The history of e-PayDay and payroll software in Australia.

PayPacket payroll software by Logisoft Australia original software packaging.

Allan Reed began selling B&W Televisions in the late 1950s from a store called ANR Electrics, located in South Brisbane, 4101. ANR stood for Allan and Nancy Reed. ANR Computer Services was founded on April 22, 1986, by Allan and Brett Reed, a father-son duo. Initially, it operated as a family business focused on assembling and selling IBM clone computers to home users. The partnership also wholesaled computer peripherals and accessories, such as parallel printer cables and coloured 5 1/4" floppy disks, to computer resellers. First operated from a humble Unit (4) at 26 Lima Street, Auchenflower, QLD 4066. As the business grew quickly, it was moved to a Retail Shop at Sherwood House, 39 Sherwood Road and then to an Office in Benson House, Toowong 4066.

Allan quickly recognised a market need for a low-cost range of software. Some of his early products, which became very popular, included MS-DOS Tutorial™ and Your Personal Accounting Tutor!™ - both of which he designed and programmed. Another product distributed was TransView™, which enabled programs to run on a Hercules Graphics Card initially designed for EGA graphics. TransView was written in assembly language and marketed by ANR Computer Services.

ANR Computer Services began selling LOGI Computers, which were high-quality IBM Compatible computers designed and manufactured by Logicraft Products Manufacturing Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. It was decided to create a new identity to promote and sell Hardware and Software under one name. LOGISOFT Australia was registered as a Business in QLD on 14 October 1987, and the ANR Computer Services name ceased being used. LOGISOFT was derived from LOGIcal SOFTware.

Allan and Brett Reed are the founders of LOGISFT Australia and e-PayDay Pty Ltd.

There was a need in Australia for low-cost payroll software designed for small businesses.

In 1986, we identified a significant opportunity to develop a cost-effective payroll system specifically designed for Australian businesses. This initiative not only addressed a crucial need but also promised to empower employers across the country to manage their payroll more efficiently and affordably. At the time, there were a number of low-cost accounting programs available in the Australian market, but no payroll software. One of the most popular was DacEasy (eventually purchased by The Sage Group Plc), an American Accounting Program modified for Australia and imported and distributed by Ron Mellor of Mace-Software. It was decided that LOGISOFT Australia would develop and sell a payroll program for under $200, which was called PayPacket™. We were the first to introduce a tiered pricing system, enabling us to provide PayPacket™ priced according to employee limits, with the additional products being marketed as The Logisoft Payroll Series™.

One of those products, PayBook™, was distributed by Manaccom and sold by Harvey Norman in their retail outlets from 1996.

In the 1990s, we determined that businesses with five or fewer employees would have access to a free payroll program marketed as Freeware. This marked a groundbreaking moment, as it was the first time payroll software was offered in Australia in such an innovative way. We renamed this offering e-PayDay FREEPAY®, which was registered as a trademark in Australia on 5 August 2001.

e-PayDay continues to thrive as a family business.

Sharlyce, Brett's daughter, proudly carries forward the family legacy by thriving in her role as a Business Analyst. Her professional journey with e-PayDay began in 2009, when she started her career as a Payroll Software Support Team Member. There, she honed her skills and cultivated a deep understanding of payroll. With every step, she has shown her dedication to our passion for innovation, agility, and outstanding customer service. Brett's wife plays a pivotal role in the administration of e-PayDay, showcasing her unwavering dedication and profound commitment to its success. Her unwavering focus on providing memorable customer service not only drives the team forward but also sets a powerful example for others to follow.

Some of our previous major product releases and milestones.

1987

PayPacket™ for DOS was released in 1987 and developed using IBM BASICA (updated to Microsoft Basic and later to QuickBASIC).

1996

The Logisoft Payroll Series™ for Windows (16 bit) Version 1.00 was released on 13 May 1996 and developed using Visual Basic 3.

2001

The Logisoft Payroll Series™ products were renamed e-PayDay® starting from V6.00, released on 1 October 2001 and developed using Visual Basic 3.

2011

e-PayDay® Business Edition (32-bit) Version 1.00 was released on 1 March 2011 and was developed using Visual Basic 6.

2014

We moved to an Annual Subscription pricing model, providing Software Support and Upgrades for a fixed monthly fee.

2015 and 2016

In 2015, e-PayDay Pty Ltd was invited to participate in multiple Single Touch Payroll co-design and collaborative working groups. e-PayDay Pty Ltd became a member of the Single Touch Payroll Advisory Group (STAG) from its inception in June 2016.

2017

After extensive co-design and collaboration with the Australian Taxation Office, e-PayDay Pty Ltd was approved and lodged the first STP report processed by the ATO on 6 July 2017 using e-PayDay® Business Edition (32-bit) developed using Visual Basic 6 and .NET Core 1.0. The STP Payroll Event version used was PAYEVNT.0002.2017.

2018

e-PayDay® Business Edition (Single Touch Payroll) Version 17 was released on 26 June 2017 to meet the ATO Single Touch Payroll Phase 1 requirements. e-PayDay Pty Ltd was at the forefront of the STP journey when it lodged the first report to be received by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on 6 July 2017. We collaborated extensively with the ATO to achieve this goal on behalf of the Payroll Industry.

2023

e-PayDay Go® Version 1 was released on 17 October 2023 and was developed using ASP.NET Core and C#. e-PayDay Go® was our first native cloud-only product designed to meet the ATO Single Touch Payroll Phase 2 requirements.

2025

We released our first Single Touch Payroll Mobile app, ClockMeIn® Payrollee Self Service, on 28 April 2025.

The history of e-PayDay and payroll software in Australia.

Some of our previous major product releases and milestones.

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1987

Magazines (The Early Days)

In an era before the internet, this is how we promoted our payroll software. All the magazines are viewable and provide a fascinating historical insight into the Accounting and Payroll Software journey in Australia through the articles and advertisements.

Some of the many Magazine Awards we have won through the years.

e-PayDay Freepay 6.5

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e-PayDay

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Rating 8/10 Logisoft e-PayDay 9

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PC USER December 2004 (Page 107) Top 120 Products - Best Payroll Software e-PayDay 12

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Business and Company Name History

Office Location History

We moved several times through Auchenflower, Toowong, Sherwood, Margate, Brighton, Redcliffe, and North Lakes, all suburbs in Queensland, Australia.

e-PayDay Go® is establishing a new standard for the future of payroll software in Australia.

Rating 8/10
Logisoft e-PayDay 9

PC USER December 2004 (Page 107)
Top 120 Products - Best Payroll Software
e-PayDay 12