pay Schedule and find the employee you want to pay.
4. Confirm the Pay period and Pay date.
5. Enter employee compensation, including any salary adjustments, vacation or sick hours, and other pay types.
6. Select Preview Payroll, and then click Submit payroll.
7. Hit Finish payroll.

You can read the Can I create direct deposit in advance? section in this article: Set up an employee for direct deposit.

For paper check, hand write or print the check and give it to the employee by the check date. I'm adding this link for reference: Print paychecks in QuickBooks Online Payroll and Intuit Online Payroll.

If you have more questions about running payroll, or other concerns for QuickBooks Online, please let me know in the comments below. Have a good day!