Plenty of small employers run their own payroll, and some genuinely should. Here's what DIY actually costs in hours, software and risk — and an honest view of when each side wins.
| Every pay period | And alongside it |
|---|---|
| Collect hours/changes · calculate gross-to-net (tax codes, NI, student loans) · produce payslips · file the FPS with HMRC on or before payday · submit pension contributions · pay HMRC by the 22nd | Starters & leavers (P45s) · statutory sick/parental pay when it happens · tax-code notices · year-end P60s · keeping up when rates and thresholds change every April — and sometimes mid-year |
For a typical small team this runs to 2–5 hours a month once you're practised — more in April, more whenever something unusual happens.
Six staff? That's from £65/mo on Essentials — or £120/mo on Managed if you'd rather we run the pension end to end too, with a portal and a named contact. Your choice, not a forced jump.
We'd rather tell you that than win a client who shouldn't have switched. If the panel opposite describes you, modern payroll software is good, and you'll likely be fine running it yourself — come back when the team grows.
If it doesn't describe you, the question isn't really "can I do payroll?" — it's "is payroll the best use of the hours?"
Two or more employees, any churn, or statutory pay in the mix? The maths flips quickly — see your exact figure.
Tell us your headcount and we'll quote a fixed monthly fee — usually less than the time DIY was quietly costing you.
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