Check
Embedded payroll API that lets software platforms add full-service payroll, tax filing included, in weeks.
Overview
Check is the leading US embedded payroll infrastructure provider, enabling B2B software platforms to add full-service payroll to their products through a single REST API. Rather than building payroll from scratch — which requires money transmitter licenses in all 50 states, integrations with thousands of tax jurisdictions, ACH orchestration, and ongoing compliance — platforms integrate Check's API and embeddable Components to launch a fully branded payroll product in weeks. Check handles the federal, state, and local tax filing, payment movement, employer KYC, and fraud/credit risk on behalf of partners. Check's product stack includes core payroll APIs, embeddable white-label UI Components (eliminating the need to build payroll-specific UI), and a managed Console for partner operations. Beyond standard W-2 payroll, Check supports 1099 contractor payments, non-profit and agricultural payroll, off-cycle and bonus runs, and multi-EIN structures. The platform processed $4.1B in payroll in 2024 and reports 99.999% uptime. It holds Money Transmitter Licenses in all 50 states + DC under Check Payments LLC (NMLS #2103307), so platform partners need no licenses of their own. Founded in 2019 in New York by Andrew Brown (CEO) and co-founders from Stripe. Backed by Stripe, Thrive Capital, Bedrock, and Index Ventures, with $119M total raised across Seed through Series C ($75M Series C in February 2022 led by Stripe at a reported $1.25B+ valuation). Notable platform customers include Homebase, Housecall Pro, Wave, 7shifts, and Warp — 65+ partners in total. Pricing is opaque and custom; the commercial model is revenue share with partners earning a portion of payroll fees plus platform fees.
Key features
- Full-service payroll API with tax filing
- Embeddable white-label UI Components
- Money transmitter licenses in all 50 states + DC
- W-2, 1099, and multi-EIN support
- Off-cycle, bonus, and prorated runs
- Non-profit and agricultural payroll support
Vertical focus
saas, b2b, field_services, restaurants, gig economy, agriculture, non_profit
Notable customers
Homebase, Housecall Pro, Wave, 7shifts, Warp
At a glance
| Category | payroll |
|---|---|
| Model | ["api","sdk","white_label","managed_service"] |
| Pricing | ["revenue_share","platform_fee","custom"] |
| Revenue share | Revenue share with platforms; specifics opaque |
| Best company size | ["startup","smb","mid_market","growth","enterprise"] |
| Time to launch | 3-6 months |
| Technical complexity | high |
| PCI scope | minimal |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Funding stage | series_c |
| Website | https://checkhq.com |
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