Best Payroll for Small Business: Top 8 Software Solutions

Managing employees is already a lot of work—and the process of paying your team can be an added headache.

Make payroll a quick and repeatable process by choosing a strong payroll system that’s built for small businesses like yours.

There are lots to choose from, so we’ll help you narrow it down. Here are the 8 best payroll software solutions for small businesses that are fast, easy to learn, and affordable.

Running payroll in Gusto is incredibly easy—the software breaks it down into a four-step process. It’s also easy to make updates to employee pay details, like hourly rate, at every step.

Gusto doesn’t hide its best features behind big price tags. Even on its most basic plan, Gusto lets you perform unlimited payroll runs, calculate and file payroll taxes automatically, and manage employee benefits.

It also offers a cheaper “Contractor Only” plan if you work with independent contractors (1099 employees) or haven’t hired salaried workers yet.

Save even more time by prepping your payroll in the same place you schedule and manage your team.

Jobber handles your time tracking, including having your team members clock in and out through the Jobber mobile app.

Once approved, your timesheets and reimbursable expenses sync to Gusto where your payroll is processed.

During the setup process, Patriot teaches you the fundamentals of payroll processing, along with links to helpful resources and state-specific compliance information.

Once you’re set up, Patriot lets you process salaried employees, hourly employees, and contractors in the same pay run. Many competitors force you to process contractor pay separately.

Patriot also gives you flexible options for the types of pay your employees can receive and the hours they can work (like holidays, double time, etc).

Like most payroll software, OnPay automatically calculates payroll taxes, lets you customize how you run payroll, and gives your employees access to pay records.

Similar to Patriot Payroll, OnPay works hard to educate business owners who are new to payroll processing and employee management.

The platform offers regular updates and resources that keep you updated with payroll tax laws and regulations. You can also create employee handbooks to support your onboarding process.

With accounting tools on the same platform, RUN keeps your financial and employee management systems in one place.

While automating your payroll tax filings and making accurate calculations, RUN also offers:

• Direct deposit for employees
• Garnishment payment services
• Detailed, customizable payroll reports

RUN connects with tons of other software programs, including QuickBooks Online, ZipRecruiter, and 7Shifts. Employees can also track time from the RUN mobile app.

You can complete every payroll processing task you need to in QuickBooks Payroll, including automated tax calculations, giving employees access to pay records, and reporting.

If you’re not already using QuickBooks Online, consider a simpler alternative like Gusto.

Pro Tip: Using QuickBooks Online already? Connect it with Jobber to keep your payment and client data accurate.

Because it’s also HR software, Paychex lets you create very detailed profiles for your employees.

In these profiles, you can store as much information as you need using an unlimited number of custom fields—which very few payroll services offer.

Paychex packs a lot of information on-screen, which can look overwhelming compared to software programs like Gusto. But Paychex users do get a dedicated payroll specialist as a go-to contact for questions or issues.

It’s a straightforward program where you can complete basic, essential payroll functions, including calculating taxes and paying via direct deposit.

While Payroll4Free offers unlimited payroll runs, customization for payroll settings and reports is limited compared to most paid alternatives.

READ MORE: 30 small business tax deductions to save money when filing

Justworks is great for growing teams that have complex payroll and HR needs. You can create employee handbooks, report on new hire performance, create and manage offer letters, and find templates for workplace policies.

You can also pay employees in different countries in their currencies. If you don’t mind paying more for all these features, Justworks is a solid option.