Business Software
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll: Fees for Small Teams
QuickBooks payroll bundles started at a regular $88 a month plus $6.50 per employee on 24 October 2026. Gusto's price could not be verified: its pricing page and product page both returned HTTP 403 when opened, so no Gusto figure appears in this article. Treat this as a checklist for getting a Gusto quote, with the QuickBooks side verified.
This guide is for owners of small teams, such as a cafe, salon or studio with a handful of employees. QuickBooks figures come from its payroll pricing page on the date above. Any number not shown on a page is marked as unverified.
$88→
Workforce Payroll with Simple Start, regular base
QuickBooks payroll page, 24 Oct 2026
$125→
Workforce Payroll with Essentials, regular base
QuickBooks payroll page, 24 Oct 2026
$203→
Workforce Premium with Plus, regular base
QuickBooks payroll page, 24 Oct 2026
$6.50→
Per employee on the two lower bundles
QuickBooks payroll page, 24 Oct 2026
Estimates for illustration; actual numbers vary.
What Does QuickBooks Payroll Cost?
The QuickBooks page showed three bundles that pair payroll with an accounting plan. Workforce Payroll plus Simple Start was $88 regular and $44 under a 50% off promo for 3 months. Workforce Payroll plus Essentials was $125 regular and $62.50 promo. Workforce Premium plus Plus was $203 regular and $101.50 promo.
Per-employee fees were $6.50 on the first two bundles and $10 on the third. The promo applied to the base price only, not the per-employee fee. The page did not show the promo footnote, did not label the unit on the regular base price, and showed no contractor price. It links to a separate payroll-only page that was not read.
What Do We Know About Gusto?
Nothing verified. Both Gusto pages returned a 403 error on 24 October 2026, so the plan names, base fee and per-person fee are not stated here. Do not rely on third-party price lists, which are secondary and may be out of date.
Before you compare, get these from Gusto in writing: the monthly base fee, the per-employee fee, the price for contractors, any state filing or setup fee, and the contract length.
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll: Comparison Table
| QuickBooks | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee, regular | $88, $125 or $203 (bundled with accounting) | Not verified (page returned 403) |
| Per employee | $6.50 or $10 | Not verified |
| Promo | 50% off base for 3 months | Not verified |
| Contractor price | Not shown on the page | Not verified |
| Accounting included | Yes, a QuickBooks plan is part of each bundle | Not verified |
| Contract terms | Not shown | Not verified |
Checked 24 October 2026.
Which Should a Small Business Choose?
With one side unverified, use rules that do not depend on Gusto's price.
- Pick QuickBooks payroll if you already use QuickBooks Online for your books, since the bundle puts both in one place.
- Get a Gusto quote if your books are in Xero, Wave or a spreadsheet, or if you only want payroll without an accounting plan.
- Compare total monthly cost, not the base fee: base plus per-person fee times headcount, plus contractor fees.
- Ask your accountant which system they can read, because that saves their hours and your fees.
Our QuickBooks vs Xero comparison covers the accounting side of the decision.
The Math: Cost for a Six-Person Team
Inputs are assumptions. A team of 6 employees and no contractors, on the QuickBooks Workforce Payroll plus Simple Start bundle, at the regular price.
| Item | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Base fee | $88 |
| Employees: 6 times $6.50 | $39 |
| Total | $127 |
| 12 months | $1,524 |
During a 3-month promo the base is $44, so the first three months total $83 each, or $249, and the remaining nine months are $1,143, for a first-year total of $1,392. This ignores taxes and any state fees. Gusto cannot be calculated until its fees are confirmed.
Where Does Payroll Fit in Your Costs?
Payroll is usually your largest fixed cost, so it shapes how much you can spend to win customers. Our local marketing budget guide shows how to size spend, and our affordable marketing help guide covers low-cost options.
For other software choices, see our CRM guide for local businesses and our Jobber vs Housecall Pro comparison.
Do This Today
Request a written Gusto quote with base fee, per-employee fee and contractor fee, then enter all three into the same sum used above.
What Else Does Payroll Cost Beyond the Base Fee?
The listed base and per-employee fees are only part of the bill. Ask each vendor about state tax filing, new-hire reporting, year-end forms such as the W-2 and 1099, and any charge for off-cycle runs or corrections. The QuickBooks page did not show these, and Gusto's pages could not be read, so none are quoted here.
Also check how contractors are paid and priced, because the QuickBooks page linked to a separate product with no price. If you employ seasonal staff, ask whether you are billed for employees who are paid only in some months.
Get the answers in an email you can keep. Payroll mistakes lead to penalties, so support quality and who is responsible for filings matter as much as a few dollars a month.
FAQ
How much does Gusto cost?
It could not be verified here. Gusto's pricing page returned a 403 error on 24 October 2026, so request the figures from Gusto.
What does QuickBooks payroll cost per employee?
The page showed $6.50 per employee on the two lower bundles and $10 on the highest, as of 24 October 2026.
Does the QuickBooks promo cover the per-employee fee?
No. The page showed the 50% promo on the base price only.
Does QuickBooks list contractor pricing?
Not on the page read. It links to a separate Contractor Payments product with no price shown.
Do I need QuickBooks accounting to use QuickBooks payroll?
The bundles pair payroll with an accounting plan. The payroll-only page was not read, so check it directly.
Sources
- QuickBooks payroll pricing (bundles, base and per-employee fees, promo; checked 24 October 2026)
- Gusto pricing (returned HTTP 403 on 24 October 2026; no figures used)
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Nataliia
Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.
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