To compare plans side by side or check current pricing, visit Gusto.com — it always has the latest details. To see your own price, check the plan screen in your Gusto account.
Gusto offers a few plans so you can choose the one that fits how your business runs today — and change it as you grow. This article explains who each plan is for, what's included, and the questions customers ask most.
The Contractor Only plan is best if you only pay independent contractors and haven't hired W-2 employees yet. It includes contractor payments, fast payouts, and automatic 1099 creation and filing. If you hire W-2 employees later, you can move to a plan that includes employee payroll.
The Simple plan is best for small businesses that run payroll in one state. It includes full-service payroll, unlimited payroll runs, automatic federal, state, and local tax filing, and basic PTO and holiday pay.
The Plus plan is best if you need to run payroll in more than one state. It adds multi-state payroll, faster pay timing, time tracking, and more HR and benefits tools.
The Premium plan is best for growing businesses that want hands-on help. It adds a dedicated service advisor, access to certified HR experts, performance and pay tools, custom reports, priority support, and help moving your payroll to Gusto.
The Solo plan is best for owner-only businesses with no W-2 employees besides the owner. This includes sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, and owners who are an S corp or thinking about it. Gusto Solo helps you pay yourself, file your payroll taxes, and stay compliant, and you can also pay contractors. S corp questions come up a lot, so the sections below go deeper.
You don't have to be an S corp to use Gusto Solo. It handles owner pay, direct deposit, contractor payments, and payroll tax filings either way. If you elect S corp status later, you'll start paying yourself as a W-2 employee, and Gusto Solo is built to support that change.
An S corp isn't a type of company. It's a tax status you choose for an LLC or corporation you already have, and a one-owner business can choose it. As an S corp owner, you take money out of the business two ways: a salary and distributions, which are a share of the profits. You pay payroll taxes on the salary but not on the distributions, which can lower your total tax bill.
Whether the savings are worth the added costs depends on your profit and the salary you'd reasonably pay yourself, so it's a good idea to check with an accountant. To become an S corp, you first set up an LLC or corporation with your state, then file Form 2553 with the IRS. You can estimate your savings with the S-corp tax savings calculator on Gusto.com.
If you're an S corp, the IRS requires you to pay yourself a fair wage for the work you do before you take any distributions. This keeps your pay split fair and easy to defend. Gusto Solo includes a tool that helps you set a reasonable salary.
Gusto Solo is for owner-only businesses, but you can still pay independent contractors and file their 1099s. For current per-contractor pricing, check your Gusto account or Gusto.com.
You can add services to Gusto Solo, including health benefits (individual health insurance, dental, and vision) and a Solo 401(k) retirement plan. A Solo 401(k) lets you contribute as both the employee and the employer, based on your W-2 wages. Contribution limits change each year, so check the current limits on Gusto.com or ask a tax professional.
Gusto Solo includes S corp setup support to help you get started, plus a compliance hub that flags what needs your attention. You can also add priority support. Gusto Solo makes payroll and compliance easier, but an accountant can still help with your overall tax plan, like whether to become an S corp, how to handle quarterly estimated taxes, and owner health insurance or HSA questions. Gusto gives your accountant clear reports to make their work easier.
You can change your Gusto plan as your business changes. Upgrades take effect right away, and downgrades start on the first of the next month. Gusto is month-to-month, so there's no long-term contract and you can cancel anytime.
Your monthly Gusto cost is based on the people you actively pay. It goes up as you add team members and down as that number drops, so you pay for active people, not a set headcount. You're billed for U.S. contractors only in the months you pay them. For current pricing, check your Gusto account or Gusto.com.
Every Gusto plan includes:
Unlimited payroll runs, including off-cycle runs, at no extra charge.
Full-service payroll in all 50 states. Simple covers one state; Plus and above cover multiple states.
Automatic filing of your federal, state, and local payroll tax forms, including W-2s, 1099s, and forms like 940 and 941.
Support on every plan: a 24/7 Help Center plus phone and chat during business hours. You can get Priority Support or a dedicated service advisor on higher plans or as an add-on.
You can add health benefits and other services to any Gusto plan. When Gusto is your health insurance broker, there's no extra admin cost — you pay only the premiums. Gusto also connects with tools like QuickBooks and Xero so your data stays in sync. To see what's available and current costs, visit Gusto.com.
You can switch to Gusto in the middle of the year. You'll need details like your EIN, your team's information, and any payroll tax filings from earlier this year. Gusto moves your year-to-date totals over for you, and larger teams get hands-on help importing their data.