Gusto is an online payroll and HR platform built for small businesses. It runs payroll, calculates and files federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically, and handles year-end W-2s and 1099s, all from a simple dashboard.
Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, and employee self-service, where team members can view pay stubs and update their own information. Gusto also handles new hire onboarding, contractor payments, and benefits administration, and can connect you with health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers’ compensation. Higher plans add multi-state payroll, time tracking, PTO management, and HR tools like performance reviews.
Gusto is a great fit for small businesses hiring their first employees and for growing teams that want payroll and basic HR in one easy system. Businesses that only pay contractors can use a lower-cost contractor plan.
Costs grow with your team, since every plan charges a base fee plus a monthly fee per person, and useful features like multi-state payroll and time tracking require a higher plan. Gusto raised the base price of its entry plan in 2026, and it doesn’t offer its own service for hiring employees overseas.
For Long Island businesses hiring their first employee, Gusto makes New York State payroll taxes and filings much less intimidating.