Serving more than 300,000 small businesses in all 50 states, Gusto has earned a reputation for being there for you. Its mission is to “create a world where work improves lives.” Gusto prioritizes the human element in human resource management, focusing on employee benefits, automation, and ease of use.
Gusto at a Glance
Automatic Tax Filing
Files but doesn’t calculate payroll taxes. There are no additional fees.
HR Features
Offers a variety of HR tools and benefits, from onboarding and time tracking to 401(k) plan tools and health insurance.
Employee Experience
The Wallet app lets employees manage payments, benefits, savings, emergency cash, and access personal information.
Customer Service
Customer service during business hours, chatbot, and help center
9:00-17:00
Trials
1-month free trial
Gusto Pros & Cons
PROS
- Complete payroll, benefits, and HR management platform
- Access to financial benefits (401k, HSA, FSA, 529)
- Access to HR tools designed to make hiring and team management easier.
CONS
- No PEO option
- Only manual processing for mandatory deposits
HR Features
As mentioned above, Gusto strives to “treat people like people, not passport numbers.” It achieves this by offering a simple platform for managers to work on (reducing their burden and stress) and a benefits program packed with benefits for employees (making employees happier working for you). Here are some of the features we liked the most from the list of Gusto features:
Payroll
Most HR software offers payroll services, and Gusto is no exception. It stands out with its unlimited payroll option. This service allows users to pay their 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 bill one-time employees without any hassle. Canceling payments with Gusto is also easier than with most other sites.
Everything your clients need is seamlessly integrated with Gusto Payroll, including health insurance, 401(k), employee accrual, time tracking, paid time off (PTO), and more, so you can avoid manual data entry and just review and approve. 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 by automatically syncing employee time while managing payroll.
Gusto also provides peace of mind when it comes to taxes and compliance. Stay informed about ever-changing laws and regulations and calculate the impact so your customers don’t have to worry. Employee I9, W2, and 1099 forms are stored and organized online for quick access. State tax filing in all 50 states makes it easy to hire and pay employees across states.
Benefits
Gusto helps you provide affordable medical and financial services to your team, making your company a better place to work and helping you attract and retain the right talent.
It offers healthcare (medical, dental, and vision), financial services (401(k), HSA, FSA, 529), and value-added services (travel, workers’ compensation). Automate payroll deductions to reduce manual errors, and get direct support from licensed consultants.
With over 9,000 health insurance plans, over 30 carriers, and certified consultants, Gusto can help customers find the perfect plan that fits their budget. Customers who already have health services can easily transfer their current insurance provider to Gusto.
HR Tools
Gusto helps you build your dream team with tools for recruiting, onboarding, and talent development.
You can streamline hiring by managing applicants in one place and creating and sharing job postings across 100+ leading employment platforms, including LinkedIn and Indeed.
With a customizable onboarding checklist and digital management tools, you can quickly onboard your new staff. You or your manager can 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 sacrificing regulatory compliance. With remote management, Gusto Global lets you hire, pay, and manage talent through Gusto’s comprehensive platform and quickly manage payroll for your entire team, whether they’re in the US or abroad, contract or full-time. Having one platform for your entire workforce will help you keep your finances in order without having to worry about managing different systems and tools.
It’s also important that Gusto Global allows you to pay your team accordingly. 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 a ban on working there. For example, in Canada, fines for misclassifying workers can range from $50,000 to $500,000. In Australia, similar violations can cost up to $80,000. But with Gusto, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from complying 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 is available in over 75 countries worldwide.
However, if you’re not ready to hire full-time international employees and prefer to work with international contractors or freelancers, Gusto also offers a solution. Gusto lets you pay international contractors in over 120 countries with just a few clicks through its comprehensive platform.
Accounting and Time Management
In addition to Gusto’s time tracking and time booth solutions, Gusto also offers third-party time tracking integrations like MP and Homebase, so you can easily see which employees are taking their work seriously (share this with talent management, attendance, and task management features) and get a clear picture of employee productivity. Additionally, Gusto syncs with QuickBooks, Xero, TSheets, and other timesheets so your work hours are instantly updated and added to your payroll system. Tax management features ensure your books are always properly maintained in accordance 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 for even the least tech-savvy employees to use. Fields are customizable, and you can create, manage, and print a variety of reports, including payroll reports, individual or team productivity charts, timesheets, employee surveys (anonymous or named), and new hire reports.
Usability
A modern online interface makes it easy to add and update information. Plus, once you’ve set up your schedules, settings, and preferences, Gusto’s HR software does most of the work automatically. So there’s no need to manually update or install anything.
Gusto is optimized for mobile, so you can access the site directly from your mobile device without having to download an app. The mobile site has the same functionality, features, and navigation as the desktop site, with the same look and feel for a seamless experience.
For your company’s employees, Gusto offers a free mobile app called Gusto Wallet. It allows your employees to monitor, save, and access their hard-earned money. They can set budgets and save automatically while keeping track of their paychecks and tax returns.
Gusto has strong layers of security, so users may not appreciate two-factor authentication, but it’s the best way to keep your organization and business information safe. As a side note, Gusto also offers a comprehensive
Gusto Customer Support
The website interface is friendly, open, honest, and simple, ensuring an optimal and quality user experience from the start. Gusto maintains that attitude through effective hiring and training.
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 annual IRS fees.
Gusto directly addresses this problem by offering an automated, reliable, and easy-to-use service that not only solves current payroll problems, 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.
When it comes to pricing, Gusto offers affordability and transparency. Even with its highly competitive pricing, like $40 per month plus $6 per user with the Gusto Simple Plan, you get a full suite of services.
This plan includes automatic tax filing, unlimited payroll, multiple pay rates and schedules, multiple payroll options, absence tracking, tax form changes, and, where applicable, expedited payroll services.
*Prices last updated December 2023.
Specifically designed for startups and small to medium-sized businesses, this simple plan offers an affordable yet feature-rich option, ensuring that businesses of all sizes have access to essential services like unlimited payroll filing, tax reporting, unemployment insurance, comprehensive reporting, healthcare, and impeccable customer service.
Gusto also offers a free trial that you won’t find with other HR software providers. This is a great advantage because you can try the program without obligation. You also won’t have to pay setup fees or fill out your year-end W-2 form with this company.
Bottom Line
Offering a wide range of useful features, helpful and clear information right on their website, and providing more services than you might imagine, Gusto is a pleasure to work with. Add to that a full range of services and an incredibly affordable price, and this company is quickly establishing itself among the best. With a free trial, you can’t go wrong.
