Software built by
small business owners
Patriot Software was founded because payroll and accounting software was too complicated and too expensive for the businesses that needed it most. We set out to fix that.
80,000+
Customers
$35B+
Payroll processed
2012
Founded
100%
USA-based support
Our story
Patriot Software was founded in 2012 by Mike Kappel, a serial entrepreneur who had run multiple small businesses and spent years wrestling with payroll and accounting software that was built for large enterprises — not the small business owner trying to do it all themselves.
Mike's vision was simple: build payroll and accounting software that any small business owner could use without an accounting degree, at a price that actually made sense. No bloat, no jargon, no surprise fees.
We started with payroll in 2014 and added accounting in 2018. Today, more than 80,000 American small businesses trust Patriot to pay their teams and manage their books. We've processed over $35 billion in payroll and we're just getting started.
We're headquartered in Canton, Ohio, and our entire team — including every support rep — is based in the United States. When you call us, you talk to a real person who knows the software and genuinely wants to help.
Company milestones
2012
Patriot Software founded in Canton, Ohio by Mike Kappel.
2014
Launched Basic Payroll, our first product, to help small businesses run payroll in minutes.
2016
Added Full Service Payroll — we now handle all federal and state tax filings for customers.
2018
Launched Patriot Accounting, bringing bookkeeping and invoicing under one login.
2020
Surpassed 50,000 customers and $10B in payroll processed.
2023
Reached 80,000+ customers and $35B+ in payroll processed. Won Capterra Best Value and Best Support.
What we believe
These values guide every product decision, every support interaction, and every hire we make.
Built for small business
We've always focused exclusively on small businesses. Every feature we build is designed for the owner who wears every hat.
Honest and transparent
No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no long-term contracts. We believe software pricing should be simple and fair.
Simple by design
Accounting and payroll don't have to be complicated. We work hard to make powerful features feel effortless.
USA-based support
Our entire support team is based in the United States. Real people, real answers — by phone, chat, or email.
Customer-first culture
We've won Capterra's Best Customer Support award because we genuinely care about helping our customers succeed.
Proudly American
Founded in the USA, built in the USA, supported in the USA. We're proud to serve American small businesses.
Meet the team
The people behind Patriot Software are passionate about helping small businesses succeed.
Mike Kappel
Founder & CEO
Mike founded Patriot Software after running his own small businesses and experiencing firsthand how painful payroll and accounting software could be. He set out to build something better.
Jennifer Walsh
Chief Technology Officer
Jennifer leads our engineering team with a focus on reliability, simplicity, and speed. She believes great software should get out of the way and let people run their businesses.
David Torres
Head of Customer Support
David built our USA-based support team from the ground up. His team has helped hundreds of thousands of customers and earned us multiple Capterra Best Support awards.
Awards & recognition
Recognized by independent reviewers for value, support, and ease of use.
Best Value
Capterra · 2026
Best Customer Support
Capterra · 2026
Best Ease of Use
Capterra · 2025
Top Rated
Software Advice · 2025
Press inquiries
Journalists and media professionals can reach our communications team for interviews, data requests, and press materials.
[email protected]Investor relations
For investor inquiries, financial information, and partnership opportunities, please reach out to our executive team directly.
[email protected]Join 80,000+ American small businesses
Try Patriot Payroll or Accounting free for 30 days. No credit card required.