Payroll Software

3. Initial Costs

As with most pieces of software, your greatest cost will be implementing the system.

You will also need to consider longer-term maintenance and support costs.

3.1 Basic payroll software - which often comes as part of an accounting package - costs from £100 to £500.

• A typical system may cost around £400 for up to 50 employees.

3.2 More advanced software packages - usually sold in modules which form part of an integrated human resources system - cost from £500.

3.3 Your computers will need enough memory and disk capacity to run the software.

• Most Windows packages need a minimum of 64Mb of RAM and 150Mb of free disk space, on at least a Pentium PC.

3.4 Converting existing data can be expensive.

• Converting computerised data should happen automatically. Your supplier may have to write a conversion utility for you.
• You will need to check the data, even if the conversion was done automatically.

3.5 Employees will usually require training.

• A three-day course, covering the whole subject of payroll, costs from £700.