Breathe
Breathe is a UK-based SaaS company providing all-in-one HR software to over 17,000 small and medium-sized businesses. Its cloud platform offers 40+ modules covering HR administration, performance, rotas, e-learning, and compliance for businesses with 1-250 employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersHorsham, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Breathe does
Breathe is a UK-based SaaS provider of cloud HR software targeting small and medium-sized enterprises with 1 to 250 employees. Operating under the legal entity Centurion (Company Number 3020608), the company has served UK SMEs since 1996 and reports a customer base of over 17,000 businesses. Its platform delivers 40+ integrated modules organized into People and Performance (HR dashboards, recruitment tracking, onboarding workflows, performance management, reporting and analytics, e-learning), Time and Attendance (staff holiday planner, absence management, rotas, time tracking, time logs), and Admin and Compliance (document management with e-signatures, expense management, Xero Payroll integration, HR mobile app, and a Health and Safety module). The product is built around a purpose-built UK employee database with GDPR-compliant architecture, ISO 27001 certification, and a public API plus a marketplace of integrations including Xero Payroll.
The company operates a product-led growth motion with a no-credit-card free trial, self-serve onboarding, and a sales-assisted overlay for larger prospects, complemented by a channel partner programme that has scaled to over 1,000 partners across HR consultants, H&S advisors, insurers, brokers, and software providers. Revenue is generated through monthly subscription SaaS contracts with no long-term commitments and no publicly disclosed pricing, targeting flexible entry points for UK SMEs. The go-to-market is hybrid (PLG + channel + direct sales), and the company has been bootstrapped with no external funding rounds disclosed in the source material. It maintains marketing presence through an HR blog, employment law and H&S webinars, email newsletters, and G2/Capterra review channels.
Vertically, Breathe segments messaging across charities, construction, healthcare, legal services, and education in addition to generalist SME HR. The company holds G2 Best Software 2024 recognition, B Corp certification, Investors in People accreditation, and ISO 27001. Geographic footprint is restricted to the United Kingdom, with headquarters in Horsham, West Sussex. Founder Gareth Burrows remains listed as director, and the firm employs 51-100 people.
Breathe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Breathe
- Legal name
- Centurion
- Website
- https://breatheHR.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Breathe is a UK-based SaaS company providing all-in-one HR software to over 17,000 small and medium-sized businesses. Its cloud platform offers 40+ modules covering HR administration, performance, rotas, e-learning, and compliance for businesses with 1-250 employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Breathe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Horsham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Breathe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription-based SaaS: Breathe operates on a subscription-based SaaS model with flexible, commitment-free plans. The company offers flexible subscription plans with no long-term contracts, allowing customers to cancel anytime without worrying about hidden costs. Pricing is tiered based on organization size and feature requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Flexible subscription plans for SMEs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Breathe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Breathe provides a cloud-based HR software platform designed for UK small and medium-sized enterprises with up to 250 employees, sold as a subscription-based SaaS product on flexible monthly plans. The platform consolidates 40-plus integrated capabilities covering employee records, leave and absence management, recruitment, onboarding workflows, performance reviews, e-learning, document management with e-signatures, expense tracking, rotas, and time and attendance. Sub-brands such as Breathe Rota and Breathe Learn extend the core platform with dedicated scheduling and compliance e-learning functionality.
Product overview
Breathe offers a unified all-in-one HR software platform designed for UK SMEs with up to 250 employees. The core platform includes 40+ integrated modules organized into three main categories: People and Performance (HR Dashboards, Recruitment Tracking, Onboarding, Performance Management, Reporting & Analytics, E-Learning); Time and Attendance (Staff Holiday Planner, Absence Management, Rotas, Time Tracking, Time Logs); and Admin and Compliance (Document Management with E-Signatures, Expense Management, Xero Payroll Integration, HR Mobile App, Health and Safety). The platform operates on a modular architecture where customers can tailor the system with additional modules as their business grows, with no long-term contracts required.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Breathe HR Software Platform Cloud-based HR software platform built for UK small and medium-sized enterprises with 1-250 employees. Consolidates employee records, leave and absence management, recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, document management with e-signatures, expense tracking, reporting, and a public API for integrations. Sold as a subscription-based SaaS product on flexible monthly plans with no long-term commitment.
- Breathe Rota, Time & Attendance Sub-brand offering from Breathe providing rota scheduling, shift planning, and time and attendance tracking for UK small businesses with shift-based workforces. Integrates with the core Breathe HR platform so scheduled hours, attendance, and leave flow into employee records and payroll.
- Breathe Learn Sub-brand offering from Breathe providing an e-learning content library of UK-specific compliance and HR training courses, designed for SME employees and managers and integrated with the core Breathe HR platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Trusted by 17,000+ UK SMEs for HR management
Companies that use Breathe
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Breathe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Breathe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- XerocoreXero payroll integration allows Breathe customers to seamlessly sync payroll data with their Xero accounting software, eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors in payroll processing.
- Marketplace PartnerscoreBreathe has partnered with a variety of apps and integrations through its marketplace to further reduce the time businesses spend on HR admin. Partners include HR consultants, H&S consultants, insurers, brokers, and software providers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Breathe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Personio: European HR and people operations platform targeting SMB and mid-market customers with a similar all-in-one HR suite. Highly comparable in product scope, target segment, and PLG-assisted GTM, though it has raised significant venture capital and expanded internationally.
- HiBob: Modern HRIS focused on SMB and mid-market companies, offering core HR, people analytics, onboarding, and performance management. Directly comparable in product breadth and target customer, though it skews more toward mid-market and globally distributed workforces.
- BambooHR: One of the most established SMB HR platforms, providing HR records, onboarding, performance, and reporting for small and mid-sized businesses. Closely comparable in target segment and product positioning, though it primarily serves the US market.
- CharlieHR: UK-based HR software built specifically for small businesses, covering employee records, holiday tracking, and onboarding. Highly comparable in UK SMB focus and pricing model, making it one of the most direct UK-specific competitors.
- Cezanne HR: UK-headquartered HR software for mid-sized and growing organisations, with modules spanning core HR, performance, and learning. Comparable in UK-centric positioning and mid-market target segment.
- Sage HR: HR and people software from Sage Group targeting UK and international SMBs, often bundled with Sage payroll/accounting. Comparable in target segment and complementary payroll integration story, with the backing of a much larger parent.
- Workable: SMB-focused HR and recruitment platform with ATS and broader HR functionality. Comparable in SME target market and overlapping recruitment + HR module set, though its core heritage is in applicant tracking.
- Deputy: Workforce management platform offering scheduling, time tracking, and HR functionality for shift-based and SMB employers. Comparable through Breathe's Rotas and Time & Attendance modules and shared focus on rota-heavy verticals.
Broad incumbents
- Rippling: Unified workforce management platform spanning HR, IT, payroll, and finance, increasingly competing down-market into SMB. Comparable in all-in-one ambition, though Rippling operates at significantly larger scale with deep VC backing.
- Workday: Global enterprise HR and finance cloud platform with a broad portfolio that includes capabilities overlapping Breathe's modules. Comparable at the product layer but addresses a fundamentally different (enterprise) buyer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Breathe social profiles
Digital presenceBreathe compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Breathe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Breathe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Breathe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Breathe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Breathe
What does Breathe do?
Breathe provides a cloud-based HR software platform designed for UK small and medium-sized enterprises with up to 250 employees, sold as a subscription-based SaaS product on flexible monthly plans. The platform consolidates 40-plus integrated capabilities covering employee records, leave and absence management, recruitment, onboarding workflows, performance reviews, e-learning, document management with e-signatures, expense tracking, rotas, and time and attendance. Sub-brands such as Breathe Rota and Breathe Learn extend the core platform with dedicated scheduling and compliance e-learning functionality.
Is Breathe a public or private company?
Breathe is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Breathe founded?
Breathe was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Breathe based?
Breathe is headquartered in Horsham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Breathe make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription-based SaaS.
Who are Breathe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Personio, HiBob, BambooHR, CharlieHR, Cezanne HR, Sage HR, Workable and Deputy. Broad incumbents are Rippling and Workday.
Does Breathe have an API?
Yes. Breathe offers a public API that enables software integrations with their HR system. The API is listed under their Software and integrations section in the Partners area, allowing third-party applications to connect and interact with Breathe HR data. Developer documentation is at www.breathehr.com/en-gb/hr-software/online-hr-system-api.