PaySauce
PaySauce is a publicly listed New Zealand mobile-first cloud payroll platform serving small and medium businesses across New Zealand, Australia, and 14 Pacific Island countries, automating PAYE/PAYG tax, KiwiSaver, award interpretation, leave, timesheets, and IRD/ATO filing on a per-employee subscription basis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLower Hutt, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What PaySauce does
PaySauce is a New Zealand-founded mobile-first cloud payroll platform serving small and medium businesses, headquartered in Petone, Lower Hutt, and publicly listed on the NZE under ticker PYS. The platform automates payroll processing, PAYE/PAYG tax calculations, KiwiSaver deductions, award interpretation, leave and timesheet management, and direct filing with Inland Revenue (NZ) and the ATO (Australia), including Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting and forthcoming PayDay Super compliance. An employee mobile app handles timesheet submission and leave requests, with an employer app enabling one-click pay runs from any location. The company operates the SmoothPay sub-brand serving 14 Pacific Island countries and has expanded into Australia through a dedicated website and pricing tier.
The product integrates natively with Xero, Reckon, Figured, Farm Focus, Akahu, ASB, BNZ, Tatou, and HAPI (Harcourt's), with a registered PAYE intermediary service (via Right Remuneration Limited) handling employer compliance obligations. Subscription pricing is per-employee monthly, with three NZ tiers ($18, $47.25, $69.25 per month plus per-employee fees), Australian pricing from $50/month with a 90-day money-back guarantee, and Pacific pricing at $20 base + $2.50 per employee per month. Customers are billed only in months a pay run executes, with no fixed-term contracts and free onboarding.
Go-to-market combines product-led self-serve acquisition (web and mobile app stores) with a partner channel of accountants, bookkeepers, and trade associations (Federated Farmers, Hospitality NZ, Master Plumbers, Master Builders), plus a dedicated Managed Migration Programme for partners transitioning 10+ clients. Vertical focus is concentrated on farming, hospitality, retail, trades, construction, and forestry SMBs. The company has 11-50 employees, over 5,000 customers (post-SmoothPay acquisition), and is actively recruiting former Xero staff to scale its Australian operations.
PaySauce firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PaySauce
- Legal name
- PaySauce Limited
- Website
- https://paysauce.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PaySauce is a publicly listed New Zealand mobile-first cloud payroll platform serving small and medium businesses across New Zealand, Australia, and 14 Pacific Island countries, automating PAYE/PAYG tax, KiwiSaver, award interpretation, leave, timesheets, and IRD/ATO filing on a per-employee subscription basis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PaySauce industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Payroll Software
- NAICS
- Payroll Services (541214)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Employer Payroll Processing (SMB & Enterprise) (FSAMAKAA)
Keywords
Where PaySauce is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lower Hutt
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
PaySauce business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Payroll Software (NZ): Monthly subscription fees based on number of employees paid. Three tiers: Simple ($16 base + $2/employee), Standard ($40 base + $5.50/employee), Premium ($60 base + $6.50/employee). Charged per month only in months a pay run is executed. No fixed-term contracts, no cancellation fees.
- Subscription Payroll Software (Pacific/SmoothPay): Monthly subscription for SmoothPay Pacific operations: $20 per company base fee plus $2.50 per employee. Available across 14 Pacific countries.
- Subscription Payroll Software (Australia): Monthly subscription for Australian operations starting from $50/month for small businesses. No lock-in contracts, cancel anytime. 90-day money-back guarantee.
- Additional Services and Fees: Additional charges for certain features (e.g., Contract Builder), correction of data errors caused by customers, and extra fees for mid-period onboarding when starting outside of a filing period. Interest charged on overdue fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic payroll calculator for simple payroll needs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Full payroll service with onboarding and support included |
| Subscription | Monthly | Comprehensive payroll with all features and extras |
| Subscription | Monthly | Small business payroll Australia |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Pacific payroll across 14 countries |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
PaySauce product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PaySauce provides mobile-first cloud payroll software for small businesses in New Zealand, Australia, and 14 Pacific Island countries. Its platform automates payroll processing, PAYE/KiwiSaver/Superannuation calculations, IRD and ATO filing, timesheet/roster/leave management, and award interpretation, with a registered PAYE Intermediary service (via Right Remuneration Limited) that takes on employer compliance responsibility. The offering is delivered through tiered monthly subscriptions, an employee self-service mobile app, and the SmoothPay sub-brand for the Pacific region.
Product overview
PaySauce is a mobile-first cloud payroll platform designed for small businesses, available in New Zealand (core platform) and Australia (regional variant). The offering consists of the main PaySauce platform for NZ/AU markets and a sub-brand called SmoothPay serving 14 Pacific Island countries. Key modules include payroll processing and payments, PAYE intermediary services (NZ), timesheet/roster/leave management, accounting integrations (Xero), employee self-service app, and a Managed Migration Programme for partners. SmoothPay additionally offers PayNow (early access earned wage access) and HAPI integration with Harcourt's Trust system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SmoothPay: A payroll service brand under PaySauce, serving the Pacific Islands region with availability in 14 countries including American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
Products and services
- PaySauce New Zealand Mobile-first cloud payroll platform for New Zealand small businesses that handles payroll processing, payments, PAYE intermediary services, timesheets, rosters, leave management, KiwiSaver deductions, IRD filing, and Xero accounting integration.
- PaySauce Australia Payroll software for Australian small businesses with built-in support for PAYG, superannuation, Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting to the ATO, PayDay Super compliance from 1 July 2026, and automated industry award interpretation.
- SmoothPay Payroll solution serving 14 Pacific Island countries (American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu) with HAPI integration to Harcourt's Trust system.
- Managed Migration Programme Free migration service for accounting and bookkeeping partners moving 10+ clients to PaySauce, providing a dedicated migration manager, custom project plans, data migration, bulk account setup, testing, training, and post-migration support.
- PaySauce Mobile App (iOS/Android) Mobile applications for iOS and Android allowing employers to run payroll from anywhere and employees to submit timesheets, leave requests, view payslips, and access earned wages early via PayNow.
Quantifiable outcome
- Payroll processing reduced from 1.5 hours to minutes with one-click pay runs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PaySauce
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments15 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PaySauce technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature5 records
PaySauce partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- XerocoreXero integration allows seamless sync between PaySauce payroll and Xero accounting software. Connect to Xero once and books stay in sync automatically with every pay run. Data flows bidirectionally between platforms.
- ASB BankcoreASB is one of New Zealand's major banks integrated with PaySauce for direct debit payroll funding and payment processing. Customers can nominate ASB accounts for payroll fund management.
- BNZ (Bank of New Zealand)coreBNZ banking integration with PaySauce for payroll payment processing and fund management. BNZ logo appears on SmoothPay partner/integration page.
- AkahusupportingAkahu provides open banking connectivity integrated with PaySauce for enhanced payment and banking functionality.
- ReckonsupportingReckon accounting software integration with PaySauce for payroll data synchronization.
- FiguredsupportingFigured accounting software for farming operations integrated with PaySauce. Particularly relevant for agricultural customers needing payroll and accounting sync.
- Farm FocussupportingFarm Focus farming accounting software integration with PaySauce for agricultural customers.
- Federated FarmerssupportingFederated Farmers of New Zealand partnership provides payroll services recommendation to farmer members. Association logo on SmoothPay page indicating endorsement or partnership.
- One Percent CollectivesupportingOne Percent Collective nonprofit organization partnered with PaySauce. A customer (One Percent Collective) whose logo appears on partner page, suggesting mutual endorsement relationship.
- Taranaki Bulls (Rugby)minorTaranaki Bulls rugby team logo on SmoothPay page. Sports organization partnership or customer endorsement.
- Wellington Rugby Football UnionminorWellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) logo on SmoothPay page. Sports organization partnership or customer endorsement.
- Hospitality New ZealandsupportingHospitality New Zealand (HNZ) trade association partnership. Silver partner status. Recommends PaySauce to member cafes, restaurants, and hospitality businesses.
- Master Plumbers (NZ)supportingMaster Plumbers New Zealand Silver Partner. Association recommends PaySauce to member plumbing and gas fitting businesses.
- Master Builders (NZ)supportingMaster Builders New Zealand Associate Member. Trade association partnership recommending PaySauce to builder and construction members.
- TatousupportingTatou agricultural software integration with PaySauce. Partnership for farming operations management and payroll sync.
- Harcourt's (HAPI)supportingHAPI integration connects Harcourt's Trust system with SmoothPay for enhanced payroll functionality in Pacific operations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
PaySauce competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gusto: US-based SMB payroll, HR and benefits SaaS platform with a similar mobile-first, compliance-driven proposition. Comparable business model and SMB target, though geographically separate.
- Employment Hero: Australia-headquartered SMB-focused HR and payroll SaaS platform serving ANZ and SEA. Direct competitor to PaySauce in the AU/NZ small business payroll market with overlapping target customers and a similar mobile-first, partner-led GTM.
- KeyPay: Cloud payroll platform for Australian and New Zealand SMBs, serving accountants and employers directly. Closely comparable in functionality (award interpretation, STP, employee self-service) and target market.
- Deputy: ANZ-origin workforce management and payroll SaaS for shift-based industries (hospitality, retail, healthcare). Overlaps with PaySauce's hospitality and retail verticals on rostering, timesheets and payroll.
- WagePoint: Canada-based cloud payroll SaaS for small businesses with accountant channel focus. Comparable in subscription model, SMB positioning, and accountant-led distribution.
- iPayroll: New Zealand cloud payroll provider serving SMBs through accountant and direct channels. Closest direct domestic peer on regulatory coverage (PAYE, KiwiSaver) and pricing tiering.
Broad incumbents
- Xero (Payroll): Global accounting SaaS leader with built-in payroll in NZ and Australia. While broader in scope, Xero's payroll product directly competes for the same SMB customers and serves as PaySauce's most important integration partner.
- MYOB: Established Australian and New Zealand accounting and payroll software provider with deep SMB penetration. Comparable in customer base and core payroll functionality; broader business management portfolio.
- ADP (RUN/Rippling): Global payroll and HR services giant. While most of its book is mid-market and enterprise, ADP's RUN and similar SMB offerings compete with PaySauce for larger small business customers and franchise networks.
Regional players
- Ascender Payroll: Asia-Pacific payroll and HR software provider serving mid-market employers across ANZ and Asia. Overlaps with PaySauce on award interpretation and STP-style compliance, but at larger customer sizes and across additional APAC geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PaySauce social profiles
Digital presencePaySauce financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PaySauce leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
PaySauce subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
PaySauce funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PaySauce M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PaySauce
What does PaySauce do?
PaySauce provides mobile-first cloud payroll software for small businesses in New Zealand, Australia, and 14 Pacific Island countries. Its platform automates payroll processing, PAYE/KiwiSaver/Superannuation calculations, IRD and ATO filing, timesheet/roster/leave management, and award interpretation, with a registered PAYE Intermediary service (via Right Remuneration Limited) that takes on employer compliance responsibility. The offering is delivered through tiered monthly subscriptions, an employee self-service mobile app, and the SmoothPay sub-brand for the Pacific region.
Is PaySauce a public or private company?
PaySauce is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was PaySauce founded?
PaySauce was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PaySauce based?
PaySauce is headquartered in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does PaySauce make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Subscription Payroll Software (NZ) is the primary driver. The others are subscription Payroll Software (Pacific/SmoothPay), subscription Payroll Software (Australia) and additional Services and Fees.
Who are PaySauce's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gusto, Employment Hero, KeyPay, Deputy, WagePoint and iPayroll. Broad incumbents are Xero (Payroll), MYOB and ADP (RUN/Rippling). Ascender Payroll is listed as a regional player.
Does PaySauce have an API?
Yes. SmoothPay offers an API for connecting to third-party services. The API is available through smoothpay.paysauce.com/api/. However, the main PaySauce platform (paysauce.com) does not appear to have a public developer portal or documented API. Developer documentation is at smoothpay.paysauce.com/api.
What industry is PaySauce in?
PaySauce's product category is Payroll Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAIAB, Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS), with a secondary code of FSAMAKAA, Employer Payroll Processing (SMB & Enterprise). Its NAICS code is 541214 and its SIC code is 7372.