What FMP Global does

FMP Global is a UK-based managed payroll services provider operating as a subsidiary of IRIS Software Group under the legal entity IRIS Capital Limited. Founded in 1994 and acquired by IRIS in 2019, the company was rebranded as IRIS FMP and subsequently integrated into IRIS Payroll Services, which consolidates IRIS's portfolio of payroll bureaus. FMP Global serves UK businesses ranging from SMBs to large enterprises, providing end-to-end outsourced payroll management including BACS payments, HMRC compliance, year-end submissions, and dedicated payroll manager support, with sector specialisations in education (multi-academy trusts), healthcare, and hospitality (tronc payroll).

The company's core technology is a cloud-based payroll management platform featuring an Employer Portal that provides real-time, transparent access to payroll information. Product offerings include IRIS Payroll Services (core managed bureau), IRIS Education Payroll Services, IRIS Cascade Payroll Services (for IRIS HR platform customers), IRIS Paycheck Plus (Ireland), Troncmasters (hospitality tronc), and Global Payroll Services for international workforces. The platform holds HMRC recognition, CIPP PAS certification, BACS approved status, and ISO 27001/14001/22301 certifications.

FMP Global generates revenue through a subscription recurring model, with managed payroll services starting at £70 per month per customer. Distribution is sales-led via the IRIS website with quote-based consultations targeting UK enterprises, supported by content marketing, social media, webinars, and case studies. The customer base spans diverse verticals including automotive retail (Motorpoint), technology distribution (Westcoast), education (Northern Star Academies Trust), healthcare (Grovehurst Surgery), and non-profit (Textile Exchange), operating as part of IRIS's broader 280,000+ organisation customer ecosystem.

Name

FMP Global

Legal name

IRIS Capital Limited

Website

https://fmpglobal.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FMP Global, acquired by IRIS Software Group in 2019 and operating as IRIS Payroll Services, provides managed outsourced payroll services to UK businesses, specialising in education, healthcare, and hospitality sectors with cloud-based Employer Portal technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payroll Services

NAICS

Payroll Services (541214)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing) (BPAAAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Payroll Processing (BPACAIAA), Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Global Payroll & Multi-Country Payroll Coordination (EOR/PEO Interface) (BPAAAHAE), Payroll & Employment Tax Services (BPAHABAD)

Keywords

• Managed payroll services
• Payroll outsourcing
• Payroll bureau
• BACS payments
• Pension administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Merston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Managed Payroll Services: Full-service outsourced payroll management where FMP Global handles the entire payroll process including payments, compliance, data entry, BACS payments, year-end submissions, and dedicated payroll manager support. Customers provide employee data while FMP handles everything else.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FMP Global (now operating as IRIS FMP under IRIS Payroll Services) provides fully managed payroll outsourcing services to UK businesses. The service covers the entire payroll process including data entry, BACS payments, compliance with HMRC legislation, year-end submissions, and a dedicated payroll manager for each customer. Specialised variants serve education (schools and academy trusts), healthcare (NHS and GP practices), hospitality (tronc payroll), Ireland (Paycheck Plus), and international workforces (Global Payroll Services). Pricing starts from £70 per month.

Product overview

FMP Global operates as a managed payroll services provider under IRIS Payroll Services, offering a comprehensive suite of payroll solutions for UK and international businesses. The portfolio includes core managed payroll services for UK companies, specialized education payroll services for schools and academy trusts, and global payroll management for international workforces. Additional modules cover hospitality tronc payroll (Troncmasters), Ireland-based payroll (Paycheck Plus), and integrated services for existing IRIS Cascade HR customers. All services leverage cloud-based Employer Portal technology for real-time payroll visibility. The unified offering combines FMP Global's expertise with IRIS's broader payroll software ecosystem, starting from £70 per month for managed services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IRIS Payroll Services Fully managed payroll outsourcing for UK companies. The service handles the entire payroll process including payments, compliance, data entry, BACS payments, year-end submissions, and a dedicated payroll manager, with cloud-based Employer Portal access for transparency. Priced from £70 per month.
• IRIS Education Payroll Services Managed payroll and pension services tailored to schools, single academy trusts, and multi-academy trusts, addressing education-specific payroll complexities including Teachers' Pension Scheme administration.
• IRIS Cascade Payroll Services Managed payroll module bundled with IRIS Cascade HR software, providing integrated payroll processing for customers already on the IRIS Cascade HR platform.
• IRIS Paycheck Plus Managed payroll services operating in Ireland, providing compliant payroll processing for Irish businesses under Irish Revenue requirements.
• Troncmasters Dedicated tronc payroll services for hospitality operators, managing tip allocation and tronc schemes in compliance with HMRC rules for flexible workforce and tip distribution.
• Global Payroll Services International payroll management services ensuring accurate and compliant payments to workforces across multiple countries, handling local requirements and regulations in each jurisdiction.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 days per month average time spent on payroll management for HR team
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MHR: MHR (formerly MidlandHR) is a UK HR and payroll software and services provider offering both iTrent payroll software and managed payroll services. Directly comparable as a UK-based full-service payroll and HR provider serving similar customer segments including education and large employers.
• Zellis: Zellis (formerly NGA Human Resources) is a major UK and European HR/payroll services provider offering managed payroll, HR software, and people analytics. Directly comparable as a large-scale payroll bureau serving enterprise and public sector clients with comparable compliance-heavy offerings.
• Sage Payroll: Sage is the dominant UK SMB accounting and payroll software provider with both Sage Payroll software and bureau-style services. Comparable as a UK payroll provider with strong brand recognition among the same SMB customer base that FMP targets, though Sage leans more toward self-service software than full-service outsourcing.
• SD Worx: SD Worx is a European payroll and HR services provider with strong UK presence, offering managed payroll, HR outsourcing, and global payroll solutions. Directly comparable as a multi-country payroll services provider with similar vertical depth and enterprise customer orientation.
• Moorepay: Moorepay is a UK-based provider of payroll and HR services targeting SMBs and mid-market employers, offering managed payroll bureau, payroll software, and HR outsourcing. Directly comparable as a UK full-service payroll bureau with vertical specialisations (education, hospitality) and similar pricing tier positioning.
• IRIS Payroll Services: FMP Global has been fully integrated into IRIS Payroll Services following the 2019 acquisition, making them the same operating entity. IRIS Payroll Services is the unified managed payroll offering that now houses FMP, providing identical full-service outsourced payroll to UK businesses with CIPP-certified professionals and cloud Employer Portal.
• Cintra HR & Payroll Services: Cintra is a UK-based HR and payroll services bureau offering managed payroll, HR software (Cintra iQ), and pensions administration. Directly comparable as a UK managed payroll bureau with similar customer segments, dedicated account management model, and compliance-focused value proposition.
• Xero Payroll: Xero offers cloud payroll solutions for UK small businesses and accountants, integrating with its accounting platform. Comparable as a UK cloud payroll provider for SMBs, though Xero is primarily a self-service SaaS rather than a managed bureau, putting partial competitive pressure on FMP's lower-end tier.

Broad incumbents

• ADP UK: ADP is a global payroll and HR services giant with substantial UK operations offering managed payroll (ADP TotalSource, ADP Payroll) alongside broader HCM. Comparable as a major payroll outsourcing competitor in the UK market, though ADP offers a much broader portfolio spanning workforce management, benefits, and tax services.

Emerging players

• PayFit: PayFit is a European cloud-native payroll and HR platform operating in the UK, France, Spain, and Germany, offering automated payroll with embedded compliance. Comparable as a UK payroll services provider for SMBs, though PayFit is a SaaS-first platform rather than a managed bureau, representing a different delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IRISSoftwareGrp
• Facebookfacebook.com/FMPGlobal
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/iris-software-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/irissoftwaregroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about FMP Global