Are you looking for payroll software for small business cost? Then you have landed on the right page. The only reason I am writing this page is to show you how efficient and easy it is to find any software at the lowest price here. So stay with me, read on to find out how!
What is the cost of payroll software for small business? That is a question many business owners ask themselves when it comes time to purchase a system. For example, if you have a payroll software for small business that costs $2000 for 1-5 employees and an additional $75 for every new employee, you need to realize that there might be other options. Do your homework so you know what to look for when searching for the best payroll software for small business cost.
Payroll services aren’t cheap, in fact they can be pretty expensive. Your first thought might be to go with a payroll company, but that might not be the right call for your business at this time. The truth is you don’t need tons of money to implement your own payroll system for small business. There are many affordable options out there that you should know about.
Add titlePayroll Software for Small Business Cost
Are you looking for payroll software for small business cost? Then you have landed on the right page. The only reason I am writing this page is to show you how efficient and easy it is to find any software at the lowest price here. So stay with me, read on to find out how!
What is the cost of payroll software for small business? That is a question many business owners ask themselves when it comes time to purchase a system. For example, if you have a payroll software for small business that costs $2000 for 1-5 employees and an additional $75 for every new employee, you need to realize that there might be other options. Do your homework so you know what to look for when searching for the best payroll software for small business cost.
Payroll services aren’t cheap, in fact they can be pretty expensive. Your first thought might be to go with a payroll company, but that might not be the right call for your business at this time. The truth is you don’t need tons of money to implement your own payroll system for small business. There are many affordable options out there that you should know about.
Best payroll software for small businesses
- Gusto: Best overall
- Paychex: Best for growth
- OnPay: Best for new employers
- ADP: Best payroll + HR packages
- SurePayroll: Best customer service
Compare the best payroll software costs and features
Add titlePayroll Software for Small Business Cost
Are you looking for payroll software for small business cost? Then you have landed on the right page. The only reason I am writing this page is to show you how efficient and easy it is to find any software at the lowest price here. So stay with me, read on to find out how!
What is the cost of payroll software for small business? That is a question many business owners ask themselves when it comes time to purchase a system. For example, if you have a payroll software for small business that costs $2000 for 1-5 employees and an additional $75 for every new employee, you need to realize that there might be other options. Do your homework so you know what to look for when searching for the best payroll software for small business cost.
Payroll services aren’t cheap, in fact they can be pretty expensive. Your first thought might be to go with a payroll company, but that might not be the right call for your business at this time. The truth is you don’t need tons of money to implement your own payroll system for small business. There are many affordable options out there that you should know about.
Best payroll software for small businesses
- Gusto: Best overall
- Paychex: Best for growth
- OnPay: Best for new employers
- ADP: Best payroll + HR packages
- SurePayroll: Best customer service
Compare the best payroll software costs and features
- Gusto: Best overall
- Paychex: Best for growth
- OnPay: Best for new employers
- ADP: Best payroll + HR packages
- SurePayroll: Best customer service
Compare the best payroll software costs and features
| Provider | Starting base price | Fee per employee | Free year-end tax filing | Free trial | Get started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $39.00/mo. | $6.00/payee/mo. | 1 mo. | View Plans | |
| Paychex | $39.00/mo. | $5.00/payee/mo. | 1 mo. | View Plans | |
| OnPay | $36.00/mo. | $4.00/payee/mo. | 1 mo. | View Plans | |
| ADP | Contact for quote | Contact for quote | 3 mos. | View Plans | |
| SurePayroll | $19.99/mo. | $4.00/payee/mo. | 2 mos. | View Plans |
Data as of 12/13/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
What should you look for in payroll software?
The best payroll software for you depends in large part on your company’s HR and payroll needs—but what does that really mean in practice? We recommend taking these four steps to start:
- First, look at price—not just the base price, but also the additional price per employee. Decide upfront how much you can and are willing to spend on payroll system software.
- Second, examine features—do you need payroll features only, or do you prefer a combined HR and payroll software solution?
- Third, determine how much time and effort you want to (and can) spend on payroll. For instance, are you okay paying less for software and filing taxes yourself?
- Finally, check out each payroll program’s customer service reputation, tax guarantees (your payroll provider should pay IRS fines if it makes any payroll tax errors), and user reviews.
If you want more guidance, check out our in-depth article on how to find the right payroll management solution. And if you want to learn more about payroll processes generally before signing up for a provider, our Ultimate Payroll Guide can get you started.
Gusto is the best overall payroll software provider for small businesses
Best overall payroll provider Gusto
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 12/13/21. 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 2.1 (yikes!) out of 5 from nearly than 1.3K 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.
Additionally, while Gusto has more employee add-ons than many other online payroll systems, it’s not a total HR management solution. Our Gusto HR review can tell you more, but if you need more than the most basic HR, you’ll want to look elsewhere—like at Paychex. Pros More employee benefit options than most competitors
No extra fee for payroll tax filing
No extra fee for insurance add-ons Cons
Poor customer service ratings
High monthly per-payee fee
Limited HR management and administration Get Started with GustoRead Our Gusto Review
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 12/13/21. 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. Pros Combined HR and payroll plans
Affordable starting per-payee price
Customizable plans for growing businesses Cons
Additional fees for payroll tax administration
Additional fees for third-party software integration
Pricier plans with limited pricing transparency Get Started with PaychexRead Our Paychex Review
OnPay is the best payroll service for new employers
Best for new employers with one employee OnPay
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 12/13/21. 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. Pros Extremely affordable full-service payroll
Comprehensive payroll tax administration at no additional cost
Solid employee benefits and insurance options Cons
One plan only (limited scalability) Get Started with OnPayRead Our OnPay Review
ADP is the best payroll + HR provider
Best payroll with HR add-ons ADP
3.5
- Starting price: Contact for quote
Automatic payroll tax administration (additional fee for some services)
Workers compensation and health insurance add-ons (additional fee)
Direct deposit, check, and debit card payment options
ADP is the biggest name in the world of PEOs, or professional employer organizations. But if your business isn’t big enough to warrant a PEO, RUN Powered by ADP distills ADP’s decades of HR expertise into an easy online payroll service with thorough HR add-ons.
All of ADP’s payroll system plans include direct deposit, automatic payroll tax filing, and W-2 submissions. It also goes heavy on the HR help. Even the cheapest plan, Core Payroll, includes HR perks like employee onboarding, health care compliance forms, and a regular HR checkup. And if you want more than the HR basics to support your growing team, ADP’s more expensive plans include employee background checks, ZipRecruiter assistance, and dedicated HR assistance.
In contrast to Gusto, OnPay, and QuickBooks Payroll, some of ADP’s basic payroll services cost extra, namely W-2 form filing. So how much does ADP payroll cost? Unfortunately, we don’t know, since ADP doesn’t list its payroll cost online. You have to contact the company directly to get a quote—useful if you want to build a custom package, but less useful if you’d rather not deal with a pushy sales rep. Pros Dedicated HR and payroll assistance
Multiple customizable plans
Heavy focus on human resources support Cons
Additional fee for payroll tax administration
Additional fee for insurance add-ons
No transparent pricing Get Started with ADPRead Our ADP Review
SurePayroll is the best payroll company for customer service
Best customer support SurePayroll
3.4
- Starting at $19.99/mo. + $4.00/payee/mo.
Automatic payroll tax administration
Workers compensation and health insurance add-ons (additional fee)
Two-day direct deposit (full-service plan only)
Data as of 12/13/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
SurePayroll’s customer service, affordable self-service, and easy HR add-ons make it a good payroll option for small-business owners with just one or two employees.
With self-service online payroll software starting at $19.99 a month and full-service software starting at $29.99 a month, SurePayroll is the most affordable payroll system in our top five. Its extended customer service hours on weekdays and Saturdays are perfect if you want (nearly) round-the-clock assistance for payroll problems, which can cause major issues for your employees if they aren’t resolved ASAP.
SurePayroll is cheap, but it has a few additional costs. For instance, multi-state payroll tax filing costs an extra $9.99 a month. And SurePayroll lacks the expansive employee benefits, scalable plans, and HR perks you’ll get with Gusto or Paychex—another reason it works best for the smallest of small businesses. If you have just a few employees and want to offer good benefits without going all-in on expensive add-ons, SurePayroll’s online payroll system could work well for you. Pros Affordable full- and self-service plans
Extended customer service hours
Affordable insurance add-ons Cons
Limited scalability
Limited employee benefits
Limited HR assistance Get Started with SurePayrollRead Our SurePayroll Review Still not sure? https://partner-forms.softwareadvice.com/price-quotes/hr/payroll-software/?utm_source=BusinessDotOrg&utm_medium=affiliate
Tired of payroll? Gusto handles payroll taxes and more
With unlimited payroll runs and automatic tax filing, Gusto helps small-business owners worry less about payroll and put more time into growing their business.
- Get automatic payroll tax filing, including end-of-year tax forms
- Manage workers compensation insurance
- Track paid time off, sick leave, and holiday pay
More payroll software solutions for small businesses
We gave you our top recommendations above, but the payroll software market is a crowded one. Here are more small-business payroll solutions worth considering.
- Rippling: Best for international payroll
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best interface
- Square Payroll: Best for contract work
- Patriot Software: Most affordable self-service
- Wave Payroll: Best payroll + accounting software
CONCLUSION
Now, you might think a small payroll software needs to be cheaper, but if you want a small business payroll software that is feature-rich, quick to implement and works well for companies with less than 10 employees, then it should cost at least $25-$30 per month. A good HR solution for your company will have built-in functionality for cost-effective time tracking, wage and tax calculations for both in-house and contracted workers. It also does not require costly accounting and bookkeeping services.
Whether you are a freelancer, a large enterprise or run a small business, setting up payroll software is one of the most hassle-free options to help you manage your team’s pay, benefits and taxes.