{"question": "best payroll software for freelancers", "category": "payroll-software", "category_name": "payroll software", "audience": "freelancers", "audience_name": "freelancers", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-01T00:17:04Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-freelancers-2026-10-01", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/payroll-software/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Gusto", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "OnPay", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Patriot Payroll", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Square", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Wave", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "QuickBooks Online", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "QuickBooks Self-Employed", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Collective", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Lettuce", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-service-for-one-employee", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://onpay.com/payroll/software/industries/s-corp-payroll/", "domain": "onpay.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.selfemployed.com/payroll-options-for-self-employed-business-owners/", "domain": "selfemployed.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://fitsmallbusiness.com/self-employed-payroll/", "domain": "fitsmallbusiness.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/learn/how-to-pay-yourself-as-an-llc", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/", "domain": "selfemployed.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://lettuce.co/resources/best-payroll-software-for-solopreneurs-more-take-home-pay", "domain": "lettuce.co", "source_type": "vendor"}], "answer_text": "## First, the honest caveat\n\nIf you're a sole proprietor or a default single-member LLC, you probably don't need payroll software at all. You pay yourself with owner's draws - just move money from business to personal - and handle taxes via quarterly estimates. Payroll only becomes necessary when you've **elected S-corp taxation** (which requires a W-2 \"reasonable salary\"), or you're **paying other people** (subcontractors or an assistant).\n\nAssuming one of those applies, here's what I'd actually recommend, in order:\n\n**1. Gusto** - My default pick. It handles the solo S-corp case cleanly (one-employee payroll, auto-filed 941s, year-end W-2), files in all 50 states, and bundles contractor payments with automatic 1099-NECs. The interface is genuinely pleasant, which matters when you're doing this yourself with no HR person. Contractor-only plans are cheap if you're not on payroll yet. Main knock: base fee + per-person pricing adds up.\n\n**2. OnPay** - Best value if you want one flat price with nothing gated behind tiers. Everything included: multi-state, tax filings, W-2s and 1099s. They specifically market to solo S-corps. Less polished than Gusto, but you won't get upsold.\n\n**3. Pa", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}