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Make choosing the best payroll software, simple
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The bedrock of any business is an effective payroll system, one that helps businesses pay their employees accurately and on time. But today, modern payroll needs to be much more than that. It has to handle the complexity of UK legislation 1, including HMRC and GDPR laws, while having the capability to expand as your business grows.
Table of Contents
- So how do you choose the right payroll system and software for your business?
- Decision checklist
- Is it the right size for your business
- Is the software within budget?
- Do the HR functions meet your needs?
- Does it keep up with the latest compliance and regulations?
- Must-have features to look out for
- See how the best payroll software compares
- ADP Payroll UK — best for growing businesses
- FAQs
- Conclusion
So how do you choose the right payroll system and software for your business?
Making the right choice for your payroll provider raises many questions. Which system is best? What software do you need? Do we keep the function in house or do we outsource it?
Navigating these options can feel overwhelming. A good place to start is with a checklist. To help you, we’ve put together a comprehensive list so you can evaluate potential providers and choose the right payroll software solution for your business.
Decision checklist:
- Is it the right size for your business?
While small businesses need something simple and easy to implement, medium to large businesses may be looking for a solution with more advanced features that can scale for future growth. - Is the software within budget?
Compare different pricing for each model and evaluate it against implementation, training and additional costs for on-going support. - Do the available HR functions within the payroll solution meet your needs?
Look for features that can support HR including time-tracking and employee self-service options. - Does it keep up with the latest compliance and regulations?
Ensure the payroll solution can automatically update to the latest laws and other relevant regulations.
Must-have features to look out for
Payroll software solutions have a lot of features to consider. Here are some of the key ones you should look out for when choosing the best payroll software for your business.
- Integration — make sure the software integrates well with your HR functions to avoid duplicate data entry and conflicting information
- Compliance monitoring — stay compliant with the latest HMRC and GDPR legislation
- Accessibility — ensure cloud-based software compatibility and mobile-friendly availability to allow employers to run payroll from anywhere, anytime
- Scalability — it should have the ability to evolve as your business grows
- Automation — look for software that automates labour-intensive parts of payroll like calculations, deductions and payments
See how the best payroll software & services compares
Based on the checklist and must have features, we have compared the best payroll software and services in the market so you can make the right decision for your business.
| ADP | Morepay | Sage payroll | Staffology | Employment Hero | IRIS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Product features/capabilities |
||||||
|
Complete UK payroll integration |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| HMRC (RTI) and compliance automation | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Native mobile payroll app | ✔ | Not offered | ✔ | Basic | ✔ | Basic |
| Integrated time tracking and scheduling | ✔ | Not offered | Basic | ✔ | ✔ | Basic |
| Dedicated onboarding support for new clients | ✔ | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| Advanced payroll analytics | ✔ | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| Integration with POS and HR | ✔ | Basic | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Salary benchmarking/market data | ✔ | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Basic | Not offered |
| Employee benefits and discount portal | ✔ | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Basic | Not offered |
| Access to legal/HR advisory support | ✔ | Not offered | Not offered | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| Automated BACs payments | ✔ | Not offered | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
ADP Payroll UK — best for growing businesses
Getting payroll right should feel easy. With ADP, you get more than just software — you get a partner in your corner. Everything works simply, from paying your team to staying on top of the latest rules. As your business grows, ADP grows with you, always ready to help you take the next step. Less hassle, more confidence — it allows you to spend time on the work that really matters.
Key features
- Strong HR integration that seamlessly links payroll with HR systems
- Advanced reporting with robust tools for more informed decision-making
- Trusted brand with over 75 years’ experience and a reputation for reliability
- Scalable pricing options to suit growing businesses.
“ I've worked with ADP for around 2 years and have found the system easy to use, and straightforward."
FAQs
What is the best payroll software in the UK?
ADP is considered one of the top solutions due to its range of features and the ability to scale up as your business grows.
What features should I look for in a payroll software?
Key features to look out for include HR integration, compliance tools and automation.
Is cloud-based payroll software safe?
Yes. For example, ADP uses robust security measures to help businesses keep their data safe.
Can payroll software integrate with my existing HR systems?
Modern payroll software should seamlessly link with your HR system, helping to unify employee-related information. This saves you time, resources and errors, while increasing the data quality.
How do you start choosing the right payroll software?
Start by looking at how well it integrates with HR systems, its compliant monitoring capabilities and cloud-based accessibility. It’s also worth checking its ability to adapt as your business grows plus its automation features that help you manage labour-intensive tasks (e.g. calculations, payments etc.).
Can payroll software scale up with my business growth?
Yes. Modern solutions are designed to be scalable, supporting your business as it grows. For example, ADP offers cloud-based payroll solutions that can adapt to various business sizes and needs, as well as those with complex global payroll requirements.
Conclusion
Choosing the right payroll software solution2 is an important decision for your business. By reading this guide you should hopefully understand which one ticks all your boxes.
Whatever the size of your business, it’s vital to choose a provider that can help meet your needs today and tomorrow.
ADP’s scalable and integrated payroll solution is a top choice for many businesses wanting to save time, reduce errors, help maintain compliance and be prepared for future growth.
Book a call with our team of experts today
1 https://www.cipp.org.uk/resourceLibrary/risks-and-complexities-affecting-uk-payroll.html
2 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-payroll-software-that-is-recognised-by-hmrc

