Run payroll for your first one or two staff

Help me set up payroll for my first staff.

Staff: [how many, hours, pay rate]
How often I'll pay: [weekly or monthly]
Registered as an employer with HMRC yet: [yes or no]
How I'll pay wages: [bank transfer]
Accountant or bookkeeper: [yes or no]

First ask me up to 4 short questions. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A set-up checklist in order, each step with the GOV.UK page: registering as an employer, PAYE Online, choosing software, workplace pension duties.
2. A monthly (or weekly) payroll routine, step by step, in plain words.
3. What to check on every payslip.
4. What HMRC's free Basic PAYE Tools does and its limits, from the GOV.UK page.
5. When it's worth paying a bookkeeper or payroll service instead.

Not tax advice. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts or figures. UK English.

For GOV.UK pages on registering as an employer and running payroll, use web search and name the page you used. If it doesn't search on its own, open View all tools and choose Search.

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