What Strongpay does

Strongpay is a US-based payroll services company founded in 1998 (originally as HowardSimon Payroll) and headquartered in Riverwoods, Illinois. The company operates a cloud-based payroll platform with integrated HR, time and attendance, retirement plan administration, benefits administration, employee onboarding, accrual tracking, labor law compliance, and learning management modules, serving small and mid-sized businesses across five primary verticals: municipalities and fire protection districts, medical practices, professional services, manufacturing businesses, and retail shops. The platform distinguishes itself through vertical-specific features including a proprietary Shift Differential Engine, badge and biometric clock options for manufacturing, custom calculation scripts for municipal/public safety pay codes, and multi-fund GL mapping for government payroll, with integrations to QuickBooks Online, Employee Navigator, KeldairHR, and major retirement recordkeepers (Fidelity, Empower, Nationwide, John Hancock, Voya, Ascensus, Transamerica, Alerus, American Funds).

The company operates as a brand within the Strongpoint Partners network of independent Third Party Administrators, which extends Strongpay's distribution across 42+ states and 10,000+ unique customers with 200,000+ plan participants. Business model is subscription-based, quote-priced (not publicly disclosed), and supports a concierge-level 1:1 service model with dedicated payroll professionals assigned to each account. Go-to-market combines direct sales (demo-led, with a 25-person customer success function based in Chicagoland), a channel partner program targeting CPA firms, insurance brokerages, and financial advisors, and content marketing focused on regulatory expertise (SECURE 2.0, OBBBA, state PFML). Disclosed operational scale includes 481,000+ W-2s filed, 26.5M+ payments issued, and $21.7B+ in funds dispersed, supported by SOC 2 Type II certification, 90%+ call answer rates, and 81% CSAT.

Strongpay is privately held with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing, has no parent company or subsidiaries, and is led by President Rob Ruff (tenure since 2006) with Mike Prigge as Director of Revenue Operations, Zach Wylie as Manager of Client Success, Nadya Taneva as Tax Compliance Manager, and Nicole Kushner as Manager of Onboarding. The company has pursued incremental product expansion through partnerships (Meridio health benefits, July 2025; KeldairHR ATS, June 2025) and a full UX/UI platform refresh completed in 2023.

Name

Strongpay

Legal name

Strongpoint Partners

Website

https://strongpay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Strongpay is a US-based payroll services provider serving small and mid-sized businesses in municipalities, manufacturing, medical, professional services, and retail. The company delivers integrated payroll, HR, and retirement administration via a cloud platform with concierge support and CPA partner referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Payroll Services

NAICS

Payroll Services (541214), 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

Full-Service Payroll Processing (BPACAIAA), Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ), Employer Payroll Processing (SMB & Enterprise) (FSAMAKAA)

Keywords

• Payroll processing services
• HR and benefits administration
• Retirement plan administration
• Time and attendance systems
• Payroll tax compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverwoods

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Payroll Processing Services: Subscription-based payroll processing with customized workflows, enterprise-level data validation, and integrated HR and retirement solutions. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to business size and complexity.
2. Time & Attendance System: Integrated workforce management with geofencing, mobile clocking, and schedule enforcement
3. Retirement Services: 401(k) plan administration and integration with recordkeepers for compliant retirement plan management
4. HR & Compliance Add-ons: Additional services including Mineral HR-OnDemand, benefits administration, labor law posters, accrual tracking, and learning management system

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Strongpay is a payroll services company providing customized, full-service payroll processing for small and mid-sized businesses, including automated tax calculations and filings, direct deposit, compliance coverage across all 50 states, and integrated HR, time and attendance, and retirement plan administration. The platform is delivered with a concierge-level 1:1 service model, vertical-specific customizations (e.g., municipalities, manufacturing, medical, professional services, retail), and deep integration with 401(k) recordkeepers through the Strongpoint Partners network.

Product overview

Strongpay is a payroll services company offering a unified platform built around its core Payroll product, supplemented by integrated HR and retirement modules. The portfolio includes the core Payroll engine with automated tax calculations and compliance features; Retirement Services for plan design and administration; Time System for workforce management; Mineral HR-OnDemand for on-demand HR expert access; Employee Onboarding for electronic new hire processing; Benefits Administration via Employee Navigator integration; General Ledgers for QuickBooks Online integration; Accrual Tracking for time-off management; Labor Law Posters for compliance; and a Learning Management System for training. The platform also integrates with third-party applicant tracking (KeldairHR), health benefits (Meridio), background screening (National Crime Search), and retirement plan recordkeepers (Nationwide, Empower, John Hancock, American Funds, Alerus, Transamerica, Fidelity, Voya, Ascensus).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Payroll Core payroll processing platform providing accurate and timely payroll with automated tax calculations, federal and state compliance, customizable reporting, employee self-service portal, and direct dial service. Designed for small and mid-sized businesses and integrated with HR and accounting systems.
• Retirement Services Personalized retirement plan design, consultation, and administration for 401(k) and related plans, backed by enterprise-level technology infrastructure that increases accuracy, maximizes compliance (including SECURE 2.0), and reduces tax burdens.
• Time System Integrated workforce management capturing precise time data from onsite, offsite, and mobile employees through various clocking methods, with geofencing, payroll integration, schedule enforcement, and streamlined time-off request process.
• Mineral HR-OnDemand On-demand HR expert access with certified HR professionals and a comprehensive HR compliance library, including smart employee handbook and job description builders, benefits document creator, and salary comparisons.
• Employee Onboarding Electronic new hire paperwork conversion allowing employees to complete documents through the Strongpay Portal, with faster new employee entry, onboarding status tracking, and customizable onboarding templates and steps.
• Benefits Administration Employee Navigator integration that synchronizes health benefit and payroll data, providing an all-in-one benefits solution with best-in-class carrier integrations and Single Sign On access for employees.
• General Ledgers Payroll-to-accounting integration eliminating manual GL entries by importing chart of accounts, building and reviewing the general ledger, offering unlimited mappings and class-based allocations for QuickBooks Online.
• Accrual Tracking Employee accrual balance tracking that eliminates spreadsheet tracking, allows employees to submit time-off requests, and provides detailed accrual-based reporting.
• Labor Law Posters Laminated and electronic labor law posters ensuring compliance with mandatory city, county, state, and federal posting requirements, including electronic poster delivery, annual updates, and poster replacements.
• Learning Management System State-specific harassment prevention training courses and full training content library covering workplace safety, cybersecurity, and soft skills, with automated tracking, reporting, and certification storage.
• Meridio Health Benefits Affordable health benefits managed service for small businesses, with transparent pricing starting at $180/month, no group minimums, nationwide availability, and dedicated support guiding clients through enrollment and ongoing administration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 481,000+ W-2s Filed annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HowardSimoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA large independent TPA headquartered in Chicago, IL with recordkeeping and advisory capabilities that offers integrated retirement, payroll, and HR solutions through a tech-enhanced service delivery model. Proudly a Strongpoint Partner since January 2022.
• KeldairHRcoreTechnology or IntegrationApplicant tracking system that streamlines recruiting and hiring, from job posting and candidate tracking to interview scheduling and onboarding. Direct integration with Strongpay payroll allows candidate data to flow without rekeying. Offers $0 setup with white glove onboarding and first 60 days free for Strongpay clients.
• MeridiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth benefits managed service partner providing small businesses with affordable health coverage, transparent pricing starting at $180/month, no group minimums, and nationwide availability. A dedicated team guides clients through enrollment and ongoing support.
• Jocelyn PensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting firm headquartered in Boulder, CO and San Rafael, CA providing professional advice and local support to create customized 401(k) plan solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. Proudly a Strongpoint Partner since September 2022.
• RSG WebcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPA headquartered in New Orleans, LA providing 401(k) plan administration and recordkeeping services to small/mid-sized businesses. Services 600+ 401(k), Profit Sharing, Cash Balance and Traditional DB plans. Proudly a Strongpoint Partner since December 2022.
• Retirement Planners (RPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPA headquartered in Falls Church, VA providing 401(k) plan administration and recordkeeping services to small/mid-sized businesses. Services 1,300+ 401(k), Profit Sharing, Cash Balance and Traditional DB plans. Proudly a Strongpoint Partner since March 2023.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Paychex: Leading U.S. payroll and HR solutions provider for SMBs, including industry-vertical offerings. Comparable to Strongpay on payroll core, benefits administration, and retirement services bundling.
• Gusto: Cloud-based payroll, HR, and benefits platform serving small and mid-sized U.S. businesses with a SaaS delivery model. Directly comparable to Strongpay's subscription-based payroll product and SMB/mid-market focus, though at much greater scale.
• SurePayroll: Paychex-owned online payroll service for small businesses, including industry-specific packages. Comparable to Strongpay on subscription payroll for niche SMB verticals.
• Paylocity: Cloud-based payroll and HCM software targeting mid-market employers with integrated HR, benefits, time, and talent modules. Directly comparable on SaaS payroll, HR integration, and vertical-customization strategy.
• OnPay: Cloud payroll, HR, and benefits service for small businesses with transparent subscription pricing. Comparable to Strongpay on SaaS payroll delivery and SMB focus.
• Heartland Payroll Solutions: U.S. payroll, HR, and payment processing provider focused on SMBs with concierge-style service. Comparable to Strongpay on full-service payroll delivery and SMB customer profile.
• Rippling: Unified workforce management platform combining payroll, HR, IT, and finance for SMB and mid-market. Comparable in product breadth and SaaS delivery, with stronger developer/API ecosystem than Strongpay.
• isolved: Cloud-based HCM platform with payroll, HR, benefits, and talent for SMB and mid-market employers. Comparable on integrated payroll + HR + benefits stack and vertical configuration.
• Justworks: PEO and payroll platform providing full-service payroll, benefits, and compliance for SMBs. Comparable on concierge-leaning service model and integrated HR + benefits bundling.

Broad incumbents

• ADP (Small Business / RUN Powered by ADP): Largest U.S. payroll services provider with broad portfolio across SMB, mid-market, and enterprise. Competes with Strongpay in payroll processing, tax filing, and HR add-ons, with far greater scale and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StrongpayPay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/strongpay

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Strongpay