Payroll Services
How Much Does Payroll Services Cost?
Real list prices from 2 payroll products that publish them, cost by headcount, the pricing models you will meet and the fees that are easy to miss.
How much payroll services cost
Published prices for payroll services range from $29–$37 per month in base fees and $5–$7 per employee per month. At 25 employees, the median list cost across 2 products is $183 per month.
List prices before discounts, taxes and add-ons; quote-only vendors are not included.
Cost by company size
| Employees | Patriot Payroll Full Service Payroll | SurePayroll Full Service |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $42/mo | $36/mo (lowest) |
| 10 | $87/mo (lowest) | $99/mo |
| 25 | $162/mo (lowest) | $204/mo |
| 50 | $287/mo (lowest) | $379/mo |
| 100 | $537/mo (lowest) | $729/mo |
| 250 | $1,287/mo (lowest) | $1,779/mo |
Pricing models explained
- Base fee + per employee. A monthly base fee plus a monthly fee for each person paid. Most online payroll services publish their prices this way.
- Per run. A fee charged per payroll run, sometimes with a per-employee component.
- Flat fee. A fixed monthly price for small employers with a defined number of employees.
- Quote based. Used by many providers that assign a specialist, by PEOs and for multi-entity payroll, where scope drives price.
Price comparison
| Product | Starting price | Pricing model | Pricing details |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37/mo + $5/employee/mo (Full Service Payroll plan) | Base fee + per employee | Patriot Payroll pricing |
| $29/mo + $7/employee/mo (Full Service plan) | Base fee + per employee | What SurePayroll costs |
 | Quote only | Base fee + per employee | What QuickBooks Payroll costs |
 Gusto | Quote only | Base fee + per employee | Gusto pricing |
 | Quote only | Base fee + per employee | What OnPay costs |
 | Quote only | Base fee + per employee | Square Payroll pricing |
 | Quote only | Base fee + per employee | Paychex Flex plans and prices |
 | Quote only | Quote only | Paycor pricing |
 TriNet | Quote only | Per employee | TriNet plans and prices |
 | Quote only | Quote only | ADP RUN pricing |
 | Quote only | Quote only | Vensure Employer Solutions plans and prices |
 | Quote only | Quote only | What ADP TotalSource costs |
 | Quote only | Quote only | Insperity (PEO) plans and prices |
Lowest published list price per month, cheapest first at 25 employees; quote-only products show no price.
Extra and hidden costs
Patriot Payroll
Time & Attendance add-on: $6 a month plus $2 per employee, HR Software add-on: $6 a month plus $2 per employee, Full Service: $12 a month for each additional state filed, Basic Payroll: nominal 1099 e-filing fees
SurePayroll
Multi-state payroll: $9.99 a month (first state included), Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms: $50 base plus $5 per form, billed annually, Accounting software integration: $4.99 a month, Time clock integration: from $5 a month plus $3 per employee, Employment law support: from $30 a month, 401(k): quoted by plan
What drives the price
- Employee count and pay frequency
- Number of states and local jurisdictions
- Level of service, from self-service to fully managed
- Off-cycle runs and corrections
- Add-ons such as time tracking, benefits and HR support
Fees to ask about before you sign:
- Setup or conversion fees
- Year-end form fees, including fees for mailed paper copies of W-2s and 1099s
- Fees for amended returns and notice handling
- Charges for off-cycle or bonus runs
- Monthly fees for each additional state or local tax jurisdiction
- Garnishment payment or new-hire reporting sold as an add-on or only on higher plans
- Charges to export data on termination
More on payroll services
- All payroll services, ranked
The full ranking, top picks and how to choose.
- Payroll Services comparison table
Every product side by side: score, price and verified features.
- Payroll services for small business
The ranking reweighted for small business.
- Payroll services for mid-sized companies
The ranking reweighted for mid-sized companies.
- Payroll services for healthcare
The ranking reweighted for healthcare.
- Payroll services for enterprises
The ranking reweighted for enterprises.
- HR software pricing index
Median published prices in every HR category, free to reuse.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a payroll service cost?
Most online payroll services charge a monthly base fee plus a monthly fee for each person paid, and the comparison table shows both parts for each provider as published. Providers that assign a specialist, and PEOs, usually quote a price after a call. Compare the total for your headcount, including extra states, year-end forms, off-cycle runs and garnishment service, not just the headline price.
Who is the cheapest payroll company?
The lowest list price depends on your headcount and the plan. Our Best value pick is the provider with the lowest published cost at a standard team size among providers that score at or above the median. Check that the cheapest plan still files your state and local taxes.
Can I do my own payroll for free?
Yes. No law requires a payroll provider, and the federal tools are free: the Treasury's EFTPS system takes federal tax deposits at no charge, and IRS Publication 15-T gives the withholding methods. The cost is your time and the risk of errors, since you must also handle state taxes, new-hire reports, quarterly returns and year-end forms on time.
Do payroll services publish their prices?
Of the 13 payroll services we track, 2 publish a list price we can compare and 6 are quote-only (ADP RUN Powered by ADP, ADP TotalSource, Insperity (PEO), Paycor, and 2 more).
Do payroll services charge an implementation fee?
Gusto, OnPay, Patriot Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, and 2 more state no implementation fee.
Can I pay for payroll services month to month?
ADP RUN Powered by ADP, Gusto, Patriot Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, and 2 more bill month to month.
How are payroll services priced?
By the published pricing model — base fee + per employee: Gusto, OnPay, Patriot Payroll, and 4 more; per employee: TriNet.
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