Gusto Review 2025: Best Payroll & HR Tool for Small Business

📌2. Gusto – Full Feature Breakdown

Gusto combines payroll, HR, onboarding, compliance, and benefits in one platform so small business owners can manage their team easily without needing expert HR knowledge.

✅ 2.1 All‑in‑One Payroll & HR Platform

Gusto handles payroll and HR from a single dashboard no need to juggle multiple tools.

Employers get a unified system to manage payroll, taxes, benefits, time‑tracking, and HR tasks, which makes staff administration easier and less error‑prone.

• Many modern HR teams now use CRM-style tools to improve employee experience and engagement. (Learn more about how CRM helps HR here.)

✅ 2.2 Full-Service Payroll with Automated Tax Filing

• Gusto submits federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically.
• It handles W‑2s and 1099s generation and filing useful for both standard employees and contractors.
• Supports unlimited payroll runs ensures you can run payroll as often as needed without extra cost.
• Payroll can be scheduled or run manually. For many, you can even set up payroll to run automatically (no manual triggers needed).

This makes it much simpler than manual payroll or spreadsheet‑based methods, especially for small businesses.

✅ 2.3 Flexible Payment Options & Contractor Support

• Supports both traditional employees and independent contractors this flexibility is useful for businesses with mixed workforces.
• Offers payment through direct deposit, paper checks, or payroll cards. You can also split payments or deposit to multiple accounts.
• Multiple pay rates and pay schedules are supported good for hourly workers, salaried staff, part‑time, etc.

✅ 2.4 Employee Records & Management (Clean HR Records)

Gusto keeps detailed (but not overwhelming) employee profiles: contact info, compensation, benefits, time-off balances, PTO accrual, and more.

The layout is clean and easy to navigate helpful whether you’re a payroll novice or experienced admin.

✅ 2.5 Time Tracking and Integration of Hours Worked for Payroll

• Built-in time‑tracking and timesheet support. Users can enter hours directly or import from integrated external tools.
• Works for salaried, hourly, or contract workers. Overtime, reimbursements, and bonuses are handled alongside standard wages.

This makes payroll calculations simpler and reduces manual errors on hours or overtime pay.

✅ 2.6 HR & Benefits Management Tools

• Gusto supports health benefits, retirement plans, insurance, and other benefits enabling small businesses to offer competitive compensation/benefit packages.
• Payroll deductions can be configured for benefits, savings accounts (like HSA/FSA), and even extras like gym memberships or employer‑matched charity contributions.
• Additional HR tools include hiring and onboarding workflows, compliance management, employee onboarding paperwork, and (on higher plans) more advanced HR admin features.

✅ 2.7 Reporting & Custom Reports

Gusto includes built‑in reports (payroll journals, tax summaries, time-off reports, etc.) that can be exported in PDF, CSV, or Excel formats.

A custom report tool lets admins drag and drop columns, filter data, specify date ranges, and save templates flexible for different business needs.

✅ 2.8 Usable, Beginner-Friendly Interface

According to PCMag, Gusto’s user interface is intuitive, clean, and well-designed. Payroll admins brand new or experienced find it easy to set up and navigate.

The combination of clarity, usability, and powerful features makes the payroll process smooth and less intimidating.

✅ 2.9 Admin & Employee Access (Self‑Service & Mobile Friendly)

Employees get access to their own portal to view paystubs, tax documents (W‑2/1099), PTO balances, and benefits.

Although PCMag notes there’s no full native mobile app for admins, Gusto’s mobile‑browser version is responsive letting basic functions like payroll, records access, or paystub checks happen on the go.

✅ 2.10 Security & Compliance / Data Protection

Gusto uses secure encryption for data transfer, regular backups, and supports multi-factor authentication to protect sensitive payroll and HR data.

🟢 Additional Gusto Features (Concise Version)

✅ 2.11 Tax Filing & Compliance

Gusto automatically handles federal, state, and local payroll tax filings. It ensures accurate withholdings and submits all required forms including W-2s and 1099s without manual effort. This reduces the risk of tax penalties and keeps your business compliant.

✅ 2.12 HR Management & Document Storage

Beyond payroll, Gusto acts as a lightweight HR platform. You can store employee documents, track job histories, and manage digital signatures. New hires complete onboarding forms online, and all paperwork is stored securely in one place.

✅ 2.13 Custom Reports & Analytics

Gusto offers detailed payroll, tax, and benefits reports. You can customize them by date, employee, or department, and export to CSV or PDF. These insights help small businesses monitor costs and plan ahead.

✅ 2.14 Employee Portal Access

Each employee gets their own login to view pay history, tax forms, benefits, and PTO balances. This self-service feature saves HR time and gives employees full transparency.