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 HR, focusing on employee benefits, automation, and ease of use.
Gusto at a Glance
Automatic Tax Filing
Reports payroll taxes but doesn’t calculate them. There are no additional fees.
HR Features
Offers a variety of HR tools and benefits, from onboarding and time tracking to 401(k) and health insurance tools.
Employee Experience
The Wallet app lets employees manage their payroll, benefits, savings, emergency cash, and access their personal information.
Customer Service
Customer service during business hours, chatbot, and help center
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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
- Doesn’t offer a PEO option
- 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 burden and stress) and a benefits-packed program for employees (which make employees 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 offers a payroll service, and Gusto is no exception. It features an 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 makes it easy to set up recurring payments, award bonuses, and bill one-time employees. 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 vacation, and more, so you can avoid manual data entry and simply 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 seamlessly integrates 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 for tax and regulatory compliance. Stay informed about ever-changing laws and regulations and calculate the impact so your customers don’t have to worry. Employee I-9, W-2, 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 offer affordable medical and financial benefits to your team, making your company a better place to work and helping you attract and retain the right talent.
It offers medical benefits (medical, dental, and vision), financial benefits (401(k), HSA, FSA, 529), and fringe benefits (transportation, workers’ compensation). Automate benefits deductions with payroll to reduce manual errors and get direct support from authorized advisors.
With over 9,000 health insurance plans, over 30 companies, and certified advisors, Gusto can help customers find the perfect plan that fits their budget. Customers who already have health benefits 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.
You can streamline hiring by managing applicants in one place and creating and sharing job postings across 100+ leading job platforms, including LinkedIn and Indeed.
With a customizable onboarding checklist and digital management tools, you can quickly onboard your new employees. 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 compromising regulatory compliance. With remote management capabilities, Gusto Global lets you hire, pay, and manage talent through the comprehensive Gusto platform and quickly manage payroll for your entire team, whether they’re based in the U.S. or abroad, contract or full-time. Having one platform for all your employees will help you keep your finances in order without having to worry about managing disconnected systems and tools.
It’s also important that Gusto Global lets you pay your team accordingly. One of the most challenging aspects of hiring international workers is ensuring regulatory compliance. Violating regulations in another country can result in significant fines or even a ban on 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. But with Gusto, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re 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’re not ready to hire full-time international employees and prefer to work with international contractors or freelancers, Gusto can help with that too. 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, such as MP and Homebase. This allows you to easily see which employees are taking their work seriously (share it with talent management, attendance, and task management features) and get a clear picture of employee productivity. What’s more, Gusto syncs with QuickBooks, Xero, TSheets, and other timesheets, so your hours are instantly updated and added to your payroll system. Tax management features ensure that your accounting records are always accurate and compliant with state and federal laws, and Gusto will even update your tax information to reflect the latest reforms and regulations.
Records and Reports
Gusto’s reports are easy to use, even for those with limited technical experience. 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
The 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 for manual updates or installations.
Gusto is optimized for mobile devices, 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 manage, save, and access their hard-earned money. They can set budgets and automatically save by tracking their paychecks and tax returns.
Gusto has strong security measures, so users may not appreciate two-factor authentication, but it’s a great way to protect your organization and business information.
Gusto Customer Support
The website interface is user-friendly, open, honest, and simple, ensuring an optimal and high-quality user experience from the start. Gusto maintains the same approach 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 business owners in the United States still manage payroll manually, a risky approach that often leads to costly errors and thousands of dollars in IRS fees annually.
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.
Gusto offers affordability and transparency in pricing. Even with its highly competitive pricing, like $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 processing, multiple pay rates and schedules, a wide range of payroll features, absence tracking, tax form changes, and, where applicable, expedited payroll services.
*Prices updated December 2023. Specifically designed for startups and small businesses, this Simple plan offers an affordable yet feature-rich option, ensuring that companies of all sizes have access to essential services like unlimited payroll, tax reporting, unemployment insurance, comprehensive reporting, health benefits, and impeccable customer service.
Gusto also offers a free trial, which you won’t find with other HR software providers. This is a significant advantage, as you can test the software without obligation. You also won’t have to pay any setup fees or file your year-end W-2 with this company.
Bottom Line
Gusto is a pleasure to work with, offering a wide range of useful features, clear and helpful information right on their website, and providing more services than you might expect. Add to that a wide range of services and incredibly affordable prices, and this company will quickly rise to the top. With a free trial, you won’t be disappointed.
