Best Payroll Services for Small Business
The best payroll service for most small businesses is Gusto, because it files and deposits your federal, state, and local payroll taxes at a published $49/month plus $6 per person. If you want a dedicated human handling your account rather than software you run yourself, ADP RUN and Paychex are the two established service-led options, both quote-based.
A note on wording, because it changes what you should buy: a payroll service files and deposits your payroll taxes on your behalf. Payroll software that only calculates paychecks leaves those filings with you. Every provider on this page is full-service.
This list is ordered by what the provider actually delivers for a small employer — filing coverage, price predictability, and how much support you get when something goes wrong at quarter-end.
PayrollSignal earns a commission from some providers we link to. See our affiliate disclosure.
Our ranked picks
PayrollSignal earns a commission from some providers here and nothing from others. Ranking follows what each provider's review page on this site documents, not compensation.
- 1Best overall payroll service
Gusto
Small businesses that want full-service filings at a published price
Gusto handles the full compliance job — federal, state, and local payroll tax filings, W-2s, and 1099s — and tells you what it costs before you talk to anyone. Simple is $49/month plus $6 per person; Plus is $80/month plus $12 per person and adds multi-state payroll, time tracking, and next-day direct deposit.
For a business that wants a service rather than a project, this is the shortest path from signing up to a correctly filed quarter. Employees onboard themselves, benefits are available in supported states, and 401(k) integrations are built in.
Where it falls short- Support is software-first: there's no dedicated rep assigned to your account.
- Simple is single-state only, so multi-state employers must budget for Plus.
- Premium is quote-based, breaking the pricing transparency at the top tier.
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
- 2Best flat-price full-service payroll
OnPay
Multi-state employers who want everything included in one rate
OnPay is $49/month plus $6 per person, and multi-state payroll is included rather than reserved for an upper tier. You get unlimited pay runs, federal, state, and local tax filings, W-2 and 1099 filings, employee self-onboarding, health benefits in supported states, 401(k) integrations, and workers' comp.
One plan means one price. For an owner who wants to stop thinking about payroll tiers, that simplicity is the product.
Where it falls short- Less polished than Gusto in day-to-day use and employee experience.
- No cheaper contractor-only entry point.
- Thinner integration ecosystem than the larger platforms.
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
- 3Best simple payroll service
SurePayroll
Very small or static payrolls, including household employers
SurePayroll's Full Service plan does the core job — payroll, tax filing, direct deposit, and W-2 and 1099 filings — without a platform attached. It also offers a Household plan built for families employing nannies or household staff, including Schedule H support, which is a genuinely distinct product most competitors don't package.
We earn nothing from SurePayroll. It's here because a narrow, simple service is the right answer for a narrow, simple payroll.
Where it falls short- Benefits and HR functionality are limited compared with Gusto or OnPay.
- Less suited to growing, multi-state, or benefits-offering employers.
- Small business payroll is $29/month plus $7 per worker, and multi-state payroll is a $9.99/month add-on (pricing verified August 2026).
- being verified: confirm current multi-state payroll handling before relying on it for a second state.
- 4Best service-led alternative
Paychex
Owners who want a dedicated payroll specialist
Paychex Flex Essentials covers full-service payroll and tax filing; Select adds a dedicated payroll specialist; Pro layers on onboarding, workers' comp, and an HR library. If your main requirement is a named person who knows your account, that's what you're buying here.
Paychex is also comfortable growing with you into HR services, which matters if you'd rather not change providers again in three years.
Where it falls short- Quote-based, so you can't compare price without going through sales.
- Typically costs more than the published-price providers at small headcount.
- You need to reach the Select tier to get the dedicated specialist that's the main draw.
- 5Best for scale and brand familiarity
ADP RUN
Businesses that want one long-term provider with an upgrade path
ADP RUN runs from Essential Payroll up through HR Pro, adding check signing, SUI management, an HR help desk, and HR advisory as you climb. Its payroll operation is one of the most established in the country, and multi-state filing is routine work for it.
The practical advantage people underrate: nearly every accountant and bookkeeper already knows how to work inside ADP, which shortens conversations at year-end.
Where it falls short- Quote-based pricing with add-ons that accumulate over time.
- Dated interface compared with the newer platforms.
- Rarely the cheapest option for a business under about 10 employees.
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
Compare the picks side by side
| Provider | Starting price | Per person | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Simple: $49/mo base | $6 / person / mo | Small businesses that want full-service filings at a published price |
| OnPay | $49/mo base | $6 / person / mo | Multi-state employers who want everything included in one rate |
| SurePayroll | $29/mo base | $7 / worker / mo | Very small or static payrolls, including household employers |
| Paychex | Quote-based | Quote-based | Owners who want a dedicated payroll specialist |
| ADP RUN | Quote-based | Quote-based | Businesses that want one long-term provider with an upgrade path |
Prices shown come from each provider's review page on this site. Confirm current pricing with the provider before signing up — payroll pricing changes often.
Pricing verified August 2026
How we picked
For payroll services specifically, the first filter is non-negotiable: the provider must file and deposit federal, state, and local payroll taxes and issue year-end W-2s and 1099s. Anything that leaves filings with you is a payroll calculator, and it's evaluated in our free and lowest-cost roundup instead.
After filing coverage, we weight price predictability, multi-state handling, and the support model — because the difference between a chat queue and a named specialist matters most in the week a filing goes wrong. We also consider whether benefits, workers' comp, and 401(k) access are available without adding another vendor.
Quote-based providers are shown as quote-based. We don't publish estimated prices for them, because a wrong number on a page reviewed by a CPA is worse than no number.
Every provider is scored against the same criteria. Read our payroll software review methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between payroll software and a payroll service?
A payroll service files and deposits your federal, state, and local payroll taxes on your behalf and issues W-2s and 1099s. Payroll software may only calculate paychecks and leave those filings and deposits with you. Every provider on this page is full-service.
What is the best payroll service for a small business?
For most small businesses, Gusto, because it files and deposits your payroll taxes at a published $49/month plus $6 per person on the Simple plan. If you want a dedicated human on your account instead, ADP RUN and Paychex are the established service-led options, both quote-based.
How much should a small business pay for payroll?
Published-price providers land around a monthly base plus a per-person fee: Gusto is $49/month plus $6 per person on Simple and $80/month plus $12 per person on Plus, and OnPay is $49/month plus $6 per person with multi-state included. Quote-based providers like ADP and Paychex vary by headcount and services, so get the quote in writing.
Does a payroll service guarantee I won't get tax penalties?
Some providers offer a tax filing accuracy guarantee, and Patriot's Full Service plan is one example documented on this site. Coverage terms vary, so read exactly what a guarantee covers, and remember that you still have to give the provider accurate and timely information.
Can a payroll service handle employees in multiple states?
Yes, but check which plan includes it. OnPay includes multi-state payroll in its flat $49/month plus $6 per person, while Gusto requires the Plus plan at $80/month plus $12 per person. ADP and Paychex handle multi-state routinely but price it by quote.
The bottom line
Most small businesses should start with Gusto or OnPay, then consider ADP or Paychex if the value of a dedicated human outweighs paying a quote-based rate.
Whichever you pick, make sure the contract states that federal, state, and local filings are included in your plan. That sentence is the whole reason to buy a payroll service instead of a spreadsheet.
Read how we research and score payroll providers in our payroll software review methodology.