Gusto

Gusto handles the messy parts of running a small business: payroll, tax filings, health insurance, and 401(k)s. It’s designed so you don’t need an HR department to get it right.

What it does

You enter employee hours or salaries, and Gusto calculates paychecks, deducts taxes, and files federal and state payroll taxes automatically. It also offers health benefits administration, workers’ comp, and time-off tracking. Employees get a self-service portal for pay stubs, W-2s, and benefits enrollment.

Best for

• Small business owners who want to outsource payroll compliance
• Startups offering health benefits and 401(k) without a dedicated HR person
• Freelancers and contractors needing simple invoicing and 1099 filing

Strengths

• Automates all federal and state payroll tax filings and payments
• Integrates with accounting tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks
• Offers health insurance, dental, vision, and 401(k) plans in one dashboard

• Automated payroll — Calculate pay, deduct taxes, and direct deposit on your schedule
• Tax compliance — Gusto files and pays all federal and state payroll taxes automatically
• Benefits administration — Set up health insurance, 401(k), workers’ comp, and commuter benefits
• Employee self-service — Employees access pay stubs, W-2s, PTO balances, and benefits info
• Time tracking — Built-in clock-in/out and PTO requests sync with payroll
• Contractor management — Pay contractors, send 1099 forms, and track invoices