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The Daily Insight

Can you outsource payroll?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Feb 24, 2026

Payroll processing inside your business is a time-consuming process. Outsourcing payroll allows employers to concentrate on their core business and frees up the business owner, human resources or accounting personnel to work more on strategic tasks that could ultimately affect your bottom line.

How does outsourcing payroll work?

Payroll outsourcing simply means to transfer, subcontract, or farm out your payroll processing to another company. This company will – fingers crossed – be a specialist payroll provider with a team of qualified payroll experts. A managed payroll provider will manage your payroll for you.

What payroll functions can be outsourced?

What Payroll Functions Can Be Outsourced?

  • Running payroll and making employee pay and withholding calculations.
  • Depositing funds directly or issuing checks to employees.
  • Calculating state and federal payroll taxes, and making tax withholding payments.
  • Filing required government reports.
  • Administering employee benefits.

What are the pros and cons for outsourcing payroll?

Before handing over the responsibility for the paychecks to an outside service, weigh the pros and cons.

  • Pro: It’s a Time Saver.
  • Pro: It Calculates Taxes Accurately.
  • Con: The Wrong Company Can Produce Errors.
  • Con: Business Owners Ultimately are Responsible.
  • Con: Paying for Services Businesses Don’t Need.

    What are the benefits of outsourcing payroll?

    If you’re thinking about hiring a company, here are seven benefits of outsourcing payroll.

    • Reduce costs.
    • Rely on payroll expertise.
    • Reduce risk and avoid paying penalties.
    • Free up key staff.
    • Gain access to technology.
    • Increase data security.
    • Less stress.

    How much do payroll companies charge per employee?

    Online payroll services typically charge a base fee of $29 to $150, plus $2 to $12 per employee. Some payroll companies may also charge an implementation fee, which is a setup fee to cover the cost of adding your employee and business tax data to the system.

    Which is the best company for payroll outsourcing?

    Payroll outsourcing companies also offer the following conveniences that make paying the bills stress-free: Depending on how many employees you have, you can choose a basic payroll company if you only hire independent contractors or have a few employees.

    Do you need an Outsourced payroll processing service?

    Payroll processing is key to keeping your business running, but it can be time consuming and complex. An outsourced service will bring you highly experienced professionals who are up to date on the latest legislations and able to quickly adapt to changes.

    How does payroll work for a limited company?

    Many limited company owners opt for a monthly payroll. How does the payroll process work in practice? When it is time to pay your employees (usually once per month), your payroll software will record their pay, and calculate any deductions (including tax).

    How much does it cost to hire a payroll company?

    A payroll company will charge a fixed rate per month that covers a set number of employees or a range such as $65 for 1-9 workers, $125 for 10-20 and so on. In most cases, the fee structures discussed above primarily cover payroll processing only. There are additional services that are helpful for business owners, but not covered in these fees.