What Staffology does

Staffology is a UK-focused, cloud-based HR and payroll software provider founded in 2018 and acquired by IRIS Software Group in 2021, now operating as "Staffology by IRIS." The company offers three core products — Staffology HR (workforce management for businesses), Staffology Payroll (cloud payroll for direct customers), and Staffology Bureau (payroll software for service providers managing multiple client payrolls) — with native integration between HR and Payroll modules enabling real-time data synchronisation of employee records, contracts, payments, and absences. The platform supports tiered functionality from a free Foundation plan (£0.76/user/month for up to 10 employees) through Essential, Professional, and custom-priced Ultimate tiers, with API-based integrations to IRIS Recruitment, Qlearsite (people analytics), and Circular Benefits (employee benefits). Mobile self-service apps are available on iOS and Android.

The business operates on a product-led growth SaaS model: SMB customers self-onboard via free trials and online signup, while IRIS's enterprise sales force handles larger accounts and the IRIS accountancy partner network drives mid-market referrals. Revenue mechanics are entirely subscription-based on per-seat pricing, billed monthly or annually, with a 10-user minimum. Staffology holds UK-specific compliance accreditations (Bacs, HMRC, BSI, Cyber Essentials, Crown Commercial Service Supplier) and offers Welsh-language support developed with the Welsh Language Commissioner. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of IRIS Software Group, Staffology functions as a product line within a larger UK accountancy/HR/education software portfolio rather than as an independent operating company.

Name

Staffology

Legal name

Staffology (operated by IRIS Software Group)

Website

https://staffology.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Staffology is a UK cloud HR and payroll software provider, acquired by IRIS Software Group in 2021 and now operating as "Staffology by IRIS," serving UK SMBs, mid-market firms, and payroll bureaus with tiered subscription SaaS products and mobile self-service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud HR and Payroll Software

NAICS

Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing) (BPAAAHAA)

Keywords

• Cloud payroll software
• HR management software
• Payroll bureau software
• UK payroll solutions
• Employee self-service

Headquarters

HQ city

Slough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Staffology HR Software Subscription: Tiered subscription model for cloud HR software with four plans: Foundation (£0.76/user/month), Essential (from £2.15/user/month), Professional (from £4.20/user/month), and Ultimate (custom pricing). All plans require minimum 10 users and are billed annually or monthly.
2. Staffology Payroll Software Subscription: Cloud payroll software subscription sold as standalone product or as part of integrated HR+Payroll bundle. Pricing based on number of employees and complexity of payroll needs.
3. Staffology Bureau Software: Cloud payroll bureau software for payroll service providers to manage multiple client payrolls from a single platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Staffology by IRIS sells three cloud-based SaaS products for UK businesses: Staffology HR (workforce management with employee records, absence, expenses, performance, document and self-service), Staffology Payroll (HMRC-approved payroll with RTI submissions and Bacs payments), and Staffology Bureau (multi-client payroll platform for payroll service providers). Products are sold on tiered per-seat subscriptions and integrate with each other plus IRIS Recruitment, Qlearsite, and Circular Benefits.

Product overview

Staffology by IRIS offers a suite of cloud-based HR and payroll software products for UK businesses. The portfolio consists of three core products: Staffology HR (cloud HR software in four tiers), Staffology Payroll (cloud payroll for businesses), and Staffology Bureau (payroll bureau software for providers). These products integrate with each other for seamless HR and payroll connectivity, and also connect with other IRIS products including IRIS Recruitment (applicant tracking), IRIS Cascade (HR management), and IRIS GP Payroll (healthcare payroll). The Staffology HR product offers tiered pricing from Foundation (£0.76/user/month) to Ultimate (custom), while Staffology Payroll and Bureau provide dedicated payroll solutions for direct businesses and service providers respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Staffology Payroll: Cloud-based payroll software for UK businesses
• Staffology HR
• Staffology Bureau

Products and services

• Staffology HR Cloud-based HR software for UK businesses covering employee records, absence management, expenses, performance management, document management, time and attendance, salary modelling, training records, and employee self-service via web and mobile app. Sold in four tiers from £0.76/user/month (Foundation) to custom enterprise pricing (Ultimate).
• Staffology Payroll Cloud-based payroll software for UK businesses that automates payroll processing, supports HMRC RTI submissions and Bacs payments, integrates with Staffology HR for real-time data sync, and reduces manual payroll administration. Sold as a standalone product or as part of an integrated HR plus Payroll bundle.
• Staffology Bureau Cloud-based payroll bureau software for payroll service providers and accountancy firms to run payroll for multiple clients from a single platform with purpose-built features for client management and payroll efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Payroll processing time reduced from 3 weeks (with 3 staff) to 3 days (with 1 staff member)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IRIS Software GroupcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2021Staffology was acquired by IRIS Software Group in 2021 and rebranded as Staffology by IRIS. As a subsidiary, Staffology products are now sold under the IRIS brand and integrated into the IRIS suite of payroll and HR solutions. IRIS provides distribution, sales, support, and development resources for the Staffology product line.
• IRIS RecruitmentcoreTechnology or IntegrationStaffology HR integrates with IRIS Recruitment applicant tracking system, automating the transfer of candidate data when hiring. Once set up, IRIS Recruitment sends hired candidate details directly to Staffology HR, creating employee records without manual data entry.
• Welsh Language CommissionerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaffology HR worked with the Welsh Language Commissioner to provide Welsh language software support, enabling Welsh-speaking public sector organisations to use the HR system in Welsh. IRIS worked closely with the Commissioner to implement this language capability.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sage HR: Sage is a dominant UK accountancy, payroll, and HR software incumbent. Its cloud HR and payroll offerings target the same SMB and mid-market UK buyers as Staffology, but with a much broader portfolio and larger install base.
• ADP UK: ADP is a global payroll and HR services giant with a substantial UK presence (including ADP Streamline and PaySpace). It overlaps with Staffology Payroll and Bureau, especially in payroll bureau services for practices and mid-market employers.
• Xero Payroll: Xero offers accounting with integrated payroll (Xero Payroll) widely used by UK SMBs. It competes with Staffology for the small business finance-and-people stack, though its primary wedge is accounting rather than HR.

Emerging players

• Employment Hero: Employment Hero is a fast-growing cloud HR, payroll and benefits platform with UK and global ambitions. It targets the same SMB and mid-market segment as Staffology with a similar per-seat subscription model and payroll + HR bundled offering.
• Pento: Pento is a UK cloud-native payroll platform with strong UK SMB traction and integrations into accountancy software. It competes head-on with Staffology Payroll and Bureau on modern UX, accountant integrations, and direct-to-Employer subscriptions.
• Personio: Personio is a European HR and payroll platform that has expanded into the UK market targeting SMB and mid-market employers. It is comparable to Staffology on HR-led positioning with integrated payroll, but operates at larger scale across multiple European countries.
• BambooHR: BambooHR is a leading cloud HR platform increasingly expanding into UK payroll via partnerships. It overlaps with Staffology HR on employee records, self-service, and SMB-focused SaaS economics, though its UK payroll depth is still developing.

Direct peers

• BrightHR: BrightHR is a UK-focused cloud HR, payroll and people-management platform serving small and mid-sized employers. It directly competes with Staffology HR/Payroll on features, per-seat pricing, and employee self-service mobile experience.
• Moorepay: Moorepay is a UK payroll, HR and auto-enrolment provider serving SMBs and small-mid market employers. It is highly comparable to Staffology on UK payroll and HR focus, modular pricing, and accountant/bureau channel relationships.

Others

• IRIS Cascade: IRIS Cascade is the sibling HR product from Staffology's parent, IRIS Software Group. It addresses overlapping buyer needs in UK HR and payroll, creating intra-portfolio overlap and ecosystem dependency that directly affects Staffology's positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/staffologyapp
• Facebookfacebook.com/IRISSoftwareGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/staffology-payroll
• Instagraminstagram.com/irissoftwaregroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Staffology