How The Olive Branch cuts payroll costs by £1,000 a year with Employment Hero’s Free Payroll Software

Nestled in a Georgian market town, The Olive Branch has been a staple of good food and community since 2017. With a team of over 14 staff and a business that flexes with seasonal demand, owner Jordan Jones needed a better way to manage payroll. One that offered more flexibility and less manual effort, all for a cheaper cost.

After discovering Employment Hero’s Free Payroll Software, Jordan made the switch and hasn’t looked back. With streamlined pay runs, automated submissions and an intuitive employee app, payroll is now smooth and fast. Plus, it’s cost-free.

The challenge

Costs that crept up 

Jordan’s old payroll setup worked just fine, but with a bustling hospitality business and a team that shifts between 10–18 people, he wanted flexibility, control and zero stress. On top of that, rising National Insurance Costs (NICs) and other SME costs meant Jordan had been looking for ways to review his payroll processes and make the most of his budget.

Key challenges included:

• Limited visibility into the payroll process.
• Fluctuating headcount requiring more adaptable tools.
• A desire to run payroll on his own time, without delays.
• Rising business costs and the need to consider budgets.

“I wanted a system where I could take full control. Something flexible enough to suit how I want to run payroll. Employment Hero’s Free Payroll software was just that. And because costs have gone up tenfold in every single element of the business, it became even more appealing.”

The solution

Spotted… whilst scrolling

It was a Facebook advertisement that first piqued Jordan’s interest in Employment Hero’s Free Payroll. Since he was already on the lookout for a new payroll software, he decided to give it a go and upon signing up, quickly discovered that it offered more than expected. Better yet, the platform quickly became a part of his regular rhythm.

“Employment Hero just kind of popped up… but it was very fortuitous for me that your ad came up at the time it did. I looked into it and it just worked.”

A straightforward setup for beginners

The setup was swift, with clear prompts and error-flagging that helped avoid mistakes. Even with no prior payroll experience, Jordan was able to input his team’s data, check for any issues and feel confident the results were accurate.

“I ran my first payroll alongside the old system just to check, and the numbers matched exactly. That gave me confidence. Now I do it all by myself and it’s genuinely stress-free.”

Painless payruns month after month

Once up and running, Jordan’s pay runs became a simple process: enter hours, verify holidays and click ‘submit.’ Payslips are delivered automatically via the mobile app or email and even the employees love the improved experience.

“Our employees used to have to download their payslips from a secure server, which could be laborious, but now they just open the app. It even counts down to payday, which they love.”

Better yet, the system works behind the scenes to sync with HMRC, verify tax codes, check NI numbers and handle pension contributions.

“You just input the staff details and the system takes care of the rest. It even checks the pension links are working before you hit submit. As a business owner, that’s so reassuring.”

The impact

Big wins for a small business

Running a small business isn’t easy. Rising NICs, increased costs and everything else that comes with managing a fast-paced team can quickly eat into budgets. For Jordan and The Olive Branch, Employment Hero Free Payroll delivered time, visibility and peace of mind, all while keeping costs down.

• £1,000 saved annually by switching to Free Payroll. Money that can now go back into the business and into employees’ pockets.
• Faster turnaround times and flexible pay runs that work around the business’s schedule.
• Automated RTI submissions and pension syncing for complete compliance confidence. 
• Built-in error checking, even for first-time users. 
• Instant payslip delivery via the app, with countdown to payday. 
• Onboarding and setup support that made switching seamless.

“I’d absolutely recommend it, especially for startups or anyone running payroll for the first time. It does more than I thought it would. I’ll admit that I was hesitant at first, but it has exceeded my expectations.”

Ditch the fees, not the features with Employment Hero’s Free Payroll software

Employment Hero’s Free Payroll Software is a powerful, no-cost solution designed to help UK small businesses manage payroll with confidence and ease. HMRC-recognised, the platform automates pay runs, generates BACS files, submits RTI, manages pensions via PensionSync and provides employee self-service through the EH Work app—all at zero cost. With built-in compliance checks, automated payslips and insightful reporting tools, businesses can streamline their payroll processes while remaining accurate and up to date. It’s the perfect starting point for SMEs looking to simplify payroll without compromising on functionality