Paragon Payroll
Paragon Payroll is a U.S.-based payroll, HR, and tax compliance provider serving 650+ cannabis businesses nationwide. Built on the iSolved HCM platform, it specializes in IRS 280E compliance, multi-state operations, and cannabis-friendly banking and benefits partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNorth Richland Hills, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Paragon Payroll does
Paragon Payroll, Inc. is a U.S.-based, privately held payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) service provider specializing exclusively in the legal cannabis industry and adjacent verticals. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in North Richland Hills, Texas, the company has been committed to cannabis since 2016 and now serves more than 650 cannabis clients nationally, ranging from startup operators to multi-state operators (MSOs). Its offering spans payroll processing, HR administration, tax and IRS 280E compliance, time and scheduling, benefits enrollment, applicant tracking and mobile onboarding, performance management, learning management, and the CannaU cannabis-specific training platform, all delivered on the iSolved HCM technology backbone.
The company generates revenue primarily through subscription-based recurring fees across its payroll, HR, workforce management, and talent management modules, with pricing set via consultation rather than published rate cards; a free first month is offered to new clients. Its go-to-market combines a sales-led direct motion (personalized 30-45 minute "Let's Talk" consultations with 24-hour response), event-driven engagement at MJBizCon, MJUnpacked, and NCIA, and referral partnerships with cannabis-friendly banks, the iSolved platform, and ecosystem partners. Customer concentration risk is moderate, as the 650+ client base spans cultivators, dispensaries, distributors, labs, manufacturers, vertically integrated operators, and hemp/CBD and tribal/indigenous businesses. Notable customers include Jeeter, Ethos, Pincanna, Big Oil, Natures Grace and Wellness, Nirvana Dispensary, Empyreal Logistics, Uncle Ikes, Grupo Flor, and Mammouth, alongside non-cannabis PEO clients such as UpSource PEO. The company employs approximately 55 people, with women holding 8 of 14 leadership roles, and was named a 2025 Best Cannabis Company to Work For by Cannabis Business Times.
Paragon Payroll firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Paragon Payroll
- Legal name
- Paragon Payroll, Inc.
- Website
- https://paragonpayroll.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Paragon Payroll is a U.S.-based payroll, HR, and tax compliance provider serving 650+ cannabis businesses nationwide. Built on the iSolved HCM platform, it specializes in IRS 280E compliance, multi-state operations, and cannabis-friendly banking and benefits partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Paragon Payroll industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cannabis Payroll and HR Services
- NAICS
- Payroll Services (541214), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412)
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing) (BPAAAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Payroll Tax Filing, Compliance & Regulatory Reporting (BPAAAHAB), Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ), Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Payroll & Employment Tax Services (BPAHABAD)
Keywords
Where Paragon Payroll is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Richland Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Paragon Payroll business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Payroll Services Subscription: Recurring subscription-based payroll processing services with monthly or per-payroll pricing models. Includes tax filing, direct deposit, and compliance support.
- HR Solutions: Additional HR services including onboarding, benefits enrollment, compliance management, and HR consulting.
- Workforce Management: Time tracking, scheduling, and attendance management solutions.
- Talent Management: Performance management, learning management (LMS), and training services including CannaU platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Custom Solutions |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
Paragon Payroll product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Paragon Payroll provides subscription-based payroll processing, human resources management, and tax/regulatory compliance services tailored to the cannabis and hemp industries, delivered through the iSolved HCM platform. Offerings include wage calculation, direct deposit, payroll tax filings, multi-state compliance (including IRS 280E), benefits administration, time and scheduling, applicant tracking, performance and learning management (with the branded CannaU cannabis training platform), and Emergency Payroll Relief for cannabis operators dropped by other providers.
Product overview
Paragon Payroll is a cannabis-industry-focused payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) platform offering a comprehensive suite of solutions. The core offering consists of payroll processing, HR services, and tax compliance management, supported by workforce management modules (time & scheduling, benefits enrollment, reporting & analytics), talent acquisition tools (applicant tracking, mobile onboarding), and talent management features (performance management, learning management, CannaU training). The company serves multiple cannabis business types including cultivators, dispensaries, distributors, labs, manufacturers, and vertically integrated operators, with specialized solutions for hemp/CBD and tribal/indigenous businesses. Paragon positions itself as a cannabis-committed provider, distinguishing itself from general payroll companies that withdrew support from the industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Payroll Solutions Subscription-based full-service payroll processing for cannabis and hemp businesses, including wage calculation, payroll tax withholding, direct deposit, tax filings, and multi-state payroll management.
- Human Resources (HR) Solutions Comprehensive HR management for cannabis operators, covering employee records, HR policies, onboarding, benefits enrollment, performance management, and HR support tailored to cannabis compliance.
- Tax & Compliance Solutions Specialist tax and regulatory compliance service for cannabis operators, with deep expertise in IRS 280E, multi-state cannabis tax filings, EIN management, and evolving state-by-state cannabis regulations.
- CannaU Branded cannabis-specific training and education platform that delivers workforce compliance training and industry knowledge education for cannabis operators.
- Emergency Payroll Relief Urgent, transition-focused payroll service for cannabis businesses that have been dropped by their previous payroll provider or face immediate payroll crises, including rapid onboarding onto the iSolved platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of callers reach live support
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Paragon Payroll
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Paragon Payroll technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Paragon Payroll partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- FlowerHiremajorCo-sponsor of the First Ever Cannabis HR Leadership Summit at MJBizCon 2024. FlowerHire organizes the Smoke and Magic networking event where Paragon participates alongside other cannabis industry leaders. Strategic partnership for HR community building and networking.
- Jerome Baker DesignsminorLive glass blowing entertainment partner for Paragon's Smoke and Magic activation at MJBizCon 2024, enhancing the cannabis industry networking experience.
- CannaCurious MagazineminorCo-host of CannaLadies Lounge at Smoke and Magic event during MJBizCon, supporting female talent in cannabis and diversity initiatives.
- iSolvedcoreiSolved HCM platform is the technology backbone for Paragon's payroll and HR services. In 2023, when a national company withdrew cannabis support, Paragon stepped in to help clients transition to iSolved within tight timeframes. The partnership provides integrated payroll, HR, time tracking, and compliance capabilities.
- Cannabis-Friendly Banks (Nationwide Network)coreParagon works with banks nationwide on behalf of cannabis clients to provide payroll services. These partnerships help overcome banking restrictions that prevent many financial institutions from serving cannabis businesses directly.
- Benefits Providers (Cannabis-Friendly)coreParagon has built a large network of partners offering cannabis-friendly employee benefits and qualified retirement plans since 2016, addressing the gap left by many major 401(k) providers that avoid the cannabis industry.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Paragon Payroll competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Vangst: Vangst is a cannabis-industry staffing and talent acquisition platform; while more staffing-focused, it shares Paragon's cannabis-only GTM and target customer (cultivators, dispensaries, MSOs).
- LeafLogix: LeafLogix provides cannabis ERP, payroll, and POS software to dispensaries and MSOs; it bundles payroll with retail/ERP functionality that overlaps with Paragon's HCM offering.
- Seed Talent: Seed Talent is a cannabis-focused recruiting and staffing firm; it is listed as a Paragon customer and operates in the same cannabis HR talent ecosystem.
- FlowerHire: FlowerHire is a cannabis talent and HR community partner of Paragon (co-sponsor of the Cannabis HR Leadership Summit), addressing the same cannabis HR buyer with overlapping content and events.
Broad incumbents
- Paychex: Paychex is a major generalist payroll and HCM provider; it has historically exited cannabis clients, creating Paragon's pickup opportunity, but could re-enter with vertical capabilities.
- ADP: ADP is the dominant SMB and enterprise payroll/HR incumbent; like Paychex it has retreated from cannabis, but possesses the scale to compete with Paragon if regulatory clarity emerges.
- Greenhouse Software: Greenhouse is a leading generalist applicant tracking system that cannabis operators sometimes use alongside Paragon; it overlaps with Paragon's Hiring & Applicant Tracking module.
Direct peers
- Cannahr: Cannahr provides cannabis-focused HR and payroll services to dispensaries and cultivators, competing head-to-head with Paragon for cannabis operator accounts in overlapping geographies.
- Wurk: Wurk is a cannabis-specific HR, payroll, and compliance platform serving dispensaries, cultivators, and MSOs with similar 280E and multi-state compliance focus, making it the closest direct competitor to Paragon.
Others
- iSolved: iSolved is the HCM platform Paragon resells and configures for cannabis operators; it is both a critical partner and a potential competitor if it builds direct cannabis vertical capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Paragon Payroll social profiles
Digital presenceParagon Payroll financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Paragon Payroll leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Paragon Payroll funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Paragon Payroll 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 Paragon Payroll
What does Paragon Payroll do?
Paragon Payroll provides subscription-based payroll processing, human resources management, and tax/regulatory compliance services tailored to the cannabis and hemp industries, delivered through the iSolved HCM platform. Offerings include wage calculation, direct deposit, payroll tax filings, multi-state compliance (including IRS 280E), benefits administration, time and scheduling, applicant tracking, performance and learning management (with the branded CannaU cannabis training platform), and Emergency Payroll Relief for cannabis operators dropped by other providers.
Is Paragon Payroll a public or private company?
Paragon Payroll is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Paragon Payroll founded?
Paragon Payroll was founded in 2016.
Where is Paragon Payroll based?
Paragon Payroll is headquartered in North Richland Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Paragon Payroll make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Payroll Services Subscription is the primary driver. The others are HR Solutions, workforce Management and talent Management.
Who are Paragon Payroll's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Vangst, LeafLogix, Seed Talent and FlowerHire. Broad incumbents are Paychex, ADP and Greenhouse Software. Direct peers are Cannahr and Wurk. iSolved is listed as an others.
Does Paragon Payroll have an API?
No public API is recorded for Paragon Payroll.
What industry is Paragon Payroll in?
Paragon Payroll's product category is Cannabis Payroll and HR Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAAHAA, Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing), with a secondary code of BPAAAHAB, Payroll Tax Filing, Compliance & Regulatory Reporting. Its NAICS code is 541214 and its SIC code is 8741.