What your small business needs is a software that will enable you to keep track of your money, and ensure that everything is running smoothly. While searching for these programs, you may find that one solution stands out from the rest. The program is called Gusto, and it is quickly becoming the preferred payroll program for small business.
Here are a couple of software that have the potential to meet your needs.
Monday.com – All in one HR Software
Monday.com is an open platform that makes it easier for HR managers to build custom solutions for their team’s needs.
You can track the recruitment process of candidates and onboard new employees with pre-made templates. Besides, you can integrate Monday.com with Gmail and 40+ tools to manage all your workflows seamlessly.
In terms of features, this HR management software meets all the necessary ones, including:
- Onboarding
- 360-degree feedback
- Performance, Benefits, Time off, Compensation, Payroll, and Recruitment management
- Self-service portal
- Applicant tracking
Monday.com Capterra Rating: 4.6 (2246)
Paychex is the best payroll company for growth
4.0
- Starting at $39.00/mo. + $5.00/payee/mo.
Automatic payroll tax administration (additional fee may apply)
Workers compensation and health insurance add-ons (additional fee applies)
Direct deposit, check, and debit card payment options
Data as of 11/5/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Does your business need thorough HR assistance without full-on HR outsourcing? Paychex Flex combines cloud-based payroll management and human resources software for small and midsize businesses that want thorough, affordable HR management.
All Paychex payroll programs include new-hire state reporting, payroll tax filing, and an employee financial wellness program. And with three customizable packages, Paychex is one of the most scalable payroll options on our list. Growing businesses won’t have to look elsewhere for plans that support additional employees—growth is built into Paychex’s model.
Paychex’s payroll app for employers
If you frequently run payroll on the go, Paychex might be the best small-business payroll software for you. Only a few payroll providers offer employer-facing mobile payroll apps. Of the five or so that do, Paychex’s is easily the best: the Paychex Flex app has 4.8 stars (out of five) on Apple’s App Store and 4.3 on Google Play.2,3
Even though Paychex’s cheapest plan has a lower per-employee fee than Gusto, Paychex’s add-on fees can dramatically increase your monthly payroll costs. Unlike Gusto, OnPay, and QuickBooks Payroll, Paychex may charge additional fees for payroll tax administration, time and attendance software integration, accounting software integration, and workers comp and employee benefits administration. With all the extra fees, Paychex is better suited to midsize businesses that care more about built-in scalability than cost.ProsCombined HR and payroll plans
Affordable starting per-payee price
Customizable plans for growing businessesCons
Additional fees for payroll tax administration
Additional fees for third-party software integration
Pricier plans with limited pricing transparencyGet Started with PaychexRead Our Paychex Review
OnPay is the best payroll for new employers
Best for new employers with one employeeOnPay
4.0
- Starting at $36.00/mo. + $5.00/payee/mo.
Automatic payroll tax administration
Affordable insurance add-ons (in-house brokers)
Direct deposit, check, and debit card payment options
Data as of 11/5/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Like Gusto, OnPay is a straightforward payroll and HR program with a beautiful, easy-to-use platform. If you ask, OnPay can tailor its payroll services to your industry at no additional cost. And if you just hired your first employee and are still a little unclear on the payroll process, OnPay is a great fit. Its interface is extremely intuitive—but its experts also set up the software for free, then talk you through your first run.
OnPay further stands out from the crowd by offering key payroll services for free, namely automatic tax filing and end-of-year paperwork. Plus, thanks to its in-house team of insurance brokers, you pay just the premium with no integration fees.
While we love OnPay (as do its users), it’s not the best fit for businesses that want more perks and support as they grow. The base price ($36) and per-employee price ($4) never change—but neither do the features. If you’re hoping for scalable, comprehensive HR packages, you might consider Paychex or Gusto instead.ProsExtremely affordable full-service payroll
Comprehensive payroll tax administration at no additional cost
Solid employee benefits and insurance optionsCons
One plan only (limited scalability)Get Started with OnPayRead Our OnPay Review
Gusto
Easy to use and compatible with requirements in all 50 states, Gusto makes payroll management easy. This software for payroll comes fully loaded with a number of important features. It can handle benefits, healthcare plans, taxes, 401(k) plans, and time tracking. It’s also fully compatible with most accounting software platforms, including the big names like FreshBooks, QuickBooks, and Xero. Small businesses can opt for the most basic Core plan when just starting off, levelling up to the more full-service options as your business grows. At the higher Concierge level, Gusto’s plan includes HR features including onboarding and surveys.
Gusto is the best overall payroll software
Best overall payroll providerGusto
4.0
- Starting at $39.00/mo. + $6.00/payee/mo.
Automatic payroll tax administration
Affordable insurance options (in-house brokers)
Two-day direct deposit
Data as of 11/5/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The heartily named Gusto is our favorite payroll software for small businesses. Its beautifully designed, full-service payroll system includes plenty of payroll and HR features, including these:
- Automatic local, state, and federal payroll tax filing
- Automatic end-of-year tax-form filing, including W-2s and 1099s
- Automatic state new-hire form filing
- Health benefits administration and workers compensation administration
- Multiple employee benefit options, including HSAs, FSAs, commuter benefits, and college savings plans
- Employee self-service portal for pay stub, direct deposit, and W-2 access
Even better, Gusto includes these features for free when many payroll providers charge extra. For instance, Gusto’s in-house insurance brokers ensure that if you sign up for employee medical insurance and workers compensation insurance through Gusto, you’ll pay the premium only.
In contrast, ADP, which outsources its insurance integrations, charges an extra fee on top of the premium. Ditto Paychex, which does have an in-house insurance team but still charges extra for insurance add-ons. ADP also charges extra for end-of-year tax-form filings. Gusto doesn’t.
Heads-up: Gusto’s Contractor plan
Do you hire contractors on an individual basis instead of working with a full-time team of employees? Gusto’s new Contractor plan has no monthly base cost. You pay only $6 per month per payee.
However, in the last few months, Gusto’s customer service has taken a few hits: for instance, on the review site Trustpilot, Gusto’s rating dropped from nearly four to just 2.2 (yikes!) out of 5 from more than 1.2K reviews.1 In particular, users call out slow response times and payroll errors. Thanks to its expansive employee benefits and built-in free tax filing, Gusto’s still our top payroll solution, but we did lower its star rating to account for its lowering user reviews.
BEST REPORTINGPaychex Flex
Paychex Flex offers more than 160 reports for you to get a clear look at wages, taxes, turnover, and more. Paychex is our best reporting option because it checks almost all the boxes for what you’d want in payroll software when it comes to reports and data. It also automatically files your payroll taxes, ensures compliance, and includes integrations with important programs you also use, such as accounting and benefits apps.Pros
- 24/7 support
- Easy to use
- HR add-on options
- Robust reporting feature
Cons
- Hidden fees for setup & EOY tax docs
- Mixed reviews from users regarding support
There’s a lot to like about Paychex. The payroll software makes it easy to set up and run payroll, it automates the submission of federal, state, and local payroll taxes, and it offers plenty of upgrade options, which you may need as your business grows. Still, the basic reporting you get from Paychex could be worth the monthly fee alone, giving it the edge in this category. Plus, you’ll be able to add any other data field you’d like, thanks to custom fields, which is rare for small business online payroll services.
While the Paychex Flex Essentials plan is $39 per month and $5 per employee, it’s difficult to say how much Paychex will cost you for the more comprehensive plans—Paychex Flex Select and Paychex Flex Pro—unless you go through the process of getting a custom quote.
One of the most important aspects of a good online payroll solution is whether it integrates with software you already use. Paychex does integrate with QuickBooks and Xero accounting software, plus many health insurance and benefits apps, time tracking and attendance software, and HR software.
EASIEST TO SET UPQuickBooks Payroll
If you’re already using QuickBooks for accounting, then QuickBooks Payroll is our easiest to set up option, as everything will be automated, and it’s going to be an intuitive program for any QuickBooks user. You’re unlikely to need to contact support for help because the tutorial and knowledgebase are so thorough. Even if that’s not working for you, a quick search online will send you to a multitude of walkthroughs.Pros
- Easy setup and intuitive interface
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software
- Fast direct deposit options
Cons
- Not a good value for the cost
- Time track on the go feature not available in lowest-tier plan
QuickBooks earns our nod for the easiest setup because its user interface is so intuitive for anyone familiar with QuickBooks. In addition to customer service, there are ample resources online to get anyone on board with their payroll services. QuickBooks does a good job making establishing and running payroll simple for anyone regardless of experience.
Although QuickBooks offers excellent features, if a bit limited in its HR options, you’ll pay for them. The lowest-priced plan starts at $45 per month, plus $4 per person per month. The Premium plan costs $75 per month, plus $8 per person per month, but it also expands its features to include HR support and a payroll setup review from an expert. The Elite plan from QuickBooks costs $125 per month, plus $10 per employee per month, and you’ll get 24/7 support, plus tax penalty protection.
Conclusion
Easy Payroll Software for Small Business is payroll software designed specifically for small businesses. It offers many features that are not included in other free payroll software, but it also offers the ease of use that is lacking in other automated payroll software programs. The Gusto Payroll Software program is great for small business owners since it doesn’t require any initial setup or payments to use it.