Originally published in February 2024. Last updated on March 18th, 2025.
Running a small business is already a full-time job, so why let payroll add to the stress?
Make payroll a quick and repeatable process by choosing a strong payroll system that’s built for a small field service business like yours.
Whether you’re dealing with full-time employees, contractors, or both, finding the best payroll software for small business success ensures that paying your team is smooth, stress-free, and cost-effective.
There are lots of software options to choose from, so we’ll help you narrow it down. Here are the 8 best small business payroll solutions that are fast, easy to learn, and affordable.
Our top picks for the best small business payroll software:
-
Gusto: Best overall payroll system
-
Patriot Software: Best software for managing contractor payments
-
OnPay: Best for ensuring tax compliance
-
RUN Powered by ADP: Best for advanced payroll features
-
QuickBooks Payroll: Best for accounting and payroll
-
Paychex: Best solution for customer support
-
Payroll4Free: Best free payroll software
-
Justworks: Best for international payroll
-
How to choose the best payroll software
How we chose the best small business payroll software
To find the best payroll for small businesses, we focused on common payroll tasks and features such as:
- Paycheck or direct deposit handling
- Payroll calculations and tax compliance
- Customer support
- Payroll data and reporting
We looked at dozens of payroll systems and read user reviews on sites such as G2 and GetApp to ensure our top picks deliver reliability and value.
When available, we watched app tutorials to see these software solutions in action and determine ease of use. The result is this curated list of the best small business payroll software for all of your business needs.
1. Gusto: Best overall payroll system
Gusto is the best payroll software for small businesses that want to keep payroll simple. It was voted the best overall payroll software by Nerdwallet, and was at the top of several year-end lists for payroll software in 2024.
Running payroll in Gusto is incredibly easy—the software breaks it down into a four-step process. It’s also easy to update employee pay details, like hourly rate, at every step.
Gusto doesn’t hide its best features behind big price tags. Even on its most basic plan, Gusto lets you perform unlimited payroll runs, calculate and file payroll taxes automatically, and manage any employee benefits.
It also offers a cheaper “Contractor Only” plan if you work with independent contractors (1099 employees) or haven’t hired salaried workers yet.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Simple employee onboarding experience • Clear and concise tax information • Easy employee self service portal • Offline clock-in and clock-out timer • Unlimited chat, email, and phone support | • No dedicated mobile app |
Save even more time on your payroll by combining it with a scheduling app to streamline the process.
Jobber handles your time tracking, including having your team members clock in and out through the Jobber field service mobile app.
Once approved, your timesheets and reimbursable expenses sync to Gusto where your payroll is processed.
2. Patriot Software: Best software for managing contractor payments
If you’re running payroll for the first time and need to pay both employees and contractors, Patriot could be a good place to start.
Patriot offers a simple setup process and lots of flexibility. During the setup process, Patriot teaches you the fundamentals of payroll processing, along with links to helpful resources and state-specific compliance information.
Once you’re set up, Patriot lets you process salaried employees, hourly employees, and contractors in the same pay run. Other payroll software will force you to process contractor pay separately, so this is a great option to save time and optimize your workflows.
Patriot also gives you flexible options for the types of pay your employees can receive and the hours they can work (like holidays, double time, etc).
| Pros | Cons |
| • Comprehensive setup process • Easy employee portal • Make contractor payments | • No dedicated mobile app • Can’t export reports as PDF or Excel files • Setup process is too slow for experienced payroll software users |
3. OnPay: Best for ensuring tax compliance
OnPay offers payroll processing and human resource management on a sleek and straightforward platform.
Like most payroll software, OnPay automatically calculates payroll taxes, lets you customize how you run payroll, and gives your employees access to pay records. The platform offers regular updates and resources that keep you updated with payroll tax laws and regulations
Similar to Patriot Payroll, OnPay works hard to educate business owners who are new to payroll processing and employee management. You can also create employee handbooks to support your onboarding process.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Transparent pricing with a simple pricing model • First month and setup are free • Phone, email, and live chat support | • No fully automated payroll approval • Can’t process bonuses or commissions • Can’t manage paid time off |
4. RUN Powered by ADP: Best for advanced payroll features
RUN Powered by ADP is a good payroll solution for teams that want to bundle it with their accounting software.
With accounting tools on the same platform, RUN keeps your financial and employee management systems in one place.
While automating your payroll tax filings and making accurate calculations, RUN also offers:
- Direct deposit for employees
- Garnishment payment services
- Detailed, customizable payroll reports
RUN has a variety of add-on options that can take your payroll processing above and beyond and attract employees, such as retirement solutions and group health insurance plans.
However, time tracking, which is a basic feature many of the best small business payroll solutions include, is an add-on option with RUN.
READ MORE: 6 best employee time clock apps
RUN also connects with tons of small business apps, including QuickBooks Online, ZipRecruiter, and 7Shifts. Employees can also track time from the RUN mobile app.
| Pros | Cons |
| • First three months are free • Payroll packages are easy to create • Real-time reminders for pay periods • Workers’ compensation insurance | • Charges setup fees (unless you go with a contract) • Lack of pricing transparency • Need to purchase a separate plan to pay 1099 contractors |
5. QuickBooks Payroll: Best for accounting and payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is an additional tool that’s bundled with QuickBooks Online, a top accounting app for small businesses.
This payroll service is great for teams that are already comfortable with QuickBooks Online and want to keep their payroll and other accounting workflows connected.
You can complete every payroll processing task you need to in QuickBooks Payroll, including automated tax calculations, giving employees access to pay records, and reporting.
However, if you’re not already using QuickBooks Online, consider a simpler alternative like Gusto.
| Pros | Cons |
| • More advanced payroll tax calculations than other apps • Includes job costing feature • Unlimited payroll runs | • No self-serve payroll onboarding for employees • Must pay additional filing fees for employees in other states • 24/7 support only available on their Elite plan |
Pro Tip: Using QuickBooks Online already? Connect it with Jobber to keep your payment and client data accurate.
6. Paychex: Best solution for customer support
Paychex is a beginner-friendly payroll solution that stands out with great customer support. Paychex users have a dedicated payroll specialist as a go-to contact for questions or issues.
Because it’s also HR software, Paychex lets you create very detailed profiles for your employees. In these profiles, you can store as much information as you need using an unlimited number of custom fields—which few payroll services offer.
Paychex packs a lot of information on-screen, which can look overwhelming compared to software programs like Gusto. You may have to rely on customer support at the beginning to ensure that you aren’t missing anything.
| Pros | Cons |
| • 24/7 live phone support • Process bonuses and commissions • Manages paid time off • Access to expert tax services | • More expensive than most payroll software • Interface can be cluttered and overwhelming |
See more app reviews:
7. Payroll4Free: Best free payroll software
Payroll4Free is the best payroll software for small businesses on a budget as it is completely free.
Payroll4Free is a straightforward program for teams of 10 or less. You can use it to complete basic, essential payroll functions, including calculating taxes and paying via direct deposit.
While Payroll4Free offers unlimited payroll runs, customization for payroll settings and reports is limited compared to most paid alternatives.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Offers optional full-service tax filing support • Very helpful customer support reps • Pay employees and contractors | • Only compatible with Windows • Ads within the software • Doesn’t integrate with other apps |
8. Justworks: Best for international payroll
Justworks is comprehensive HR and payroll software that can act as your full-service payroll and HR team. In addition to payroll, it handles insurance, employee training, and tax compliance.
Justworks is ideal for growing teams that have complex payroll and HR needs. You can create employee handbooks, report on new hire performance, create and manage offer letters, and find templates for workplace policies.
One of Justworks’ top features is its global payroll—pay contractors in different countries in their currencies using a single payroll system. This is also a great feature if your business has international vendors or suppliers.
If you don’t mind paying more for all these features, Justworks is a solid option.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Includes time tracking and expense management feature • Choose from multiple salary structures | • Employee deposits take long to process • Slow mobile app • Limited third-party integrations |
How to choose the best payroll software for small business needs
If you’re still wondering what is the best payroll software for small business management, you’re not alone.
With so many great payroll services out there, it can be challenging to pick the right one. The best choice depends on your business’s unique needs. Here’s what to consider before making your decision:
- Pay structure. Do you have employees, contractors, or both? Do you have an employee bonus program, manage any benefits, or pay out commission?
- Features. What payroll functions do you want? Do you need a wider set of employee management and HR tools? Or just the basics, like tax filing and pay reports?
- Team size. Are you paying two employees or twenty? Think ahead to how your business will grow. Some apps only accommodate a certain number of users before you have to pay for more or choose a higher-tier plan.
- Cost. What are you willing to pay for? Will more advanced pay record reporting, salary structure options, and automation be worth a higher subscription price? Or are you happy with basic payroll service at a lower cost (or no cost)?
There isn’t one payroll app that fits all small businesses—so come back to this guide when you need help choosing one that fits the way you work.