What's a good, affordable payroll service for a business with under 20 employees?
Data as of Sep 21, 2026 · Based on 347 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
Data as of Sep 21, 2026 · Based on 347 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
For businesses with under 20 employees, the best choice depends on your specific needs. 
Brands AI recommends here
Named in 83% of answers
Best for overall small-business payroll. It provides a superior, user-friendly experience with automated tax filing, benefits, and HR tools. It is a premium, comprehensive pick compared to base-level budget solutions.
Named in 80% of answers
Named in 62% of answers
Best for retail or service businesses already using the Square POS ecosystem. It simplifies workflows by integrating sales and payroll, making it a natural fit for businesses already managing hourly labor there.
Named in 54% of answers
Best for budget-conscious business owners needing basic full-service payroll. It is consistently cited as one of the most affordable options, though manual tax filing may be required on its lowest-tier plans.
Source | Citation share |
|---|---|
 Affordable Small Business Payroll Services: Top Solutions & Tips | CO- by US Chamber of Commercehttps://www.uschamber.com/co/run/human-resources/payroll-services-for-small-business | 7% |
8 Best Cheap Payroll Services in April 2026 | Gustohttps://gusto.com/resources/best-cheap-payroll-services | 6% |
 10 Best Cheap Payroll Services of 2026 - Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-cheap-payroll-services/ | 6% |
Best Payroll Software And Services for Small Business (2026)https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/best-payroll-services/ | 4% |
 Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses (2026)https://www.equalpaytoday.org/best-payroll-software-small-businesses/ | 3% |
 PayProNext : Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses Under $20https://paypronext.com/Blog/Best-Payroll-Software-for-Small-Businesses-Under-20 | 3% |
 Top 10 Payroll Services for Small Businesseshttps://inovapayroll.com/articles/top-10-payroll-services-for-small-businesses/ | 3% |
 6 best payroll services for small businesses of 2026 - CNBChttps://www.cnbc.com/select/best-payroll-services-small-business/ | 2% |
5 Best Cheap Payroll Services of 2026 - CNBChttps://www.cnbc.com/select/cheapest-payroll-services/ | 2% |
 Top Rated Small Business Payroll Services & Software - ADPhttps://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees.aspx | 2% |
For a business with **under 20 employees** , you want a payroll provider that automates tax filings, handles multi-state compliance (if applicable), offers direct deposit, and doesn't slug you with hidden fees or bloated enterprise HR modules. The top, affordable payroll services tailored for small teams include: -…
For a business with under 20 employees , you want a payroll provider that automates tax filings, handles multi-state compliance (if applicable), offers direct deposit, and doesn't slug you with hidden fees or bloated enterprise HR modules.
The top, affordable payroll services tailored for small teams include:
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
No sources cited
For a business with **under 20 employees**, I’d look at these three first: - **Patriot Payroll** — likely the lowest-cost option if keeping payroll expenses down is the priority. Full-service payroll is **$37/month + $5 per worker paid**; it includes federal, state, and local tax filings and deposits. For 10…
For a business with under 20 employees, I’d look at these three first:
| Service | Base + employee cost | 10 employees* | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Full Service | $37 + $5/worker | $87/mo | Lowest-cost full-service payroll |
| Square Payroll | $35 + $6/worker | $95/mo | Businesses already using Square |
| Gusto Simple | $49 + $6/worker | $109/mo | Easy payroll + HR experience |
*Before optional add-ons and assuming all 10 employees are paid during the month.
My practical take: If you're mainly looking for affordable and reliable payroll, I'd start with Patriot. If ease of use and HR features matter more, Gusto is worth the extra cost. If you already run your business through Square, Square Payroll can be especially convenient.
If you tell me how many employees you have, what state(s) they're in, whether they're hourly or salaried, and whether you use QuickBooks/Square, I can narrow it down and calculate your approximate monthly cost.
For a business with **fewer than 20 employees**, I’d focus on payroll services that have transparent per-employee pricing and handle payroll-tax filings for you. ### A few good options Service | Current starting price | Best fit
For a business with fewer than 20 employees, I’d focus on payroll services that have transparent per-employee pricing and handle payroll-tax filings for you.
| Service | Current starting price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Full Service Payroll | $37/mo + $5 per worker | Keeping payroll costs low |
| Gusto Simple | $49/mo + $6 per person | Easy all-in-one payroll/HR |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $50/mo + $7 per employee | Businesses already using QuickBooks |
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6 per person | Small businesses needing broader HR/payroll features |
Patriot's Full Service plan includes federal, state, and local tax filings and deposits, year-end filings, direct deposit, and unlimited payroll runs.
Gusto's Simple plan also includes tax filings/payments and unlimited payroll runs, with a particularly straightforward interface and additional HR/benefits capabilities as you move up its plans.
QuickBooks is particularly worth considering if your bookkeeping is already in QuickBooks Online, since payroll and accounting are integrated. Its current published pricing is $50/month plus $7 per employee for the listed payroll plan, though promotional pricing may apply.
If price is the main concern, Patriot is worth a close look. For example, with 10 employees, its regular Full Service pricing would be about $87/month ($37 + $50), before optional add-ons.
If ease of use and a polished employee experience matter more, Gusto is a strong alternative: 10 employees on Simple would be $109/month ($49 + $60).
One important distinction: I'd generally favor full-service payroll over the cheapest "software-only" option unless you're comfortable calculating, filing, and depositing payroll taxes yourself.
If you tell me how many employees you have, whether they're W-2 or 1099, what state you're in, and whether you already use QuickBooks, I can narrow this down to the most economical 2–3 choices and calculate the approximate monthly cost for each.
For a small business with under 20 employees, you want a payroll service that automates tax filings, offers direct deposit, and doesn't slug you with hidden enterprise fees. The top affordable, highly-rated options for small teams break down as follows: - [Patriot Software](https://www.patriotsoftware.com/) is widely…
For a small business with under 20 employees, you want a payroll service that automates tax filings, offers direct deposit, and doesn't slug you with hidden enterprise fees.
The top affordable, highly-rated options for small teams break down as follows:
I previously was with Gusto in prior businesses but switched to SurePayroll mostly due to the dramatically better pricing especially in the first year… Saves a ton of money, headache and more as we're in control.
Six employees. The most common answer you will see here is Gusto. They handle everything and it's very affordable. We have 5 people on payroll and it's under $100/mo. Gusto is a really good tool...
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
For a business with **under 20 employees**, I’d focus on **Patriot, Gusto, and OnPay**. The best choice depends mostly on whether you prioritize the absolute lowest cost or ease of use. Service | Typical cost | Best for --- | --- | ---
For a business with under 20 employees, I’d focus on Patriot, Gusto, and OnPay. The best choice depends mostly on whether you prioritize the absolute lowest cost or ease of use.
| Service | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | $17/mo + $4/employee Basic; $37/mo + $5/employee Full Service | 💰 Lowest cost |
| Gusto Simple | $49/mo + $6/employee | ⭐ Easiest overall |
| OnPay | About $49/mo + $6/employee | 🏢 Growing/multi-state businesses |
| Square Payroll | $35/mo + $6/employee | 🛍️ Businesses already using Square |
Current 2026 pricing comparisons put Patriot clearly at the low end, while Gusto and OnPay are around $49/month plus $6 per employee.
If affordability is your main concern, I'd seriously consider patriotsoftware.com. Its Full Service plan is currently $37/month + $5 per employee, including payroll tax filing and deposits. For 10 employees, that's roughly $87/month; for 15 employees, $112/month.
If you're in Pennsylvania, Patriot specifically supports PA state taxes as well as local Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax requirements, which is a useful advantage.
gusto.com is worth the extra money if you want a particularly polished employee experience, easy onboarding, PTO management, benefits administration, and a simple interface. Its current Simple plan is $49/month + $6/person and includes tax filings/payments and unlimited payroll runs.
For 10 employees, that's about $109/month.
OnPay is attractive if you have employees in multiple states or need somewhat broader payroll functionality. Its pricing is roughly comparable to Gusto, while multi-state payroll is a particular strength.
Bottom line:
If you tell me how many employees you have, whether they're W-2 or 1099, what state(s) they're in, and whether you need benefits/time tracking, I can narrow it down to the cheapest option and calculate the actual monthly cost for you.
If affordability is your main concern, I'd seriously consider patriotsoftware.com. Its Full Service plan is currently $37/month + $5 per employee, including payroll tax filing and deposits. For 10 employees, that's roughly $87/month; for 15 employees, $112/month.
If you're in Pennsylvania, Patriot specifically supports PA state taxes as well as local Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax requirements, which is a useful advantage.
gusto.com is worth the extra money if you want a particularly polished employee experience, easy onboarding, PTO management, benefits administration, and a simple interface. Its current Simple plan is $49/month + $6/person and includes tax filings/payments and unlimited payroll runs.
For 10 employees, that's about $109/month.
**Patriot Software** and **Gusto** are widely considered the best and most affordable payroll services for a small business with under 20 employees, balancing low base costs with reliable tax filing. Choosing the right provider depends on whether you want the absolute lowest price or a more robust, all-in-one HR…
Patriot Software and Gusto are widely considered the best and most affordable payroll services for a small business with under 20 employees, balancing low base costs with reliable tax filing.
Choosing the right provider depends on whether you want the absolute lowest price or a more robust, all-in-one HR platform.
| Provider | Starting Base Price | Per-Employee Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Software | $17/mo (Basic) $37/mo (Full-Service) | $5/mo | Lowest cost and straightforward setup |
| Gusto | $40/mo | $6/mo | All-in-one HR , benefits, and ease of use |
| OnPay | $40/mo | $5/mo | Simple flat pricing and transparent tax compliance |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $45/mo | $6/mo | Seamless accounting integration with QuickBooks |
If you'd like, let me know:
I can help you narrow down the exact provider that fits your workflow.
**Gusto** is widely considered the **best overall and most user-friendly payroll service** for small businesses with under 20 employees , thanks to its transparent pricing, automated tax filing, and built-in employee benefits.[](https://gusto.com/product/solutions/size/small-business)…
Gusto is widely considered the best overall and most user-friendly payroll service for small businesses with under 20 employees , thanks to its transparent pricing, automated tax filing, and built-in employee benefits.
Other top affordable alternatives depend on your specific business needs, such as tight budgeting or accounting software integration.
| Payroll Service | Starting Base Price | Per-Employee Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $40/month | $6/month | All-in-one HR, benefits, and payroll |
| Patriot Software | $17/month | $5/month | Ultra-low-cost, full-service payroll |
| OnPay | $40/month | $6/month | Transparent, flat-rate pricing & multistate tax filing |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $45/month | $6/month | Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting |
Patriot Software is simple and didn't break our tiny startup budget. Customer service is always helpful when we have tax questions.
If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:
I can recommend the exact tier or provider for your workflow.
For a business with **under 20 employees**, I’d shortlist **Patriot, Gusto, and OnPay**. The best choice depends mostly on whether you prioritize the absolute lowest cost or ease of use. Service | Typical starting price | Best for --- | --- | ---
For a business with under 20 employees, I’d shortlist Patriot, Gusto, and OnPay. The best choice depends mostly on whether you prioritize the absolute lowest cost or ease of use.
| Service | Typical starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | $17/mo + $4/employee (Basic) | 💰 Lowest cost |
| Gusto | $49/mo + $6/employee | ⭐ Best overall/easiest |
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6/employee | 🧾 Strong all-around payroll |
| Square Payroll | $35/mo + $6/employee | 🏪 Businesses already using Square |
| QuickBooks Payroll | ~$50/mo + per-employee fee | 📚 Businesses using QuickBooks |
Current 2026 pricing comparisons put Patriot well below the others on price, while Gusto and OnPay are around the same price point.
For example, at 10 employees, current published pricing works out to roughly $57/month for Patriot Basic, $79/month for Patriot Full Service, and $109/month for either Gusto or OnPay.
If it were my business: I'd choose Gusto for simplicity unless saving every dollar is critical; then I'd choose Patriot Full Service.
If you tell me (1) how many employees you have, (2) what state(s) they're in, and (3) whether you already use QuickBooks, I can narrow it down to the cheapest 2–3 options for your exact situation.
For a business with **fewer than 20 employees**, I’d narrow it to **Patriot, Gusto, and OnPay**. As of September 2026, these are the strongest value options I’d consider: Service | Approx. monthly cost for 10 employees | Best for --- | --- | ---
For a business with fewer than 20 employees, I’d narrow it to Patriot, Gusto, and OnPay. As of September 2026, these are the strongest value options I’d consider:
| Service | Approx. monthly cost for 10 employees | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Full Service | ~$87 | Lowest cost + tax filing |
| Gusto Simple | ~$109 | Easiest overall / HR features |
| OnPay | ~$109 | Multi-state businesses |
| Square Payroll | ~$95 | Businesses already using Square |
| QuickBooks Payroll | ~$115 | Businesses already using QuickBooks |
Current published comparisons put Patriot at $37/month + $5 per employee for Full Service, while Gusto and OnPay are $49 + $6/employee.
If keeping costs down is your priority, I'd start with Patriot Full Service. It handles payroll tax calculations and filings while remaining substantially cheaper than many competitors. For 10 employees, you're looking at roughly $87/month based on current pricing.
The catch: its interface and HR ecosystem aren't as polished as Gusto's.
Gusto is my choice if you're willing to spend about $20–$30 more per month for a nicer experience. It combines payroll, tax filing, employee self-service, onboarding, benefits administration and HR features. The Simple plan is currently $49/month + $6/person.
OnPay is particularly attractive for multi-state businesses because its pricing is straightforward and multi-state payroll is included. It's currently around $49 + $6/employee/month.
Bottom line:
If you tell me (1) how many employees you have, (2) what state(s) they're in, (3) whether they're hourly or salaried, and (4) whether you use QuickBooks, I can tell you which one is likely to be cheapest for your specific business, including the estimated monthly cost.
If keeping costs down is your priority, I'd start with Patriot Full Service. It handles payroll tax calculations and filings while remaining substantially cheaper than many competitors. For 10 employees, you're looking at roughly $87/month based on current pricing.
The catch: its interface and HR ecosystem aren't as polished as Gusto's.
Gusto is my choice if you're willing to spend about $20–$30 more per month for a nicer experience. It combines payroll, tax filing, employee self-service, onboarding, benefits administration and HR features. The Simple plan is currently $49/month + $6/person.
For a business with under 20 employees, you want a payroll provider that automates tax filing, offers direct deposit, and doesn't charge hidden fees—all without enterprise-level pricing. The top affordable and well-reviewed options on the market balance cost with ease of use: - **Gusto** — Widely considered the gold…
For a business with under 20 employees, you want a payroll provider that automates tax filing, offers direct deposit, and doesn't charge hidden fees—all without enterprise-level pricing.
The top affordable and well-reviewed options on the market balance cost with ease of use:
User Experiences
“I use Patriot Software for my small business for 4 employees for the last 3 years. Highly recommend and not very expensive.”
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
