Guide
Making Tax Digital: what UK businesses must do
Who is in scope, which software qualifies and the deadlines HMRC expects you to hit.
Read guideCompare business payroll services
Run RTI-compliant payroll, auto-enrolment pensions and payslips through a UK provider — from a few pounds per employee each month.
Compare payroll quotesTrustpilotTrustScore 4.7 | 29,362 reviews
Ready to compare payroll services?
Run a full market comparison before you commit. It takes about five minutes and there's no obligation to apply.
How payroll services work
A payroll service calculates gross-to-net pay, deducts PAYE and National Insurance, submits Real Time Information to HMRC on or before payday and issues payslips.
Auto-enrolment duties sit alongside payroll: assessing employees, enrolling those who qualify and filing pension contributions each period.
Providers range from software you run yourself to a fully managed bureau that only needs your hours and changes each month.
What affects the cost of payroll services
- Number of employees and pay frequency
- Weekly versus monthly payroll runs
- Pension auto-enrolment administration
- Statutory pay, P11Ds and year-end filings
- Whether payslips are digital or posted
Why compare payroll services with us
RTI filed for you
Submissions go to HMRC on time, every period, without you touching the portal.
Auto-enrolment handled
Assessment, enrolment and pension uploads included on managed plans.
Per-employee pricing
Costs scale with headcount, so seasonal changes are easy to absorb.
Payroll options compared
Indicative UK pricing. Bureau providers often charge a base fee plus a per-payslip rate.
| Option | Base fee | Per employee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll software | £8 - £20/mo | £0 - £2 | Confident in-house admin |
| Managed bureau | £20 - £40/mo | £4 - £8 | Most small businesses |
| Accountant bundle | Included | £3 - £6 | Existing accountancy clients |
| CIS payroll | £25 - £50/mo | £5 - £12 | Construction firms |
Typical monthly cost by headcount
Managed monthly payroll including auto-enrolment administration.
| Employees | Typical monthly cost | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 5 | £25 - £60 | £300 - £720 |
| 6 - 20 | £60 - £160 | £720 - £1,920 |
| 21 - 50 | £160 - £350 | £1,920 - £4,200 |
| 51 - 150 | £350 - £850 | £4,200 - £10,200 |
Expert advice
Our finance team reviews UK providers, pricing tiers and service levels every quarter.
“Payroll errors cost more than payroll fees. Pay for a provider that answers the phone when a payslip is wrong on payday.”
payroll services: pros and cons
Pros
- Removes the risk of late RTI penalties
- Pension duties handled correctly
- Costs flex with headcount
- Payslips and P60s issued automatically
Cons
- Weekly payroll costs noticeably more than monthly
- Last-minute changes may miss the cut-off
- Some providers charge extra for leavers and P45s
How to choose payroll services
The cheapest headline price is rarely the cheapest total cost. Work through these points before you commit.
- 1
Fix your pay frequency
Moving from weekly to monthly pay can halve your payroll bill.
- 2
Check the cut-off
Ask how many working days before payday the provider needs your data.
- 3
Confirm pension uploads
Not every quote includes filing contributions with your pension provider.
- 4
Count the extras
P11Ds, year-end filings and leaver processing are often priced separately.
Compare payroll services
See what's available for your business today. It takes just minutes.
How to compare payroll services
Comparing takes a few minutes and there is no obligation to switch.
1. Tell us about your business
Turnover, structure, headcount and how many transactions you process each month.
2. See matched providers
We shortlist providers that genuinely support businesses of your size and sector.
3. Compare real costs
Monthly fees, per-user charges, onboarding costs and what is bundled versus billed extra.
4. Get set up
Your chosen provider handles onboarding, data migration and HMRC registrations where needed.
Things to watch out for
HMRC penalties for late RTI apply per submission and escalate — confirm who carries that risk.
Some quotes exclude employees with zero pay in a period but still bill for them.
Check whether historical payroll data transfers when you switch mid-year.
Our payroll services service
We compare payroll services from established UK providers and independent practices, so you can weigh price against the level of support you actually get.
There is no fee to compare, and we will tell you plainly when your existing arrangement is already competitive.
Getting started
1
Gather your numbers
Latest accounts, current provider costs and your accounting year end.
2
Check the transfer
Confirm how records, payroll history and HMRC authorisations move across.
3
Set the go-live date
Most businesses switch at a quarter or year end to keep reporting clean.
Why choose Grow Your Business?
Wide choice of providers
We compare a broad range of UK providers so you can find the option that actually fits how your business operates.
Exclusive offers
We work hard to bring you exclusive deals, switching incentives and cashback where they're available.
Simple and fast
It takes just a few minutes to compare with us — and the deal you find could be well below what you pay today.
Types of payroll services
Different setups suit different stages of growth.
Payroll software
You run the payroll; the software handles calculations and RTI submissions.
Managed bureau
You send hours and changes; the provider does everything else.
Accountant-run payroll
Bundled into a wider accountancy package for a single monthly fee.
Umbrella / CIS payroll
Specialist handling for contractors and construction subcontractors.
Providers we compare
Logos are shown for identification. We are not affiliated with every provider listed and do not compare the whole market.
Crunch
Mazuma
TaxAssist
The Accountancy Partnership
1st Formations
Osome
Sage
XeroComparing with us is a no-brainer
“Twenty-two staff, weekly pay, zero HMRC letters since we outsourced it.”
Sam, hospitality group, Bristol
Business banking guides
Guide
Cutting the cost of your accounting stack
Where subscription tiers, per-user fees and add-on modules quietly inflate your bill.
Read guide
Guide
In-house vs outsourced finance
When a bookkeeper, an accountant or a fractional finance director makes more sense.
Read guidepayroll services FAQs
When must RTI be submitted?
On or before the date you pay your employees. Late submissions can trigger HMRC penalties.
Does payroll include pensions?
Managed services usually include auto-enrolment assessment and contribution uploads. Software-only plans often do not.
Can I switch payroll provider mid-year?
Yes, though transferring year-to-date figures accurately is essential to avoid tax code errors.
Written by the Grow Your Business editorial team · Updated 26 July 2026