Payroll Services for Startups
We take the stress out of payroll – from super to STP – so your team gets paid properly and you can get back to building.
Easy, compliant payroll without the stress
Hiring’s exciting – but payroll? Not so much. Sorting tax, super, STP lodgements, onboarding, offboarding, late-night platform logins… it adds up. And if you’ve got a growing team or talent overseas, the admin only gets heavier. That’s where we come in. Our complete payroll service covers everything from local compliance to global payroll processing, so your people get paid properly and you get your time (and headspace) back. No lock-ins, just payroll that works from day one.
- Peace of mind
- Pricing scales with you
- No lock in contracts
- Onboarding
- Global payroll
GBP, NZD, USD
Simple, scalable payroll pricing
Whether you’re paying a team of 3 or 30 (in Australia or across borders), our payroll services grow with you. Transparent monthly pricing, no lock-ins, and real people to help when you need it.
From onboarding your first hire to managing a growing team, we take payroll off your plate. We handle everything: setting up employees, running monthly pay runs, sorting superannuation, managing STP lodgements, and wrapping it all up at EOFY with compliant reporting for the ATO.
We’ll also take care of employee departures and queries, so you can focus on scaling – not admin.
Payroll Service
- ✓1–5 employees: $19/person/month
- ✓6–10 employees: $17/person/month
- ✓11–20 employees: $16/person/month
- ✓21–30 employees: $14/person/month
- ✓30+ employees: $12/person/month
Optional Add-ons
- ✓Fortnightly pay runs: +$2/person/month
- ✓Weekly pay runs: +$4/person/month
- ✓Xero Payroll: from $5/month
No contracts. No lock-ins. Ever.
Prices exclude GST.
Fair Use Policy applies to all services with included volume estimates. Please view our Terms & Conditions for more information.
Global business. Global payroll.
We run fully managed payroll across five countries – so wherever your team is, the compliance is covered.
Payroll obligations vary significantly by country. Rates, filings, employee entitlements – what’s routine in one market can be a compliance headache in another. We handle it all in-house, across our own offices.
What's included in every country
- ✓Payroll setup in each country
- ✓Monthly processing
- ✓All compliance obligations
- ✓Employee queries and departures
Not ready to set up locally?
We can connect you with a trusted international Employer of Record to support in-country employees before you’re ready to establish a local entity.
A quote built around your needs
Every country has different obligations, so pricing is bespoke. Get in touch for a clear breakdown – a setup fee per country, then a monthly fee.
Startup founders ♥ Standard Ledger
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our clients have to say about working with us.
“Closing our £2.5m round with Octopus Ventures was a huge milestone for HealsGood AI. Standard Ledger were instrumental throughout the process – helping us stay investor-ready, manage due diligence and present a clear financial story. They brought real structure and focus, which made a complex raise feel controlled and achievable. Having that level of financial leadership on our side gave us the confidence to move fast and negotiate from a position of strength.”
Jack Henderson
“The grant application for the Australian Government’s Boosting Female Founders Initiative is an absolute beast of a process. I’ve really enjoyed working with John to secure it.”
Jeanette Cheah
“Standard Ledger’s fractional CFO services identified KPIs driving operational improvements, making us an attractive acquisition target. Strategic exit planning structured our finances to maximise returns, and negotiating the complexities of the sale process secured us a deal that recognised our full value.”
Peter Neal
“Standard Ledger saved us from trouble during our UK setup. They turned around crucial work in 48 hours, preventing fines. Having the support you can trust, who knows what they’re doing, means less stress and frees up a lot of mental space.”
Peter Cole
“Standard Ledger was incredibly helpful in reviewing and modelling our finances. Thanks to their support, we reshaped our strategy and identified areas for growth. We are now ready for expansion into new sports and markets.”
Iggy Jovanovic
“John and the team have really understood our R&D story from day one, and have always had a plan for it. We’re in the third year of working together now, and it’s been really great.”
Nadun Hennayaka
Ready to take payroll off your to-do list?
Our payroll service for startups and scale-ups handles everything – pay runs, super, STP, and global compliance – so you can focus on building your business.
Frequently asked questions
How much does payroll cost for a small startup in Australia?
Standard Ledger’s pricing scales with your team size, starting at $19 per person per month for 1-5 employees, with a $300 setup fee. The rate decreases as you grow – for example, you’ll pay $12 per person per month once you hit 30+ employees, with a minimum monthly fee of $50. Need weekly or fortnightly pay runs? Just add $4 per person per month for weekly payments or $2 per person per month for fortnightly payments to the standard monthly pricing.
What's included in your payroll service?
We handle the full payroll process including monthly pay runs, quarterly superannuation, STP lodgements to the ATO, annual processing, and managing employee queries and departures. Basically, everything you need to pay your team properly and stay compliant without the headache.
Can you handle payroll for employees working overseas?
Yes, we offer global payroll services for startups with international team members. We’ll set up and manage payroll offshore in multiple currencies (AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, NZD, USD), handle local compliance requirements, and process monthly payments – with pricing calculated per country plus a setup fee.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract for payroll?
No lock-in contracts, ever. You can stop or change services whenever you need to, with transparent month-to-month pricing that grows with your business.
Can you fix mistakes in my existing payroll?
Yes! If something’s gone wrong – incorrect super, missed entitlements, STP errors or messy records – we can review everything, correct issues and bring your payroll back into line with compliance requirements.