Picking a payroll provider in Johannesburg is like picking a braai master for your Saturday, choose badly and everyone complains for weeks.You want someone who shows up on time, never burns the meat (or your payslips), and cleans up afterwards. Here’s how to spot the real deal in under two minutes.

5 Red flags your payroll provider is actually a headache in disguise

• They have no physical office you can walk into when SARS gets spicy.
• Support is “send an email and hope for a miracle.”
• They charge extra every time you breathe (or need industrial relations help).
• References? “Uh, we’ll get back to you…”
• Their idea of local knowledge is a call centre in another province.

If you’re curious about how payroll should actually work for small companies, this guide on payroll for small businesses in South Africa explains it clearly. Also, understanding affordable payroll options in South Africa can help you compare the real value.

The dream payroll provider checklist (tick all and you’ve won)

Must-Have	Cheap Apps	Big Impersonal Firms	Starniche (us)
Real Johannesburg office	No	Sometimes	Greenstone Hill
Same-day human on WhatsApp	No	Next week	Always
Fixes SARS letters for free	No	Extra fee	Included
Full industrial relations backup	No	Add-on	Standard
Makes you smile on month-end	Never	Rarely	Every time

If you’re updating systems, here are five signs it’s time to upgrade your payroll system:
5 signs its time to upgrade your payroll system

3 Dead-simple questions to ask any payroll service today

1. “Can I pop in for coffee at your Joburg office tomorrow?”
2. “If the CCMA phones me on Friday at 4pm, who answers?”
3. “Show me three Johannesburg owners I can call right now.”

If they hesitate on any one of these, run.

To understand the bigger picture, here’s a breakdown of how payroll outsourcing works in Johannesburg. Still curious what other Joburg owners say about us? You can read it here:
what is the best payroll service service in johannesburg

If you want to explore our wider expertise, check out:

• How employment equity compliance works
• The advantages of outsourcing payroll
• What a payroll management company can do for you
• Whether scoring high in interviews guarantees appointment
• What payroll compliance rules in South Africa look like
• A simple explainer on payroll made easy for small businesses in Johannesburg

Switching payroll providers sounds painful until you realise we do 99% of the work and you just sit back with a Castle Lite.

Ready for a payroll provider that actually feels like a teammate?

Our HR workshops fill up quickly, so secure your spot today! See you soon, your payroll is about to have the best month ever.

Head Office (Johannesburg)

04 Stone Close, Greenstone Hill, Lethabong
011 524 6857 (WhatsApp welcome)
info@starniche.com
www.starniche.com