Pricing · 5 min read
How much does payroll outsourcing cost in India in 2026?
A breakdown of how payroll outsourcing is typically priced, what's usually included, and the extra costs worth asking about before you sign.
Payroll outsourcing pricing in India is usually quoted per employee, per month — but what's included behind that number varies a lot between providers. Here's what to compare, beyond the headline figure.
The most common pricing model
Most providers charge a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) fee, which typically drops as your headcount grows. Rates depend heavily on what's bundled in — a bare-bones "calculate and pay" service costs less than a service that also handles PF/ESI/PT/TDS filings, employee self-service, and query resolution.
What's usually included at a reasonable price point
- Monthly salary computation based on attendance and leave data
- Statutory deductions and employer contributions calculated correctly
- Payslip generation and distribution to employees
- Basic compliance filing (PF, ESI, PT, TDS)
Costs that sometimes get added later
- Setup or onboarding fees — ask upfront whether this is charged separately or included.
- Full & final settlement processing for exiting employees — sometimes billed as an extra event.
- Form 16 generation and tax declaration support at year-end.
- Multi-location or multi-entity processing — some providers charge more per location.
- Support response times — a lower price sometimes means a shared queue instead of a named point of contact.
Questions worth asking any provider
- Is your quoted price per employee inclusive of GST, or does GST apply on top?
- What happens to the price if my headcount drops mid-year?
- Who is liable if a filing is late because of a delay on your end?
- Can I see the platform employees will actually use for payslips and leave, not just the admin dashboard?
- Is there a minimum contract term, and what's the exit process if I want to leave?
Where Serinity fits
Our Outsourced Payroll plan is priced per employee per month, with statutory filings, payslips, and a dedicated payroll contact included — not billed as separate add-ons. See exact starting prices on our pricing page, or request a quote based on your actual headcount.
Pricing figures referenced in this article are illustrative starting points for comparison, not a quote. Request a quote for numbers specific to your company.