For employers · Contractor payrolling
Contractor payrolling, done properly.
Found a contractor yourself? Engage them through Three. We take on the employment, payroll and compliance risk, and look after your contractor exactly as we look after the people we place. They join our specialist contractor network with our whole team behind them. No restraints, and no two-speed service.
Why payroll through Three
The control of choosing your own contractor, without the risk, admin or patchy experience that usually comes with it.
De-risk
The risk sits with us
The contractor is engaged and paid by Three, so employment, payroll, tax and super obligations are ours to manage, not yours.
Compliance
Fully compliant, every pay run
Income tax withheld and reported to the ATO automatically, super paid on payday at the full 12%, and workers compensation for every contractor.
Pay
Paid weekly, paid right
Paid every Thursday through a simple online timesheet portal, backed by a 100% payroll accuracy record and zero late payments to date.
Benefits
Perks of a permanent role
Discounts across 500+ Australian brands, car leasing, extra super contributions with no admin fees, and free confidential counselling.
Experience
Smooth on and smooth off
Fast, organised onboarding, regular check-ins, extension conversations started early, and a clean offboarding when the work is done.
Value
Value for money
A competitive margin agreed up front, for a level of care most agencies keep for their full-fee placements.
More than payroll
Part of our specialist network
Your contractor joins Three's specialist network of technology contractors, with the support of our whole team throughout their engagement. That's something a dedicated payroll provider can't offer.
Flexibility
No restraints
We don't place any restraints on the contractors we payroll for you. If you later want to offer them a permanent role or engage them directly, you're free to.
No two-speed service
Payrolled contractors are often an afterthought. Not with us.
When the margin is slim, many agencies give payrolled contractors less attention and less care. We made a different choice.
Everyone who works under the Three banner gets the same experience, whether we found them or you did. They're treated and supported like our own employees, from their first day to their last. No exceptions.
Look after people properly, and the relationship outlasts any single placement.
How it works
Five steps, with one point of contact throughout.
- 01
Tell us about your contractor
Send us their details, the role, rate, start date and expected duration. We'll confirm the margin and paperwork up front.
- 02
We onboard them
Contract, compliance checks, payroll, super and benefits set-up, all handled by us so they can start on time.
- 03
Weekly timesheets
Your contractor submits their timesheet online and your approver signs it off in a click. We pay every Thursday, with super paid the same day.
- 04
Ongoing care
Our Contractor Care Manager checks in regularly, and we start extension conversations six weeks before the end date.
- 05
Clean offboarding
Final pay, entitlements and year-end reporting to the ATO handled properly, so the engagement ends as well as it started.
What your contractor gets
The same package as every Three contractor. Happy contractors do better work and are more likely to stay to the end of the engagement.
Every contractor has a dedicated contractor care contact, Bek Williamson, from day one.
- Weekly payPaid every Thursday through the Astute online timesheet portal, with a 100% payroll accuracy record.
- Payday SuperSuper paid to their fund on the same day as their wages, at the full statutory 12%. Extra contributions at no extra admin cost.
- Benefits platformFlareHR discounts across 500+ Australian brands, plus new or transferred car leases.
- Wellbeing supportFree, confidential counselling through our Employee Assistance Program, and workers compensation from day one.
- Referral rewardsA thank-you reward for every contractor they refer whom we successfully place.
Payrolling questions
Can't see your question? Ask us directly →
What is contractor payrolling?
You choose the contractor and agree the role and rate. Three engages and pays them, and handles their tax, superannuation, workers compensation, compliance and day-to-day care for the length of the engagement.
Can you payroll a contractor we found ourselves?
Yes. That's exactly what the service is for. You may have found someone through your own network, rehired a past contractor or been referred someone. Engage them through Three and we take care of the rest.
Who employs the contractor?
The contractor is engaged and paid by Three, so the employment, payroll and compliance obligations sit with us rather than your business. You direct the work and approve their timesheets.
How are tax and super handled?
We withhold income tax and report it to the ATO through every pay run. We pay super at the full statutory 12% straight to the contractor's fund on the same day as their wages, using Payday Super.
How is this different from using a payroll provider?
A payroll provider processes pay. With Three, your contractor also joins our specialist network of technology contractors and has the support of our whole team throughout their engagement, from onboarding and check-ins to extensions and offboarding.
Are there any restraints on the contractor?
No. There are no restraints on contractors we payroll for you. If you later want to offer them a permanent role or engage them directly, you're free to.
Is workers compensation included?
Yes. Workers compensation cover is provided for every contractor we engage, from day one.
What happens when the contract ends?
We start extension conversations six weeks before the end date and aim to have the outcome confirmed four weeks out. If the engagement is ending, we manage the offboarding: final pay, entitlements and a clean handover.
Have a contractor ready to go?
Talk to us about payrollingNeed us to find the contractor too? Brief us on a role →
Three Recruitment is a licensed labour hire provider. Queensland Labour Hire Licence LHL-08506-R1J8X · Victorian Labour Hire Licence VICLHL10268.