Payrollin'

WRKdefined Podcast Network

The nationals are coming for your clients. Consolidation is crushing margins. And if you're not keeping up with the latest in the payroll and HR industry, you're going to get left behind. Welcome to Payrollin'. The no-BS podcast for independent payroll bureau owners and leaders who are done getting squeezed by ADP, Paychex, and the private equity machines swallowing up the industry. Hosted by Matt Vaadi, founder of guHRoo (a PEO) and Outsourced Scale (offshore staffing for payroll providers), this show delivers the strategies you need to survive — and thrive — while the middle collapses around you. Every week, you'll get: → Industry intel on the billion-dollar deals reshaping payroll  → Proven tactics to scale past the 7-figure barrier  → Real talk on margins, pricing, and profitability  → Strategies to compete without killing your bottom line  → Guests who've sold, scaled, or disrupted the status quo Whether you're fighting margin compression, exploring industry partnerships, or figuring out how to scale without sacrificing service, this podcast cuts through the corporate speak and gives you actionable pathways forward. Because if you're not specializing in a niche or adding serious value beyond commoditized payroll, you're racing to the bottom. Subscribe to Payrollin' and join 1,000+ payroll industry professionals who get the Wednesday newsletter breaking down what's happening in the industry — and what it means for your business.

  1. 5d ago

    AI Bots Made Simple: How to Automate Real Work

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/ What happens when AI stops being a chatbot and starts doing actual work? In this episode of Payroll Growth Show’, Matt Vaadi breaks down the AI bot system he’s using to handle roughly 20 hours of work each week. He walks through how he went from simple AI skills to a connected system of bots that can research prospects, manage sales pipeline updates, coordinate other bots, and route support tickets. You’ll see four different levels of AI automation, including: • How to build a simple AI skill around a repeatable task • Why orchestration matters when you have multiple AI bots • How AI can work across email, calendars, browsers, CRM systems, and transcripts • How an AI “Chief of Staff” can oversee other bots • How AI can determine when a task needs human review • How sensitive support tickets can automatically be routed to a person • How to build toward an AI workforce instead of simply adding more AI tools The goal isn't to replace every human task with AI. It's to identify the work that can be handled automatically, build the right safeguards, and give your team back time. If you're in payroll, HR, accounting, or another service business looking for practical ways to use AI automation, this episode is a good place to start. Subscribe to Payrollin’ for more conversations about payroll, HR, technology, sales, and building better businesses. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 AI is already handling 20+ hours of work 00:40 What actually makes something an AI bot? 01:12 The 4 levels of AI automation 01:31 Claude Skills: The smallest working unit 02:02 AI-powered client and prospect research 03:27 What is AI orchestration? 04:12 How bots decide what needs to happen next 05:08 Why businesses really need more time 06:20 Grokbot: Memory, identity and browser control 06:40 Using AI as an executive assistant 07:14 AI managing the sales pipeline 07:54 Building an AI Chief of Staff 08:21 Using AI for technical work and dashboards 08:52 Building AI automation with Make.com 09:19 How AI routes support tickets 09:28 When AI sends work to a human 09:37 What AI can handle automatically 09:47 Security, protocols and human oversight 10:04 Where to start with AI bots Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE: 💼Three Keys to Expand Your Payroll Business. Learn the top tactics to scale and grow your payroll company https://youtu.be/6aW8RmVj8OE 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation information How can AI bots save businesses time? How do you build an AI bot? How do AI bots work? What is an AI bot? What is AI orchestration? How can AI automate business processes? How can payroll companies use AI? How can payroll companies automate repetitive tasks? How can AI help payroll companies? How can AI help HR companies? How can AI automate sales tasks? How can AI update a CRM automatically?

  2. Sep 17

    The Simple Guide to Choosing a CRM in 2026

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/ Choosing the right CRM can make your sales process easier to manage, automate, and scale. Choosing the wrong one can cost you months of time, money, and frustration. In this episode of the Payroll Growth Show, Matt Vaadi breaks down how he would choose a CRM from scratch after managing more than $50 million in closed deals, hundreds of millions in pipeline, and working across 10+ CRM platforms. Matt walks through what actually matters when comparing CRMs, including: • Why your sales process should come before your software • How to choose a CRM your team will actually use • The integrations and automations worth looking for • Why more features don’t always mean a better CRM • How to avoid overbuying for where you think your company will be • The hidden costs of switching CRM platforms • What Matt would put on his CRM scorecard today Whether you’re choosing your first CRM, replacing an existing platform, or building a more scalable sales process for your payroll, PEO, HR, or accounting business, this episode gives you a practical framework for making the decision. Subscribe to the Payroll Growth Show for more conversations about sales, marketing, operations, and growth in the payroll and HR industry. ⏰ *TIMESTAMPS:* 00:00 — Why most CRM decisions go wrong 0:54 — Start with your sales process, not the software 1:39 — Ease of use decides whether your team actually uses it 3:21 — What should run itself: automation in a payroll CRM 5:46 — Why native Gmail/Outlook integration matters more than you think 7:03 — The overbuying mistake: when "enterprise" is the wrong call 8:01 — The real cost of switching CRMs (a time and money lesson) 9:17 — The 5-point scorecard for picking the right CRM Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:📘’Ping-Pong is not a Strategy’ - Matt Vaadi’s bestselling book gives insight on creating an awesome culture. https://a.co/d/aCYbX2U 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services*- New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation information How do I choose the right CRM? What should I look for in a CRM? What CRM features actually matter? What is the best CRM for a small sales team? How do I choose my first CRM? When should a business start using a CRM? How should a CRM fit your sales process? What CRM integrations are important? How much CRM automation do you need?

  3. Sep 2

    How to Start an ASO (Payroll Bureau Guide)

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/ Your payroll clients keep asking for HR support. But when does adding an ASO become a smart growth move instead of an expensive distraction? In this episode of the Payroll Growth Show, Matt Vaadi shares lessons from 12 years of building and evolving an ASO. He explains why 250 payroll clients may be the ideal starting point, how a 10% to 20% attachment rate changes the math, and why smaller ASO accounts can consume more resources than expected. You’ll learn: How to know when your payroll company is ready for an ASO The technology and people required to support it What your ASO should include and where to draw the line Why scope creep can quickly drain your team How to structure ASO pricing and monthly minimums Why Matt increased his minimum from $500 to $1,000 The risks of offering recruiting and benefits administration Why HR services work better when connected to payroll How a 60-question HR audit improves client onboarding If you’re considering adding HR services, expanding beyond payroll, or building a more scalable ASO model, this episode will help you understand what to put in place before you launch. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The Payroll Sales Habit I Finally Broke 01:13 Why Selling Season Starts Now 02:04 Don't Sell Everything to Everyone 02:50 The "Big Domino" That Closes More Deals 05:10 Stop Fighting ADP on Their Terms 05:50 The ELF Framework Explained 07:43 Why We Ignore Most Prospects 07:46 How We Narrow 50,000 Contacts to 400 09:00 My Favorite Low-Pressure Sales Call 10:40 Warm Prospects Before You Pitch 11:45 August Is When January Deals Are Won12:23 Engineer Your Selling Season 12:48 Final Thoughts Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE: 📘’Ping-Pong is not a Strategy’ - Matt Vaadi’s bestselling book gives insight on creating an awesome culture. https://a.co/d/aCYbX2U 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services- New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation information When should a payroll company add HR services? How many payroll clients do you need before starting an ASO? How should payroll companies price ASO services? What services should an ASO include? What is the difference between an ASO and a PEO? Can you offer outsourced HR without payroll? How do you prevent scope creep in an ASO? Should an ASO offer benefits administration? What technology does an AS

  4. Aug 5

    I've Sold Payroll for 20 Years. Here's What I'd Change.

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/ If you're still selling payroll the same way you did years ago, this episode might completely change your approach. After nearly 20 years of leading with the highest-priced solution and working backward, Matt challenges one of his longest-held sales habits and explains why the better strategy isn't starting high or low. It's about changing the game entirely. In this episode, you'll learn: Why selling season starts in August, not January The biggest mistake payroll and PEO sales teams make How to stop competing on features and price Why narrowing 50,000 prospects to just 400 can produce better results The 7-touch rule that helps buyers make a decision The ELF Framework for choosing your ideal clients Why profiling calls outperform traditional cold calls How to prepare your sales pipeline before the January buying season Whether you're in payroll, PEO, HR, HCM, ASO, or B2B sales, these practical strategies will help you build a more focused pipeline, create better conversations, and win more business during the selling season. ⏰ *TIMESTAMPS:* 00:00 The Payroll Sales Habit I Finally Broke 01:13 Why Selling Season Starts Now 02:04 Don't Sell Everything to Everyone 02:50 The "Big Domino" That Closes More Deals 05:10 Stop Fighting ADP on Their Terms 05:50 The ELF Framework Explained 07:43 Why We Ignore Most Prospects 07:46 How We Narrow 50,000 Contacts to 400 09:00 My Favorite Low-Pressure Sales Call 10:40 Warm Prospects Before You Pitch 11:45 August Is When January Deals Are Won 12:23 Engineer Your Selling Season 12:48 Final Thoughts Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:💡Take your payroll company to the next level. Get expert strategies for rapid growth! https://go.guhroo.co/payroll-company-growth 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation information #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner When does the payroll selling season start? How do payroll companies get clients? How do you sell HR services? How do you get payroll clients? How do you prospect for payroll? How do you build a payroll sales pipeline? How do you sell payroll without competing on price? Should you lead with payroll or PEO? How do you prepare for January payroll sales? How do you find payroll prospects? What is a profiling call? How do you qualify payroll prospects? How do you niche your payroll business?

  5. Jul 29

    Cold Email? Start With This Simple Setup

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/ If you're sending cold emails from your CRM, you may be hurting your deliverability before anyone even reads your message. In this episode of The Payroll Growth Show, Matt Vaadi sits down with Chris Clark, Director of Outreach at Underdog Digital, to break down what actually works for cold email in 2026. They cover the infrastructure behind sending thousands of emails safely, why Gmail and Yahoo's spam updates changed everything, and the simple framework that's generating real conversations, not just more sends. In this episode: • Why HubSpot, Zoho, and CRMs aren't built for cold email • The safest way to send 7,000+ cold emails per month • Why you should only send 20–30 emails per inbox daily • How to protect your primary domain reputation • The cold email infrastructure that costs around $50/month • Why a 1–2% response rate is actually a win• The ideal cold email length and sequence• How to build better prospect lists and validate emails• The biggest mistakes businesses make with cold outreach Whether you're in payroll, HR, PEO, accounting, or B2B sales, this episode offers practical advice you can implement immediately to improve your outreach and book more conversations.. ⏰ *TIMESTAMPS:* 00:00 Intro 00:31 Meet Chris Clark (Underdog Digital) 01:08 CRM vs. Cold Email Infrastructure 03:01 How to Scale Cold Email Safely 04:10 Gmail Sending Limits Explained 05:23 Protecting Your Domain Reputation 06:57 Cold Email Copy That Converts07:51 Why 30–75 Words Works Best 08:41 Outsourced Scale 09:50 The Cold Email Framework 10:49 Why Copy Isn't the First Priority 11:30 Scaling Outreach Without Burning Time 12:34 Why Cold Email Still Works 13:52 Building High-Quality Lead Lists 15:01 Defining Your ICP15:28 Email Verification Best Practices 16:28 Don't Fill Your CRM With Cold Leads 17:01 Watch the Live Payroll Growth Show Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:💼Three Keys to Expand Your Payroll Business. Learn the top tactics to scale and grow your payroll company https://youtu.be/6aW8RmVj8OE 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation information 👉 TODAY'S GUEST: Chris Clark, Director of Outreach at Underdog Digital Chris Runs cold outreach infrastructure and campaigns for Underdog Digital and its clients, from domain setup to list building and copy. Find Chris on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bychrisclark/ #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner   How do you scale cold email? How many cold emails should I send per day? What is a good cold email response rate? Why are my cold emails going to spam? How do I improve email deliverability? How many inboxes do I need for cold email? How do I protect my email domain? Best cold email strategy 2026 Cold email best practices mail deliverability tips Sales outreach strategies

    Cold Email? Start With This Simple Setup
  6. Jul 15

    Stop Posting Daily on LinkedIn. Here's Why.

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: ⁠https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/⁠ LinkedIn has changed dramatically in 2026, and many of the strategies that worked just a year ago are no longer effective. In this episode of Payrollin', Matt Vaadi breaks down the biggest LinkedIn algorithm updates and shares a simple 30-minute daily system that can help payroll, HR, PEO, CPA, and B2B service professionals increase their visibility and generate more meaningful engagement. You'll learn: • Why only 1.6% of your followers may be seeing your posts • How LinkedIn's new AI-powered algorithm decides who sees your content• Why saves and shares matter more than likes • The types of AI-generated content LinkedIn is now penalizing • The best posting frequency and times based on the latest research • A simple Engage → Connect → Post framework you can implement in 30 minutes a day • Why LinkedIn newsletters are becoming one of the platform's biggest growth opportunities• Common mistakes that are quietly hurting your reach Whether you own a payroll company, PEO, HR consulting firm, accounting practice, or any B2B service business, these practical strategies will help you stay ahead as LinkedIn continues to evolve. ⏰ *TIMESTAMPS:* 00:00 Only 1.6% See Your Posts01:03 LinkedIn's New AI Algorithm02:13 00:00 Only 1.6% See Your Posts 01:03 LinkedIn's New AI Algorithm 02:13 Forget Likes. Chase This Instead. 02:50 LinkedIn Is Penalizing These Posts 04:29 The 30-Minute Growth System 04:47 Engage First 06:27 Connect Smarter 07:31 Write Better Posts 08:42 Sponsor: Outsource Scale 09:52 The Content Pillar Strategy 10:28 Best Days and Times to Post 11:30 The 30% Reach Trick 12:49 Stop Using Hashtags? 14:35 The Newsletter Hack 15:36 Fix Your Profile 16:15 Final Advice Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 *THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:* 💼Three Keys to Expand Your Payroll Business. Learn the top tactics to scale and grow your payroll company https://youtu.be/6aW8RmVj8OE 💡 *SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP:* 1️⃣ *Add PEO Services* - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ *Hire Virtual Assistants* - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ *Marketing That Works* - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 *SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies:* → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 *CONNECT WITH MATT:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner How does the LinkedIn algorithm work in 2026? What changed in the LinkedIn algorithm? Why is my LinkedIn reach so low? Why are my LinkedIn posts getting fewer views? How do I get more views on LinkedIn? How do I increase LinkedIn engagement? How do I grow on LinkedIn in 2026? How often should I post on LinkedIn? What time should I post on LinkedIn? How to use LinkedIn for B2B sales

  7. Jun 30

    How to Build the Referral Relationships That Actually Send You Deals

    Most payroll reps are chasing the wrong CPA partners. Here's the framework that fixes it. In this episode, Matt Vaadi breaks down the 10V4 program — the exact partner strategy his team uses to generate 40 referral opportunities per rep from CPA channels alone. It starts with one simple reframe: stop hunting for the one big honey hole and start building 10 solid relationships with a system behind them. In this episode, Matt covers: → The 10V4 framework and why it replaced everything else → How to lead with value before you ever make an ask → The lunch-and-learn menu strategy that cracks open entire CPA firms → How to out-relationship ADP without their budget or their CPA-centric reps → The specific referral ask that most payroll reps completely botch → Why 6-8 touches is the real number before a CPA will ever send you business Whether you're building your first CPA partner list or trying to systematize an existing one, this episode gives you the full playbook. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 -- The 10V4 framework that changed everything 01:19 -- Why chasing the big CPA firm is the wrong move 02:10 -- How to compete against ADP without their budget 03:04 -- Leading with value: the lunch-and-learn menu strategy 05:20 -- Building rapport and going wide inside the firm 06:57 -- Outsourced Scale ad 08:33 -- How to make the ask (and why vague asks kill referrals) 10:02 -- How to systematize your 10 CPA partner relationships 📧 GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE: 💼 Scale Your Operations with a Virtual Assistant Hire an AI-trained EA for your payroll or HR firm at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn:   / mattvaadi   Facebook Group:   / payrollinnovation   How do payroll bureaus get referrals from CPA firms? How to build a CPA partner strategy for payroll sales How to get CPA accountants to refer payroll clients How to compete with ADP as a small payroll bureau What is the 10V4 sales framework? How many CPA partners do I need to hit my sales quota? How do independent payroll companies build referral pipelines? How to stay top of mind with CPA referral partners How to ask for referrals from accountants How to grow a payroll business through partner channels

    How to Build the Referral Relationships That Actually Send You Deals

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The nationals are coming for your clients. Consolidation is crushing margins. And if you're not keeping up with the latest in the payroll and HR industry, you're going to get left behind. Welcome to Payrollin'. The no-BS podcast for independent payroll bureau owners and leaders who are done getting squeezed by ADP, Paychex, and the private equity machines swallowing up the industry. Hosted by Matt Vaadi, founder of guHRoo (a PEO) and Outsourced Scale (offshore staffing for payroll providers), this show delivers the strategies you need to survive — and thrive — while the middle collapses around you. Every week, you'll get: → Industry intel on the billion-dollar deals reshaping payroll  → Proven tactics to scale past the 7-figure barrier  → Real talk on margins, pricing, and profitability  → Strategies to compete without killing your bottom line  → Guests who've sold, scaled, or disrupted the status quo Whether you're fighting margin compression, exploring industry partnerships, or figuring out how to scale without sacrificing service, this podcast cuts through the corporate speak and gives you actionable pathways forward. Because if you're not specializing in a niche or adding serious value beyond commoditized payroll, you're racing to the bottom. Subscribe to Payrollin' and join 1,000+ payroll industry professionals who get the Wednesday newsletter breaking down what's happening in the industry — and what it means for your business.

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