For UK businesses, QuickBooks Payroll is a popular choice for payroll management, offering various features tailored to streamline payroll processes. This guide will provide a comprehensive review of QuickBooks Payroll pricing, exploring different versions and tiers to help you make an informed decision for your business needs.
Overview of QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll, developed by Intuit, is an extension of the popular QuickBooks accounting software. It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, providing a unified solution for both accounting and payroll management.
This software caters to businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to larger organisations, offering automated payroll processing, tax calculations, and compliance management.
QuickBooks Payroll pricing list
| QuickBooks Payroll Tier | Base Fee (per month) | Per Employee Fee (per month) | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | £9 | £4 | – Automated payroll processing – HMRC submissions – Automated payslips – Employee portal – QuickBooks integration | Small businesses with basic payroll needs |
| Premium | £15 | £8 | – All Core features – Advanced reporting – Time tracking integration – Employee management – Payroll corrections | Medium-sized businesses with more complex payroll needs |
| Elite | £19 | £10 | – All Premium features – Priority support – Personalised setup and training – Workers’ compensation tracking – Advanced compliance | Larger businesses or those with specialised payroll needs |
QuickBooks Payroll pricing tiers
QuickBooks Payroll offers several pricing tiers, allowing businesses to choose the package that best suits their needs. As of 2024, there are three main tiers available in the UK: Core, Premium, and Elite. Each tier comes with a set of features designed to meet different business requirements. Below is a detailed breakdown of each tier, including pricing and key features.
1. Core
Price: £4 per employee, per month, plus a £9 base fee per month
Best for: Small businesses with basic payroll needs
Key features:
- Automated payroll processing: Core handles the fundamental payroll tasks, including calculating employee wages, taxes, and deductions.
- HMRC submissions: This tier includes direct submissions to HMRC, ensuring compliance with UK payroll regulations.
- Automated payslips: Generate and distribute payslips automatically to employees.
- Employee portal: Employees can access their payslips, view tax information, and manage their personal details through a secure portal.
- QuickBooks integration: Core integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software, allowing for easy syncing of financial data.
The Core tier is ideal for small businesses that need a straightforward and efficient way to manage payroll without the need for advanced features. The low cost per employee makes it a cost-effective option for businesses with a limited number of staff.
2. Premium
Price: £8 per employee, per month, plus a £15 base fee per month
Best for: Medium-sized businesses with more complex payroll needs
Key features:
- All Core features: Includes everything in the Core tier, ensuring comprehensive payroll management.
- Advanced reporting: Generate detailed payroll reports, helping businesses track and analyse payroll expenses.
- Time tracking integration: Premium integrates with time tracking tools, making it easier to calculate wages based on hours worked.
- Employee management: Manage employee information, track leave and holidays, and monitor benefits.
- Payroll corrections: Make adjustments to payroll easily, correcting any errors and ensuring employees are paid accurately.
The Premium tier is suited for businesses that require more robust payroll capabilities, including detailed reporting and integration with time tracking tools. This tier provides greater control and insights into payroll processes, making it a valuable option for medium-sized businesses.
3. Elite
Price: £10 per employee, per month, plus a £19 base fee per month
Best for: Larger businesses or those with specialised payroll needs
Key features:
- All Premium features: Includes everything offered in the Premium tier, providing a comprehensive payroll solution.
- Priority support: Access to priority customer support, ensuring quick resolutions to any issues or queries.
- Personalised setup and training: Receive personalised assistance with setting up QuickBooks Payroll and training employees to use the system effectively.
- Workers’ compensation tracking: Track and manage workers’ compensation insurance, ensuring compliance and accurate payments.
- Advanced compliance: Elite provides enhanced compliance features, helping businesses stay updated with the latest payroll regulations and avoiding penalties.
The Elite tier is designed for larger businesses or those with specialised payroll requirements. It offers the highest level of support and features, making it suitable for companies that need comprehensive payroll management and personalised assistance.
Choosing the right QuickBooks Payroll tier
When selecting a QuickBooks Payroll tier, consider the size of your business, the complexity of your payroll needs, and your budget.
Smaller businesses with straightforward payroll requirements might find the Core tier sufficient.
In contrast, medium-sized businesses with more complex needs might benefit from the Premium tier.
Larger businesses or those requiring specialised support should consider the Elite tier for its comprehensive features and priority support.
Conclusion – QuickBooks Payroll pricing review2
QuickBooks Payroll offers a range of pricing tiers to suit businesses of various sizes and needs.
Whether you are a small business looking for basic payroll management or a larger company needing advanced features and support, QuickBooks Payroll provides a flexible and scalable solution.
By understanding the features and pricing of each tier, you can choose the right package to streamline your payroll processes and ensure compliance with UK payroll regulations.
For more, see our guide to payroll services costs. Or if you’d rather manage your own payroll, check our reviews of the best small business payroll software. Finally, for those on a tighter budget, see free payroll software.
FAQ – QuickBooks Payroll pricing
QuickBooks Payroll offers three main pricing tiers: Core, Premium, and Elite. The Core tier costs £9 per month as a base fee, plus £4 per employee per month. The Premium tier is priced at £15 per month as a base fee, plus £8 per employee per month. The Elite tier costs £19 per month as a base fee, plus £10 per employee per month.
For a small business with five employees using QuickBooks Payroll Core, the monthly cost would be calculated as follows: a base fee of £9, plus £4 per employee. This totals £9 + (£4 x 5 employees) = £29 per month.
Yes, there is a difference. QuickBooks Payroll Core charges £4 per employee per month, whereas the Premium tier charges £8 per employee per month.
QuickBooks Payroll Elite includes all the features of the Premium tier, plus priority customer support, personalised setup and training, workers’ compensation tracking, and enhanced compliance features. The Elite tier has a base fee of £19 per month and charges £10 per employee per month, compared to the Premium tier’s £15 base fee and £8 per employee fee.
Yes, for a medium-sized business with 20 employees using QuickBooks Payroll Premium, the total monthly cost would be the base fee of £15, plus £8 per employee. This equals £15 + (£8 x 20 employees) = £175 per month.
Adding one more employee to QuickBooks Payroll Elite would cost an additional £10 per month, as the per employee fee for the Elite tier is £10.
QuickBooks Payroll does not specify separate setup fees in its pricing structure. However, the Elite tier offers personalised setup and training, which is included in the base fee of £19 per month, plus £10 per employee per month.
Upgrading from QuickBooks Payroll Core to Premium for 10 employees would increase the cost as follows: The Core tier costs £9 base fee plus £4 per employee, which totals £49 per month. The Premium tier costs £15 base fee plus £8 per employee, totalling £95 per month. The difference is £95 – £49 = £46 more per month.
As of now, QuickBooks Payroll primarily lists its pricing on a monthly basis. There is no specific mention of discounts for annual subscriptions, so businesses should plan for the base fee and per employee fee each month as per the chosen tier.
The overall cost for QuickBooks Payroll ranges based on the number of employees and the tier selected. At the lowest end, with one employee on the Core tier, it costs £13 per month (£9 base fee + £4 per employee). At the higher end, for a business with 50 employees on the Elite tier, it would cost £519 per month (£19 base fee + £10 x 50 employees).