What Paycom does

Paycom is a US-headquartered, publicly traded provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) software, founded in 1998 in Oklahoma City and listed on the NYSE under ticker PAYC since its 2014 IPO. The company sells a single-platform HCM suite that covers payroll, talent acquisition, talent management, HR management, and time and labor management, targeted primarily at US mid-market employers with a secondary push into enterprise and small business, plus selected vertical coverage across manufacturing, healthcare, retail, hospitality, nonprofits, transportation, and education.

The product is built on a single-database architecture that the company markets as a differentiator: data entered in any module propagates across all others without integration or syncing, enabling cross-module automation. Differentiated features include Beti (self-service automated payroll), IWant (a command-driven natural-language AI search engine over HR and payroll data), GONE (automated time-off decisioning), Direct Data Exchange (in-product ROI analytics), and Global HCM (international support across 180+ countries). The product surface spans roughly five core suites and approximately forty named modules/add-ons.

Paycom operates a sales-led, direct go-to-market with separate enterprise field sales and inside sales motions, complemented by content marketing, webinars, podcasts, and high-visibility sports sponsorships (Paycom Center/UFC, New England Patriots, Viktor Hovland, Jalen Williams). Revenue is generated through per-employee SaaS subscriptions on annual contracts with quote-based pricing, and the company serves over 38,000 clients. Reported FY2025 revenue was $2.05 billion, Q1 2026 revenue was $572 million, and management has guided FY2026 revenue of $2.175–$2.195 billion, implying decelerating single-digit growth against a 91% client retention rate, 37% operating margin, 48% EBITDA margin, and $404 million of free cash flow.

Name

Paycom

Legal name

Paycom Payroll LLC

Website

https://paycom.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Paycom is a US-based, publicly traded (NYSE: PAYC) provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management software built on a single-database architecture, serving over 38,000 primarily mid-market employers with integrated payroll, HR, talent, time, and benefits modules enhanced by proprietary AI tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Capital Management (HCM) Software

NAICS

Payroll Services (541214)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll, Time & Attendance (BPACAPAB), Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB), Workforce Management & Scheduling (BPACAPAI), Compensation Planning & Total Rewards (BPACAPAH)

Keywords

• Human capital management software
• Cloud payroll processing
• Talent management platform
• Workforce management software
• HR automation software

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription - Per Employee: Subscription-based SaaS revenue model with pricing structured on a per-employee basis. Customers pay recurring subscription fees based on the number of employees using the platform. The single-database architecture supports land-and-expand dynamics as customers add modules and employees over time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Paycom provides cloud-based human capital management (HCM) software built on a single-database architecture, covering payroll, HR, talent acquisition, talent management, and time and labor management in one unified platform. The suite includes AI-driven automation tools (Beti automated payroll, IWant AI search, GONE automated time-off decisions) and supplementary modules such as Global HCM, benefits administration, learning, scheduling, expense management, and tax filing. Subscriptions are sold on a per-employee basis primarily to U.S. mid-market and enterprise employers.

Product overview

Paycom is a cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) software provider built on a single-database architecture, marketed as the 'only truly single database in the industry.' The product is organized as a unified platform with five core suites — Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, HR Management, and Time and Labor Management — supplemented by approximately 40 named modules and tools. Key differentiated products include Beti® (automated payroll experience), IWant™ (command-driven AI search), GONE® (automated time-off decisions), Direct Data Exchange® (in-system ROI analytics), and Global HCM™ (international support for 180+ countries). All modules share a single schema so data entered in one tool automatically populates across the entire system, eliminating manual re-entry and enabling automated cross-module workflows. The company also offers a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beti: Automated payroll experience that empowers employees to build and verify their own payroll, reducing errors and processing time by up to 90%.
• IWant
• GONE
• Global HCM

Products and services

• Payroll Suite Core payroll processing engine serving as the foundational module of the HCM platform, with supporting tools for tax management, garnishment administration, expense management, GL Concierge, Vault Payroll Card, Everyday Daily Payroll, and Paycom Pay.
• Talent Acquisition Suite Hiring and onboarding module covering applicant tracking, automated onboarding workflows, tax credits, enhanced background checks, and E-Verify compliance, integrated into the single-database platform.
• Talent Management Suite Performance management, compensation budgeting, learning management (Paycom Learning LMS), certification management, retention dashboard, position management, and career and succession planning, all operating on a single database.
• HR Management Suite HR operations module including benefits administration, Enhanced ACA compliance, Ask Here HR Help Desk, government and compliance tools, Clue Vaccine Tracking, COBRA Administration, surveys, and reporting, all within the single-database architecture.
• Time and Labor Management Suite Workforce time and attendance module covering time tracking, time-off requests (GONE), scheduling, time clocks and terminals, and labor allocation, integrated with payroll for accurate pay calculations.
• Beti® Automated Payroll Self-building payroll experience that empowers employees to enter and manage their own payroll data, automatically flags errors, and guides workers to resolve them before submission — reducing payroll-processing labor by up to 90%.
• IWant™ AI Search Command-driven AI search engine allowing users to query HR and payroll data using natural language rather than navigating menus, delivering instant answers from the single database.
• GONE® Time-Off Automation Automated time-off decisioning engine that evaluates requests against scheduling rules and staffing thresholds, auto-approving or routing decisions without manager intervention.
• Global HCM™ International human capital management module supporting over 180 countries, enabling multinational organizations to manage HR and payroll within the same single-database platform.
• Direct Data Exchange® Usage management and analytics dashboard showing real-time ROI of the software within the platform, tracking employee usage and identifying where to increase adoption for maximum return.
• Employee Self-Service® Employee-facing portal enabling workers to view and manage their own HR and payroll data including pay stubs, time-off balances, benefits, personal information, and tax forms.
• Manager on-the-Go® Mobile management tool allowing managers to approve requests, review employee data, and manage team operations on the go from a mobile device.
• Career and Succession Planning Automated tool that helps organizations identify successors for key roles, assess bench strength, and benchmark talent across the workforce using 9-box mapping, side-by-side comparisons, and automated match scoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% client retention rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UFCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNaming rights partnership for Paycom Center, the premier arena in Oklahoma City. UFC Fight Night events held at Paycom Center. High-profile venue naming rights providing extensive brand visibility in sports and entertainment markets.
• New England PatriotsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports team sponsorship providing brand exposure to NFL audiences. Partnership includes marketing activations and fan engagement opportunities.
• Viktor HovlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional golfer sponsorship for PGA Tour visibility. Athlete endorsement and brand ambassador relationship.
• Jalen WilliamsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNBA player sponsorship for professional basketball visibility. Athlete endorsement and brand ambassador relationship.
• National Duals InvitationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports event sponsorship for wrestling tournament. Brand visibility at collegiate athletic event.
• E-VerifycoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify system for employment eligibility verification. Embedded compliance feature within the HCM platform enabling automated I-9 verification and E-Verify submissions.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Bamboo HR: Bamboo HR serves SMB and small mid-market customers with HR software and lightweight payroll, competing with Paycom in the small-business and lower mid-market tiers where Paycom also targets customers with streamlined HCM.
• Rippling: Rippling is an emerging all-in-one platform combining HR, payroll, IT, and finance, rapidly expanding in the mid-market and competing directly with Paycom on automation and integrated workflows, particularly with venture-backed growth and aggressive pricing.
• Paychex: Paychex is a major payroll and HCM competitor with strength in the SMB and lower mid-market segments, directly competing with Paycom's small business and entry-level mid-market offerings through Paychex Flex.
• Workday: Workday is a leading enterprise HCM and financial management cloud platform competing against Paycom in the upper mid-market and enterprise tiers, with stronger positioning among large global employers.
• Dayforce (formerly Ceridian): Dayforce is a cloud HCM platform serving mid-market and enterprise customers globally, directly competing with Paycom in payroll, talent management, and workforce management with comparable single-platform architecture claims.
• Paylocity: Paylocity is widely viewed as Paycom's closest direct mid-market competitor, offering cloud-based payroll and HCM to similar-sized US employers with comparable go-to-market positioning and product breadth.
• UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group): UKG provides HCM, payroll, and workforce management solutions to mid-market and enterprise customers, with particular strength in workforce management (time and labor) that directly overlaps Paycom's Time and Labor Management suite.
• ADP (Automatic Data Processing): ADP is the largest payroll and HCM provider globally, with Run Powered by ADP (mid-market) and ADP Workforce Now directly overlapping Paycom's core offerings. ADP's scale, brand, and enterprise reach make it Paycom's most significant direct competitor across nearly every segment.
• Gusto: Gusto is a leading SMB-focused payroll, HR, and benefits platform competing with Paycom at the small-business end of the market, with strong product-led growth and modern UX.

Broad incumbents

• Insperity: Insperity is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that bundles HR technology with co-employment services for SMB and mid-market employers, offering overlapping HCM technology capabilities with Paycom while operating a fundamentally different business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paycom
• Xx.com/Paycom
• Facebookfacebook.com/Paycom

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paycom