With over 300,000 small business customers in all 50 states, Gusto stands out for its commitment to employee well-being. Its mission is to create a world where work leads to a better quality of life. Gusto prioritizes the human element in HR, focusing on employee benefits, automation, and ease of use.
Gusto at a Glance
Automatic Tax Filing
Prepare payroll taxes but don’t calculate them. There are no additional fees.
HR Features
Offers a wide range of HR tools and benefits, from onboarding and time tracking to retirement planning tools (like 401(k)s) and health insurance.
Employee Experience
The Wallet app lets employees manage pay, benefits, savings, emergency funds, and access their personal information.
Customer Service
Customer support during business hours, chatbot, and help center
9:00 a.m.
Trials
1-month free trial
Gusto Pros & Cons
PROS
- Complete payroll, benefits, and HR platform
- Access to financial benefits (401k, HSA, FSA, 529)
- Access to HR tools designed to make hiring and team management easier.
CONS
- Does not offer PEO (Professional Employer Organization) support
- Manual processing for mandatory deposits only
HR Features
As mentioned earlier, Gusto strives to “treat people as people, not passport numbers.” It does this by offering a simple platform for managers to work on (reducing their workload and stress) and a benefits-packed program for employees (making them happier to work for you). Here are some of the features we liked the most from the list of Gusto features:
Payroll
Most HR software packages offer payroll services, and Gusto is no exception. It stands out with its unlimited payroll option. This service allows users to pay employees whenever they want, without additional fees. There’s no need to wait for a scheduled pay cycle. Gusto Payroll lets you make recurring payments, award bonuses, and easily manage one-time employees. Canceling payments with Gusto is also simpler than with most other platforms.
Everything your clients need seamlessly integrates with Gusto Payroll, including health insurance, 401(k) plans, employee time accrual, time tracking, vacation management, and more, so you can eliminate manual data entry and only require review and approval. For example, Gusto recently launched Time Kiosk, which allows employees to securely clock in and out from a centralized station in seconds. It also integrates seamlessly with Gusto Payroll so you never have to manually record time. Increase your efficiency and accuracy when processing payroll with automatic employee time syncing.
Gusto also provides peace of mind for tax and regulatory compliance. Stay informed about ever-changing laws and regulations and calculate their impact so your clients don’t have to worry. Employee I-9 and W-2 forms, as well as contractor 1099 forms, are stored and organized online for quick access. State tax filing in all 50 states makes it easy for clients to hire and pay employees in different states.
Benefits
Gusto helps you offer affordable health and financial coverage to your team, making your company a better place to work and making it easier to attract and retain the right professionals.
It offers health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), financial planning (401(k), HSA, FSA, 529), and supplemental insurance (transportation, workers’ compensation). Automate payroll deductions to reduce manual errors and get direct support from authorized advisors.
With over 9,000 health insurance plans, over 30 companies, and licensed advisors, Gusto can help customers find the right plan for their budget. Customers who already have health insurance can easily switch from their current insurance broker to Gusto.
HR Tools
Gusto helps you build your dream team with tools for recruiting, onboarding, and talent development.
It simplifies hiring by managing candidates in one place and creating and sharing job postings across 100+ leading job boards, including LinkedIn and Indeed.
With a customizable onboarding checklist and digital document management tools, you can onboard new employees quickly. You or your manager simply click the “New” button.
The ability to hire and manage talent from around the world, compliantly
Gusto recently announced the launch of Gusto Global, an employer of record (EOR) solution that allows companies to hire full-time employees worldwide without compromising regulatory compliance. Remotely managed Gusto Global lets you hire, pay, and manage talent through Gusto’s comprehensive platform and quickly process payroll for your entire team, whether they’re based in the U.S. or abroad, on temporary or full-time contracts. Having one platform for all your employees will help you stay on top of your finances without having to worry about managing disconnected systems and tools.
It’s also important that Gusto Global lets you pay your team correctly. One of the most challenging aspects of hiring international workers is ensuring regulatory compliance. Failure to comply in another country can result in significant fines or even a ban from working there. For example, in Canada, fines for misclassifying employees can range from $50,000 to $500,000. In Australia, similar violations can cost up to $80,000. With Gusto, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are compliant with all foreign laws and regulations in the countries where Gusto Global is available.
Gusto Global is currently available in beta in Canada and will be available in other countries soon. The remote service operates in over 75 countries worldwide.
However, if you are not yet ready to hire full-time international employees and prefer to work with international contractors or freelancers, Gusto also offers a solution. Gusto allows you to pay international contractors in over 120 countries worldwide with just a few clicks through its comprehensive platform.
Accounting and Time Management
In addition to Gusto’s time tracking solutions and time clock kiosks, it also offers integrations with other platforms, such as MP and Homebase, so you can easily identify employees who are serious about their work (share this information with talent management, attendance, and task management features). This gives you a clear picture of employee productivity. Additionally, Gusto syncs with QuickBooks, Xero, TSheets, and other timesheets so your work hours are updated and instantly added to your payroll system. Tax management features ensure your accounting is compliant with state and federal laws, and Gusto will even update your taxes with the latest reforms and regulations.
Records and Reports
Gusto’s reports are easy to use, even for those who are less tech-savvy. Fields are customizable, and you can create, manage, and print a variety of reports, including payroll reports, individual or team productivity graphs, timesheets, employee surveys (anonymous or named), and new hire reports.
Usability
A modern online interface makes it easy to add and update information. What’s more, once you’ve set up your schedules, settings, and preferences, Gusto’s HR software does most of the work for you automatically. So, there’s no need for manual updates or implementation.
Gusto is optimized for mobile devices, so you can access the site directly from your mobile phone without having to download an app. The mobile site has the same functionality, features, and navigation as the desktop version, with the same look and feel for a seamless experience.
For your company’s employees, Gusto offers a free mobile app called Gusto Wallet. This app allows your employees to manage, save, and access their money. They can set budgets and automatically save by tracking their paychecks and tax returns.
Gusto has robust security measures, so users may not appreciate two-factor authentication, but it’s really the best way to protect your organization and business information. It’s worth noting that Gusto also offers comprehensive security for all of its data centers, including biometric and iris scanner locks, 24/7 surveillance cameras, and on-site security personnel.
Gusto Customer Support
The website design is user-friendly, open, honest, and simple, ensuring a better user experience from the start. Gusto maintains this same philosophy by recruiting and training excellent staff.
Pricing & Special Offers
Recognizing the challenges and potential financial risks of manual payroll processing, Gusto stands out as a cost-effective solution for small business owners. Many entrepreneurs in the United States still manage payroll manually, a risky approach that often leads to costly errors and thousands of dollars in IRS fines annually.
Gusto directly addresses this issue by offering an automated, reliable, and easy-to-use service that not only resolves existing payroll issues, but also prevents future errors. By choosing Gusto, businesses are making a smart, long-term investment. The cost of using Gusto’s services is consistently lower than the significant fees and penalties associated with manual payroll errors.
Gusto offers affordability and transparency in terms of pricing. Even with its highly competitive prices, such as $40 per month plus $6 per user for the Gusto Simple Plan, you get a comprehensive suite of services.
This plan includes automated tax reporting, unlimited payroll payments, various rates and payment schedules, multiple payroll options, absence tracking, tax form amendments, and, where applicable, expedited payroll services.
*Prices last updated December 2023
Specifically for startups and small and medium-sized businesses, this Simple package offers an affordable and comprehensive option, ensuring that businesses of all sizes have access to essential services such as unlimited payroll, tax filing, unemployment insurance, comprehensive reporting, health services, and solid customer support.
Gusto also offers a free trial, which you won’t find with other HR software providers. This is a huge advantage, as you can try the software without any obligation. What’s more, with this company, you won’t have to pay any registration fees or file annual tax returns (W-2 forms).
Bottom Line
Gusto offers a wide range of useful features, clear and practical information on its website, and more services than you can imagine, which makes working with Gusto a pleasure. Add to that a wide range of services and an incredibly affordable price, and this company is quickly positioning itself among the best. You won’t regret trying it for free.
