Lohn24

What Lohn24 does

Lohn24 (legal entity: LOHN24 Abrechnungsgesellschaft mbH) is a privately held German payroll outsourcing company headquartered in Berlin, operating continuously since 1991. The company delivers external payroll and salary processing as a fixed-price service at €13.00 per employee per month for standard payroll and €18.00 per employee per month for construction-industry (Baulohn) payroll, with all filings, notifications, social security submissions, and authority communications bundled into the recurring fee. Lohn24 serves over 3,100 client companies processing payroll for more than 35,000 employees, with primary customers being small and mid-sized German businesses (Mittelstand), supplemented by tax advisory firms (Steuerkanzleien) that use the service as a white-label or backend processor.

The technical platform centers on the proprietary PMC (Payroll Management Center) cloud portal — an encrypted, role-based data exchange layer with two-factor authentication, electronic personnel files, and an employee-facing app. All infrastructure is hosted on dedicated servers operated by Hetzner Online GmbH in German data centers under DSGVO-compliant data processing agreements. DATEV-format output is a native integration, enabling seamless handover of booking records and payroll journals to client tax advisors. The product portfolio spans core payroll processing plus add-on modules for audit support (Prüfungsbegleitung), full data migration (Lohnabrechnung-Outsourcing), and payroll cost optimization (Lohnkostenoptimierung). A suite of 15+ free online calculators (minimum wage, mini-job, maternity protection, garnishment, severance, child support, and others) functions as a content/SEO-driven top-of-funnel acquisition channel.

The go-to-market is sales-led with strong content-marketing underpinnings: customers enter via an online form, receive an individualized offer within 24 hours, and complete onboarding in 2–4 weeks. Distribution combines direct inside-sales outreach with a dedicated Steuerkanzleien partnership channel offering referral, white-label, and hybrid cooperation models. The company is independently owned with two managing directors (Christoph Ludwigs and Kevin Hellwig), reports 11–50 employees, has no disclosed external funding, and operates exclusively in the German market.

Name

Lohn24

Legal name

LOHN24 Abrechnungsgesellschaft mbH

Website

https://www.lohn24.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lohn24 is a Berlin-based German payroll outsourcing company, founded in 1991, that delivers fixed-price monthly payroll processing (€13–€18 per employee) for over 3,100 SMB clients and tax advisory firms (Steuerkanzleien) via its proprietary PMC cloud portal, with full DSGVO-compliant German server hosting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payroll Outsourcing Services

NAICS

Payroll Services (541214), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (54121)

SIC

Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Miscellaneous Business Services (7380)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB)

Keywords

• Payroll outsourcing services
• Wage and salary processing
• Payroll accounting services
• Social security filings
• Tax compliance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Payroll Processing - Standard: Monthly recurring revenue model based on the number of payroll runs per employee. Standard rate is €13.00 per employee per month. Revenue is subscription-based and predictable, scaling with the customer's headcount. Includes all standard payroll processing, DEÜV notifications, tax filings, and social security contributions.
2. Payroll Processing - Construction Industry (Baulohn): Higher rate of €18.00 per employee per month for construction industry clients due to additional complexity (SOKA-BAU, winter pay, travel allowances, and other construction-specific requirements).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LOHN24 is a German payroll outsourcing service provider that takes over the complete monthly wage and salary accounting for businesses, including tax filings (Lohnsteueranmeldungen), ELStAM and DEÜV social security notifications, health insurance contribution notices, AAG reimbursement applications, and DATEV-format booking records for the client's tax advisor. Service is delivered through a proprietary encrypted cloud portal (PMC) at a fixed unit price per employee per month, with all services and notifications bundled at no additional cost.

Product overview

LOHN24 is a payroll outsourcing company offering a unified service portfolio anchored by its core Lohn- & Gehaltsabrechnung (payroll processing) product, supplemented by three add-on modules (Prüfungsbegleitung, Lohnabrechnung-Outsourcing, Lohnkostenoptimierung) and a digital platform (Payroll Management Center / PMC). The company also provides 15 free online calculators covering topics from minimum wage to child support, positioned as decision-making tools that attract potential customers while serving the broader market. All payroll services are delivered at a fixed price (from €13.00/employee/month; €18.00 for construction payroll) with data hosted exclusively on German servers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PMC (Payroll Management Center): The digital payroll management portal used by clients to submit payroll data and access payslips and reports.

Products and services

• Lohn- & Gehaltsabrechnung Monthly payroll processing for German businesses including wage tax registrations (Lohnsteueranmeldungen), ELStAM notifications, DEÜV social security submissions (An-/Ab-/Jahresmeldungen), health insurance contribution notices, and AAG reimbursement applications — delivered digitally and legally compliant on schedule at a fixed unit price per employee per month.
• Prüfungsbegleitung Audit support during Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) and Finanzamt (tax authority) inspections, including direct communication with auditors on the client's behalf and provision of required documentation.
• Lohnabrechnung-Outsourcing Complete transfer of a client's or third-party master data including employee records and ongoing migration and onboarding, enabling seamless mid-year transitions without any lost payroll run.
• Lohnkostenoptimierung Identification of cost savings through net-pay optimization and exploitation of statutory subsidies and benefits to deliver sustainable reduction in gross payroll costs.
• PMC (Payroll Management Center) Encrypted cloud-based portal for secure master-data transmission and document retrieval, with employee app, electronic personnel files, two-factor authentication, and role-based access controls for companies, tax advisors, and employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• €48,980 annual savings compared to inhouse solution for 20 employees (€3,120/year service vs €52,100/year inhouse)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hetzner Online GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationLOHN24 uses Hetzner Online GmbH for dedicated server hosting of its IT infrastructure. All servers are located in German data centers within Gunzenhausen, Germany. Data carriers are fully encrypted. An AVV (Auftragsverarbeitungsvertrag) contract per Art. 28 DSGVO is in place. This is a core infrastructure partnership for DSGVO compliance and data security.
• DATEVcoreTechnology or IntegrationDATEV compatibility is a core feature of the service. All booking records (Buchungsbelege) and payroll journals are delivered in DATEV-compatible format, enabling seamless integration with tax advisors' accounting systems. This integration is critical for the tax advisory partnership channel.
• Tax Advisory Firms (Steuerkanzleien)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTax advisors partner with LOHN24 to retain payroll mandates without operational burden. LOHN24 operates as a white-label/background partner, with DATEV-compatible output flowing back to the firm. Multiple cooperation models are offered including direct referral, background cooperation, and hybrid approaches for specialized mandates. This channel is specifically marketed on the Steuerkanzleien service pages.
• 0xda7a consulting GmbHminorOthersProvides Data Protection Officer (Datenschutzbeauftragter) services for LOHN24. Contact: [email protected]. This is a compliance support partnership rather than a core business partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Datev eG: Germany's dominant tax-advisor cooperative providing payroll software and processing services to Steuerkanzleien and their SMB clients. LOHN24 explicitly interoperates with DATEV while competing for the same SMB payroll mandate, making it the closest direct peer.
• Haufe Group (Lexware): Haufe-Lexware serves German SMBs with payroll and HR software (Lexware lohn+gehalt) plus adjacent content and compliance services. It is the leading German on-prem/SMB payroll software provider and overlaps LOHN24's SMB target segment.
• Personio: VC-backed German HR and payroll SaaS platform targeting SMBs and mid-market, with payroll processing built into its core product. It is a direct competitor for the same Mittelstand customers LOHN24 serves, differentiating through modern cloud UX vs. LOHN24's managed-service model.
• HRworks: German cloud HR and payroll SaaS provider focused on SMBs and mid-market. It targets the same Mittelstand segment as LOHN24 and serves as a modern SaaS alternative to LOHN24's managed-service approach.
• Kenjo: European HR and people-management SaaS for SMBs with payroll integrations across Germany. It is an emerging SaaS player targeting LOHN24's SMB customer base with a self-service, modern interface.

Broad incumbents

• SD Worx: Large European payroll and HR outsourcing provider active in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and other markets. It competes with LOHN24 on German payroll services and offers multi-country capabilities that LOHN24 lacks.
• Sage: Global accounting, payroll, and HR software provider with Sage HR/Payroll offerings for SMBs across Europe including Germany. It is a broader incumbent but overlaps with LOHN24 on SMB payroll processing and software.
• ADP: Global payroll and HCM leader with German operations (ADP Employer Services / ADP Streamline). It is a large incumbent serving enterprise and mid-market payroll needs in Germany, providing a reference scale benchmark and competitive threat to LOHN24.
• Workday: Global HCM and payroll platform increasingly serving European mid-market and enterprise. While its pricing and scale skew larger than LOHN24, it represents the SaaS/incumbent threat at the upper end of LOHN24's mid-market target.
• BambooHR: Leading SMB HR and payroll software platform with growing European presence. It is a broader incumbent in SMB HR/payroll and competes indirectly for the same Mittelstand and small-business segment LOHN24 serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lohn24-de-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Lohn24