Pay your team by check and learn how to print them

Admins can pay employees by check, or for some customers, Gusto can mail checks* for $1.50 each.

*Gusto check mailing is only available for some early access customers. Checks mailed by Gusto may take up to 10 business days to arrive.

If your employee or contractor usually gets paid by direct deposit, you can still choose to pay them by check instead (learn more below).

Important reminders

Gusto will handle tax deductions, but you’ll need to issue the check yourself, or Gusto can mail it (for those with early access).
The company address printed on checks is the one listed as the “filing address” in Gusto.
Checks can be printed on two types of paper. Both include an earnings statement:
- Top (Gusto check stock)
- Bottom (blank check stock)
  - Heads up: You cannot use the blank check stock if you verified your bank using Plaid. You’ll need to use "Top (Gusto check stock)" or manually verify your bank.
    - Plaid encrypts account numbers, and they will not print to this type of stock.

Use the dropdowns below to learn more. Use CMD + F (or CTRL + F) to search for words in the article.

Set a team member's default payment method to check

Your team member's default payment method will be set to check until they've added one or more bank accounts in their profile. If they've already added bank accounts, they'll need to be removed before you can set the default payment method back to check.

Click the People section and select Team members.
Click the on the team member's name.
From the Pay tab, scroll to the “Payment Methods” headline.
Click edit next to any bank account that exists, scroll to the bottom of the popup, and click Remove account.
- If you want to avoid removing the bank accounts: During each payroll run, toggle the team member's payment method to check—learn how in the dropdown below.

Change a payment method to check (for one payroll)

Change an employee payment to check (for one payroll)

Changing the payment method to check using this process will only affect this one payroll. Future payrolls will still default to the employee's current payment method settings.

Click the Pay section and select Run payroll.
Click into the payroll you need to run.
You can change an employee's payment method for any payroll type—regular payroll, off-cycle payroll or a bonus payroll.
Next to your employee, click your employee's payment method (Direct Deposit) until it updates to Check.
- If you'd like to make this change for more than one employee, you can use the bulk edit tool.
- Use this same process to change it back to direct deposit as needed.

At the end of the payroll run, you’ll be asked about your check delivery preferences— follow the steps in the Print and/or have Gusto mail checks at the end of a payroll run dropdown to distribute checks.

Change a contractor payment to check (for one payment)

Changing the payment method to check using this process will only affect this one payment. Future payments will still default to the contractor's current payment method settings.

Click the Pay section and select Pay contractors.
Select the pay date.
Click +Enter payment.
Next to your contractor, click your employee's payment method (Direct Deposit) until it updates to Check.

At the end of the payment submission, you’ll be asked about your check delivery preferences—follow the steps in the Print and/or have Gusto mail checks at the end of a payroll run dropdown to distribute checks.

At this time, Gusto only supports mailing checks for employees.

Print checks or have Gusto mail checks (at the end of a payroll run)

During the final stages of the payroll run, if you've elected to pay any employees by check, you'll be prompted to decide how you’d like to issue the checks.

Learn how to print checks for a previously submitted payroll or payment by clicking the applicable dropdown below.

You can choose one, or both of the options below for check delivery:

Have Gusto mail them
- Gusto check mailing is only available for customers in our early-access check mailing beta.
Print and deliver them on your own

Have Gusto mail checks for me—for early access beta customers only

At this time, companies with a Chase/JP Morgan bank account cannot participate in the beta.

For Gusto to print and mail checks for you, click Set up check mailing. Here’s how that works:
- Select what type of payment plan you’d like to be on.
- Select which people you’d like to pay by check mail.
- We’ll add any check mailing fees to your monthly invoice—$1.50 per check.
  - You can review these costs each time you run payroll.
Agree to the terms of service by clicking the checkbox.
Click Save & Continue.
Select your mailing preference:
- First class mail—$1.50 per check.
  - Team members will receive their check in 5-10 business days.
Click Save & Continue.
Let us know whose checks you want us to mail by clicking the names of people.
- Select your default settings here, but don’t worry—you can change how you’re paying employees every time you run payroll.
Click Save & Continue.
Enter the first and last name of an authorized signatory of the company—they must be able to sign and verify checks sent to teammates.
Check the box acknowledging the individual is a signatory.
Click Save & Continue.
- Now that check mailing is set up, you won’t need to repeat steps 1-10 the next time you run a payroll that includes check payments.
Confirm your delivery method for check(s). You can elect to have Gusto handle the check mailing, or you can handle the check delivery yourself.
Review the estimated delivery dates and cost(s) for checks being mailed by Gusto.
Click Confirm.

Print and deliver checks on your own

Choose your printing format for the checks you’re handling on your own:
- Top (Gusto check stock)
  - Instructions for how to buy Gusto's check stock can be found at the bottom of this article.
  - Select if you have Gusto-check stock that is pre-printed with your company and bank info.
- Bottom (blank check stock)
  - Select if you have blank check stock and need Gusto to populate your company and bank info.
    - Heads up: You will not be able to use this check type if you've verified your bank using instant bank verification (Plaid)—account numbers are encrypted and will not print to this type of check. Use “Top (Gusto check stock)”, or manually verify your bank.
  - You’ll be asked to enter the first check number—this is optional.
Click View printable checks to view the PDF that contains the check information and earnings statement.
- If using ‘Bottom (blank check stock)’: Save the PDF—check numbers will change if the package is regenerated.
- To avoid printing issues, unselect the option for "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Page" if it’s selected by default.
Load your check stock into your printer.
Print this PDF on your check stock.
Sign the checks and deliver them to your employees with their paystubs.

Print checks for a previously submitted payroll or payment

Click the most applicable dropdown below based on whom you’re trying to print checks for.

Print checks from a past employee payroll

Click the Pay section and select Pay history.
Click the check date you need.
Scroll to the dropdown Employee hours and earnings to open more details.
Under the “Payment” column, click Print Checks.
Review the pre-existing check delivery methods set for each person.
For those you still need to print checks for, scroll down the page and click Print Checks.
Choose your printing format for the checks you’re handling on your own:
- Top (Gusto check stock)
  - Instructions for how to buy Gusto's check stock can be found at the bottom of this article.
  - Select if you have Gusto-check stock that is pre-printed with your company and bank info.
- Bottom (blank check stock)
  - Select if you have blank check stock and need Gusto to populate your company and bank info.
    - Heads up: You will not be able to use this check type if you've verified your bank using instant bank verification (Plaid)—account numbers are encrypted and will not print to this type of check. Use “Top (Gusto check stock)”, or manually verify your bank.
  - You’ll be asked to enter the first check number—this is optional.
Click View printable checks to view the PDF that contains the check information and earnings statement.
- If using ‘Bottom (blank check stock)’: save the PDF. Check numbers will change if the package is regenerated.
- Deselect the option for "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Page" if it’s selected by default to avoid printing issues.
Click Done once you’ve successfully printed the check(s).

Print checks from a past contractor payment

Click the Pay section and select Pay history.
Navigate to the Contractor payment history tab.
Under the "Actions column" click View Details.
Scroll the bottom of contractor payments summary page, and click Print Checks in the lower-left corner.
Choose your printing format for the checks you’re handling on your own:
- Top (Gusto check stock)
  - Instructions for how to buy Gusto's check stock can be found at the bottom of this article.
  - Select if you have Gusto-check stock that is pre-printed with your company and bank info.
- Bottom (blank check stock)
  - Select if you have blank check stock and need Gusto to populate your company and bank info.
    - Heads up: You will not be able to use this check type if you've verified your bank using instant bank verification (Plaid)—account numbers are encrypted and will not print to this type of check. Use “Top (Gusto check stock)”, or manually verify your bank.
  - You’ll be asked to enter the first check number—this is optional.
Click View printable checks to view the PDF that contains the check information and earnings statement.
- If using ‘Bottom (blank check stock)’: save the PDF—check numbers will change if the package is regenerated.
- Deselect the option for "Fit to Page" or "Scale to Page" if it’s selected by default to avoid printing issues.
Click Done once you’ve successfully printed the check(s).

Types of check stock supported by Gusto (and where to buy them)

Gusto supports printing on the following type of check stock—both will include the employee’s earnings statement:

Bottom (blank check stock)
- The physical check will always be on the bottom of the check PDF.
- Check numbers are populated by Gusto—learn more about check generation on blank check stock by clicking the applicable dropdown below.
- Use this check stock if you have blank check stock and need Gusto to populate your company and bank info.
  - Heads up: You will not be able to use this check type if you've verified your bank using instant bank verification (Plaid)—account numbers are encrypted and will not print to this type of check. Use “Top (Gusto check stock)”, or manually verify your bank.
Top (Gusto check stock)
- The physical check will always be on the top of the check PDF.
- Check numbers should already be pre-printed on the customized check stock that was purchased.
- Use this check printing option if you have check stock that is pre-printed with your company and bank info.

Get purchasing recommendations and additional info about both options by clicking the applicable dropdown below.

Bottom (blank check stock)

We recommend purchasing a specific blank check stock for compatibility with our PDF format.

How to buy Gusto's recommended blank check stock

Reminder: You will not be able to use this check type if you've verified your bank using instant bank verification (Plaid)—account numbers are encrypted and will not print to this type of check. Use “Top (Gusto check stock)”, or manually verify your bank.

Click here to be taken to the Compuchecks website.
Scroll to the third option, Check on Bottom.
- This is the most common choice for Accountants with multiple companies—this allows the purchase of just one check stock for all clients.
Click Add to Cart.
Proceed with checkout.

Check Numbers

If you selected “Blank with check on bottom” Gusto will automatically generate check numbers every time Print Checks is clicked in Gusto.

When a check PDF is downloaded, the first check will be populated with check number ‘0001’. Every subsequent time the PDF is downloaded, Gusto increases the check number by 1.

For example: The second time a check is downloaded, the number will be ‘0002’.

Gusto uses this method to avoid printing multiple checks with the same check number.

If there are multiple checks in a PDF, the second time the PDF is downloaded, the new check numbers start after the last check number of the first downloaded PDF.

For example: If the first downloaded package had checks numbered 0001, 0002, 0003, and 0004, then the second downloaded package would show the check numbers 0005, 0006, 0007, and 0008.

Top (Gusto check stock)

We recommend purchasing our Gusto check stock (a specific personalized check stock) and envelopes for compatibility with our PDF format.

How to buy Gusto check stock

Click here to be taken to the Compuchecks website.
Choose a color and pattern in step 1.
When selecting the check style in step 2, toggle the tab to `by Software`.
Scroll to and select Gusto Software in the software selection options.
Complete the remaining steps and Add Order to Shopping Cart.
Use code Gusto1523 at checkout to receive a 15% discount on your order.

How to buy envelopes compatible with Gusto check stock

Click here to be taken to the Compuchecks website.
Choose #9 standard double window.
Click Add to Cart.
Use code Gusto1523 at checkout to receive a 15% discount on your order.