Managing payroll in-house becomes increasingly demanding as a business grows. With ABS data showing employment reaching 14,748,700 in February 2026 alongside a 3.4% annual wage growth, employers face mounting pressures from superannuation compliance, Fair Work rules, leave tracking, payslips and EOFY reporting all within strict deadlines.
For many Australian organisations, this volume of work pulls internal staff away from core business priorities. This is why more businesses are turning to professional payroll outsourcing services. Whether you run a small retail operation in Brisbane or manage a multi-site workforce across several states, the right outsourcing payroll provider can take this workload off your plate entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Outsourcing payroll reduces the administrative burden of payslip generation, superannuation processing and Fair Work compliance
- Australian payroll outsourcing services range from software-led platforms to fully managed human-run services
- From 1 July 2026, Payday Super begins Super must reach employee funds within seven business days of each payday
- The Super Guarantee rate is fixed at 12% from 2025-26 onwards no further increases are scheduled
- Outbooks offers outsourced payroll alongside bookkeeping and accounting support, giving businesses a single point of contact
Top 10 Payroll Outsourcing Providers in Australia for 2026
If you’re evaluating payroll outsourcing options in Australia, the following providers have been selected based on their service scope, Australian market presence, superannuation compliance capability and suitability across different business sizes:
- Employment Hero Payroll (formerly KeyPay)
- ADP Australia
- Xero Payroll
- Ascender
- Aurion
- PayGroup
- Outbooks
- Deel Payroll
- Micropay
- MYOB Payroll
1. Employment Hero Payroll (formerly known as KeyPay)
Employment Hero Payroll is designed specifically for Australian workplace legislation, automating award interpretation, timesheet integration and superannuation processing with minimal manual input.
It integrated directly with Xero and MYOB. Its built-in HeroClear clearing house processes superannuation and wages in a single flow, which is a significant advantage as the Payday Super deadline of 1 July approaches.
Services include:
- Automated award interpretation and pay rate calculations
- Superannuation processing and clearing house integration via HeroClear
- Payslip generation and distribution
- Timesheet, rostering and shift management
- Employee self-service portal and mobile app
Approximate pricing:
AUD $10 per month for the standalone Payroll plan; also included with Employment Unlimited. Superannuation payments charged at $0.30 per employee per transaction.
Note: Prices reflect 2026 post-offer period per Employment Hero’s official pricing page. The $100/month minimum applied to older/contract totals, but current standalone Payroll shows $10 base + transaction fees.
Best suited for:
SMEs in retail, hospitality and care sectors with complex award structures needing a Payday Super-ready platform.
2. ADP Australia
ADP is a globally recognised payroll and workforce management provider with a long-standing presence in the Australian market. It offers both payroll software and fully managed outsourcing payroll services, giving businesses the flexibility to choose their level of involvement.
ADP’s strength lies in handling high employee volumes and complex multi-state payroll requirements. It is commonly used by mid-market and enterprise-level organisations that need integrated HR and payroll reporting across large, distributed workforces.
Services include:
- Fully managed payroll outsourcing
- Workforce management and time tracking
- Payroll reporting and analytics
- HR platform integration
- Superannuation and leave management
Pricing:
Custom; contact ADP directly based on workforce size.
Best suited for:
Mid-market to enterprise businesses requiring a full-service managed payroll provider.
3. Xero Payroll
Xero is one of Australia’s most widely adopted cloud accounting platforms and its built-in payroll module is a natural fit for businesses already managing their accounts in Xero. As of June 2025, payroll is included across all Xero business plan tiers, removing the need for a separate payroll add-on.
Current 2026 Xero plan pricing:
- For self-employed and sole traders: Ignite at AUD $35/month (1 employee, 20 invoices, 5 bills) ideal for sole traders needing core accounting basics.
- For small to medium businesses: Grow at $75/month (2 employees), Comprehensive at $100/month (5 employees, multi-currency) and Ultimate 10 at $130/month (10 employees, advanced analytics). Additional employees can be added at $5 per person per month across all plans.
Note: See the current pricing on Xero pricing page.
Services include:
- Pay run processing within the Xero platform
- Automatic superannuation calculations at the current 12% rate
- Leave accrual tracking
- Payslip generation and employee portal access
- Full integration with Xero’s accounting and reporting suite
Best suited for:
Businesses already using Xero for accounting who want an integrated accounts-and-payroll environment.
4. Ascender
Ascender specialises in payroll and HR outsourcing for larger Australian organisations and government bodies. It has built a reputation for handling complex payroll environments, including multi-award, shift-based and public sector workforces where standard platforms often fall short.
Ascender offers both managed payroll services and a self-service platform, with strong compliance and audit capabilities.
Services include:
- Fully managed payroll outsourcing
- Complex award and enterprise agreement processing
- HR outsourcing and workforce reporting
- Superannuation processing and Payday Super compliance support
- EOFY payroll reporting and reconciliation
Pricing:
Custom; contact Ascender directly for a quote.
Best suited for:
Large organisations, government agencies and businesses with complex workforce arrangements.
5. Aurion
Aurion provides integrated HR and payroll software used widely across the Australian public sector and large private organisations. Available as both on-premise and cloud-based, it supports complex multi-entity and multi-location businesses.
Aurion’s strength is its configurability organisations with unique payroll requirements that off-the-shelf platforms cannot accommodate often find it a practical fit.
Services include:
- Payroll management and processing
- Human resource management system (HRMS)
- Workforce analytics and payroll reporting
- Employee lifecycle management
- Superannuation and leave management
Pricing:
Custom; contact Aurion directly for a quote.
Best suited for:
Large enterprises and government organisations with customised payroll requirements.
6. PayGroup
PayGroup provides payroll outsourcing services across the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia. It supports businesses operating across multiple countries that need a single provider managing payroll within different regulatory environments simultaneously.
Services include:
- Australian payroll processing and outsourcing
- Multi-country payroll management across Asia-Pacific
- Superannuation compliance support
- Workforce payment solutions
- Payroll data reporting and analytics
Pricing:
Custom; contact PayGroup directly for a quote.
Best suited for:
Australian businesses with regional operations across Asia-Pacific.
7. Outbooks
A dedicated finance and accounting outsourcing firm, this provider pairs Australian businesses with a specialist team managing payroll end-to-end from payslip preparation and leave calculations to superannuation contributions at the current 12% rate.
Unlike software-only platforms, every pay cycle is handled by an experienced team rather than automated rules alone.
For businesses wanting to consolidate payroll alongside accounting and bookkeeping under one provider, this model reduces vendor complexity and keeps all financial data in a single environment. As the SBSCH closes on 1 July 2026, businesses can transition their super remittance responsibilities as part of a broader outsourcing arrangement.
Services include:
- End-to-end payroll processing and payslip generation
- Superannuation contribution management at the current 12% rate
- Leave balance tracking and accruals
- Bookkeeping and management accounts
- Financial reporting support
Pricing:
Contact Outbooks directly for a personalised quote.
Best suited for:
Small to mid-sized Australian businesses wanting combined payroll and accounting outsourcing from a single provider.
8. Deel Payroll
Deel has grown rapidly as a global payroll and contractor payment platform. For Australian businesses employing international contractors or remote workers across multiple countries, Deel provides a compliant payment infrastructure handling local employment requirements in each jurisdiction.
Services include:
- Global payroll processing for international employees
- Contractor payment management
- Employer of Record (EOR) services
- Multi-currency payroll and reporting
- Compliance management across jurisdictions
Pricing:
Custom; contact Deel directly for Australian pricing.
Best suited for:
Australian businesses hiring international contractors or managing global remote teams.
9. Micropay
Micropay is a locally developed Australian payroll platform with strong rostering and time-and-attendance integration. It is particularly common in healthcare, manufacturing and facilities management.
Services include:
- Payroll processing and payslip generation
- Time and attendance integration
- Workforce scheduling and rostering
- Superannuation processing
- Payroll reporting and EOFY support
Pricing:
Custom; contact Micropay directly for a quote.
Best suited for:
Businesses with shift-based or complex rostering requirements across regulated industries.
10. MYOB Payroll
MYOB is Australia’s second most widely used accounting and payroll platform, trusted by over one million businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Its payroll module supports compliance across 120 or more modern awards and handles superannuation, leave management and payslip generation within an integrated accounting environment.
From 1 July 2026, MYOB’s updated platform supports Payday Super processing alongside its standard payroll functions.
Services include:
- Payroll processing and automated superannuation calculations at 12%
- Compliance across 120+ modern awards
- Payslip generation and employee records management
- Leave accrual and entitlement tracking
- Integration with MYOB’s full accounting and inventory suite
Approximate pricing:
MYOB Business Payroll start from only $15/month (post-offer).
Best suited for:
SMEs wanting payroll embedded within their accounting platform at an accessible price point.
What Services Do Outsourcing Payroll Providers Include?
While services can vary, most payroll outsourcing providers in Australia offer a similar set of core functions, covering the key aspects of payroll in day-to-day operations.
Payslip Generation
Preparing itemised payslips each cycle, showing gross pay, super contributions, leave balances and net pay in line with Fair Work requirements.
Superannuation Processing
Calculating contributions at 12% of ordinary time earnings (OTE) and submitting them to the employee’s nominated super fund via a SuperStream-compliant clearing house ensuring funds are received by the quarterly deadline, not just dispatched.
(Note: From 1 July 2026, Payday Super will require contributions to be paid within 7 days of each pay run).
Leave Management
Tracking annual leave, personal or carer’s leave and long service leave accruals in real time to ensure accurate balances for each pay run.
Fair Work Compliance
Ensuring pay rates, penalty rates, allowances and entitlements align with the relevant modern award or enterprise agreement under the National Employment Standards.
EOFY Reporting
Reconciling total wages and superannuation paid across the financial year, ensuring records are accurate before 30 June for reporting purposes.
Employee Self-Service
Providing employees with access to a portal where they can download payslips, submit leave requests and update personal or banking details.
Payroll Reporting
Delivering reports that cover payroll costs, headcount movement, leave liabilities and superannuation obligations for each pay period.
Two Major Payroll Changes Taking Effect 1 July 2026
Two significant changes arrive simultaneously on 1 July 2026, affecting how every Australian employer processes superannuation. Businesses using outsourcing payroll services should confirm that their provider is fully prepared to handle both requirements ahead of the deadline.
Payday Super
From 1 July 2026, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Act 2025 requires super contributions to reach the employee’s fund within seven business days of each payday, replacing the current quarterly payment system. The SBSCH also closes on 1 July 2026 – businesses currently using it must transition to a private clearing house before that date. Late contributions will attract a redesigned SGC, with additional penalties of 25% or 50% of the outstanding amount if unpaid 28 days after the ATO issues a notice.
The SBSCH also closes on 1 July 2026 businesses currently using it must transition to a private clearing house before that date. Current SGC Part 7 penalties reach up to 200%, Payday Super late payments attract 25-50% penalties.
Super Guarantee Rate Remains at 12%
The Super Guarantee rate reached its final legislated level of 12% on 1 July 2025 and remains at 12% for 2026-27 and beyond. No further rate increases are scheduled. The key change for 2026-27 is not the rate it is the frequency and speed of payment under Payday Super.
Pricing Guide: Outsourcing Payroll Services Australia 2026-27
| Provider Type | Approximate AUD Pricing (2026-27) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Software-led (Employment Hero Payroll) | AUD $10/month for standalone Payroll plan; $0.30 per super transaction. Also included in Employment Unlimited plans. | SMEs with complex award structures |
| Integrated accounting platforms (Xero, MYOB) | Xero from $35/month and ; MYOB from $15/month | Businesses wanting payroll within their accounting platform |
| Managed service providers (Outbooks, Ascender) | Quoted based on employee count and scope | Businesses wanting full payroll outsourcing |
| Enterprise platforms (ADP, Aurion) | Custom pricing; contact provider directly | Mid-market and large organisations |
| Global payroll platforms (Deel, PayGroup) | Custom pricing; contact provider directly | Businesses with international workforces |
EOFY Payroll Checklist for 2026-27
With Payday Super arriving on 1 July 2026, closing out the 2025-26 financial year requires extra preparation. Key tasks before and after 30 June include:
- Reconciling total wages paid against payroll records for the full 2025-26 financial year
- Confirming all Q4 superannuation contributions at 12% have been received by employee funds by 28 July 2026 and processing payments early enough to allow clearing house transfer time
- Confirming your clearing house arrangement is in place ahead of the SBSCH closure on 1 July 2026
- Verifying your payroll provider is set up to meet the seven business day super payment deadline from 1 July 2026
- Reviewing leave balances and ensuring accruals are correctly recorded heading into 2026-27
- Checking employee records for any pay rate or classification changes made during 2025-26
Using a professional payroll outsourcing service provider with EOFY experience reduces the risk of errors and ensures businesses enter 2026-27 with clean, reconciled payroll records and compliant super arrangements in place.
How Payroll Outsourcing Works?
- Provider selection: Business identifies a payroll outsourcing company suited to its size and needs
- Data transfer: Employee records, pay rates, leave balances and superannuation details are transferred
- Setup and configuration: Provider configures payroll to reflect the business’s pay cycles and entitlements
- Ongoing payroll processing: Provider processes each pay run according to the agreed schedule
- Superannuation remittance: Contributions calculated at 12% submitted quarterly until 30 June 2026, then within 7 business days of each payday from 1 July 2026 under Payday Super
- Reporting and review: Management receives payroll reports; queries are handled by the provider
- EOFY reconciliation: Provider supports annual payroll reconciliation and end-of-year reporting
Conclusion
As Australian businesses grow, payroll management becomes more complex. The ten providers listed above cover the full range from software-led platforms for SMEs managing payroll in-house, to fully managed outsourcing payroll services for businesses that want the work handled entirely externally.
With Payday Super taking effect on 1 July 2026 and the SBSCH closing simultaneously, choosing a provider already prepared for these changes is essential.
Speak to the Outbooks team on 0451 320 102 or email info@outbooks.com.au to find out how outsourcing payroll, alongside bookkeeping and accounting support, can work for your business.
Disclaimer: We do not file Single Touch Payroll (STP), Pay Superannuation, provide SMSF services, or offer advice on pay rates or legal requirements such as tax rates applicable to non-residents working in Australia.)
FAQs
Parul is a content specialist with expertise in accounting industry. Her writing covers a wide range of domains such as, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivables, Bookkeeping and more. She writes well-researched content and has a strong understanding of accounting terms and industry-specific terminologies. As a subject matter expert, she simplifies complex concepts into clear, practical insights, helping businesses with accurate tips and solutions to make informed decisions.