{"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": "2026-10-15T23:41:48Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-small-businesses-2026-10-15", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/payroll-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Gusto", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "OnPay", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Patriot", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "QuickBooks Online", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Square", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Square Payroll", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Square POS", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "ADP RUN", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Paychex", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Paychex Flex", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Homebase", "label": "recommended"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/software/best/payroll", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/best-payroll-software", "domain": "joinhomebase.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses/", "domain": "patriotsoftware.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/guides/adp-competitors", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.techradar.com/uk/in/best/best-payroll-software", "domain": "techradar.com", "source_type": "review"}], "answer_text": "Here's what I'd actually recommend, roughly in the order I'd suggest them:\n\n**1. Gusto** - My default recommendation for most small businesses. Full-service payroll (files and pays federal/state/local taxes automatically), unlimited pay runs, next-day direct deposit, plus benefits administration, 401(k), and contractor payments in the same system. It's the one most people find genuinely easy to use, and the pricing is published: ~$49/mo + $6/employee. Best fit if you have real W-2 employees and expect to add benefits.\n\n**2. OnPay** - The best value if you want full-service payroll without upsells. Same headline price as Gusto (~$49/mo + $6/worker), but everything is included in one tier - multi-state payroll, benefits, unlimited runs, all tax filings. No feature gating as you grow. Especially good if you employ people in more than one state, and it has solid industry-specific handling (restaurants, farms, nonprofits, churches).\n\n**3. Patriot Software** - The budget pick, at roughly $17/mo + $4/employee. If you have a handful of employees, a simple setup, and mainly want accurate paychecks and tax filings without paying for HR features you won't use, this is the cheapest credible op", "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"}}