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Guide · Checked October 2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice
Cheapest Full-Service Payroll for Small Businesses (2026)
"Full-service" payroll means the provider calculates paychecks and files and pays your federal, state and local payroll taxes, including year-end W-2s. That is the part that saves you from late-filing penalties. Below are the four small-business providers that publish full-service prices, compared at four team sizes.
The short answer
- Lowest monthly bill at every size we priced: Patriot Software Full Service, $37/mo + $5 per worker.
- Lowest price that includes multi-state payroll: OnPay, $49/mo + $6 per worker, with all states included.
- Same entry price as OnPay for one-state teams: Gusto Simple, $49/mo + $6 per person.
- Costs a little more, but fits if your books are in QuickBooks: QuickBooks Workforce Payroll, $50/mo + $7 per employee.
Published prices (as of Oct 2026, verify)
| Provider and plan | Base / month | Per person / month | Multi-state | Intro offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Full Service | $37 | $5 per worker paid | +$12/mo per extra state | 30 days free + 50% off for 3 months |
| Gusto Simple | $49 | $6 | Not included (Plus plan: $80 + $12) | Gusto says you pay nothing until your first payroll |
| OnPay Payroll Essentials | $49 | $6 | Included | First month free |
| QuickBooks Workforce Payroll | $50 | $7 | Verify | 50% off base fee for 3 months |
Sources: patriotsoftware.com/pricing, gusto.com/product/pricing, onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing, quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing, all checked October 2026.
Monthly cost by team size
Base fee plus per-person fee, before promotions, add-ons or extra states:
| Employees | Patriot Full Service | Gusto Simple | OnPay | QuickBooks Workforce Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42 | $55 | $55 | $57 |
| 5 | $62 | $79 | $79 | $85 |
| 10 | $87 | $109 | $109 | $120 |
| 25 | $162 | $199 | $199 | $225 |
At 10 employees, Patriot is $22/month less than Gusto or OnPay, about $264 a year. QuickBooks costs $11 more than Gusto or OnPay.
Estimated first-year cost at 10 employees (with intro offers)
Our estimates, applying each provider's published intro offer to the 10-employee price:
| Provider | How the estimate works | First-year total (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Full Service | 1 month free, 3 months at 50%, 8 months at $87 | ~$827 |
| OnPay | 1 month free, 11 months at $109 | ~$1,199 |
| Gusto Simple | 12 months at $109 | ~$1,308 |
| QuickBooks Workforce Payroll | 3 months at $25 base + $70, then 9 months at $120 | ~$1,365 |
These are estimates. Confirm how each promotion applies when you sign up.
What you get for the money
Patriot Software Full Service: lowest price, fewer extras
Full Service covers federal, state and local tax filings and deposits, and year-end filings at no extra fee. It also includes free direct deposit, an employee portal, unlimited payrolls, and paying contractors through payroll. You're charged per worker paid that month, and months with no payroll cost only the $37 base. Time & Attendance and HR software are add-ons at $6/mo + $2 per employee each. Each extra state is $12/month. Trade-off: fewer built-in HR and benefits tools than Gusto or OnPay.
OnPay: the most included at $49 + $6
The base plan includes multi-state payroll with automatic state tax registrations, state new-hire reporting, e-signature for I-9 and W-4 forms, benefits administration, accounting integrations, and free setup with data migration. Time tracking ($15 + $4/worker) and HR tools ($15 + $2/worker) are extra. Trade-off: costs more than Patriot when everyone is in one state.
Gusto Simple: same price as OnPay, single state
Simple includes unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filings and payments, and basic PTO and holiday pay for businesses paying people in one state. Gusto is month-to-month. If you need multi-state payroll or built-in time tracking, the next tier (Plus) is $80 + $12 per person, which is $200/month at 10 employees. Trade-off: price jumps if you hire outside your state.
QuickBooks Workforce Payroll: pay a bit more for QuickBooks integration
The entry plan includes full-service payroll with tax filing, auto payroll for salaried staff, unlimited 1099 e-filing, next-day direct deposit, and phone and chat support. Time tracking starts on Workforce Premium ($88 + $13/employee). Workforce is sold alongside QuickBooks, so check what other QuickBooks subscription your setup needs. Trade-off: highest entry price of the four.
See QuickBooks Workforce pricing
Hidden-cost checklist before you pick
- Extra states: Patriot charges $12/month per additional state, Gusto Simple doesn't cover them, and OnPay includes them.
- Time tracking: an add-on at Patriot and OnPay, and only on higher tiers at Gusto (Plus) and QuickBooks (Premium).
- Contractors: Patriot counts every worker paid, Gusto bills US contractors only in months you pay them, and the others vary. Check how your contractors are counted.
- Months with no payroll: Patriot charges only its base fee. Check the others if your business is seasonal.
- Promotions end: compare regular prices, not just intro offers.
Which is cheapest for you?
| Your situation | Likely lowest cost |
|---|---|
| Everyone in one state, payroll only | Patriot Full Service |
| Anyone outside your home state | OnPay (no per-state fee) |
| One state, want payroll + benefits + onboarding together | Gusto Simple or OnPay (same price) |
| Already on QuickBooks Online | QuickBooks Workforce, for the integration |
| Seasonal business with idle months | Patriot (base-only months) |
Florida employers
Florida has no state income tax to withhold, but new employers pay reemployment tax of 2.7% on the first $7,000 per employee, filed quarterly. All four full-service plans above file state payroll taxes for you. More Florida detail: Best payroll software for small businesses in Florida.
Related comparisons
Prices last checked October 2026 on each provider's public pricing page. Verify current pricing before you decide.
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