Did you know that payroll is often the biggest expense for small businesses? It can take up over 70% of total costs. Choosing the right payroll app is key to managing this important part of your business. We’ll look at the best payroll apps for small business owners. We’ll check out pricing, features, and what users say to help you choose wisely.
Key Takeaways
- Payroll is a critical expense for small businesses, often the largest operational cost.
- The right payroll app can help reduce expenses, minimize errors, and streamline payroll management.
- Factors to consider when evaluating top payroll apps include pricing, features, user-friendliness, and customer support.
- Leading payroll apps for small businesses offer automation, tax compliance, mobile access, and employee self-service capabilities.
- Free payroll apps can be a cost-effective solution for small businesses with basic payroll needs.
Factors in Evaluating Top Payroll Apps
Choosing the right payroll app for your small business is key. We looked at affordable payroll tools and budget-conscious payroll solutions. We also checked out payroll app features to make sure they fit your needs.
Pricing
We focused on the starting price of payroll apps first. We wanted affordable payroll tools and budget-conscious payroll solutions that give you the most for your money. We checked the price range and if they offered a free trial.
Features
A good payroll app has many features for different payroll needs. We looked at tax modules and compliance, analytics and reporting, new hire reporting, and third-party integrations. We also checked how well the mobile payroll apps worked.
Third-Party Reviews
We checked out payroll apps by looking at reviews on sites like G2 and Capterra. We focused on customer satisfaction, ratings and reviews, and what users thought overall.
Expert Analysis
We mixed customer reviews with our own expert evaluation of payroll apps. We looked at value for money, ease of use, and standout features to see what made each app special.
“We looked at reviews on third-party sites, such as G2 and Capterra, from real users to gauge opinion of each software. Specifically, we looked at the number of ratings of 3.5 or higher out of 5 that each payroll app had on each site.”
What is Payroll Software for Small Businesses?
Managing payroll can be tough for small business owners. Payroll software makes it easier by automating how you calculate wages, deductions, and taxes. It has features like automated payroll processing, employee compensation management, and payroll tax compliance. This ensures your employees get paid right and on time.
Using payroll software helps streamline your business. It automates repetitive tasks, giving you more time for important company tasks. It also keeps you in line with tax laws, lowering the chance of fines.
| Payroll Software Provider | Pricing | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| OnPay | $40/month + $6/employee | Health insurance, retirement, vacation and PTO, life and disability insurance, liability insurance, commuter benefits, HSA, and FSA |
| Gusto | $40/month + $6/employee | Medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, HSA and FSA, commuter benefits |
| Wave Payroll | $20/month + $6/employee | Payroll processing, tax filing, and reporting |
With payroll software for small businesses, you can make your operations smoother. You’ll ensure your employees get paid right and follow payroll tax rules. Whether you pick a full-featured solution or something simpler, the right software can greatly improve your business’s efficiency and success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0qhgdimMqU
Gusto Payroll: Best Overall Payroll Software
Gusto is a top choice for small businesses looking for payroll software. It serves over 300,000 businesses in the United States. It offers a full payroll solution designed for small businesses. With an easy-to-use interface, strong HR tools, and smooth integrations, Gusto is the best overall payroll software.
Key Highlights
Gusto’s services start at $40 a month plus $6 per user, making it affordable for small businesses. There are three pricing plans: Simple at $40 per month + $6 per person, Plus at $80 per month + $12 per person, and Premium at $180 per month + $22 per person. For businesses with contractors, Gusto offers a special rate starting at $0 per month for the first 6 months, then $35 per month + $6 per person.
Gusto is known for its key features. It automates payroll, ensuring accurate and timely tax handling. It also includes HR tools like health insurance, employee onboarding, and state new hire reporting in all plans. This makes it a full solution for small business owners.
Gusto has earned high praise from its users. It has a 5-star rating from 2,841 users and a 4-star rating from 803 users. Users love its easy use, clean design, and self-onboarding. They also appreciate its communication tools for employees.
Gusto works well with popular accounting tools like QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks, and Xero. This makes it a great choice for businesses looking to simplify their finances. Its flexibility and scalability are big pluses for growing companies.
Some users say Gusto’s customer service could be better. But overall, many agree that Gusto Payroll is the best for small businesses. It has great features, good prices, and positive reviews, making it a top pick for reliable payroll solutions.
QuickBooks Payroll: Best for Accounting Integration
For small-business owners using QuickBooks Online for accounting, QuickBooks Payroll is a great pick. It offers a smooth process for payroll thanks to its integration with QuickBooks Online. The Core plan comes with unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filing, detailed payroll reports, and next-day direct deposit.
Upgrading to Premium or Elite plans brings more benefits. You get same-day direct deposit, an HR Support Center, and mobile time tracking. This makes QuickBooks Payroll perfect for businesses wanting a full solution for accounting and payroll together.
| QuickBooks Payroll Features | Core | Premium | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited payroll runs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated tax filing and payments | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Next-day direct deposit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Same-day direct deposit | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| HR Support Center | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile time tracking | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tax penalty protection | – | – | Up to $25,000 |
| White-glove setup | – | – | ✓ |
QuickBooks Payroll helps small-business owners manage their accounting and payroll better. It saves time and ensures everything is accurate. Its integration with QuickBooks Online, along with its strong payroll features and HR tools, makes it a top choice for businesses looking for a user-friendly payroll solution.
OnPay Payroll: Best for Restaurant Payroll
OnPay Payroll is a top pick for small businesses, especially in the restaurant industry. It has a user-friendly interface and offers many features. These make managing payroll easy while meeting the unique needs of restaurants.
OnPay is highly recommended for small businesses due to its simplicity and upfront pricing. It has a wide range of payroll, HR, and benefits tools. All these are included in a single base rate starting at $36 per month plus $4 per employee. This clear pricing structure means no surprises, making it great for restaurant owners wanting to simplify their work.
Using OnPay for restaurant payroll comes with special support for the industry. It has features like minimum wage tip makeup and easy overtime calculation. These help restaurant owners follow the law and make sure their employees earn well. Plus, OnPay’s free multi-state payroll service makes processing payroll easy, even for businesses with workers in different places.
| Feature | OnPay | SurePayroll | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $36/month + $4/employee | $29.99/month + $5/employee | $35/month + $5/employee |
| Restaurant-Specific Features | Minimum wage tip makeup, overtime calculation | Minimum wage alerts, makeup tip options | Seamless integration with Square POS |
| Payroll Runs | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
OnPay is known for its easy-to-use design and self-service tools. These make it great for restaurant owners. Employees can check their pay stubs, update their info, and ask for time off through the mobile-friendly site. This cuts down on work for the employer.
Overall, OnPay Payroll is a great choice for restaurants and small businesses. It offers many features, special support for the industry, and clear pricing. This makes it a reliable and efficient payroll solution.
best payroll app for small business
As a small business owner, you know your company is growing when you invest in a best payroll app for small business. Adding employees means more work, but it’s good for growth. Payroll can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right automated payroll software, you can make payments easier, follow tax laws, and pay your employees correctly and on time.
When looking for the best small business payroll solutions, think about these things:
- Pricing: Payroll software for SMBs costs between $20 to $80 a month, plus extra for each employee. Find something that fits your budget and grows with your business.
- Features: Good payroll software has automatic tax filing, direct deposit, and lets employees manage their accounts online to save you time.
- Reviews: Look at reviews from trusted sources to see how happy customers are and find the best cloud-based payroll platforms for small businesses.
- Expert Analysis: Industry experts can give you insights on the top best payroll app for small business choices and help you pick the right one.
| Payroll App | Starting Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| OnPay | $40/month + $6/employee | Automated tax filings, direct deposit, employee self-service |
| Gusto | $40/month + $6/employee | User-friendly interface, HR tools, benefits administration |
| Wave Payroll | $20/month + $6/employee | Affordable, 30-day free trial, self-service options |
Choosing the right best payroll app for small business makes payroll easier, keeps you in line with laws, and makes your employees happy. There are many small business payroll solutions out there, so you’ll find the perfect one for your growing company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91XYKJATvRI
“Implementing a payroll app has been a game-changer for my small business. It’s saved me so much time and hassle, and I know my employees are being paid accurately and on time. Highly recommend it!” – Jane Doe, Small Business Owner
Free Payroll Apps for Small Businesses
For small business owners, finding a cost-effective payroll solution is key. Luckily, there are many free payroll apps out there. They can make your payroll process smoother and offer great benefits. These apps automate the payroll cycle and keep up with the latest rules.
Benefits of Using Free Payroll Apps
The main perks of using free payroll apps for small businesses are:
- Cost Savings – Automating payroll cuts down on time and resources, saving your business a lot of money.
- Time Savings – Free payroll apps take care of the boring tasks, giving you more time for important business work.
- Error Reduction – Automated payroll systems reduce the chance of mistakes, making sure employees get paid right and on time.
- Data Syncing – Many free payroll apps work well with your accounting software, making data sharing easy across your business.
- Employee Friendly – These apps have easy-to-use interfaces and self-service portals, making payroll info easy for employees to find.
- Compliance Management – Free payroll apps help you keep up with payroll laws and make sure your business follows them.
Using these apps, small business owners can make payroll easier, cut down on paperwork, and focus on growing their companies.
| Criteria | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Pricing | 20% |
| Features | 30% |
| Third-Party Reviews | 15% |
| Expert Analysis | 35% |
We look at several important factors when picking the best free payroll apps for small businesses. These include pricing, features, reviews from others, and expert opinions. We weight these factors to make sure our review is thorough and fair.
Top Free Payroll App Options
For small businesses, free payroll apps can save money. We looked at eSmart Paycheck, TimeTrex, ExcelPayroll, HR.my, and others. These apps help with paychecks, taxes, tracking time, scheduling, and basic HR tasks.
Homebase Payroll is a top choice for small businesses with 20 or fewer workers. It offers full payroll automation, direct deposit, tax filings, and HR tools. This makes managing your business easier.
| Payroll App | Rating | Key Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| TimeTrex | 4.05/5 | Excellent pricing, high popularity, and robust reporting | – |
| Payroll4Free | 3.84/5 | – | User ratings only 3.85/5 on third-party sites |
| HR.my | 3.24/5 | Competitive pricing | Limited custom reporting and tax filing services |
| eSmart Paycheck | 3.03/5 | Recommended by business magazines | Lacking reports and user feedback |
| ExcelPayroll | 3.01/5 | – | Limited to 50 active employees, compatibility issues |
Free payroll apps can be a good choice for small businesses. But, they have limits. They work best for companies with fewer than 20 to 25 employees. Some may charge extra for certain services or not offer all the features you need.
Look closely at what each free payroll app offers. Make sure it fits your business’s needs.
“Homebase Payroll is a great free option for small businesses with 20 or fewer employees and contractors, providing full payroll automation and HR capabilities to streamline operations.”
Choosing a Comprehensive Payroll Solution
When picking payroll apps for your small business, look for a full solution. It should automate payroll, work with your HR and accounting, and make your business run smoother. Homebase is a great choice, offering tools for small businesses at no cost.
Homebase can save you time and cut down on mistakes, letting you focus on your business. It connects well with HR systems, making it easy to handle employee info, time tracking, and following the rules. Plus, it works with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, making your finances flow smoothly.
OnPay is another top pick for small businesses, with a 4.60 out of 5 rating. Patriot Payroll and QuickBooks Payroll also got high marks of 4.50 out of 5. They’re great for businesses with fewer than 10 employees and those using QuickBooks Online.
When picking a payroll solution, think about the cost, features, and what others say. With the right payroll automation and HR integration, you can make your business operations smoother and help your business grow.
| Payroll Service | Rating (out of 5) | Pricing | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| OnPay | 4.60 | $40 per month + $6 per employee | Small businesses |
| Patriot Payroll | 4.50 | Starts at $17 per month | Businesses with fewer than 10 employees |
| QuickBooks Payroll | 4.50 | Starts at $45 per month | QuickBooks Online users |
| Gusto | 4.40 | Starts at $40 per month | Businesses of various sizes |
| RUN Powered by ADP | 4.10 | Starts at $79 per month + $4 per employee | Small businesses |
Choosing a full payroll solution like Homebase can make your business operations better. It helps with HR integration and gives you strong payroll automation tools. This can help your small business grow.
Conclusion
Switching to top payroll apps for small businesses can make things run smoother, cut down on mistakes, and give small business owners key insights. By looking at things like cost, features, reviews, and expert opinions, small businesses can pick the best payroll software for their needs.
Choosing the right payroll automation app, like Gusto, QuickBooks, OnPay, or even a free one like Homebase, can make your small business operations better. It ensures you follow the rules and makes your employees happy. These apps offer automated payroll, tax help, and time tracking. This can save you time and money and keep your business in line.
The best payroll app for your small business depends on what you need, how much you can spend, and how you want to connect things. By doing your homework and checking out the top choices, you can find the perfect app to help your business grow and manage its payroll well.
FAQ
What factors should small businesses consider when evaluating the top payroll apps?
Small businesses should look at pricing, features, reviews, and expert opinions. They should focus on affordable costs, automated payroll, tax help, HR tools, mobile access, and good customer feedback.
What is the role of payroll software for small businesses?
Payroll software helps small businesses by making payroll automatic. It figures out deductions and wages and pays employees on time, often through direct deposit. The best software also handles tax filing, keeps up with laws, lets employees manage their accounts, and works with other business tools.
What makes Gusto Payroll the best overall payroll software for small businesses?
Gusto Payroll is top-notch because it offers full payroll services, automatic tax filing, HR tools, and an employee app. It also works well with popular accounting software, making it a great all-in-one solution for small businesses.
How does QuickBooks Payroll stand out for small businesses using QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Payroll is great for small businesses already using QuickBooks Online. It gives a full set of payroll tools, including tax filing, detailed reports, and direct deposit the same day.
Why is OnPay a good choice for small businesses in specialized industries?
OnPay is perfect for small businesses, especially in fields like restaurants, farms, nonprofits, and churches. It has a wide range of payroll, HR, and benefits tools at a single price, making it flexible and affordable for these groups.
What are the top benefits of using a free payroll app for small businesses?
Free payroll apps save money, time, and reduce mistakes. They keep data in sync, make things easier for employees, and help with following the law. These apps handle payroll automatically, letting business owners focus on other things.
Which free payroll app stands out as the most comprehensive option for small businesses?
Homebase is the top free payroll app for small businesses. It offers full payroll automation, HR tools, and works with other business systems. It has many features, making it a great choice for small businesses.
What key factors should small businesses consider when choosing a payroll solution?
Small businesses should look for a payroll solution that automates everything, works with HR and accounting systems, and makes things easy for everyone. Solutions like Homebase are perfect for making small business operations smoother.