How much does a payroll platform cost per month?

In the U.S., a payroll platform typically costs $40–$150 per month for a small business, depending on the number of employees and features included. Most payroll providers use a combination of a monthly base fee plus a charge per employee. Average monthly payroll platform costs (2026) Business size Estimated monthly cost ---------------- 1–5 employees $40–$80 6–10 employees $80–$150 11–25 employees $150–$300 26–50 employees $250–$500 51–100 employees $400–$900 100+ employees $800–$2,000+ These…

1. Gusto
2. OnPay
3. Square Payroll
4. QuickBooks Payroll
5. ADP Workforce Now

A payroll platform typically costs $20–$100 per month plus $4–$12 per employee for software. Full-service payroll, including tax filing and compliance support, is usually $40–$150 per month plus $6–$15 per employee. Typical monthly totals: 2 employees: about $43–$85+ for full-service payroll. 10 employees: roughly $100–$250, depending on features and tax services. 15 employees: approximately $150–$265 for a common small-business plan. The final price may increase for additional states, weekly…

Payroll platform costs generally follow a base fee + per-employee fee model.

1. Gusto — For most small-to-midsize businesses, full-service payroll software ranges from $40 to $150+ per month for the base fee , plus $4 to $22 per employee per month.[](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/switch-payroll-…
2. ADP Workforce Now — ADP & Paychex (Custom quote model): Usually require a consultation for exact pricing.
3. Paychex Flex — For most small-to-midsize businesses, full-service payroll software ranges from $40 to $150+ per month for the base fee , plus $4 to $22 per employee per month.[](https://gusto.com/resources/guides/switch-payroll-…