Payroll Options Review UK 2026: Costs & Outsourced Payroll Quick answer
Payroll Options is a UK payroll outsourcing provider with more than 30 years’ experience and their service is designed for businesses that want payroll processed externally rather than giving their internal team another payroll software package to operate.
Payroll Options can handle:
Weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly payroll
PAYE payroll processing
FPS and EPS submissions to HMRC
Statutory payments
Workplace pensions and auto-enrolment
P45s and P60s
Secure payslips and an online payslip portal
Payroll reporting
Benefits in Kind
BACS employee payments
Its most distinctive feature is its payroll-checking process.
A dedicated team of two payroll professionals independently processes the payroll before the results are compared and audited.
Our view: Payroll Options is particularly interesting if the reason you’re outsourcing payroll is accuracy + continuity + reducing dependence on an internal payroll person.
It isn’t trying to be an enormous HR technology platform, rather, they are much more focused on running UK payroll properly and reliably.
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Key Takeaways
Payroll Options has provided outsourced payroll for more than 30 years.
It currently says it manages 500+ clients and 50,000+ payslips every month.
Two payroll professionals independently process each payroll before the results are compared.
The process includes more than 100 audits and 200 comparison checkpoints.
Payroll Options handles FPS and EPS submissions to HMRC.
Workplace pension assessments, postponements and contribution data can be managed.
Payroll Options can pay employees via BACS.
Weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly payrolls are supported.
Secure digital payslips and a payslip portal are available.
Payroll Options currently advertises free setup.
The provider operates from two separate Milton Keynes locations, providing an alternative payroll-processing location for continuity.
Pricing depends on pay frequency, employee numbers and requirements.
We think the strongest reason to shortlist Payroll Options is its unusually structured approach to payroll checking and continuity.
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How do we work?
Our comparisons are researched and reviewed by the Compare Your Business Costs editorial team using provider information, official UK guidance and business buying criteria. See how Compare Your Business Costs works .
Authored by: Ally Cox – Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist, 10+ years’ experience
Last updated: October 2026
Contents
What Is Payroll Options? Payroll Options is a UK payroll outsourcing company based in Milton Keynes.
The business has provided payroll services for more than 30 years and currently says it manages 500+ clients + 50,000+ payslips every month.
Rather than supplying payroll software for the customer to operate alone, Payroll Options provides a managed service and their team can handle areas including:
Payroll calculations
Statutory payments
Benefits in Kind
RTI
Workplace pensions
Payslips
P45s
P60s
Reporting
BACS payments
Our take: Payroll Options is relatively easy to understand.
This isn’t primarily an HR platform + recruitment platform + workforce management platform + payroll platform.
Its core proposition is much simpler your business supplies the payroll changes and Payroll Options processes the payroll.
For businesses specifically wanting payroll outsourced, we think that focus can be an advantage.
How Much Does Payroll Options Cost? Payroll Options doesn’t use one universal price for every customer.
Its current quote calculator bases indicative costs on factors including pay frequency + employee numbers.
The provider also states that final pricing can depend on:
Pension requirements
Reporting requirements
Additional payroll services
Payroll Options supports:
Monthly payroll
Four-weekly payroll
Fortnightly payroll
Weekly payroll
The company currently advertises free payroll setup.
Our view: use the provider’s calculator for an initial indication, but don’t compare bureaux using only the first headline number.
Ask for your complete annual cost for your actual payroll.
That means giving each provider the same employee count + pay frequency + pensions + reporting + payment requirements + payroll complexity.
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How Does Payroll Options Work? Payroll Options has a relatively clear division of responsibilities – each payroll period, your business gathers and approves the information that has changed which can include:
Hours worked
Pay rises
Bank-account changes
Employee details
Bonuses
Other variable payroll information
You send those changes to Payroll Options.
Its payroll team then processes the information, applies the appropriate permanent and variable changes, handles relevant HMRC information and assesses employees for auto-enrolment.
Payroll reports are returned to your business for checking.
Payroll Options then handles the agreed submissions and processes.
Our view: this makes the buying question very clear.
Ask “Once we’ve supplied and approved our payroll changes, what do we still need to do?”
The less work remaining internally, the more valuable outsourcing becomes.
Payroll Options Dual Payroll Processing This is the feature we’d give the most prominence to.
Payroll Options assigns two payroll professionals to process payroll.
Each clerk independently prepares the payroll using the permanent employee information already held and the changes supplied for that payroll period.
The results are then compared.
Payroll Options says its process uses 100+ audit to check areas including RTI compliance, followed by 200+ comparison checkpoints between the independently prepared payrolls.
Why do we think this matters?
Payroll mistakes can be disproportionately disruptive as an incorrect payment can create employee frustration + finance work + corrections + HMRC implications.
Most payroll providers understandably talk about accuracy.
Payroll Options is more interesting because it can explain the process it uses to try to achieve that accuracy.
That’s much more useful to a buyer than simply saying payroll is “accurate”.
Does Dual Processing Guarantee Error-Free Payroll? No payroll process can sensibly guarantee that mistakes will never happen.
The quality of the information supplied by the employer still matters.
If your business submits an incorrect bonus + salary + hours + bank detail a checking process can’t necessarily know that the underlying instruction itself was wrong.
The benefit of dual processing is therefore better understood as additional controls designed to reduce processing errors.
Your business should still have an appropriate payroll approval process.
Our take: that’s actually a stronger and more credible reason to value dual processing than treating it as a vague “100% accurate payroll” promise.
Payroll Options HMRC & RTI Services Payroll Options handles Real Time Information submissions for its payroll customers.
That includes Full Payment Submission (FPS) and Employer Payment Summary (EPS).
With the appropriate HMRC authorisation, Payroll Options can also collect information including:
Tax-code notifications
National Insurance notifications
Student-loan notices
The service also covers relevant statutory payments and payroll calculations.
Our view: HMRC submissions should be expected from a serious outsourced payroll provider – the more valuable part is reducing the number of HMRC payroll tasks your internal team has to monitor and complete itself.
Payroll Options Workplace Pensions & Auto-Enrolment Payroll Options supports workplace pension administration as part of its outsourced payroll service and their current service includes areas such as:
Auto-enrolment assessment
Auto-enrolment postponement
Pension deductions
Opt-in and opt-out information
Contribution data
Where supported, Payroll Options can interact directly with the pension provider, where a direct connection isn’t available, it can provide the relevant data for upload.
Our take: this distinction is worth checking before signing.
Ask “Do you integrate directly with our pension provider, or will somebody in our business still need to upload pension files?”
Two providers can both claim to “handle pensions” while leaving very different amounts of work with the customer.
Can Payroll Options Pay Employees via BACS? Yes.
Payroll Options can provide businesses with two main approaches.
Your company can pay employees itself using the net-payment information supplied and alternatively, Payroll Options can make employee payments through BACS.
The provider particularly suggests considering its BACS service for businesses with more than 10 employees.
Why does this matter?
Payroll doesn’t finish when somebody calculates net pay.
The money still needs to reach employees.
A payroll service that can support calculate → check → report → submit → pay can potentially remove more finance administration than one that stops after payroll calculations.
Our view: if reducing workload is the reason you’re outsourcing, we’d ask for BACS to be included in the comparison quote.
Payroll Options Payslips & Reporting Payroll Options provides payroll reports after processing and current options include:
PDF reports
Optional CSV reports
Copy payslips
Secure payslips
Online payslip access
P45s and P60s are also included within its wider payroll service.
Our recommendation: ask to see example payroll reports before switching.
A finance team may need payroll costs broken down by department + location + cost centre.
The important question isn’t simply whether reports exist.
It’s whether they contain the information your business actually uses.
Payroll Options Business Continuity Payroll continuity is an underrated reason to outsource.
Imagine your payroll is currently handled by one experienced employee.
Then that person is ill + on holiday + leaves the business + unavailable near payday.
The software may still work perfectly.
But the business has lost the person who knows how to operate the payroll.
Payroll Options reduces this type of dependency in two ways.
First, a dedicated team of two payroll professionals works on the account.
Second, the company operates from two separate Milton Keynes locations.
Payroll Options says each location can provide an alternative payroll-processing location.
Our view: this is one of the strongest arguments for the service.
You’re not just outsourcing calculations.
You’re potentially buying payroll resilience.
For businesses where payroll currently depends heavily on one internal employee, that has genuine value.
Payroll Options vs Payroll Software The choice isn’t simply about features.
Payroll software
gives your team technology for running payroll – it can be inexpensive, but your business remains responsible for operating the process.
Payroll Options
provides people to run much of the payroll process for you – that will normally be the more relevant model if your objective is reducing internal payroll work.
We’d compare outsourcing fee against software cost + staff time + payroll expertise + holiday cover + error correction + compliance administration.
A cheap software subscription isn’t necessarily cheaper if a member of your finance team spends several days every month operating it.
Who Is Payroll Options Best For? We think Payroll Options deserves particular consideration from UK SMEs wanting payroll outsourced
Its service is designed around managed UK payroll rather than DIY software.
Businesses concerned about payroll accuracy
The two-person independent processing and checking model provides an unusually clear control process.
Businesses dependent on one internal payroll employee
Outsourcing can improve continuity during sickness, holidays or staff turnover.
Businesses wanting direct human support
Payroll Options emphasises direct access to its payroll team rather than call-centre routing.
Businesses wanting employee payments handled
BACS payments can extend the outsourced process beyond calculations and reporting.
Businesses with workplace pensions
Auto-enrolment assessment and pension administration can be included.
Businesses with weekly or variable payroll
Weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly payroll schedules are supported.
Who might prefer something else?
A micro-business comfortable running payroll internally may prefer inexpensive payroll software.
A business wanting HR + recruitment + performance + workforce management + payroll
may prefer a broader HR/payroll platform.
And businesses with significant international workforces should compare global payroll and Employer of Record providers.
Payroll Options Pros & Cons Advantages
More than 30 years’ payroll experience
500+ clients currently managed
50,000+ payslips processed each month
Two payroll professionals independently process payroll
100+ audits and 200+ comparison checkpoints
Direct UK payroll support
No call-centre model
Free setup currently advertised
FPS and EPS submissions
Workplace pension support
Weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly payroll
Secure payslips and online portal
P45s and P60s
BACS employee payments available
Two separate processing locations
Potential Disadvantages
Exact pricing depends on your payroll requirements
Customers still need to gather and approve accurate payroll changes
The proposition is focused on payroll rather than a broad HR technology suite
Businesses wanting self-service payroll software may prefer a software-led provider
International payroll and EOR requirements are better compared with global providers
The final value depends on how much internal payroll work the service actually removes for your business
What Should You Compare Before Choosing Payroll Options? Give Payroll Options and competing providers the same real payroll scenario, so include:
Number of employees
Payroll frequency
Variable hours
Overtime
Bonuses and commissions
Average starters and leavers
Statutory payments
Pension provider
Payslip requirements
BACS requirements
Reporting requirements
Benefits in Kind
Current payroll workload
Then ask “What is our complete first-year cost for this exact payroll?”
We’d also ask:
“What will our team still need to do every payroll period?” “Will the same two payroll professionals normally work on our account?” “How does the independent payroll checking process work?” “What happens if one of our usual payroll contacts is unavailable?” “Can you connect directly with our pension provider?” “What does the BACS service add to the price?” “Which reports are included?” “How do we submit payroll changes?” “What happens if we discover an error after approval?”
And “How much internal payroll time should we expect to save?”
That final answer is important when judging whether outsourcing represents good value.
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Our View: Is Payroll Options Worth It? We think Payroll Options has a stronger proposition than the phrase “straightforward SME payroll provider” suggests.
Its main differentiator is process.
Two people independently process payroll and the results are compared. Multiple audits and checkpoints are performed, and payroll Options can then handle RTI + pensions + payroll documents + reporting + BACS payments.
That’s a coherent outsourced payroll proposition.
We particularly like it for businesses where payroll currently relies heavily on one person internally.
In that situation, the value of outsourcing isn’t merely saving a few administrative hours.
It’s also reducing key-person dependency.
The alternative processing location strengthens that continuity argument further.
Payroll Options isn’t necessarily the right choice if you want a sophisticated all-in-one HR technology platform.
And a tiny business with a very straightforward payroll may find basic payroll software perfectly adequate.
But if your requirement is “We want experienced people to take responsibility for running our UK payroll accurately and reliably”
then we think Payroll Options deserves a strong shortlist position.
The question we’d use to judge its value is “How much payroll responsibility can we transfer to Payroll Options, and how much risk and internal administration does that remove?”
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Payroll Options FAQs What is Payroll Options?
Payroll Options is a UK payroll outsourcing company providing managed payroll services from two locations in Milton Keynes.
How much does Payroll Options cost?
Pricing depends on factors including employee numbers, pay frequency, pensions, reporting requirements and additional services. Payroll Options currently provides an online calculator for indicative costs and tailored quotes for exact pricing.
Does Payroll Options charge a setup fee?
Payroll Options currently advertises free setup for businesses switching to its outsourced payroll service.
How many clients does Payroll Options have?
Payroll Options currently says it manages more than 500 clients and processes more than 50,000 payslips each month.
How does Payroll Options check payroll accuracy?
Two payroll professionals independently process the payroll before comparing their results. Payroll Options says its process also includes more than 100 audits and more than 200 comparison checkpoints.
Does Payroll Options submit RTI?
Yes. Payroll Options handles both Full Payment Submissions and Employer Payment Summaries for its payroll customers.
Does Payroll Options handle pensions?
Yes. Its service can include auto-enrolment assessment, postponements, pension deductions and pension-provider data.
Can Payroll Options pay employees?
Yes. Payroll Options offers BACS employee payments. Businesses can alternatively use the net-payment information supplied to make payments themselves.
Does Payroll Options provide payslips?
Yes. Secure payslips and an online payslip portal are available.
Does Payroll Options produce P45s and P60s?
Yes. P45 and P60 processing forms part of its outsourced payroll service.
Can Payroll Options run weekly payroll?
Yes. Weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly payroll frequencies are supported.
Does Payroll Options handle statutory payments?
Yes. Its payroll service covers relevant statutory payments and adjustments.
Does Payroll Options offer international payroll?
Payroll Options is primarily positioned around UK payroll outsourcing. Businesses needing significant multi-country payroll or Employer of Record services should compare specialist global payroll providers.
Is Payroll Options suitable for small businesses?
Yes. Small and medium-sized businesses are an important part of its customer base. The service may be particularly useful where a small internal team wants payroll administration and compliance work handled externally.
Is Payroll Options suitable for larger businesses?
Potentially. Payroll Options describes its service as scalable and currently processes more than 50,000 payslips each month. Suitability depends more on your payroll complexity, integrations, reporting and wider HR requirements than a simple employee-size cut-off.
Compare Payroll Options With Other Payroll Providers Payroll Options should primarily be compared with managed and outsourced UK payroll providers.
Don’t compare only the monthly fee.
Compare processing + checking + RTI + pensions + BACS + reporting + support + continuity + internal time saved.
That’s the more meaningful measure of outsourced payroll value.
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Related Payroll Guides Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
