{"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": "2026-10-28T00:41:14Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/payroll-software-small-businesses-2026-10-28", "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": "Homebase", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "ADP RUN", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Paychex", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Paychex Flex", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/software/best/payroll", "domain": "nerdwallet.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://gusto.com/resources/guides/best-cheap-payroll-services", "domain": "gusto.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses/", "domain": "patriotsoftware.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/best-payroll-software", "domain": "joinhomebase.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/gusto-vs-onpay/", "domain": "peoplemanagingpeople.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.techrepublic.com/article/patriot-payroll-alternatives/", "domain": "techrepublic.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.paycom.com/blog/best-payroll-software-for-small-businesses-in-2026/", "domain": "paycom.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "Here's who I'd actually point you to, roughly in the order I'd name them:\n\n**1. Gusto - the default recommendation for most small businesses.** $49/mo + $6/employee. Easiest onboarding of the bunch, genuinely pleasant interface, and it handles the things that bite small employers: automatic federal/state/local tax filing, multi-state payroll, contractor (1099) payments alongside W-2s, and built-in benefits administration if you ever add health insurance or a 401(k). If you have no strong reason to pick something else, pick this.\n\n**2. OnPay - the best value if you want full features without the upsell ladder.** $49/mo + $6/employee for *everything* - no tiered plans where tax filing or HR tools are locked behind a higher price. It's also the strongest of the cheap options for odd payroll situations: farms (Form 943), churches/clergy, restaurants with tip credits, nonprofits. Less slick than Gusto, more complete per dollar.\n\n**3. QuickBooks Payroll - only if you're already on QuickBooks Online.** $50/mo + $6.50/employee. The accounting integration is the entire reason to choose it; payroll data lands in your books with no reconciliation work. If you're *not* a QuickBooks user, there", "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"}}