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HR & PEOPLE

5 payroll mistakes that cost growing companies the most

From misclassified contractors to missed deadlines - the payroll errors we see most often, and how to avoid them.

Lena FischerHead of Content · Jun 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Avoid mistakes

Payroll that worked for 20 people often breaks at 200. These are the five mistakes we see most often as companies grow.

1. Treating contractors like employees

Misclassification can lead to back taxes and penalties. Review every contractor arrangement at least once a year.

2. Missing filing deadlines

Put every statutory deadline in one calendar, with reminders a week ahead.

3. Manual data entry

Every copy-and-paste is a chance for an error. Connect your HR and payroll data.

  • 4. Not reconciling every run
  • 5. Keeping knowledge in one person's head
Tags:PayrollComplianceGrowth

Written by Lena Fischer

Lena leads content at Infynex. She spent eight years in HR operations before writing about how teams can spend less time on admin.

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