How much does payroll cost per employee with an accountant?

Per-employee payroll pricing is not a fixed published figure; it depends on how many employees you have, how often you pay them, and whether pensions, benefits or starters and leavers add complexity each period. It is quoted alongside your monthly package once we know these details.

Headcount is the starting point, since each employee needs a payslip, an FPS entry and pension assessment every period. Pay frequency matters too: weekly payroll for several staff involves far more processing across a year than a single monthly director payroll.

Complexity adds cost beyond simple headcount: frequent starters and leavers, statutory payments such as sick or maternity pay, benefits in kind processed through payroll, and auto-enrolment administration for a scheme with opt-outs and re-enrolment all take more time than a stable team paid the same amount each month.

Our fixed monthly packages at £89, £169 and £289 plus VAT cover the accounts, tax and compliance work for the company; payroll for staff beyond the director is priced separately because the workload scales with headcount rather than company size.

Getting an accurate quote means telling us the number of employees, pay frequency and whether a pension scheme is already running, so the price reflects the actual monthly workload rather than a generic assumption.

Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.