Gusto

Gusto Payroll Services

Gusto Payroll Services prides itself on simple, affordable business solutions designed to streamline administrative necessities so you can focus on your core goals. Transparent pricing and completely customizable packages are the most notable highlights of this payroll service. Because it's a cloud-based system, Gusto allows you to run payroll from any internet-connected mobile or desktop device, including your smartphone. This feature appeals to busy business owners who are on the go.

Gusto at a Glance

Since this company was born as ZenPayroll in 2012, Gusto has grown to serve more than 60,000 clients across the nation. This business is trusted to process tens of billions of payroll dollars annually and currently has offices in Denver and San Francisco.

Gusto also cares about community service. The company has raised more than $1 million for charity through its Gusto Giving program.

Overview of Gusto Features

The base features found in all Gusto packages include complete, comprehensive payroll services, an employee-self-service interface so your workers can easily access and adjust information about their pay and benefits, workers’ compensation and health insurance administration, management of paid time off and full customer support.

You can upgrade your package (see pricing section) to add more features as described below. In addition, every package can be customized with stand-alone features so you can create a software solution that fits your business needs. These a la carte functions include:

  • Benefits administration
  • 401(k) administration
  • 529 college savings plans
  • Health savings and flexible spending accounts
  • Commuter benefits
  • Automatic filing of all federal, state and local tax forms, including W-2 and 1099 documentation
  • Flexible payment schedules
  • Multiple pay rates
  • Net-to-gross calculations
  • Contractor payments
  • No limit on off-cycle and bonus payroll
  • Lifetime employee access to digital paystubs and tax forms

Businesses can run payroll in all 50 states for the same cost as running payroll in just one state. In addition to salaried and hourly employees who are paid using a W-2 form, Gusto also provides the ability to pay independent contractors by issuing a 1099 form to the IRS. If you run a restaurant or other tip-based business, you can account for credit and cash tips in Gusto's payroll system. Wage garnishments, child support, and other deductions can also be added.

Once your employees have been put into Gusto's system, you can opt to run payroll automatically each pay period. Just select the desired payday, and you'll receive a reminder from your dashboard the day before to make any necessary adjustments. Your workers will be paid automatically.

Gusto can be integrated with a range of finance and business programs, allowing you to streamline your administrative operations into one intuitive interface. You can add many popular apps to Gusto, including but not limited to QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Zero and common programs for expense reporting, point of sale, practice management, banking, and time tracking.

Gusto Pricing

Although many payroll software companies don't publish their pricing model, Gusto strives for transparency by providing detailed information about each of its packages:

  • The Core Package starts at $39 per month plus $6 per month per employee for the base features as described above.
  • The Complete Package starts at $39 per month plus $12 per month per employee. This package supplements the base features of the Core package with HR functions, including the ability to set different levels of administrative permission, make offers to new employees, complete onboarding processes, track time and time-off requests and create an employee directory and employee surveys.
  • The Concierge Package includes all the features of the less expensive packages plus a dedicated HR concierge to guide you through the process. Pricing for this option starts at $149 per month plus $12 per month per employee.

Unlike many software providers, Gusto does not provide a fee for your initial account setup. That means you'll be able to hit the ground running whether you're switching from another provider or using payroll software for the first time.

Bottom Line

Gusto is an ideal option if you're looking for a payroll provider with easy-to-understand packages and pricing. This model allows you to pay only for the services you need while avoiding those that add unnecessary complication and cost.

PayrollPro is your complete source for payroll, from software reviews and recommendations to news and resources. You can browse our tools, read our articles and check out our ranking of top payroll providers.