Gusto
Gusto runs payroll, benefits, and core HR from one dashboard built for small and growing US companies. It automates tax filing, direct deposit, and new-hire paperwork, freeing owners from repetitive back-office admin work.
What is Gusto used for?
Gusto centralizes payroll, benefits, and HR administration for small and mid-sized US businesses. Owners run payroll, file taxes, and manage employee data without juggling separate spreadsheets or disconnected vendor systems.
Automated tax calculations, W-2 and 1099 filings, and multi-state payroll reduce compliance risk. Built-in time tracking, PTO management, and onboarding workflows keep employee records synchronized as headcount changes month to month.
Employees get self-service access to pay stubs, benefits enrollment, and tax documents. Native integrations with accounting, time-tracking, and hiring tools let growing teams extend Gusto without replacing existing software.
Pros & cons
- Fast five-minute payroll runs
- Strong third-party integrations
- Lifetime employee self-service
- Limited after-hours support
- Global hiring gets costly
- Add-ons raise costs quickly
- Standard deposit takes days
FAQs
Features
AutoPilot Payroll
Payroll runs on a fixed schedule without manual submission each cycle. AutoPilot calculates wages, garnishments, and reimbursements automatically, then routes direct deposits on time. Owners still review every run before funds move, keeping oversight intact.
Automated Tax Filing
Gusto calculates, files, and pays federal, state, and local payroll taxes on a business's behalf. New-hire reporting is submitted automatically to the relevant state agency, reducing the paperwork burden after every hire.
Multi-State Payroll Support
Businesses hiring across state lines get automatic tax registration guidance and jurisdiction-specific withholding calculations. This removes the manual research typically required when a team expands beyond its home state.
Employee Self-Service Portal
Employees and contractors access pay stubs, W-2s, and time-off balances through their own login, even after they leave the company. This cuts down the volume of routine HR requests reaching managers.
Built-In Benefits Administration
Health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits are set up and managed inside the same dashboard used for payroll. Enrollment changes sync directly into payroll deductions without separate data entry.
Hiring and Onboarding Tools
Digital offer letters, background checks, and I-9/W-4 collection move new hires from acceptance to first paycheck inside one workflow. Document storage keeps onboarding records organized and easy to retrieve later.