Written by Zara Chechi Updated on 21 September 2023 On this page What is a payroll service provider? The Best Payroll Companies in London and the UK 1. Moorepay: Best payroll company in the UK overall 2. Payescape: Best for transparent pricing 3. MHR: Best for reporting 4. Frontier: Best for international businesses 5. Advanced: Best for training 6. ADP: Best for security 7. TopSource: Best for native integrations Our methodology: How did we find the best payroll services? Why should I invest in a payroll provider? Important payroll dates recap Next steps FAQs Expand I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. With HRMC requiring your expenses and benefits report as well as your P11D submissions annually, you'd be wise to use a system that will help ensure these documents are ready in time.Any of the providers on this list can help with essential payroll processes but, for our money, Moorepay is the best payroll company in the UK. It offers users expert advice and custom reporting, which are just a few of the features that made it stand out in our independent research. Businesses with small (or no) accounting teams, in particular, will benefit greatly from having access to Moorepay's consultants. Top 7 Payroll Companies in the UK and London These are the providers we recommend based on our research. Use our cost comparison tool to find the right provider for your business. You'll be joining over 100,000+ Expert Market readers who have used the tool so far this year in 2023!Moorepay – Best payroll company overallPayescape – Best for transparent pricingMHR – Best for reportingFrontier – Best for international businessesAdvanced – Best for trainingADP – Best for securityTopSource – Best for native integrationsTo help you choose the most suited to your business, we analysed our top picks and compared them in categories such as reporting, integrations, and support facilities.You can read our provider reviews below, or head straight to our payroll cost comparison tool to request quotes for the top UK providers in just two minutes – this is the quicker (and also free) option. Got two minutes? Join 100,000+ Expert Market readers by using our free payroll comparison tool to find your best offer Get Payroll Quotes What is a payroll service provider?Using a payroll service provider means you're outsourcing your payroll to a third-party company. A payroll service provider can be responsible for part of or all of your business's payroll. To save on costs, you might choose to outsource some of the trickier parts while opting to keep some processes in-house.Payroll providers can be used to carry out a number of functions, including:Calculating monthly payDeducting taxFiling with HMRCPaying employeesKeeping accurate recordsFailing to report payroll information with HMRC on time could lead to a monthly penalty of £100-£400. So, despite the costs associated with a payroll provider, you might actually end up spending less money.Payroll providers help ensure your employees are paid on time, which is important as paying them late can affect your business's reputation, as well as your ability to hire and retain talent. The 7 Best Payroll Companies in London and the UKTo start, here's an at-a-glance view of our top seven UK payroll service providers, what they offer, and what they cost. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward TOP CHOICE OVERALL Moorepay BEST FOR TRANSPARENT PRICING Payescape MHR Frontier Advanced ADP TopSource Price Range Bespoke Price Range From £16.32/week or £56.20/month Price Range Bespoke Price Range Bespoke Price Range Bespoke Price Range Bespoke Price Range Bespoke Fully-managed payroll Fully-managed payroll Fully-managed payroll Fully-managed payroll Fully-managed payroll Fully-managed payroll Fully-managed payroll Available as DIY software Available as DIY software Available as DIY software Available as DIY software Available as DIY software Available as DIY software Available as DIY software HR solutions HR solutions HR solutions HR solutions HR solutions HR solutions HR solutions CIPP PAS-accredited CIPP PAS-accredited CIPP PAS-accredited CIPP PAS-accredited CIPP PAS-accredited CIPP PAS-accredited CIPP PAS-accredited Prices correct as of September 2023Scroll through the table to see them all, and read on for a more thorough overview and comparison of each one below. 1. Moorepay – Best overall payroll company in the UK Moorepay Pricing Bespoke Compare quotes Quick overview Moorepay provides a cloud-based integrated payroll and HR platform, which allows companies to easily analyse employee data and generate reports. Established in 1966, it packs both part-managed and fully-managed services and is accredited by the CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS).The winner of The Rewards Payroll & HR Software Product of the Year Award 2022, Moorepay boasts big names as clients, such as McDonald's, Wolkswagen, and Mountain Warehouse. It's also rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot, with an impressive 4.5/5 score. Read more + Read less - Strengths Has CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) accreditation Allows for custom reporting Customer service is available via phone and live chat Weaknesses Doesn't provide open API, preventing integration Pricing only available through quoting Help is not available through chatbot Pricing See more See less Custom Based on factors such as number of employees and the solutions you need Moorepay quick factsServices available: Fully-managed payroll, DIY software, HR softwareContracts available: BespokeUK office location: Greater ManchesterCIPP PAS-accredited: YesWhat our experts think of Moorepay:Moorepay lands the top spot in our ranking largely due to its calling card: expert advice. The provider allows you to access UK-based payroll specialists who can answer your queries and give you guidance on HR, payroll, and tax matters. This helpful feature offers incredible support to companies, especially those that don't have a large or experienced accounting team.We really like the holiday calculators you can use free of charge on Moorepay's website. Within a matter of seconds, the calculators work out the number of holidays your part-time or zero-hour contract workers are entitled to. This is a super handy tool for businesses that might struggle to make sense of legislation and want to ensure employees are receiving their legally entitled holiday.Unlike Payescape and Advanced, Moorepay lacks a London office; Moorepay's headquarters are located in Swinton, in the Greater Manchester area.Moorepay's onboarding process impressed our researchers: if you're switching payroll companies and moving over to Moorepay, it will handle any legislative or policy changes that your business might need.Like MHR, Moorepay offers a native HR platform that fully integrates with its payroll one but, unlike that competitor, it offers live training sessions and has an interface that's easier to grasp. This led to Moorepay featuring highly in our ranking of the best payroll solutions for small businesses.On the flip side, for all its easy onboarding, Moorepay doesn't offer live training sessions – a crucial feature if you'd like your company to get hold of the system fast. In comparison, ADP offers this. Which payroll solution do you require? Outsourced services Payroll software Both services and software Unsure Get Tailored Quotes 2. Payescape – Best for transparent pricing Payescape Pricing From £16.32/week or £56.20/month Compare quotes Quick overview Payescape offers a streamlined payroll solutions service designed to make the process as practical as possible for small businesses in the UK.Founded in 2006, Payescape offers flexible weekly and monthly contracts. This makes it suitable for small businesses that are finding their feet and don’t want to be tied to a provider for a long term. That said, it's not the best choice for international businesses, as it doesn't allow the payment of international employees. Read more + Read less - Strengths Allows for custom reporting Integrates with third-party accounting solutions Also sells HR software Has CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) accreditation Weaknesses Doesn't allow for payment of international employees Lacks the ISO:27001, a key data security compliance certification Doesn't provide payroll changes report Pricing See more See less Weekly pricingMonthly pricing Base price £15 Base price £53 Extra cost per employee £1.32 Extra cost per employee £3.20 Payescape quick factsServices available: Fully managed payroll, HR softwareContracts available: Weekly and monthlyUK office location: LondonCIPP PAS-accredited: YesWhat our experts think of Payescape:Shortlisted at the CIPP Annual Excellence Awards 2022 (befitting the CIPP-accredited advice it offers), Payescape boasts two key assets that are hard to come by in the payroll industry: transparent pricing and a London-based office.Payescape's advertised pricing is a major plus, since competitors like MHR or ADP don't advertise theirs. During our deep-dive research into payroll companies, we discovered it to be fairly common practice in this field that providers would not advertise their pricing. Having this information upfront will benefit businesses keen on getting their payroll software promptly.As for the office, Payescape has a North London location, with easy access via Underground and Thameslink stations, which means London-based businesses can easily count on the company for in-person support. Considering that, unlike TopSource, Payescape only offers a fully managed service, the ability to meet the team handling your payroll process offers much-needed peace of mind to business owners.However, our researchers did find issues with some of the provider's data standards. For starters, it's the only payroll company we researched that doesn't store its data in the UK (its servers are in the US). Because of this, it's subject to a different data protection jurisdiction and legislation (GDPR, for instance, isn't applicable there). Payescape is also the only provider we looked into that lacks the ISO 27001 accreditation, meaning it could work harder on its data security compliance. Why do UK payroll services charge bespoke prices? Most UK payroll services offer bespoke pricing, which can be frustrating as cost is an important factor when you're searching for a provider. The reason payroll services typically offer bespoke pricing is because of the complexity of payroll. Your business might have a complicated commission structure or specific industry regulations that may affect the pricing.Other factors include the number of employees you have, employee frequency, the extent of the support you require, and any additional software you choose to integrate, such as HR software.If you want to understand the potential costs involved, take a look at our guide to payroll costs and fees. Plus, read on for our review of Payescape, a provider with transparent, set prices.You can also use our free quote comparison tool to find out how much outsourcing payroll will cost your business with bespoke quotes. We just need a few details from you and you'll be contacted by trusted providers with obligation-free quotes. 3. MHR – Best for reporting MHR Bespoke Compare quotes Quick overview MHR boasts one of the most sophisticated hosted payroll software programs in the industry, iTrent. iTrent combines powerful payroll processing capabilities with time-saving HR functions to create a central business hub for employee data.Founded in 1984, the company's now used by big names such as Microsoft Azure and Experian. In our independent analysis, our experts found MHR to be a good choice for business owners who want the flexibility of choosing between running payroll in-house, outsourcing or a combination of the two. Read more + Read less - Strengths Allows for custom reporting Allows for payroll data to be shared across different systems Customer service is available via phone and live chat Has CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) accreditation Weaknesses Doesn't provide live training Pricing only available through quoting Help is not available through email Pricing See more See less Custom Based on factors such as number of employees and the solutions you need MHR quick factsServices available: Fully managed payroll, DIY software, HR softwareContracts available: BespokeUK office locations: Nottingham, GlasgowCIPP PAS-accredited: YesWhat our experts think of MHR:MHR is best poised to help business owners and C-suite executives that really want to make the most out of the employee data at their disposal. Our researchers were impressed by its data crunching when using its native iTrent program to run highly-detailed tasks, from pinpointing costs to analysing employee performance.Like Moorepay, it already comes with an integrated HR platform, allowing you to save money on this front. It also has an incredibly high standard when it comes to data compliance, attested by its ISO:27001 accreditation (something Payescape doesn't have).For accounting teams that need to present their performance data to key stakeholders, MHR's powerful visualisation tools allow your data to be organised in compelling graphs. For its sheer scope, we'd especially recommend MHR to larger organisations, as they'll benefit from the provider's analytic prowess.Like Frontier, MHR doesn't have a London location, but it does have two UK-based offices: one in Nottingham, and another in Glasgow. If these locations are far from you, MHR is available via phone and chatbot, but not via email – a contact channel that ADP also lacks.Crucially, for a system this resourceful, MHR doesn't offer live training sessions to ease your onboarding process. This puts it on par with TopSource, but behind Advanced and Payescape, which do offer live training. This could pose an issue if you need your team to operate this software to its full extent as soon as possible.You're just over halfway through our list of the 7 best payroll services providers in the UK. Time to start comparing quotes?Simply hit one of the buttons below to start our quick questionnaire. It only takes 30 seconds to complete and, by telling us more about your business’ specific requirements, we can help ensure you receive the best personalised managed payroll services rates and recommendations. 4. Frontier – Best for international businesses Frontier Pricing Bespoke Compare quotes Quick overview Our extensive testing process found that Frontier offers solid reporting tools for businesses keen on getting payroll data insights. Established in 1983, it now helps over 1,700 customers, from small to very large enterprises. Its payroll tools, which provide statutory taxation obligations in 26 countries, make it a good choice for international businesses.However, Frontier doesn't provide an open API, which may be limiting for businesses that want to integrate their payroll data with other systems. Read more + Read less - Strengths Offers live training Allows for custom reporting Customer service is available via phone and live chat Has CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) accreditation Weaknesses Doesn't provide open API, preventing integration Pricing only available through quoting Help is not available through chatbot Frontier quick factsServices available: Fully managed payroll, DIY software, HR softwareContracts available: BespokeUK office locations: Surrey, Warrington, Nottingham, GloucesterCIPP PAS-accredited: YesWhat our experts think of Frontier:Frontier's ability to pay international employees makes it ideal to help businesses that operate in multiple countries organise their payroll. Like Moorepay, it doesn't have a London office, but it does have four UK locations: its headquarters are in Lightwater, there is a helpdesk in Warrington, plus offices in Nottingham and Gloucester.Like ADP, Frontier has a mobile app, allowing employees and managers to easily check and edit their payroll data on the go. With it, timesheets can be submitted on mobile devices and payslips can be sent.Similarly to MHR, Frontier already comes with an integrated HR platform, which is a money-saving feature considering you won't have to employ a different system to handle these processes.However, Frontier's lack of an open API is the Achilles' heel of the provider because it prevents you from integrating it with other platforms. Among the providers we tested, it shares this trait with Advanced. Our researchers also highlighted the fact that it doesn't come with ready-made accounting software integrations, which means tracking labour expenses is difficult with Frontier. Overall, if third-party integrations are key to your business, ADP is a better choice.Frontier also doesn't provide guidance on how to stay compliant to business, which isn't great to those in need of this extra information. 5. Advanced – Best for training Advanced Payroll Pricing Bespoke Compare quotes Advanced review Quick overview Advanced is an efficient cloud-based payroll software currently used by over 22,000 customers globally. Its training offering is a key asset, making it a great choice for businesses keen on implementing and getting a hold of the system quickly. Like Moorepay, it packs both fully-managed and part-managed services.Advanced offers integration with HR, attendance and finance solutions, providing you with one comprehensive platform. In fact, we found it to be one of the best providers to integrate HR and payroll. Read more + Read less - Strengths Provides live training and CIPP-accredited expert advice Allows for custom reporting Customer service is available via phone and live chat Weaknesses Doesn't provide open API, preventing integration Pricing only available through quoting Help is not available through chatbot Pricing See more See less Custom Based on factors such as number of employees and the solutions you need Advanced quick factsServices available: Fully managed payroll, DIY software, HR softwareContracts available: BespokeUK office locations: London, Docklands, Birmingham, Newcastle, York, Mansfield, Knutsford, AshfordCIPP PAS-accredited: NoWhat our experts think of Advanced:Advanced's offering puts a lot of agency in the hands of accounting teams. Its training sessions are great for professionals keen on learning the ins and outs of the system quickly, but it also packs material that allows them to pick this knowledge up at their own pace.Also, because it works both as a software and as an outsourced payroll service, it's best suited to serve businesses that want more agency over their payroll process than they'd get with Payescape, which only offers a fully managed service.If your business needs in-person support with your payroll, great news: Advanced has the highest number of UK offices among the companies we analysed. It has a London office within walking distance from City Airport, as well as eight others across the country.You can tailor the software to the specific needs of your business, setting up payroll for multiple sites, and employees with complex salaries and bonuses. Its reporting, while powerful, isn't as comprehensive as MHR's – but Advanced beats this competitor by offering live training, which MHR doesn't.However, the provider doesn't come with a mobile app (Moorepay offers this). Also, like Frontier, its lack of an open API is a problem if your company hopes to integrate software you're already using. While the provider packs a native suite of programs that's likely to cover your needs when it comes to HR and accounting, this will force you to migrate your data from your current platforms to these new ones, which can be time-consuming. 6. ADP – Best for security ADP Bespoke Compare quotes Quick overview ADP is a business solutions giant, offering both payroll and HR services to help your business. Founded in 1949, its industry cred is second to none: in the Global Payroll Awards 2022, ADP was crowned Global Payroll Supplier of the Year. It also was named the Best International Payroll Service Provider at the CIPP Annual Excellence Awards for four consecutive years. Also, with offices in the City, it's among the best payroll companies in the UK and London we analysed. Read more + Read less - Strengths Allows for custom reporting Customer service is available via phone and live chat Offers tax education resources Weaknesses Doesn't provide payroll changes report Pricing only available through quoting Help is not available through chatbot Pricing See more See less Custom Based on factors such as number of employees and the solutions you need ADP quick factsServices available: Fully managed payroll, DIY software, HR softwareContracts available: BespokeUK office locations: Staines-upon-Thames, CheadleCIPP PAS-accredited: NoWhat our experts think of ADP:ADP's ISO 27001 certification attests its efficient data encrypting. On that front, it beats Payescape by having that certification and trumps Advanced by not suffering any data breaches in the last two years.ADP maintains two locations in the UK, both of which are on the outskirts of major cities: its headquarters is at Staines-upon-Thames (27km from London) and its Northern office is in Cheadle (13km from Manchester).The provider is flexible and you can choose the add-on features and services your business needs. It also offers guidance around payroll issues, services, legislation, and more.Like MHR, it offers a mobile app. Conveniently, it can be used as a clock-in system, which helps employees with rotating shift patterns to ensure their hours are being recorded correctly.However, its pricing isn't transparent, which can be a problem if you run a small business and need to find out whether ADP fits your budget. For the most part, this is standard practice in this industry, but some competitors (such as Payescape and Iris Staffology) do advertise their prices, and are worth considering. 7. TopSource – Best for native integrations TopSource Bespoke Compare quotes Quick overview TopSource is a fully-managed service, taking care of every aspect of the payroll process, from registering with HMRC to end-of-year processing. Similarly to ADP, it lacks a part-managed option.TopSource has a strength in its associated service suite, packing native solutions that are easy to integrate with its payroll system. The same provider sells HR, recruitment, and benefit management software - which is a great help to companies wanting to acquire those systems but not deal with multiple suppliers to do so. Read more + Read less - Strengths Excellent level of compliance Allows for payment of international employees Also sells HR and recruitment software Has CIPP Payroll Assurance Scheme (PAS) accreditation Weaknesses Pricing only available through quoting Doesn't allow for custom reporting Doesn't provide live training Pricing See more See less Custom Based on factors such as number of employees and the solutions you need TopSource quick factsServices available: Fully managed payroll, HR softwareContracts available: BespokeUK office location: BirminghamCIPP PAS-accredited: YesWhat our experts think of TopSource:TopSource offers worldwide services, but it can tackle UK-specific payroll procedures and its office is in Birmingham. Unlike Advanced, it lacks a London office. However, it can be contacted via phone and email if Birmingham is too far from your venture. The providers allows you to contact CIPP-accredited experts for assistance.TopSource's native suite is quite comprehensive, packing HR, recruitment, and employee benefits platforms. The only reservation our researchers have for it is that there is no employee development software – something ADP does offer.We were pleased with TopSource's security in our testing: the provider has ISO 27001 certification (like Moorepay) and suffered no data breaches in the last two years (unlike Advanced). On the features side, TopSource was let down by the fact that it doesn't allow for custom report building, which makes its reporting less flexible and customisable than MHR's.Also, as with most providers we looked into, its pricing is bespoke, making it difficult to gauge whether this is the right provider for you. If you own a small business and are in a hurry to choose your next payroll provider, Iris Staffology and Payescape may be better choices because they advertise their prices. Our methodology: How did we find the best payroll services?Five researchers carried out in-depth research into payroll services according to a comparison framework designed by our research team leader. For each provider we've asked these questions:What accreditations and industry recognition do they have?How easily can your employees engage with and access the payroll process?How compliant are they with data security and privacy?Are they a scalable service that includes other HR functions should you grow to need them?We've factored all these questions into our rating system and come out with a ranking of the best payroll services. Why should I invest in a payroll provider?Running a business takes a lot of time, effort, and resource. Outsourcing your payroll saves you time and money and means you can rely on expert information to ensure your payroll is accurate.Changes in law and regulations are difficult to keep on top of so outsourcing this responsibility to experts will keep your business remains compliant.Outsourcing will help you avoid monetary penalties which can be around £100-£400 per month. Plus, you'll be on your employees good side by paying them on time. Important payroll dates recapWith important payroll deadlines on the horizon, you have to ensure your documentation is submitted correctly and timeously. Payroll systems can certainly help you keep on top of them but, in any case, being aware of them certainly doesn't hurt. To help you out, below is a brief recap of the most important payroll dates:5 AprilThe 2022/2023 tax year ends. Deadline for payroll software update.6 AprilThe 2023/2024 tax year begins.19 AprilDeadline for final 2022/2023 tax year reports submission.22 AprilDeadline for the month 12 Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) payment.31 MayDeadline for your employees to receive their P60s (earning statements).6 July Deadline for expenses and benefits report to the HRMC.Deadline for P11D and P11D(b) forms submission.19 July Deadline for Class 1A National Insurance contributions on benefits in kind payment (if you're not using digital systems to do so).22 July Deadline for Class 1A National Insurance contributions on benefits in kind payment (if you're using digital systems to do so). Next stepsAccording to our deep-dive research, Moorepay is the best payroll company in the UK. Consultant-backed advice and custom reporting are among the features that made it top our independent research into the payroll market.If you're still unsure and are on the hunt for a payroll platform, you can use our free comparison tool to find providers suited to your business. Through it, you'll be matched with trusted providers and they'll then contact you with bespoke, obligation-free quotes. Which payroll solution do you require? Outsourced services Payroll software Both services and software Unsure Get Tailored Quotes FAQs What is pensions auto-enrolment? By law, all UK businesses must help their staff save towards retirement. For employees, this means a small percentage of their salary is automatically paid to their pension scheme each month. For employers, this means additional calculations.Most payroll companies offer a full auto enrolment service as standard, albeit at an extra cost.For more information about this, explore our guide to workplace pensions. What is RTI? All employers in the UK have to to report their PAYE information to HMRC in real time. This is known as Real Time Information (RTI).RTI means that you must report to HMRC every time you pay an employee at the time you pay them. When you are looking for a payroll bureau, choose one that provides RTI to ensure compliance. How much will a payroll bureau charge? The amount charged by any payroll company will depend on the number of employees you have. Other factors include whether you pay weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, and what level of support you require.For most businesses, outsourcing remains a cost-effective solution. Prices start from as little £20 per month for businesses with fewer than five employees. If you need the bureau to complete extra work, such as liaising with your auditors, there may be add-on charges.For the full lowdown of how much outsourcing your payroll will cost you, head to our guide for payroll costs and fees. What services do payroll bureaus offer? Payroll companies offer your business the opportunity to outsource some or all of the time-consuming work associated with payroll.You can choose to retain control over parts of the process by selecting a part-managed option. Alternatively, you can hand over full responsibility with fully managed payroll service, or select payroll software.Typical payroll services include:Calculation of pay with necessary deductionsProduction of electronic or sealed payslipsApproved payment via BACSEnsuring compliance with HMRC regulationsComprehensive management reportsPensions auto enrolment What are cloud-based payroll services? An online payroll service allows you to access and amend data at any time via a hosted software program. These programs can often be integrated with an HR platform to provide a complete view of each employee.Many of the largest payroll processing companies, such as Payescape, will only offer an online solution. Prices start at around £50 per month for a business with five employees. Who is the biggest payroll company? With over a million customers, ADP is the largest payroll company. Why should I choose a payroll service near me? Choosing a payroll service near you means you can visit your provider in person for extra support. Some aspects of payroll, such as legislation or filing taxes, can be complicated to understand, so having in-person help can be much more reassuring in addition to making the process easier. Written by: Zara Chechi Business Services Expert Zara is a Payments Expert, specialising in writing about Point of Sale systems. With a Law Degree from City University of London, she has used her legally-honed research and analytical skills to develop expertise in the Business Services world. Featured in FinTech Magazine, she quickly became an expert in payroll, POS systems, and merchant accounts.