REWARD
“Payroll is often an undervalued profession – when it’s done right, no one notices, but when there’s an error, you hear about it from everyone”
– when it’s done right, no one notices, but when there’s an error, you hear about it from everyone. Employers, too, sometimes fail to see its worth, and I found myself facing redundancy twice within a short period as companies outsourced their payroll functions. I decided to follow the path my job had gone down and moved into an accountancy practice, managing multiple clients and experiencing bureau payroll for the first time. I felt more secure in this environment, as it was clear payroll services were in demand. During this period, I took on the challenge of studying for the Foundation Degree in Payroll Management with IPPE. It was one of my proudest moments, proof that those who doubted me were wrong. The moment I graduated with my parents, husband and two children watching, was an overwhelming one. I’m so grateful my parents never gave in to the pressure to take me out of mainstream education. I’ve since continued my studies and am just two assignments away from completing my BA (Hons) in Business Management with University of Lincoln. The birth of Augustus Payroll Services Three years ago, I realised working for someone else was no longer enough for me. I wanted to build something of my own, and that’s when Augustus Payroll Services was born. The first step was researching business structure. I decided on a limited company and registered ‘The Payroll & Pensions Team Limited’ (trading as Augustus Payroll Services) with Companies House. I registered as an agent with HM Revenue and Customs, set up a business email and secured a website domain: augustuspayroll. co.uk. Social media followed, and while I never ventured onto X (formerly Twitter), I established a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. With just £3,000 of personal savings, I had to be strategic. I invested in a laptop and payroll software, opting for BrightPay. A tip from my husband, who believes “if you don’t ask, you don’t get,” led me to negotiate a deal with BrightPay – they granted me the current financial year free when I paid upfront for the next year’s subscription. Now, I needed clients. Fortunately, a former colleague who had started an accountancy practice needed payroll support, and having worked together before, he trusted my work ethic. I had my first
client! But one client wasn’t enough to sustain me, so in the early days, I took on part-time jobs to fill the gaps. However, I soon realised splitting my focus wasn’t helping my business grow and I had to remove my safety net. In October 2023, I took the leap, quitting my part-time job and throwing myself into networking. I went door to door, introducing myself to businesses, reconnecting with old colleagues and joining multiple networking groups. This approach paid off, and I secured a solid base of clients. Only then did I sit down to create a business plan, SWOT analysis and emergency living budget. With a family to support, I needed to know the minimum income we could live on. I established clear business goals: initially, to achieve a monthly turnover equivalent to my net salary, and ultimately, to match my previous gross salary. I kept my personal salary from the business to a minimum, allowing the remaining funds to be reinvested for growth. Growth and expansion A vision board became my daily source of motivation, helping me push forward and set new goals. Then, in May 2024, an unexpected opportunity arose. A networking contact introduced me to the directors of Payroll Compliance Limited, a Bristol-based payroll company looking to sell their client book. The deal needed to close within two weeks. Acting fast, I consulted a solicitor from my network, negotiated terms with the sellers and secured the acquisition. Opportunities like this don’t fall into your lap by chance; it was the groundwork I’d put into my business that made it possible. Taking on an additional 85 clients overnight was a massive challenge. At the time, I had no permanent staff, meaning I worked 60-80-hour weeks, onboarding clients, handling contracts, setting up direct debits and processing payrolls across various cycles (weekly, monthly, four- weekly, bi-weekly). I also began white-label payroll services for another accountancy firm with 25 clients at the same time. My
husband and daughter pitched in with administrative tasks to keep things running. Within two months, all new clients had been onboarded smoothly, billed twice and were settled into the new system. This rapid expansion meant it was time to recruit a team. Fast forward nearly a year, and we now have three staff members and, most excitingly, our own office space in Cross Hands, Wales. But we’re not stopping there. This year, we’ll be exhibiting at Accountex, aiming to build relationships with more accountants. Another huge milestone for me personally is being invited to judge the CIPP Annual Excellence Awards in Newport – a full-circle moment, given my journey with the CIPP. Lessons learned Looking back, I’ve learned that resilience, adaptability and continuous learning are key to success. The challenges I faced in education shaped my determination to prove people wrong. The redundancies I experienced pushed me towards self- employment. And the risks I took – quitting my job, investing personal savings and acquiring a client book – have all paid off. Payroll may not always get the
recognition it deserves, but it’s the backbone of businesses, ensuring
employees are paid accurately and on time. Through Augustus Payroll Services, I strive to be more than just an outsourced provider; I see us as an extension of the businesses we support, providing expert services at a cost-effective rate. This journey has been far from easy, but every challenge has reinforced my belief that payroll isn’t just my profession – it’s my passion. And for anyone wondering whether they can build something from scratch, my advice is simple: take the leap, set clear goals and keep pushing forward. You never know where the journey might take you… If you’d like to know more, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. I’m an open book, and I’d be happy to help others looking to set up their own business. n
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 110 | May 2025
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