Data as of Oct 11, 2026A topic in Payroll and HRIS Software.
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
AI summary
Gusto holds a clear lead as the primary choice for straightforward, low-cost payroll services designed for small businesses. However, when bookkeepers look for solutions to recommend to their small business clients, OnPay becomes the usual answer.
all-around payroll and benefits administration for growing small business teams
simple, budget-friendly payroll runs with optional full-service automated tax filing
inexpensive, bare-bones payroll processing specifically tailored for tiny teams
comprehensive HR features and full-service payroll for a transparent flat fee
integrated payroll management designed for teams using flat-rate processing
ChatGPT SearchOct 3, 2026
If by “flat-rate” you mean one predictable monthly base price, with a small per-employee charge rather than a per-payroll fee, these are worth looking at. I checked current published pricing.
| Service | Current pricing | What’s included / notable |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | $37/mo + $5 per worker for Full Service | Federal, state & local tax filings/deposits, year-end forms, unlimited payroll runs. Basic is $17 + $4/worker if you handle tax filings yourself. |
Google AI ModeOct 3, 2026
Google AI ModeOct 1, 2026
ChatGPT SearchOct 2, 2026
What's the best payroll service for a Bookkeeper to recommend to their small business clients?
Summary
OnPay is the usual answer when bookkeepers seek a full-service payroll platform to manage their small business clients at a predictable price.
What's the best payroll software specifically for a startup? Looking for something that's affordable, easy to set up, and can scale with us.
Summary
Recommendations split across several platforms when startups look for an affordable, scalable platform that sets up quickly.
For a US small business with under 20 employees, which payroll software offers the best balance of price and automated tax filing?
What accounting and payroll service options exist?
I need a payroll service that is easy to use and does not charge extra for year-end tax filings.
What is the best payroll service?
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6 per person | Full-service payroll, tax filings/payments, unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit/check/debit-card payment. |
| Gusto | $49/mo + $6 per person for Simple | Single-state full-service payroll, unlimited runs, tax filings/payments and employee self-service. Plus is $80 + $12/person and adds broader HR/time features. |
One important distinction: none of these are truly flat-rate regardless of headcount. They're simple base + per-worker models. Patriot also charges based on workers actually paid that month, while OnPay's per-person charge applies to workers included in a pay run.
If you tell me how many employees you have (and whether they're W-2 employees or contractors), I can calculate the actual monthly cost for each and include any setup/year-end/multi-state fees.
If you want a no-fuss, budget-friendly payroll system that won't nickel-and-diming you with hidden fees or complex structures, several straightforward flat-rate options stand out for small businesses:
To help narrow down the best fit for your budget , could you tell me:
For small businesses with straightforward payroll structures (like a fixed number of salaried or hourly workers on a regular cycle), you typically want to avoid complex, bloated enterprise systems.
While true "one-price-fits-all" flat-rate models (where you pay a single flat fee regardless of headcount) are rare—most low-cost options use a base fee + a small per-employee fee —several budget-friendly providers offer predictable, transparent, and low-cost pricing ideal for simple pay structures.[](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-payroll-services/)[[2](https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/human-resources/payroll-services-for-small-business)](https://www.uschamber.com/co/run/human-resources/payroll-services-for-small-business)
If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:
I can give you a precise monthly cost estimate for these options.
ChatGPT SearchOct 1, 2026
If by flat-rate you mean a predictable monthly base fee plus a simple per-employee charge—with no per-payroll-run pricing—there are several inexpensive options for a small business with straightforward W-2 payroll.
| Provider | Current pricing* | Tax filing | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll – Full Service | $37/mo + $5/worker | Included | Very small businesses prioritizing low cost |
If by flat-rate you mean a predictable monthly base price rather than a fee every time you run payroll, there are several inexpensive options worth considering. Most still charge a per-employee fee, so truly “flat” pricing is uncommon.
| Provider | Current starting price | What you get | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | $17/mo + $4/worker | Unlimited payroll runs; Full Service is $37/mo + $5/worker and includes tax filing | Very small businesses focused on keeping costs down |
| SurePayroll | $29/mo + $7/employee | Unlimited runs, automatic federal/state tax filing, direct deposit, W-2/1099 support | Owners wanting simple full-service payroll |
| Gusto Simple | $49/mo + $6/person | Unlimited payroll, tax filing/payments, basic PTO and holiday pay | Businesses wanting a polished, easy-to-use interface |
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6/employee | Payroll, tax filings, HR features and multi-state support | Small businesses that may need somewhat broader capabilities |
Patriot is currently the lowest-cost mainstream option of these. Its Basic plan is $17/month plus $4 per worker paid; Full Service is $37/month plus $5 per worker and handles federal, state and local tax filings/deposits.
SurePayroll is another particularly straightforward choice: its current small-business pricing starts at $29/month plus $7 per employee, with unlimited payroll runs and automated tax filing/deposit.
Gusto costs more at $49/month plus $6/person for its Simple plan, but includes unlimited payroll and automatic tax filings/payments.
OnPay starts at $49/month plus $6/employee and emphasizes predictable pricing, payroll, tax filing, and HR functionality.
I'd narrow the comparison to Patriot vs. SurePayroll. For example, with 3 employees, the advertised base pricing works out roughly to:
Those figures exclude potential add-ons, promotions, and special tax/state fees.
One important distinction: “flat-rate” doesn't necessarily mean one price regardless of employee count. These providers generally use a flat monthly subscription plus a per-worker charge. Patriot explicitly describes its pricing this way, while SurePayroll similarly uses a monthly base plus per-employee pricing.
If you tell me how many employees you have, whether they're W-2 or 1099, what state you're in, and how often you run payroll, I can calculate the actual monthly cost for 4–5 providers and identify the least expensive options.
Google AI ModeOct 2, 2026
For small businesses with straightforward pay needs (like a fixed salary or simple hourly wages) and a tight budget, the ideal payroll software combines a predictable flat monthly base fee with a low per-person fee , avoiding hidden add-ons or percentage-of-payroll markups.
The most popular, inexpensive, and straightforward payroll options fit for this criteria include:
| $35/mo + $6/person |
| Included |
| Simple payroll, especially if you already use Square |
| Gusto Simple | $49/mo + $6/person | Included | Straightforward single-state payroll |
| OnPay | ~$49/mo + $6/person | Included | Small businesses wanting broader payroll features |
| Patriot Basic | $17/mo + $4/worker | You file taxes | Businesses comfortable handling tax filings themselves |
*Published/list pricing I found for 2026; promotions and state-specific costs can change. Patriot confirms its $37 + $5 Full Service pricing and $17 + $4 Basic pricing.
Patriot Payroll
Probably the most cost-focused option if your payroll is uncomplicated. Full Service handles federal, state, and local tax filing/deposits, while Basic is cheaper but leaves filing to you. Patriot also supports unlimited payroll runs, which is useful if you pay weekly.
Square Payroll
$35/month + $6 per person paid for full-service payroll, including automated tax filings. It also has a contractor-only option at $6/person with no base fee.
Gusto
Its Simple plan is $49/month + $6/person and includes unlimited payroll runs, tax filings/payments, and basic PTO. It's designed for single-state payroll.
OnPay
Current 2026 comparisons put its standard pricing around $49/month + $6/person, with tax filing included. It can be particularly useful if you may eventually need multi-state payroll.
For example, with 5 employees, the advertised monthly cost works out roughly to:
So if your needs really are just a handful of employees, regular wages, direct deposit, and automated tax filing, Patriot and Square are the lower-cost places I'd investigate first. That's a cost comparison rather than a ranking—the better fit depends on whether you value things like accounting integration, HR features, multi-state support, or an existing Square ecosystem.
If you tell me how many employees you have, whether they're W-2 or 1099, what state you're in, and whether you run payroll weekly/biweekly/monthly, I can calculate the actual monthly and annual cost of the cheapest few options.
To help narrow down which provider fits best, tell me:
