{"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": "2026-10-25T23:19:10Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-freelancers-2026-10-25", "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": "Patriot Payroll", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "OnPay", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "SurePayroll", "label": "compared"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Collective", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Square", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Square Payroll", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Wave", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Deel", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Wise", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/articles/payroll/owners-draw-overview", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://1800accountant.com/blog/how-to-pay-yourself-sole-proprietor", "domain": "1800accountant.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/best-contractor-payroll-software", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/guides/switch-payroll-providers/square-pricing", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/best-payroll-service-for-one-employee", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/best-cheap-payroll-services", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.collective.com/blog/money-management/payroll-solutions-for-solopreneurs-a-comparison-guide", "domain": "collective.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://softwarefinder.com/resources/best-payroll-for-s-corp", "domain": "softwarefinder.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.selfemployed.com/affordable-payroll-software-2026/", "domain": "selfemployed.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "Quick framing first, because it changes the answer completely: **if you're a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, you can't put yourself on payroll at all.** You take owner's draws and pay quarterly estimated self-employment tax - payroll software would be wasted money. Payroll only becomes relevant if you've elected S-corp taxation (then the IRS requires a \"reasonable\" W-2 salary), or if you're paying *other* freelancers. ([Gusto](https://gusto.com/resources/articles/payroll/owners-draw-overview), [1-800Accountant](https://1800accountant.com/blog/how-to-pay-yourself-sole-proprietor))\n\n## If you're an S-corp owner paying yourself\n\n**Patriot Payroll** - the value pick. Full Service is about $37/mo + $5/worker, Basic (you file taxes yourself) $17/mo + $4. For one owner-employee running the same salary every month, you don't need more than this, and nothing else is cheaper for full tax filing.\n\n**Gusto** - what I'd pick if I wanted the S-corp hand-holding. It's the one built around owner-employees specifically: reasonable-salary calculator, Form 2553 S-corp election help, automatic W-2/1099 at year end. Starts around $49/mo + $6/person, so you're paying ~$15/mo extra over Patriot for", "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"}}