Paylocity Holding Corp
For the period ended Jun 30, 2026. Filed Aug 5, 2026.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2026 · Filed Aug 5, 2026
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-K
Period ended 2025-06-30; filed 2025-08-06.
0001591698-25-000087
Item 1A. Risk FactorsCurrent report: 10-K
Period ended 2026-06-30; filed 2026-08-05.
0001591698-26-000069
Item 1A. Risk FactorsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 132 previous paragraphs and 131 current paragraphs.
115 unchanged; 15 reworded; 0 added; 0 removed; 2 previous and 1 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Reworded paragraphs (15)
Previous wording
The market for our solutions is characterized by rapid technological advancements, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning, changes in client requirements, frequent new product introductions and enhancements and changing industry standards. The life cycles of our products are difficult to estimate. Rapid technological changes and the introduction of new products and enhancements by new or existing competitors, or development of entirely new technologies to replace existing offerings could limit the demand for our existing or future solutions and undermine our current market position. New technologies that involve AI or machine learning or that are created using AI or machine learning may emerge that are able to deliver solutions at lower prices, more efficiently or more conveniently than our solutions, which could adversely impact our ability to compete. Additionally, if new technologies used in our products fail to operate as expected, our business may be negatively impacted. For example, the non-deterministic nature of generative AI outputs may compromise the reliability of our products which may lead to customer dissatisfaction and damage to our reputation.
Current wording
The market for our solutions is characterized by rapid technological advancements, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning, changes in client requirements, frequent new product introductions and enhancements and changing industry standards. The life cycles of our products are difficult to estimate. Rapid technological changes and the introduction of new products and enhancements by new or existing competitors, or development of entirely new technologies to replace existing offerings could limit the demand for our existing or future solutions and undermine our current market position. New technologies that involve AI or machine learning or that are created using AI or machine learning may emerge that are able to deliver solutions at lower prices, more efficiently or more conveniently than our solutions, which could adversely impact our ability to compete. Additionally, if new technologies used in our products fail to operate as expected, or if products utilizing generative AI are trained on inaccurate, biased or misleading data or generate unreliable outputs, the reliability, transparency, or accuracy of our products could be impacted, which may result in customer dissatisfaction, reputational harm or litigation.
Previous wording
In addition, our ability to deliver our cloud-based modules depends on the development and maintenance of Internet infrastructure by third parties. This includes maintenance of a reliable network backbone with the necessary speed, data capacity, bandwidth capacity, and security. We may experience future interruptions and delays in services and availability from time to time. Any interruption may affect the availability, accuracy, or timeliness in our services and could damage our reputation, cause our clients to terminate their use of our software, require us to indemnify our clients against certain losses due to our own errors and prevent us from gaining additional business from current or future clients.
Current wording
In addition, our ability to deliver our cloud-based modules depends on the development and maintenance of Internet infrastructure by third parties. This includes maintenance of a reliable network backbone with the necessary speed, data capacity, bandwidth capacity, and security. We may experience future interruptions and delays in services and availability from time to time. Any interruption may affect the availability, accuracy, or timeliness in our services and could damage our reputation, cause our clients to terminate their use of our software, require us to indemnify our clients against certain losses due to our own errors and prevent us from gaining additional business from current or future clients. In the event of a catastrophic event with respect to one or more of our systems, we may experience an extended period of system unavailability, which could negatively impact our relationship with clients.
Previous wording
We typically pay client employees and may pay taxing authorities amounts due for a payroll period before a client’s electronic funds transfers are finally settled to our account. If client payments are rejected by banking institutions or otherwise fail to clear into our accounts, we may require additional sources of short-term liquidity and our operating results could be adversely affected.
Current wording
We typically pay client employees, taxing authorities and vendors before a client’s electronic funds transfers are finally settled to our account. If client payments are rejected by banking institutions or otherwise fail to clear into our accounts, we may require additional sources of short-term liquidity and our operating results could be adversely affected.
Previous wording
Our payroll processing business involves the movement of significant funds from the account of a client to its employees and relevant taxing authorities. Though we debit a client’s account prior to any disbursement on its behalf, due to Automated Clearing House, or ACH, banking regulations, funds previously credited could be reversed under certain circumstances and timeframes after our payment of amounts due to employees and taxing and other regulatory authorities. There is therefore a risk that the client’s funds will be insufficient to cover the amounts we have already paid on its behalf. While such shortage and accompanying financial exposure has only occurred in very limited instances in the past, should clients default on their payment obligations in the future, we might be required to advance funds to cover such obligations. Depending on the magnitude of such an event, we may be required to seek additional sources of short-term liquidity, which may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all, and our operating results and our liquidity could be adversely affected and our banking relationships could be harmed.
Current wording
Our payroll processing and spend management businesses involve the movement of significant funds from client accounts to its employees, relevant taxing authorities and vendors. Although we debit a client’s account prior to any disbursement on its behalf, due to Automated Clearing House, or ACH, banking regulations, funds previously credited could be reversed under certain circumstances and timeframes after our payment of amounts are due. There is therefore a risk that the client’s funds will be insufficient to cover the amounts we have already paid on its behalf. While such shortage and accompanying financial exposure has only occurred in very limited instances in the past, should clients default on their payment obligations in the future, we might be required to advance funds to cover such obligations. Depending on the magnitude of such an event, we may be required to seek additional sources of short-term liquidity, which may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all, and our operating results and our liquidity could be adversely affected and our banking relationships could be harmed.
Previous wording
In addition, we utilize certain third-party software in some of our products. Although we believe that there are alternatives for the functionality provided by the third-party software, any significant interruption in the availability of such third-party software, or defects and errors in the third-party software, could have an adverse impact on our business unless and until we can replace the functionality provided by these products at a similar cost.
Current wording
In addition, we utilize certain third-party software in some of our products. Although we believe there are alternatives for the functionality provided by such software, any significant interruption in its availability, defects or errors in the software, or risks arising from the third party's use of AI technologies, including but not limited to inaccurate, biased, misleading, or unreliable outputs, could adversely affect our products and business unless and until we can replace the functionality provided by such software at a similar cost.
Previous wording
Our success is dependent, in part, upon protecting our proprietary technology. Our proprietary technologies are not covered by any patent or patent application. Instead, we rely on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade secret laws, and contractual restrictions to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our products and services. However, the steps we take to protect our intellectual property may be inadequate. We will not be able to protect our intellectual property if we are unable to enforce our rights or if we do not detect unauthorized use of our intellectual property. Despite our precautions, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy our products and use information that we regard as proprietary to create products and services that compete with ours. Some license provisions protecting against unauthorized use, copying, transfer and disclosure of our products may be unenforceable under the laws of certain jurisdictions and foreign countries.
Current wording
Our success is dependent, in part, upon protecting our proprietary technology. Our proprietary technologies are not covered by any patent or patent application. Instead, we rely on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade secret laws, and contractual restrictions to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our products and services. However, the steps we take to protect our intellectual property may be inadequate. We will not be able to protect our intellectual property if we are unable to enforce our rights or if we fail to detect unauthorized use or disclosure of our intellectual property or confidential proprietary information, including through the use of AI tools. Despite our precautions, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy our products and use information that we regard as proprietary to create products and services that compete with ours. Some license provisions protecting against unauthorized use, copying, transfer and disclosure of our products may be unenforceable under the laws of certain jurisdictions and foreign countries.
Previous wording
Our intellectual property could be wrongfully acquired as a result of a cyberattack or other wrongful conduct by employees or third parties. In order to protect our intellectual property rights, we may be required to spend significant resources, including cybersecurity resources, to monitor and protect these rights. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to protect our trade secrets. Litigation brought to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights could be costly, time consuming, and distracting to management and could result in the impairment or loss of portions of our intellectual property. Furthermore, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims, and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property rights. Our inability to protect our proprietary technology against unauthorized copying or use, as well as any costly litigation or diversion of our management’s attention and resources, could delay further sales or the implementation of our solutions, impair the functionality of our solutions, delay introductions of new solutions, result in our substituting inferior or more costly technologies into our solutions, or damage our reputation. In addition, we may be required to license additional technology from third parties to develop and market new solutions, and we cannot assure you that we could license that technology on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Although we do not expect that our inability to license this technology in the future would have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results, our inability to license this technology could adversely affect our ability to compete.
Current wording
Our intellectual property could be wrongfully acquired as a result of a cyberattack, other wrongful conduct by employees or third parties or as a result of increased use of AI tools by us or our vendors. In order to protect our intellectual property rights, we may be required to spend significant resources, including cybersecurity resources, to monitor and protect these rights. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to protect our trade secrets. Litigation brought to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights could be costly, time-consuming, and distracting to management and could result in the impairment or loss of portions of our intellectual property. Furthermore, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims, and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property rights. Our inability to protect our proprietary technology against unauthorized copying or use, as well as any costly litigation or diversion of our management’s attention and resources, could delay further sales or the implementation of our solutions, impair the functionality of our solutions, delay introductions of new solutions, result in our substituting inferior or more costly technologies into our solutions, or damage our reputation. In addition, we may be required to license additional technology from third parties to develop and market new solutions, and we cannot assure you that we could license that technology on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Although we do not expect that our inability to license this technology in the future would have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results, our inability to license this technology could adversely affect our ability to compete.
Previous wording
There is considerable patent and other intellectual property development activity in our industry. Our success depends, in part, upon our not infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others. Our competitors, as well as a number of other entities and individuals, may own or claim to own intellectual property relating to our industry. From time to time, third parties may claim that we are infringing upon their intellectual property rights, and we may be found to be infringing upon such rights. However, we may be unaware of the intellectual property rights that others may claim cover some or all of our technology or services. Any claims or litigation could cause us to incur significant expenses and, if successfully asserted against us, could require that we pay substantial damages or ongoing royalty payments, prevent us from offering our services, or require that we comply with other unfavorable terms. In connection with any such claim or litigation, we may also be obligated to indemnify our clients or business partners or pay substantial settlement costs, including royalty payments, and to obtain licenses, modify applications, or refund fees, which could be costly. Even if we were to prevail in such a dispute, any litigation regarding our intellectual property could be costly and time-consuming and divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations.
Current wording
There is considerable patent and other intellectual property development activity in our industry. Our success depends, in part, upon our not infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others. Our competitors, as well as a number of other entities and individuals, may own or claim to own intellectual property relating to our industry. From time to time, third parties may claim that we are infringing upon their intellectual property rights, and we may be found to be infringing upon such rights. However, we may be unaware of the intellectual property rights that others may claim cover some or all of our technology or services, particularly as we expand our use of AI which is subject to uncertainty regarding intellectual property ownership and license rights of AI algorithms and content generated by AI. Any claims or litigation could cause us to incur significant expenses and, if successfully asserted against us, could require that we pay substantial damages or ongoing royalty payments, prevent us from offering our services, or require that we comply with other unfavorable terms. In connection with any such claim or litigation, we may also be obligated to indemnify our clients or business partners or pay substantial settlement costs, including royalty payments, and to obtain licenses, modify applications, or refund fees, which could be costly. Even if we were to prevail in such a dispute, any litigation regarding our intellectual property could be costly and time-consuming and divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations.
Previous wording
The terms of many open source licenses to which we are subject have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts. Accordingly, there is a risk that those licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to commercialize our solutions. In that event, we could be required to re-develop our products or solutions, to discontinue sales of our products or solutions, or to release our proprietary software code under the terms of an open source license, any of which could harm our business. Further, given the nature of open source software, it may be more likely that third parties might assert copyright and other intellectual property infringement claims against us based on our use of these open source software programs.
Current wording
The terms of many open source licenses to which we are subject have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts. Accordingly, there is a risk that those licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to commercialize our solutions. In that event, we could be required to re-develop our products or solutions, to discontinue sales of our products or solutions, or to release our proprietary software code under the terms of an open source license, any of which could harm our business. Similarly, open source AI models may be trained on data of unknown or uncertain sources, which could include copyrighted or otherwise proprietary, confidential or private information. Further, given the nature of open source software, it may be more likely that third parties might assert copyright and other intellectual property infringement claims against us based on our use of these open source software programs.
Previous wording
Our products and services may become subject to increasing and/or changing regulatory requirements, including changes in tax, benefits, wage and hour, employment, intellectual property, privacy laws and other international and domestic laws, and as these requirements proliferate, we may be required to change or adapt our products and services to comply. Changing regulatory requirements might reduce or eliminate the need for some of our products and services, block us from developing new products and services or have an adverse effect on the functionality and acceptance of our solution. This might in turn impose additional costs upon us to comply, modify or further develop our products and services. It might also make introduction of new products and services more costly or more time-consuming than we currently anticipate or prevent introduction of such new products and services. For example, the adoption of new money transmitter or money services business statutes in jurisdictions or changes in regulators’ interpretation of existing state and federal money transmitter or money services business statutes or regulations, could subject us to registration or licensing or limit business activities until we are appropriately licensed. These occurrences could also impact how we conduct some aspects of our business or invest client funds, which could adversely impact interest income from investing client funds. Should any state or federal regulators determine that we have operated as an unlicensed money services business or money transmitter, we could be subject to civil and criminal fines, penalties, costs, legal fees, reputational damage or other negative consequences. Any of these regulatory implementations or changes could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Current wording
Our products and services may become subject to increasing and evolving regulatory requirements, including changes in tax, benefits, wage and hour, employment, intellectual property, artificial intelligence, data privacy and other domestic and international laws and regulations, and, as these requirements proliferate, we may be required to modify or adapt our products and services to comply. Changing regulatory requirements could reduce or eliminate the need for some of our products and services, delay or prevent the development or introduction of new products and services or adversely affect the functionality, marketability or acceptance of our solution. This might in turn impose additional costs upon us to comply, modify or further develop our products and services. It might also make introduction of new products and services more costly or more time-consuming than we currently anticipate or prevent introduction of such new products and services. For example, the adoption of new money transmitter or money services business statutes in jurisdictions or changes in regulators’ interpretation of existing state and federal money transmitter or money services business statutes or regulations, could subject us to registration or licensing or limit business activities until we are appropriately licensed. These occurrences could also impact how we conduct some aspects of our business or invest client funds, which could adversely impact interest income from investing client funds. Should any state or federal regulators determine that we have operated as an unlicensed money services business or money transmitter, we could be subject to civil and criminal fines, penalties, costs, legal fees, reputational damage or other negative consequences. Any of these regulatory implementations or changes could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Previous wording
Some of our products incorporate new technologies such as AI and machine learning. The ability to provide products powered by new and evolving technologies must be approached in a principled manner to navigate the complexities associated with the current or future regulatory requirements as well as social and ethical considerations. Additionally, failure by others in our industry, or actions taken by our clients, employees, or other end users (including misuse of these technologies) could negatively affect the adoption of our solutions and restrict our ability to continue to leverage novel technologies in innovative ways and subject us to reputational harm, regulatory action, or legal liability, which may harm our financial condition and operating results.
Current wording
Some of our products incorporate new technologies such as AI and machine learning. The development, deployment, and use of these technologies are subject to evolving legal, regulatory, and industry standards, including requirements and expectations relating to privacy, intellectual property, employment, civil rights, transparency, explainability, and the prevention of bias or discriminatory outcomes. Additionally, failures or misuse of these technologies by others in our industry, or by our clients, employees, vendors or other end users could negatively affect market acceptance of our solutions, increase regulatory scrutiny and restrict our ability to develop or deploy these technologies and subject us to reputational harm, regulatory action, or legal liability, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
Previous wording
States, the European Union and other jurisdictions have enacted or proposed legislation that imposes or would impose restrictions on the development of generative AI and machine learning. Any actual or alleged noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations, or failure to meet client expectations with respect to the use of AI and machine learning, could result in negative publicity or harm to our reputation and subject us to investigations, claims or other remedies, and expose us to significant fines, penalties and other damages.
Current wording
As we continue to pursue such new technologies, our failure to adequately address legal risks relating to the use of AI and machine learning in our applications could result in litigation regarding, among other things, intellectual property, privacy, employment, civil rights and other claims that could result in liability. The use of AI and machine learning may also result in new or increased governmental or regulatory scrutiny as regulatory and legislative authorities in the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions have enacted or proposed legislation that imposes or would impose restrictions on the development of generative AI and machine learning. Any actual or alleged noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations, or failure to meet client expectations with respect to the use of AI and machine learning, could result in negative publicity or harm to our reputation and subject us to investigations, claims or other remedies, and expose us to significant fines, penalties and other damages.
Previous wording
Among the most comprehensive data privacy laws that apply to various aspects of our business are HIPAA (which applies to our benefit administration solution, BeneFLEX, and our self-insured group health plan), the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), and U.S. state privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). Other countries and U.S. states are increasingly adopting similarly comprehensive laws that impose new data privacy and protection requirements and restrictions on covered organizations. Importantly, these laws can impose significant penalties and fines for non-compliance, such as a fine of up to 4% of an organization’s worldwide revenue for the preceding year under the GDPR.
Current wording
General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), and an expanding network of U.S. state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), as amended. Other countries and U.S. states have adopted, and continue to adopt, similarly comprehensive laws that impose new, and in some cases, overlapping or inconsistent data privacy and protection requirements and restrictions on covered organizations. Importantly, these laws can impose significant penalties and fines for non-compliance, such as a fine of up to 4% of an organization’s worldwide revenue for the preceding year under the GDPR.
Previous wording
In May 2024, we announced that our board of directors approved a share repurchase program, authorizing the purchase of up to $500 million of our issued and outstanding common stock. In August 2025, we announced that our board of directors approved an additional $500 million to the share repurchase program. The authorization does not obligate us to repurchase any specific dollar amount or number of shares, there is no expiration date for the authorization, and the repurchase program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and for any reason. Any future announcement of a termination or suspension of the program, or our decision not to utilize the full authorized repurchase amount under the program, may reduce investor confidence and/or result in a decrease in the market price of our shares.
Current wording
In May 2024, we announced that our board of directors approved a share repurchase program, authorizing the purchase of up to $500 million of our issued and outstanding common stock. In July 2025 and April 2026, our board of directors approved $500 million and $1 billion increases, respectively, to the share repurchase program. The authorization does not obligate us to repurchase any specific dollar amount or number of shares, there is no expiration date for the authorization, and the repurchase program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and for any reason. Any future announcement of a termination or suspension of the program, or our decision not to utilize the full authorized repurchase amount under the program, may reduce investor confidence and/or result in a decrease in the market price of our shares.
Previous wording
Our business depends on the overall demand for our software solutions, and on the economic health of our current and prospective clients. As a result, we and our clients are subject to risks arising from adverse changes in economic and market conditions such as lower employment levels, increasing interest rates, inflation, tariffs, changes in trade policies, volatility in capital markets, and instability of the banking environment, among other factors. During an economic slowdown or downturn, clients may reduce their number of employees and delay or reduce their spending on payroll and other HCM solutions or renegotiate their contracts with us. This could result in reductions in our revenues and sales of our products, longer sales cycles, increased price competition and clients’ purchasing fewer solutions than they have in the past. Any of these events would likely harm our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows from operations.
Current wording
Our business depends on the overall demand for our software solutions, and on the economic health of our current and prospective clients. As a result, we and our clients are subject to risks arising from adverse changes in economic and market conditions such as lower employment levels, increasing interest rates, inflation, tariffs, changes in trade policies, volatility in capital markets, and instability of the banking environment, among other factors. During an economic slowdown or downturn, clients may reduce their number of employees and delay or reduce their spending on HCM, finance and IT solutions or renegotiate their contracts with us. This could result in reductions in our revenues and sales of our products, longer sales cycles, increased price competition and clients’ purchasing fewer solutions than they have in the past. Any of these events would likely harm our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows from operations.
Rearranged current paragraphs (1)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
Among the most comprehensive data privacy laws that apply to various aspects of our business are HIPAA (which applies to our benefit administration solution, BeneFLEX, and our self-insured group health plan), the European Union’s
Rearranged previous paragraphs (2)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
In the event of a catastrophic event with respect to one or more of our systems, we may experience an extended period of system unavailability, which could negatively impact our relationship with clients.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
As we continue to pursue such new technologies, our failure to adequately address legal risks relating to the use of AI and machine learning in our applications could result in litigation regarding, among other things, intellectual property, privacy, employment, civil rights and other claims that could result in liability. The use of AI and machine learning may also result in new or increased governmental or regulatory scrutiny as regulatory and legislative authorities in the United