Bookkeeping & Payroll

Payroll Essentials for Small Businesses

Curated byNdulamiso Mamburu LinkedIn

Works at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) · Pursuing Taxation degree · How we curate →

Provider

Alison

Format

100% Online

Level

Certificate

Duration

2-3 Hours

Course Overview

In South Africa, SARS actively audits employer payroll submissions. Getting the PAYE and UIF calculations wrong is not just an accounting error; it is a compliance risk. This course is one of the most immediately practical courses we list. After completing it, a business owner can run their own payroll confidently and accurately, which for many small SA businesses saves thousands of rands in outsourced payroll fees every month.

Learn how to accurately manage, process, and execute payroll functions for a small business setup.

Running payroll incorrectly is one of the most costly mistakes a small business owner can make. Late submissions to SARS, incorrect PAYE calculations, or underpaid UIF contributions can result in penalties, interest charges, and damaged relationships with employees. 'Payroll Essentials for Small Businesses' is a focused, practical course designed to give business owners and office administrators the knowledge to run payroll accurately from the start. The course covers the full payroll cycle: calculating gross remuneration, applying statutory deductions such as PAYE, UIF, and SDL, processing net pay, and submitting the required returns to SARS. You will learn how payroll integrates with your bookkeeping records and how to reconcile payroll journals against your bank statements at month end.

•Study Bookkeeping & Payroll at your own pace, anytime and anywhere.
•Earn a free certificate from Payroll Essentials for Small Businesses.
•Accessible on any device (desktop, tablet, or mobile).

Who Should Enrol?

Small business owners processing their own payroll, bookkeepers expanding into payroll functions, and office administrators in growing SMEs who have recently taken on payroll responsibilities.

English Language Requirements

A basic proficiency in reading and understanding English is recommended to fully benefit from the material.

Upon successful completion of this program, you will be able to:

✓Calculate gross-to-net pay for employees across different pay structures (hourly, salary, commission).
✓Apply current PAYE tax tables to determine the correct monthly withholding for each employee.
✓Calculate and process UIF and SDL contributions in line with South African statutory requirements.
✓Prepare and submit the EMP201 monthly employer return to SARS on time.
✓Reconcile payroll records against bank statements and general ledger entries accurately.

This course is the ideal starting point for small business owners, office managers, or bookkeepers who handle payroll as part of a broader role. It also provides a solid foundation for anyone pursuing a formal payroll administration qualification through the ICB or similar body.

Why We Recommend This Course

"In South Africa, SARS actively audits employer payroll submissions. Getting the PAYE and UIF calculations wrong is not just an accounting error; it is a compliance risk. This course is one of the most immediately practical courses we list. After completing it, a business owner can run their own payroll confidently and accurately, which for many small SA businesses saves thousands of rands in outsourced payroll fees every month."

Alison

Global Online Learning Platform

Alison is one of the world's largest free learning platforms, offering over 4,000 courses across Accounting and other disciplines to millions of learners in 195 countries. All Alison courses, including Payroll Essentials for Small Businesses, are completely free to study, with optional paid certificates available upon completion. Alison is certified by the CPD Standards Office (UK), meaning certificates earned are recognised by employers globally.