Gusto 🧾 Service
US payroll, benefits and HR in one place, with unlimited payroll runs and automatic tax filing.
| Pricing | Paid from $49/mo |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | US businesses with employees or US contractors; you need a US entity, EIN and US bank account to run payroll. |
| Open in | United States |
| Deadline | Rolling, apply any time |
| Terms last checked | 2026-10-13 |
About Gusto
What you get
Gusto runs payroll for US companies and files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxes for you. Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs (bonus and off-cycle runs too), direct deposit, payments to US contractors, digital I-9s and W-4s, new hire reporting, employee self-onboarding and health insurance administration with licensed benefits advisers.
The pricing page lists three plans:
- Simple: $49 a month plus $6 a month per person, for basic payroll in one state.
- Plus: $80 a month plus $12 per person, adding multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, next-day pay, contractor invoices and hiring tools such as job postings and an applicant tracking system.
- Premium: $180 a month plus $22 per person, adding a named adviser, HR guidance, Gusto Business Compliance (registered agent, annual reports, foreign qualification) and same-day pay.
Who qualifies
Any business that pays people in the US. You need a US entity, an EIN and a US bank account to run payroll. If you are a solo S corp founder, Gusto points you to a separate Solo plan.
Good to know
- Many useful items are add-ons on Simple: state tax registration in new states, time tracking, 401(k), workers' compensation, background checks and global contractor payments (120+ countries, per-payment fee).
- The page says there are no contracts and account setup is free; you can switch or cancel any time.
- Benefits such as health insurance are priced separately from the payroll fee.
Verdict
Gusto is the default choice for a US startup hiring its first employees. Simple is enough for a single-state team; move to Plus once you hire in a second state or need time tracking. Budget the per-person fee, not just the base price.
How to apply
- Open the Gusto pricing page and pick Simple, Plus or Premium.
- Click Get started and create your company account.
- Add your EIN, company bank account and state tax details.
- Invite your team so they can self-onboard (W-4s, I-9s, bank details).
- Run your first payroll; Gusto files and pays the payroll taxes.
Who it is for
Steps Gusto helps with
Pros
- Unlimited payroll runs and automatic tax filing on every plan
- Clear published pricing, no contract
- Benefits, onboarding and contractor payments in one tool
Cons
- Per-person fee adds up as you grow
- Multi-state payroll and time tracking need Plus or add-ons
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