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Guide · Checked October 2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice

Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in Florida (2026)

Payroll in Florida is simpler than in most states, but it isn't hands-off. There is no state income tax to withhold. You still have to register for and pay Florida reemployment tax, report new hires, keep up with the minimum wage, and (from 25 employees) use E-Verify. Good payroll software handles most of that for you.

Quick picks

• Lowest published full-service price: Patriot Software, $37/mo + $5 per worker
• Best all-in-one for a single-state Florida business: Gusto, Simple plan, $49/mo + $6 per person
• Best if anyone works outside Florida: OnPay, $49/mo + $6 per worker, multi-state included
• Best if you already use QuickBooks: QuickBooks Workforce, from $50/mo + $7 per employee
• Best established brands with optional PEO and benefits services: ADP RUN and Paychex, both quote-based
• Best for growing teams that want HR, IT and payroll in one system: Rippling, quote-based

What Florida payroll actually involves

Any payroll tool you pick should handle these Florida-specific items:

1. No state income tax withholding. Florida has no personal income tax, so there's no state W-4 and nothing to withhold at the state level. You still withhold federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
2. Florida reemployment tax (state unemployment). It is administered by the Florida Department of Revenue. New employers pay 2.7% on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages per calendar year, so at most $189 per employee. That rate applies until you've reported for 10 quarters; after that your rate is experience-based, between a 0.1% minimum and a 5.4% maximum for 2026 wages. Reports and payments are due quarterly, one month after the quarter ends, and the late-filing penalty is $25 for each 30 days a report is late. (Source: floridarevenue.com reemployment tax pages.)
3. Federal unemployment (FUTA). This is filed annually on Form 940 on the first $7,000 per employee. Paying state reemployment tax on time normally earns the federal credit.
4. Minimum wage. Florida's minimum wage went to $15.00/hour on September 30, 2026. The tipped cash wage is $11.98, using a $3.02 tip credit. Payroll software that flags tipped-wage shortfalls helps restaurants.
5. New-hire reporting. You must report each new hire to the state. Several tools below do this automatically.
6. E-Verify at 25+ employees. Private employers with 25 or more employees must run E-Verify for new hires within three business days of their start. They must keep records for three years and certify compliance on the first reemployment tax return each year. Payroll software doesn't run E-Verify for you, so put it in your onboarding checklist.

When you compare tools, confirm that the plan files your Florida reemployment tax (RT-6) for you ("full-service" plans do). Also confirm whether it can pay a worker in another state if you ever hire one remotely.

Side-by-side: published pricing (as of Oct 2026, verify)

Provider	Entry full-service plan	10 employees/month*	Multi-state	Notable
Patriot Software	$37 + $5/worker	$87	+$12/mo per extra state	Basic plan (you file taxes) $17 + $4/worker; 30 days free + 50% off 3 months
Gusto	Simple: $49 + $6/person	$109	Plus plan: $80 + $12/person	Simple is single-state; Plus adds time tracking and scheduling
OnPay	$49 + $6/worker	$109	Included	Benefits admin and new-hire reporting included; HR add-on $15 + $2/worker
QuickBooks Workforce	Payroll: $50 + $7/employee	$120	Verify	50% off base fee for 3 months for new customers
ADP RUN	Quote-based	Quote	Yes	Large provider; PEO and HR-outsourcing tiers available
Paychex	Quote-based	Quote	Yes	PEO, retirement and insurance services available
Rippling	Quote-based, modular	Quote	Yes	Payroll plus HR, devices/IT and spend in one platform

*Base fee plus per-person fee times 10, before add-ons, promos or taxes. Sources: each provider's public pricing page, October 2026.

The options in more detail

Patriot Software: lowest published full-service price

Patriot's Full Service Payroll is $37/month plus $5 per worker paid, and it files federal, state and local payroll taxes, including year-end forms, at no extra fee. If you'd rather file taxes yourself, Basic Payroll is $17 + $4 per worker. Months with no payroll cost only the base fee. Time & Attendance and HR are $6/month + $2 per employee each. Good fit: 1–15 employee businesses that want the lowest predictable bill.

See Patriot's current pricing

Gusto: strong all-in-one for a Florida-only team

Gusto Simple ($49 + $6/person) covers unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filings and basic PTO for businesses that pay people in one state. That fits most Florida small businesses. Plus ($80 + $12/person) adds multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, and next-day pay. Premium ($180 + $22/person) adds HR guidance and dedicated support. Gusto is month-to-month with no long-term contract. Note that plans were repackaged on October 1, 2026 and the contractor-only plan is no longer offered to new customers. Good fit: owners who want payroll, benefits and onboarding in one place and expect to stay in Florida.

Compare Gusto plans

OnPay: one plan, multi-state included

OnPay's Payroll Essentials ($49 + $6/worker) includes full-service tax filing, multi-state payroll at no extra cost, automated state new-hire reporting, e-signature for I-9s and W-4s, and benefits administration. It also supports Form 943 filings, which matters for Florida agricultural employers. Time tracking ($15 + $4/worker) and HR tools ($15 + $2/worker) are add-ons. Good fit: Florida businesses with even one remote worker in another state, or farms and nurseries.

Get OnPay pricing · Read: Gusto vs OnPay

QuickBooks Workforce: if your books already live in QuickBooks

Intuit's payroll is now sold as QuickBooks Workforce. The entry tier is $50/month + $7 per employee, with Premium at $88 + $13 and Elite at $134 + $17. New customers get 50% off the base fee for three months. The main reason to choose it is the tight connection with QuickBooks Online accounting. Good fit: businesses whose bookkeeper already works in QuickBooks Online.

See QuickBooks Workforce pricing

ADP RUN and Paychex: established providers with room to grow

Both are long-established payroll companies with small-business products. Both price by quote. Their advantage is breadth: either can move you to HR outsourcing or a PEO later, which can bundle workers' comp, health benefits and HR compliance under one co-employment arrangement. Ask for an itemized quote that shows any setup, year-end (W-2) and per-run fees so you can compare it with the published prices above. Good fit: owners who expect to add benefits or want a PEO path.

Get an ADP RUN quote · Get a Paychex quote

Rippling: for growing teams

Rippling combines payroll with HR, device and app management, and spend tools, priced by module and quote. It is usually more than a five-person shop needs, but it can replace several tools once you pass about 10–20 employees.

See Rippling

How to choose in three questions

1. Will you pay anyone outside Florida in the next year? If yes, look at OnPay (multi-state included) or Gusto Plus. If no, Gusto Simple or Patriot Full Service.
2. Do you need time tracking for hourly staff? Compare Gusto Plus with OnPay plus its time-tracking add-on. Or pair any payroll tool with a scheduling app like Homebase or Connecteam.
3. Is the lowest monthly bill the priority? Patriot has the lowest published full-service price at small headcounts.

Florida payroll setup checklist

• ☐ Get your federal EIN
• ☐ Register for a Florida reemployment tax account with the Department of Revenue
• ☐ Collect a federal W-4 and Form I-9 from each new hire (no Florida state W-4)
• ☐ Report new hires to the state (or confirm your payroll tool does it)
• ☐ Confirm wages meet the $15.00 minimum ($11.98 cash wage for tipped staff)
• ☐ At 25+ employees, run E-Verify within three business days of each start
• ☐ Pick payroll software that files RT-6 quarterly and Form 940/941 for you

FAQ

Does Florida have state payroll tax? Florida has no state income tax. Employers do pay state reemployment (unemployment) tax, 2.7% on the first $7,000 per employee for new employers.

What is the cheapest full-service payroll for a small Florida business? Among the providers with published prices here, Patriot Full Service ($37 + $5 per worker) is lowest at most small headcounts, as of October 2026.

Do I need multi-state payroll? Only if you pay someone who lives or works outside Florida. Gusto's Simple plan is single-state, while OnPay's base plan includes multiple states.

Prices and rules last checked October 2026. Sources: provider pricing pages (gusto.com, onpay.com, patriotsoftware.com, quickbooks.intuit.com) and the Florida Department of Revenue (floridarevenue.com). Verify current figures before you decide.