There are very few payroll challenges that our ‘Queen of Payroll’ Natalie Standen hasn’t encountered. For many business owners, payroll can feel like it comes around faster every month, and it’s one of the most critical tasks to get right. With Natalie’s expert eye and years of experience, you can trust that your payroll is in safe hands.

In fact, a recent report found that (despite the best intentions), over 90% of companies make payroll errors each month, costing an average of £150,000 each year!

Not only is that a worryingly high figure because of the amount of wasted time in correcting mistakes, it also highlights how complex payroll has become. Whether it’s miscalculating pay, submitting the wrong figures to HMRC, or missing key deadlines, these errors go beyond admin headaches.

Mistakes don’t just cause admin stress; they can damage your reputation with staff, lead to fines, and distract you from what matters most – running your business.

In this blog post, we talk to Natalie Standen about the common payroll mistakes to avoid.

Payroll errors have more impact than you realise

Getting payroll right is about more than just ticking boxes; when it goes wrong, it can create a ripple effect throughout the business.

Staff can quickly become unhappy if they are underpaid or paid late. It’s more than an inconvenience; pay issues can significantly impact stress levels and overall well-being. After all, we’ve all got bills to pay.

While the occasional mistake might be overlooked, repeated errors will start to erode trust. If it becomes a pattern, your team may well vote with their feet and start looking for opportunities elsewhere.

Fixing payroll issues can be very time-consuming. Not only will you have to correct payments for your staff, but you’ll also have to handle HMRC queries. This can often lead to hours on hold while waiting for an advisor, alongside the risk of financial penalties for incorrect submissions.

Overall, payroll mistakes can drain time, energy and resources from your business, all of which can be avoided with the right systems and support in place.

The payroll headaches increase as your business grows

As your business grows, any payroll related issues and errors will multiply. What once took a few hours a month suddenly needs specialist input, regular checks and constant updates to stay compliant with ever-changing legislation.

We’ve seen this pattern in the businesses we work with. Take F&I Groundwork as an example. As they scaled from a small partnership to managing over 100 contractors so did the complexity of their payroll. We were able to work with them through their expansion keeping their payroll compliant, timely and within the needs of the business. This allowed their internal team to focus on their tasks at hand and payroll stress free.

When is the right time to outsource your payroll?

Most business owners we work with have put off changing how they manage their payroll as it seems like too much hassle. It’s easier to muddle through and do the best you can with the internal team, even though they may not have the time or skills needed on top of everything else they are already responsible for. In reality as the business grows, the demands of payroll often outgrow what the in house team can reasonably manage.

In our experience, most clients reach a tipping point and that’s when they come to us for support. This could be:

• When the team is spending too much time on payroll admin
• When they’ve had to resolve errors, late submissions, or employee complaints
• When the team is unsure about how to remain compliant and implement any legislative changes
• When you’re using software but still find the process confusing or unreliable

When our clients start to tell us these stories, we explain to them the benefits of outsourcing their payroll. It isn’t a quick fix, but a strategic shift that will give businesses better control, better systems and better support.

How can Coopers&Co help?

At Coopers&Co, we support a wide range of businesses with their payroll – some with large internal teams, some without. Every single one of them needs accuracy, clarity and peace of mind.

We help our clients in a number of valuable ways. By reducing the time and admin burden that payroll creates, we take a major headache off the plates of business owners and managers. We ensure that payroll is accurate, fully compliant with all submissions made on time, giving you peace of mind and more time to run your business.

Think of it as a magic wand to take all your payroll headaches away instantly and reliably!

Accurate, timely payroll improves employee engagement (nobody likes their pay to be late or wrong), and we always communicate with you about legislation changes and what they mean for your payroll.

Remember – happy employees make a happy business, and that’s just priceless.

We cover everything, using an integrated payroll system, managing pay slips, pension letters and HMRC notifications automatically, giving our clients confidence that nothing will be missed.

No more sweating over confusing spreadsheets – leave that to the professionals and focus on your business instead!

Meet Natalie Standen, the Queen of Payroll

Natalie Standen, Coopers&Co’s ‘Queen of Payroll’, ensures our clients’ payroll is processed accurately and on time. She manages hundreds of payrolls each month, covering pensions, holiday pay, maternity pay, and SSP.

For businesses affected by the National Insurance increase, Natalie provides tailored advice to help you stay compliant and reduce risk. With over 35 years of payroll experience across a wide variety of sectors, she’s your go-to contact for all payroll-related questions.

👉 Book a free 30-minute call with Natalie here.

If payroll has become a source of stress or a drain on resources, you’re not alone — and there’s no shame in asking for help. At Coopers&Co, we believe payroll should be straightforward, reliable, and run seamlessly in the background while you stay focused on building your business.

Not ready for a 1:1 yet? We’re still here to help.

Why working with Coopers&Co makes a difference

Whether you’re dealing with payroll, tax changes, or wider financial strategy, our expert team is here to support your business with advice tailored to your needs.

Next steps

Fill out our short enquiry form to request a callback from the relevant member of our team.

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