Gusto: Payroll-Centric HR for Small Businesses

Gusto has positioned itself as a leading solution for small businesses with straightforward HR needs. It combines robust payroll tools with benefits administration, onboarding, and compliance support. Gusto’s simplicity and affordability make it an ideal HRIS choice for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Ideal For: Small businesses seeking an affordable and easy-to-use HRIS focused on payroll and benefits management.

1. Payroll and Tax Filing:

• Full-service payroll for federal, state, and local tax filings.
• Multi-state payroll support with automated compliance.
• Next-day direct deposit for eligible plans.

2. Benefits Administration:

• Offers health insurance, 401(k) plans, and commuter benefits.
• Gusto Wallet helps employees manage savings and early paycheck access.

3. Onboarding and Compliance:

• E-signature tools for onboarding documents.
• Customizable new hire checklists and training workflows.

4. Employee Engagement Tools:

• Basic goal-setting and feedback tools for performance tracking.
• Surveys to measure employee satisfaction.

5. Time Tracking and PTO:

• Time-off requests and approvals integrated with payroll.
• Automatic calculation of PTO accruals.

6. Self-Service Portal:

• Employees can view pay stubs, update personal information, and manage benefits.

7. Integrations:

• Connects with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero.

For Employees:

• Empowered Access: Self-service portals allow employees to track PTO, access pay stubs, and enroll in benefits.
• Financial Wellness: Gusto Wallet provides financial tools and early access to wages.

For Managers:

• Efficient Approvals: Simple dashboards for managing payroll, PTO requests, and benefits enrollment.
• Visibility: Real-time reporting on payroll and employee expenses.

For HR Teams:

• Automation: Automates payroll, tax filings, and compliance reporting to save time.
• Simplicity: Easy-to-navigate interface designed for teams without a dedicated HR expert.

For Payroll:

• Seamless Tax Filing: Automatically handles deductions, filings, and compliance.
• Multi-State Support: Simplifies payroll across multiple locations.

1. Affordable and User-Friendly: Designed with small businesses in mind.
2. Comprehensive Payroll Features: Simplifies payroll and tax compliance for smaller teams.
3. Employee Financial Wellness: Unique features like Gusto Wallet support employees’ financial health.

• Simple Plan: $40/month base + $6 per employee.
• Plus Plan: $80/month base + $12 per employee.
• Premium Plan: $180/month base + $22 per employee.

1. Limited for Larger Teams: Not ideal for businesses scaling beyond 50 employees.
2. Advanced Features Missing: Performance management and global payroll are not included.