{"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": "2026-10-25T23:18:11Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-small-businesses-2026-10-25", "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": "Patriot", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "QuickBooks", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "QuickBooks Online", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Square", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Square Payroll", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Square POS", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "ADP RUN", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Choose", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Homebase", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Patriot Payroll", "label": "mentioned"}], "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://www.g2.com/compare/onpay-vs-patriot-payroll", "domain": "g2.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.techrepublic.com/article/patriot-payroll-alternatives/", "domain": "techrepublic.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-cheap-payroll-services", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}], "answer_text": "Here's how I'd rank them for a typical US small business:\n\n**1. Gusto** - My default recommendation. Full-service payroll (files and pays federal/state/local taxes automatically), unlimited runs, and the best onboarding/employee self-service experience in the category. It's also a real HR platform: benefits administration, 401(k), offer letters, I-9s. Around $49/mo + $6/employee. Pick this unless you have a specific reason not to.\n\n**2. OnPay** - Best if you want full-service payroll with no upselling and no feature tiers. One flat price (~$49/mo + $6/employee) gets you everything, including multi-state filing, which many competitors charge extra for. Strong choice for multi-state employers and for businesses with unusual payroll needs (agriculture, nonprofits, churches - it handles clergy pay and farm workers, which most tools don't).\n\n**3. Patriot Software** - The value pick, by a wide margin: ~$17/mo + $4/employee, roughly half of Gusto at most team sizes. You give up the slick benefits/HR layer, but the payroll engine and tax filing are solid and support is well-reviewed. Good if you're under ~15 people and just need paychecks and tax filings done correctly.\n\n**4. QuickBooks 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"}}