Payroll Outsourcing for UK Businesses
Payroll outsourcing means handing your pay runs to a specialist who calculates pay, files with HMRC, runs workplace pensions and sends payslips, while you stay in control of who gets paid and how much. We have run outsourced payroll for UK employers since 2011 and now look after more than 500 clients, from a single employee to large weekly payrolls.
- Since 2011
- 500+ clients
- 5.0 on Google
- From £2.50 + VAT per payslip
- Cyber Essentials certified
What you can outsource
Most clients hand us the whole payroll. You tell us about hours, starters, leavers and changes; we do the rest.
Every pay run
- Pay calculations: PAYE tax, National Insurance, student loans and attachments of earnings
- Payslips for every employee, delivered securely online
- RTI submissions to HMRC (FPS and EPS) on time, every pay run
- A payment report and BACS file so you can pay staff from your own bank
Pensions
- Auto-enrolment assessments and employee letters
- Contribution files sent to your pension provider
- Opt-outs, opt-ins and re-enrolment
- More on pension auto-enrolment
People changes
- Starters, leavers and P45s
- Statutory sick, maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay
- Weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly payrolls
Year end and more
- P60s and year end
- P11D support
- CIS returns for construction businesses
- Reports for your accounts
You stay the employer. You keep your own PAYE scheme and pay your staff yourself, so you never hand over control of your money.
Why UK businesses outsource payroll
- Time back. A pay run that takes an owner or office manager half a day becomes a short email to us.
- Fewer mistakes and penalties. HMRC can charge penalties for late RTI submissions, and The Pensions Regulator can fine employers who miss auto-enrolment duties. Keeping on top of both is our job.
- No single point of failure. If your payroll person is off sick or leaves, payroll still runs.
- Rules change every April. Thresholds, statutory pay rates and pension limits change each year. We apply the changes for you.
- Confidentiality. Colleagues do not see each other’s pay.
Read more: why more UK businesses are outsourcing payroll and payroll outsourcing vs payroll software.
How much does payroll outsourcing cost?
We charge per payslip, so you only pay for the people you pay. There is no setup fee, no charge to move your payroll across and no contract.
| Pay frequency | Price per payslip |
|---|---|
| Weekly | from £2.50 + VAT |
| Fortnightly | from £2.50 + VAT |
| Four-weekly | from £3.50 + VAT |
| Monthly | from £3.50 + VAT |
- No setup fee
- No contracts
- Auto-enrolment included
Example
A business paying 10 people monthly pays from £35 + VAT a month. That covers payroll processing, payslips, RTI submissions, auto-enrolment, starters and leavers, P60s and the BACS file.
See full payroll pricing, or ask us for a written quote.
Outsourced payroll vs running it in-house
Either way you stay the employer. The difference is who does the work and who carries the risk of getting it wrong.
| Question | Outsourced to us | In-house |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs each pay run | Our payroll team | You or a member of staff |
| Software and updates | Included | You buy and maintain it |
| HMRC and pension deadlines | We file on time | Your responsibility |
| Holiday and sickness cover | Always covered | Needs a trained backup |
| Who is the employer | You | You |
| Cost | From £2.50 + VAT per payslip | Staff time, software and training |
How to choose a payroll outsourcing company
Whoever you choose, ask these six questions.
Who will I deal with?
You should reach a named person who knows your payroll, not a call centre.
What does the price include?
Check that auto-enrolment, starters and leavers and year end are not extras.
Is there a contract or setup fee?
We have neither.
How is my data protected?
Look for ICO registration, written UK GDPR data processing terms, insurance and Cyber Essentials. We have all four.
Can you take over part way through the tax year?
You should not have to wait until April.
Do you handle my kind of payroll?
Hourly weekly staff, CIS subcontractors, directors, care workers and mixed pay frequencies all need handling properly.
Switching your payroll to us
Quote
Tell us how many people you pay and how often. We send a written price.
Your details
Send your PAYE references, employee details, year-to-date figures and pension scheme details. We get authorised with HMRC as your agent.
Set up
We aim to set up your payroll within 24 hours and check the year-to-date figures against what has been filed.
First pay run
You send hours and changes. We send a summary for you to approve before anything is filed.
Every pay run after
Payslips, RTI, pensions and reports, on time.
Switch at any point in the tax year. Continuing staff do not need P45s, because we carry their year-to-date figures across.
Who we outsource payroll for
UK employers of any size
Including small businesses, care homes, nurseries, hospitality and construction businesses with CIS.
Accountancy practices
Outsource your clients’ payroll to us under your own brand: white label payroll for accountants.
Overseas companies with UK staff
We register your UK PAYE scheme and run your payroll: UK payroll for overseas companies. We are a payroll bureau, not an employer of record or umbrella company.
How a bureau works
Want the full picture? Read about our UK payroll bureau service.
Security and compliance
Payroll data is some of the most sensitive information a business holds. This is how we look after it.
- Registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office since 2011, registration number Z2786276
- Professional indemnity and cyber insurance with Hiscox
- Written UK GDPR data processing terms that set out how we handle your employees’ data
- 2-step verification on every system we use
- Payslips delivered to your employees online and securely
- Cyber Essentials certified (IASME, October 2026)
What our clients say
Rated 5.0 on Google from 16 reviews.
“Excellent professional service always able to speak to somebody when required.”
“We have used Payroll Service for over 10 years… Nothing is too much trouble.”
“Rhys and the team provide an absolutely exceptional service…”
Payroll outsourcing FAQs
What is payroll outsourcing?
Payroll outsourcing is when a business pays a specialist provider to run its payroll: calculating pay and deductions, producing payslips, sending RTI submissions to HMRC and running workplace pensions. The business stays the employer and keeps control of pay decisions.
How much does it cost to outsource payroll in the UK?
With us, from £2.50 + VAT per payslip for weekly and fortnightly payrolls and from £3.50 + VAT for monthly and four-weekly payrolls. There is no setup fee and no contract.
Will I still be the employer?
Yes. You keep your own PAYE scheme, your employees’ contracts and your bank account. We run the payroll on your behalf.
Do you pay my employees?
No. We send you a payment report and a BACS file for each pay run, and you pay your staff from your own bank account.
Can I outsource payroll part way through the tax year?
Yes. We carry your year-to-date figures across, so there is no need to wait until April and continuing staff do not need P45s.
Is my business too small to outsource payroll?
No. We run payroll for businesses with one employee, including director-only payrolls.
Which payroll software do you use?
Sage 50 Payroll and BrightPay. You do not need to buy or learn any payroll software.
How quickly can you start?
We aim to set up your payroll within 24 hours of receiving your details.
Get a quote for payroll outsourcing
Tell us how many people you pay and how often, and we will send a written price.
Or email sales@payrollserviceuk.co.uk