Payroll got harder on 1 July 2026. Payday Super now requires superannuation to reach each employee's fund within seven business days of every pay run, the ATO's Small Business Super Clearing House has closed, and award rates rose 4.75 per cent from the same date. For many SMEs, that combination is the tipping point for outsourcing: a full-time payroll specialist costs roughly $80,000 to $105,000 all-in, while managed payroll for a mid-sized business typically runs $2,500 to $4,000 a month.
Published: July 2026
This guide compares eight established providers, then gives you a sizing framework. For the pricing deep-dive, see how much payroll outsourcing costs in Australia; for the build-vs-buy decision, start with outsourcing payroll for Australian businesses.
Half the confusion in this market is category confusion. Xero Payroll, MYOB, and Employment Hero are excellent software: you (or your bookkeeper) still run every pay cycle, interpret awards, and push super. A managed provider runs the cycle for you, with a human accountable for the output. This list focuses on managed and hybrid providers; software belongs in your stack either way.
Best for: SMEs that want payroll handled inside a broader finance function
Scale Suite (that's us, so weigh this entry accordingly) runs managed payroll as part of an embedded finance team: pay runs, STP lodgement, Payday Super compliance, leave and termination calculations, plus the bookkeeping and BAS sitting around payroll. The advantage is one accountable team for the whole money trail rather than a payroll vendor and a bookkeeper pointing at each other. Registered BAS Agent, CA oversight, Employment Hero Gold Partner, no lock-in, from $1,500 per month for combined finance packages. See our finance services.
Best for: mid-market and enterprise, multi-state and multi-country payroll
The global heavyweight, with more than 35 years in Australia. Fully managed or processing-only tiers, deep compliance infrastructure, employee self-service, and the scale to handle hundreds or thousands of employees across entities. Pricing is custom and generally suits 100+ employee organisations best.
Best for: organisations wanting tiered outsourcing with Australian data residency
Access offers fully outsourced and flexible tiers, processes payrolls up to 25,000 employees, and keeps data in Australian-based data centres. Strong award interpretation and termination handling. A solid mid-market default.
Best for: large organisations and government with complex, multi-award workforces
Ascender has built its reputation on payroll environments standard platforms cannot handle: shift-based, multi-award, public sector. Managed service plus platform, with strong audit and compliance capability.
Best for: complex multi-entity organisations needing deep configurability
Widely used across the public sector and large private organisations, available cloud or on-premise. The pick when your payroll rules genuinely do not fit off-the-shelf logic.
Best for: SMEs that want payroll and HR advisory from one partner
An outsourced HR and payroll specialist with strong award interpretation expertise, typically delivered on Employment Hero infrastructure. Useful when your payroll risk is really an employment-law risk.
Best for: growing businesses prioritising award compliance and modern cloud tooling
Cloud-based managed payroll with Fair Work award updates and integrations, well suited to expanding SMEs that need compliance speed without enterprise overhead.
Best for: WA and national SMEs wanting a boutique, ISO-certified managed service
A long-running Perth-based managed payroll provider, ISO 27001:2022 certified for information security, with a reputation for responsive local service.
Market benchmarks: small businesses (1-20 employees) typically pay a base fee plus $8-$20 per employee per pay run; mid-sized businesses commonly land at $2,500-$4,000 per month fully managed. Compare that with an in-house payroll specialist at $80,000-$105,000 all-in (salary plus 12 per cent super and on-costs; run the exact figure through the employee cost calculator). The crossover where in-house starts competing on cost is usually beyond 100 employees, and even there the compliance argument often wins. Full breakdown: managed payroll costs in Australia.
How much does payroll outsourcing cost in Australia?
Typically a base fee plus $8-$20 per employee per pay run for small businesses, and $2,500-$4,000 per month fully managed for mid-sized businesses. Complexity (awards, shifts, multiple states) moves the number more than headcount does.
What is Payday Super and when did it start?
From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super guarantee with every pay run, and contributions must reach the employee's fund within seven business days of payday (20 business days for a new employee's first contribution). The rate remains 12 per cent, now calculated on qualifying earnings.
Did the Small Business Super Clearing House close?
Yes. The ATO's SBSCH closed to new users on 1 October 2025 and shut down for existing users from 1 July 2026. Businesses that relied on it need payroll software or a provider with an alternative clearing solution.
Is it cheaper to outsource payroll or hire a payroll officer?
For most businesses under roughly 100 employees, outsourcing is materially cheaper: $30,000-$48,000 a year for managed service versus $80,000-$105,000 all-in for a specialist hire, before covering leave and turnover risk.
Who is liable if my outsourced provider pays super late?
Legally, the employer remains liable for the super guarantee charge. That is why the provider's remediation commitments, insurance, and track record matter as much as price.
Can my bookkeeper run payroll instead?
Often yes for simple payrolls, and it is usually the most economical route under 20 employees, provided they are across STP Phase 2 and Payday Super timing. Bundled providers combine both functions under one engagement.
Scale Suite is a Sydney-based provider of outsourced finance teams and fractional CFO services for Australian SMEs. We deliver weekly bookkeeping, payroll, BAS/IAS lodgement, cashflow reporting, management accounts, and strategic fractional CFO oversight, all as a fully embedded team that works inside your business.
CA-qualified, Xero Certified, and registered BAS Agents, we replace fragmented bookkeepers and once-a-year accountants with one responsive finance function at a fraction of the cost of full-time hires. We serve growing businesses across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, with packages starting from $1,500 per month and no lock-in contracts.
We review and check this guide periodically. At the time of writing (July 2026), all information was current. Scale Suite is a registered BAS Agent, not a licensed tax advisor or financial advisor. This content is general information only and does not constitute professional tax, financial, or legal advice. Some details may change over time. Provider details and pricing are indicative and should be confirmed directly with each provider.
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Scale Suite is a Sydney-based provider of outsourced finance and HR services for Australian SMEs. We deliver bookkeeping, financial reporting, payroll processing, fractional CFO support, recruitment, employee onboarding, people and culture support, and fractional HR oversight, all as a fully embedded team that works inside your business.
Employment Hero Gold Partner, CA-qualified, and Xero Certified, we replace fragmented finance and HR processes with one responsive, senior-level function at a fraction of the cost of full-time hires. We serve growing businesses across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, with packages starting from $1,500 per month and no lock-in contracts.
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