Choosing Payroll Software Tools for Startups
Running a startup typically involves building a product, forming a brand, supporting a team, and trying to keep it all going. Payroll management is one of the most time-consuming and stressful tasks. Even small mistakes can lead to compliance issues, employee dissatisfaction, and extra work. This is why choosing the right payroll software for your startup is one of the smartest decisions you can make. A good payroll solution will do just that. It helps you automate repetitive tasks, comply with local laws, manage employee information, and ensure everyone is paid accurately and on time. You can also have peace of mind knowing that all your payroll processes are managed while you focus on growing your business.
With so many tools available, it can be hard to know where to start. The key is to choose software that not only fits your current business needs, but also adapts to your team’s growth. Factors such as ease of use, pricing, customer support, integrations, and compliance features are all important in making the best choice. In this article, we’ll review the 10 best payroll software tools for startups to help you understand what each option has to offer and choose the one that fits your needs.
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Advantages of using a payroll service for startups
It saves you valuable time so you can focus on growing your business. Reduce errors by automating calculations, taxes, and payments. Helps you stay compliant with changing laws and regulations. Ensure employees receive paychecks accurately and on time. Easily access reports for budgeting and planning. Tax filing and year-end paperwork will be simplified. Increase security by protecting sensitive payroll data. Scale with your startup as your team grows. You can rest assured knowing that complex work will be handled by experts.
10 Best Salary Providers for Startups
1.Gust
Best use
Small to medium sized startups in the US looking for an easy and friendly payroll and HR solution.
Pros Very user friendly setup. Full payroll services (including tax filing). Great integration of benefits. Powerful onboarding tools. Great support for contractors and employees. Cons Adding employees or advanced HR features can increase costs. Some advanced features are reserved for higher tiers. Notable Features Unlimited payment executions. Automated federal/state tax filing. Self-service by employees. Benefits (health, 401(k)) integration. Time tracking addon. Starter template for startups. Pricing Simple Plan: $49 per month, plus $6 per person per month. Plus Plan: $80 per month, plus $12 per person per month. Premium Plan: $180 per month, plus $22 per person per month.
Check out Gusto’s plans for the latest offers and startup promotions.
2. Ripples
Best use
Startups looking to integrate payroll with IT, HRIS, device and app management.
Pros Very modular (HR, benefits, device management). Powerful automation across HR, payroll, and IT. Scalable. Cons More complex and expensive than niche salary calculators. Prices are often custom, so a quote is required. If you only need basic payroll calculations, the learning curve will be steeper. Notable Features Unify employee data across payroll, benefits, and apps. Automated onboarding and offboarding. Global payroll and contractor capabilities. Many integrations. Pricing
A custom quote is usually provided. However, Ripling offers modular pricing and a platform approach, so please contact our sales team for startup pricing.
3. Execution by ADP
Best use
Start-up companies looking for a reliable tax compliance and optional HR support provider.
Strengths Payroll and tax expertise. A wide range of package options for small to medium-sized businesses. Strong compliance support. Payroll tax return. Cons The interface and pricing can feel more corporate. Online prices for some packages are less transparent. This may be overkill for very small teams that need simple tools. Notable Features Tiered packages (from base pay to complete HR bundles). Payroll tax return. Veteran support. Integration (time, profit, accounting). Pricing
ADP offers various levels of small business packages. Some starting prices for small salary packages are public, but many plans require a request for quote. ADP often shows low starting prices in marketing materials, but these numbers are just examples.
4. Salary
Best use
Start-up companies needing payroll services, benefits and retirement plan support.
Pros Complete payroll processing. Tax administration. Integrating benefits and retirement benefits. Scalable. Strong customer service. Cons Prices are often customized and can be more expensive than competing brands. Some small startups may feel that their services include more than they actually need. Notable Features Automatic payroll calculation and tax filing. Integrated benefits and 401(k) options. Employee management tools. Compliance resources. Pricing
Paychex typically provides custom quotes. A typical review might give you basic numbers like “starting at about $39 per month, plus per-employee fees” for entry-level packages. However, it is better to get a personalized quote.
5.QuickBooks Payroll Calculation
Best use
A startup company that already uses QuickBooks Accounting and wants to simplify bookkeeping and payroll integration.
Pros Smooth QuickBooks integration. Automatic tax filing. Multiple pay tiers (Core/Premium/Elite) to suit your growing team. Familiar with accountants. Cons If you don’t use QuickBooks, you won’t benefit from the same features. Some advanced payroll and HR features are only available on higher-tier plans. Notable Features Direct integration with QuickBooks Online. Automatic tax deposit and filing. Next day direct deposit option on certain plans. Additional HR and support add-ons. Payroll Core and Simple Start pricing: $26.40 per month, plus $6.50 per employee per month. Payroll Core and Essentials: $37.50 per month, plus $6.50 per employee per month. Payroll Premium and Plus: $60.90 per month, plus $10 per employee per month.
Prices are subject to change, so check our QuickBooks Payroll Pricing page for specific costs and current promotions.
6. Square Payroll
Best use
Small retail, cafe, and restaurant startups that already use Square for payments, or businesses with tipped employees.
Advantages Simple pricing. Ideal for teams with both traditional employees (W-2) and independent contractors (1099). It has built-in chip tracking and timecard functionality that works with Square POS. An affordable option for payroll specifically for contractors. Cons Not as many features as larger HR platforms. If you need complex HR processes or international payroll, this may not be the best choice. Featured Features Limited plan available for subscribers. Payroll calculation for both employees and contractors. Hint tracking. Integration with Square POS and Square Team. Direct deposit. US team tax filing. Full-service payroll pricing: $35 per month plus an additional $6 for each person paid. Contractor-only payroll: $6 per person per month.
Check out Square’s official pricing page for the latest information.
7. OnPay
Best use
Start-ups looking for clear and affordable pricing with basic payroll and HR functionality.
Advantages: Easy-to-understand pricing. Unlimited payroll calculations. This includes payroll tax returns. Strong customer support. Simple setup. Small team friendly. Cons Less advanced HR functionality for large enterprises compared to full HCM platforms. Notable Features Unlimited payroll calculations. Processing the W-2/1099 form. Year-end tax return. Multi-state payroll support. Easy-to-understand help for onboarding and migration. Pricing
There’s only one plan, with a base price of $49 per month and additional charges of $6 per person per month. Please refer to the OnPay pricing page for the latest details.
8. Deal
Best use
Start-up companies that employ global contractors or foreign employees and require compliant payroll and employer of record (EOR) services for cross-border operations.
Pros Strong international salary. Easy payments for subscribers. Option to hire without the need for local organizations. Payment in multiple currencies. Local compliance support. Cons International services and EOR options can increase costs. Prices vary by country and type of service. Deel is more than just a tool for local payroll. Notable Features Global contractor payroll. EOR services that assume responsibility for local employers. Contractor Management. Resources for localized contracts and compliance. Deel EOR pricing: $599 per employee per month. Deel Contractor Management: $49 per month per contractor. Deel registered subscribers: $325 per month per subscriber. Deel PEO: $95 per employee per month. Deel US Payroll: Custom Quotes. Deel Global Payroll: $29 per employee per month.
Check out Deel’s pricing page for country-specific details.
9. Remote
Best use
Startups that hire internationally and need global payroll or EOR services with transparent pricing.
Pros Clear options for contractor payroll. Complete global payroll and EOR. Manage local taxes and benefits. Useful for startups growing across borders. Cons EOR and full global employment can be costly for very small teams. Additional features and specific country details may increase total cost. Notable Features Contractor Management. Global Salary. EOR service. Integrated with HRIS. Local compliance support. Pricing Employers of record: $699 per employee per month. Salary: $29 per employee per month. Contractor Management: $29 per month per contractor. Contractor Management Plus: $99 per month per contractor. Registered Contractors: Starting at $325 per month per contractor. Professional Employer Organizations: Starting at $99 per employee per month. Capital: Starting at $39/year.
If you’re a startup, check out Remote’s pricing page for customized pricing.
10.Zenefit
Best use
Start-ups looking for an HR platform that includes payroll as an optional feature. This is great if you want to manage your HR, benefits, and payroll in one place.
Pros Competitive pricing for each employee using the HR platform. Integrated benefits management. Time and attendance tracking. Optional payroll add-on. Cons Payroll is an add-on to the base HR plan, so the total cost will vary depending on the modules you choose. Some startups may prefer a dedicated payroll service rather than an all-in-one HR solution. Onboarding notable features. Vacation management. Employee records. Benefits and tools for ACA compliance. Optional payroll and tax reporting module. various planning stages. Pricing
Zenefits typically offers a monthly fee for per-employee HR plans, with additional options for salary and benefits. To see exact pricing and minimum requirements for each module, visit Zenefit’s site or request a demo.
easy tips
If you use QuickBooks for your accounting, QuickBooks Payroll makes your bookkeeping easier. If you plan to hire talent overseas, choose Deel, Remote, or Rippling for global payroll and EOR support. For simple, low-cost contractor payroll, Square and similar services are good options. If you want a user-friendly startup experience with strong rewards options, Gusto and OnPay are often recommended.
conclusion
Choosing the right payroll provider can make a big difference in the smooth running of your startup. Whether you want something simple and budget-friendly or a complete platform that scales as you grow, each option has its own strengths. The key is to understand what your team needs now and what it will need in a few months. To simplify your decision-making process, visit our payroll software directory and filter solutions according to your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, reliable payroll will help your startup succeed.
