{"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": "2026-10-13T23:22:21Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-freelancers-2026-10-13", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/payroll-software/freelancers", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Gusto", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Patriot", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "OnPay", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "QuickBooks Online", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Square Payroll", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "QuickBooks Contractor Payments", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Wise", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Gusto Contractor", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Gusto Contractor-Only", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Remote", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Deel", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "Wave", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 14, "brand": "FreshBooks", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-service-for-one-employee", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/compare/patriot-software-vs-gusto/", "domain": "patriotsoftware.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/", "domain": "selfemployed.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://wise.com/us/blog/batchtransfer-contractor-payroll-software", "domain": "wise.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/software/hr/gusto", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://resources.rework.com/tools/erp-finance/best-patriot-software-alternatives", "domain": "resources.rework.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "## First, the honest framing\n\nIf you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC (default tax treatment), **you don't need payroll software at all.** You can't legally put yourself on payroll - you take owner's draws and pay quarterly estimated taxes. Buying payroll for that is wasted money.\n\nPayroll actually matters for freelancers in two cases. Here's what I'd pick for each.\n\n## If you've elected S-corp (you must pay yourself a W-2 salary)\n\n1. **Gusto** - my default pick. $49/mo + $6/person, and it's the only one with S-corp-specific tooling: reasonable-salary calculator, Form 2553 election help, automatic federal/state/local filings. For a one-person S-corp that's ~$55/mo. ([Gusto](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-payroll-service-for-one-employee))\n2. **Patriot Software** - pick this if cost is the deciding factor. Full Service is $37/mo + $5 per worker *paid*, so ~$42/mo (~$504/yr vs Gusto's ~$660). Same core job, less polish, no S-corp advisory. ([Patriot](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/compare/patriot-software-vs-gusto/))\n3. **OnPay** - $49/mo + $6/person with no feature gating; everything's in one tier. Good if you dislike being upsold.\n4. **QuickBooks Payroll*", "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"}}