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DISINCLINED to climb the corporate ladder after graduation, four university friends decided to pursue their own business instead.
Tanda, which stands for Time and Attendance, was conceived in 2012 when they were unable to find a suitable product to monitor employees while working at the student guild.
Josh Cameron, Alex Ghiculescu, Tasmin Trezise and Jake Phillpot (pictured left to right) developed a digital solution that automates the payroll process, from timesheets and rostering to calculating pay rates.
The time clock captures data and creates accurate timesheets, while automatically calculating the relevant industry award and manage staff costs.
Not only does it reduce the time it takes to complete the repetitive process, it also lowers the risk for human error.
This year has marked impressive growth for the partners, including moving into their first office, taking on employees and snaring key contracts.
Trezise says their respective studies in finance, accounting, law and IT form the basis of payroll and gave them the confidence to launch Tanda.
"Because we're young, we don't have as much to lose and we don't have the responsibilities of life," Trezise says.
"As daunting as it is when you finish university and have a predetermined path that you're meant to follow, for someone who is a seasoned professional in their career it's much harder to test yourself and open yourself up to risk.
"But it's the same as starting any business, be it a caf or a manufacturing plant."
Tanda cemented its position in the market after securing contracts with 15 Pizza Capers stores, Tristar Medical Group, a few Telstra retail outlets and a franchised Red Rooster.
About 6000 employees clock in and out using Tanda now, up from 1000 in early 2013.
To sustain the growth, Trezise says the company utilises a partner program with accountants and bookkeepers, as well as word-of-mouth promotion.
"Businesses are happy to refer it if they've seen what it can do," he says.
"Employees of that business also go out to other businesses and tell them about Tanda which can automate the process for you.
"All these crazy businesses are coming on board and we help automate their backend processes so they can focus on what makes their business great.
"As hard as it sounds, we're trying to make timesheets sexy and payroll fun."
The success hasn't gone unnoticed, with Tanda taking home top honours at the qutbluebox Innovation Challenge in October.
The first prize pool of $60,000 will help take the business global, with New Zealand and the United Kingdom set in their sights.
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