🔍 In-Depth Review • Payroll & HR
Software Review
Gusto Payroll Review: Full-Service Payroll for LLCs Tested
Gusto is full-service payroll, benefits, and HR built for modern LLCs and small businesses. We tested pricing, features, and support to see if it’s the best payroll for LLC owners who want to automate taxes and stay compliant.
Quick Verdict
Our Verdict After Testing Gusto
Bottom line: Best payroll for small LLCs that want hands-off taxes and easy onboarding.
Gusto handles payroll, W-2s, 1099s, benefits, and auto tax filing in all 50 states. Simple is enough for single-state LLCs, Plus adds multi-state and time tracking, Premium adds HR experts and compliance alerts.
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Who Gusto Is Best For
Gusto is built for LLCs, S-corps, startups, and small businesses with 1-100 employees or contractors. If you need full-service payroll with automatic tax filing, benefits, and self-serve onboarding, it’s the easiest to run.
✅ Pros
- Full-service: auto files payroll taxes, W-2s, 1099s
- Simple to run payroll in 5 minutes
- Contractor-only plan $35 + $6 per contractor
- Health benefits, 401(k), time tracking integrations
- Great employee self-serve portal + mobile
- Multi-state payroll on Plus/Premium
❌ Cons
- Base + per-person pricing adds up past 20 employees
- Simple plan single-state only, no time tracking
- No international payroll (needs Gusto Global add-on)
- Premium $180/mo is steep for small teams
- Phone support limited hours on Simple
Pricing
Gusto Pricing Plans
Billed monthly. Base fee + per-person fee. Contractor-only available if you only pay 1099s. Save with annual promos often advertised.
- ✅ Full-service single-state payroll
- ✅ Auto tax filing (federal, state, local)
- ✅ W-2s & 1099s filed
- ✅ Employee self-service portal
- ✅ Basic hiring & onboarding
- — No multi-state, no time tracking
- ✅ Everything in Simple
- ✅ Multi-state payroll
- ✅ Next-day direct deposit
- ✅ Time tracking, PTO, scheduling
- ✅ Advanced hiring & onboarding
- ✅ Performance reviews & HR tools
- ✅ Everything in Plus
- ✅ Dedicated Customer Success Manager
- ✅ Certified HR experts + resources
- ✅ Compliance alerts & proactive guidance
- ✅ Priority support
- ✅ Advanced reporting & insights
Features Tested
What You Actually Get With Gusto
Full-Service Payroll
Run payroll in clicks, auto-calculates taxes, files with IRS and state, sends W-2s/1099s.
Onboarding
Self-serve onboarding: offer letters, e-signatures, direct deposit, benefits enrollment.
Benefits
Health insurance, 401(k), HSA/FSA, workers’ comp — managed in one place with payroll sync.
Time & PTO
Plus+ includes time tracking, time-off requests, overtime, and automatic sync to payroll.
Employee App
Employees check pay stubs, W-2s, PTO balance, and update info via mobile app.
Compliance
Compliance alerts, HR resource center, and certified HR pros on Premium for audits and policies.
How It Works
Getting Started With Gusto
Add Company & Employees
Enter LLC details, EIN, and add W-2 or 1099 workers. Gusto checks tax IDs and filing status.
Connect Time & Benefits
Connect time tracking, choose benefits, and employees self-onboard with direct deposit.
Run Payroll
Set schedule, review hours, approve. Gusto calculates deductions and files taxes automatically.
Auto File & Stay Compliant
W-2s, 1099s, new hire reports auto-filed. Get alerts for deadlines and labor law changes.
Comparison
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll vs Rippling
| Factor | Gusto | QuickBooks Payroll | Rippling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $49+$6 to $180+$22 base+pp | $45+$8 to $125+$10 | $35+$8 custom |
| Full-service tax filing | Yes, all plans | Yes, all plans | Yes |
| Contractor-only plan | $35+$6 | No, pay per person | Yes |
| Benefits admin | Health, 401k, HSA | Health, 401k via partners | Extensive + IT |
| Best for | LLCs 1-100 wanting simple payroll | QuickBooks users | Tech startups needing IT + HR |
Final Checklist
Should You Use Gusto?
Ready to Automate Payroll for Your LLC?
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Gusto Review FAQ
How much does Gusto cost for an LLC?
Simple $49/mo + $6/person, Plus $80/mo + $12/person, Premium $180/mo + $22/person. Contractor-only $35/mo + $6/contractor. Most LLCs pick Plus for multi-state and time tracking.
Does Gusto file payroll taxes for me?
Yes. All plans include automatic federal, state, and local tax calculations, filings, and payments, plus year-end W-2s and 1099s.
Is Gusto good for one-person LLCs?
Yes. Even solo LLCs taxed as S-corp need payroll. Gusto handles owner payroll and contractor payments with auto tax filing.
Can Gusto replace my accountant?
Gusto handles payroll taxes, but you still need a CPA for business taxes and bookkeeping. Gusto has accountant partner access.