{"question": "best payroll software for small businesses", "category": "payroll-software", "category_name": "payroll software", "audience": "small-businesses", "audience_name": "small businesses", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-05T00:02:43Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-small-businesses-2026-10-05", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/payroll-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Gusto", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "OnPay", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks Online", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Square", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Square POS", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Patriot", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "SurePayroll", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "ADP RUN", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Paychex", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Rippling", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-payroll-software-reviews/", "domain": "fitsmallbusiness.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/best-payroll-software/", "domain": "business.org", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://onpay.com/payroll/best-payroll-services/onpay-vs-gusto/", "domain": "onpay.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://onpay.com/payroll/best-payroll-services/quickbooks-vs-gusto/", "domain": "onpay.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.business.com/articles/gusto-vs-quickbooks-payroll-software/", "domain": "business.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.selectsoftwarereviews.com/buyer-guide/small-business-payroll-software", "domain": "selectsoftwarereviews.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "## Best payroll software for small businesses\n\n**1. Gusto - best overall for most small businesses.** The most polished experience in the category: automated tax filing in all 50 states, employee self-onboarding, benefits administration, and contractor payments all in one place. Roughly $49/month + $6/employee. The catch: the entry-level Simple plan is single-state only, so if you have remote workers in other states you're pushed into a plan that nearly doubles your cost.\n\n**2. OnPay - best value, and best if you pay people in multiple states.** Same ~$49/month + $6/worker as Gusto, but multi-state payroll, W-2s and 1099s, and basic HR tools are all included at that one flat price with no add-on tiers. It also handles unusual payroll situations well (farms, churches, restaurants with tipped wages). G2 ranked it #1 in its Summer 2026 payroll index. Interface is less flashy than Gusto's; that's the trade.\n\n**3. QuickBooks Payroll (QuickBooks Workforce) - if you already run QuickBooks Online.** The accounting integration is genuinely seamless, which saves real reconciliation time. About $50/month + $7/employee. Don't choose it if you aren't already a QuickBooks shop - it's not worth i", "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"}}