Review: Gusto Payroll Software

History

Gusto, initially launched as ZenPayroll in 2012, was founded by Joshua Reeves, Edward Kim, and Tomer London. It quickly gained a reputation as a leading player in the payroll and human resources software industry. The company rebranded as Gusto in 2015 and expanded its services to include employee benefits and HR management tools. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Gusto has serviced more than 100,000 businesses in the United States.

Services

Gusto provides a comprehensive range of services catering to small to mid-sized businesses.

1. Payroll: Gusto’s core service revolves around full-service payroll. It supports all types of pay schedules and integrates seamlessly with popular time-tracking tools. It automates tax filings and payments, year-end forms, and can handle both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.
2. HR Platform: Gusto also serves as an HR platform, managing everything from onboarding to offboarding. It facilitates document management, offers custom policies and templates, tracks time-off, and provides an employee directory and surveys.
3. Benefits and Insurance: Gusto administers health benefits and insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, college savings plans, and more. They can handle medical insurance, dental and vision, life and disability, and even HSAs and FSAs.
4. Compliance and Support: Gusto helps businesses stay compliant with new hire reports, labor law posters, and more. They offer dedicated support with experts in HR, payroll, and employee benefits.

Advantages

1. Ease of use: Gusto’s intuitive, user-friendly interface is one of its main selling points. This simplifies the process of managing payroll and HR-related tasks.
2. Automation: Gusto automates a large portion of payroll and HR tasks, helping to reduce the time and resources required from businesses.
3. Customer Support: Gusto provides excellent customer support, with resources available online and a team of experts ready to assist users.
4. Full Service: The broad range of services offered by Gusto makes it a one-stop solution for many businesses’ HR, payroll, and benefits needs.

Disadvantages

1. Cost: Gusto can be more expensive than other payroll providers, particularly for smaller businesses.
2. Limited Customization: While Gusto’s user-friendly interface is a strength, it can also be a drawback for businesses needing more customization options.
3. U.S. Focus: As of my knowledge cutoff, Gusto primarily serves the U.S. market. If your business has international employees or operations, Gusto might not be the best fit.

Cost

As of our knowledge, Gusto offers four plans:

1. Contractor Plan: $6/contractor per month, no base price.
2. Basic: $19 base price per month, plus $6 per person per month.
3. Core: $39 base price per month, plus $12 per person per month.
4. Complete: $39 base price per month, plus $12 per person per month.

Each plan offers increasing levels of service, from simple payroll processing to full HR tools and resources. It’s worth noting that these prices are subject to change, and for the most accurate and current pricing, it would be best to get a quote.

Conclusion

Gusto offers an all-in-one solution for businesses needing comprehensive, user-friendly payroll and HR services. While it might be slightly more expensive compared to other providers, its wide range of services, excellent customer support, and robust functionality may make it worth the investment for many businesses. However, for companies seeking more customization or with significant international operations, other solutions might be a better fit.

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