Payroll Service Cost by Company Size 2026: From Solo to 100+ Employees
What you should pay, which providers fit, and which features matter at every stage of growth.
Quick Reference
| Size | Monthly Cost | Recommended Tier | Best Providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 5 employees | $55 - $95/mo | Basic or Essential | Rippling, Gusto, OnPay |
| 5 - 25 employees | $80 - $250/mo | Essential or Full-Service | Gusto, Paychex, QuickBooks |
| 25 - 100 employees | $200 - $800/mo | Full-Service or Premium | Paychex, ADP, QuickBooks Premium |
| 100+ employees | $600 - $2,000+/mo | Premium or Enterprise / PEO | ADP, Paychex, PEO providers |
1 - 5 employees
$55 - $95/moReal cost scenario: A 3-person consulting firm using Gusto Simple pays $49 + $18 = $67/month ($804/year).
Features Worth Paying For
- ✓ Payroll calculation and direct deposit
- ✓ Federal and state tax filing
- ✓ W-2 and 1099 preparation
- ✓ Employee self-service portal
Features to Skip
- ✕ Benefits administration (too few employees for group plans)
- ✕ Advanced HR tools (handle HR manually at this size)
- ✕ Time and attendance tracking (use a free tool instead)
Monthly Cost by Provider
| Emp | Gusto | QB | Paychex | OnPay | Rippling | ADP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $55 | $51 | $44 | $55 | $43 | $86 |
| 3 | $67 | $63 | $54 | $67 | $59 | $100 |
| 5 | $79 | $75 | $64 | $79 | $75 | $114 |
5 - 25 employees
$80 - $250/moReal cost scenario: A 15-employee retail shop using Gusto Essential pays $49 + $90 = $139/month ($1,668/year).
Features Worth Paying For
- ✓ Everything in basic tier
- ✓ Automatic tax filing and deposits
- ✓ PTO management and tracking
- ✓ New hire onboarding workflows
- ✓ Multi-state payroll support
Features to Skip
- ✕ Dedicated payroll specialist (cost-effective above 25 employees)
- ✕ API access (unless you have custom integrations)
- ✕ Advanced compliance tools (unless in a regulated industry)
Monthly Cost by Provider
| Emp | Gusto | QB | Paychex | OnPay | Rippling | ADP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $109 | $105 | $89 | $109 | $115 | $149 |
| 15 | $139 | $135 | $114 | $139 | $155 | $184 |
| 20 | $169 | $165 | $139 | $169 | $195 | $219 |
| 25 | $199 | $195 | $164 | $199 | $235 | $254 |
25 - 100 employees
$200 - $800/moReal cost scenario: A 50-employee manufacturing company using Paychex Flex pays $39 + $250 = $289/month ($3,468/year).
Features Worth Paying For
- ✓ Everything in essential tier
- ✓ Benefits administration and enrollment
- ✓ Time and attendance integration
- ✓ Dedicated payroll specialist
- ✓ Workers' compensation management
- ✓ Custom reporting and analytics
Features to Skip
- ✕ Enterprise-level features like global payroll
- ✕ Advanced HR information system (unless replacing a separate HR platform)
Monthly Cost by Provider
| Emp | Gusto | QB | Paychex | OnPay | Rippling | ADP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $199 | $195 | $164 | $199 | $235 | $254 |
| 50 | $349 | $345 | $289 | $349 | $435 | $429 |
| 75 | $499 | $495 | $414 | $499 | $635 | $604 |
| 100 | $649 | $645 | $539 | $649 | $835 | $779 |
100+ employees
$600 - $2,000+/moReal cost scenario: A 150-employee logistics company is past Run's 49-employee ceiling, so it sits on ADP Workforce Now (quote-only), roughly $1,100 to $1,500+/month all-in based on buyer-reported ranges.
Features Worth Paying For
- ✓ Everything in full-service tier
- ✓ Advanced compliance and audit support
- ✓ Multi-entity and multi-state management
- ✓ Custom API integrations
- ✓ Dedicated account team
- ✓ Strategic HR consulting
Features to Skip
- ✕ Nothing at this size - you need the full feature set
- ✕ Consider PEO if benefits cost reduction is a priority
Monthly Cost by Provider
| Emp | Gusto | QB | Paychex | OnPay | Rippling | ADP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $649 | $645 | $539 | $649 | $835 | $779 |
| 150 | $949 | $945 | $789 | $949 | $1235 | $1129 |
| 200 | $1249 | $1245 | $1039 | $1249 | $1635 | $1479 |
When to Upgrade Your Payroll Tier
Move from Basic to Essential. Tax filing automation alone saves 2+ hours per payroll cycle and eliminates deposit timing risk.
Multi-state payroll adds compliance complexity. An Essential or Full-Service tier handles state registration, SUTA calculations, and state-specific tax rules automatically.
Benefits administration features (enrollment, deductions, COBRA) are typically a Full-Service tier feature. Without it, you manage deductions manually every pay period.
Consider Paychex or ADP with a dedicated payroll specialist. At this scale, a named contact who knows your setup saves significant time versus chat-based support.
Evaluate PEO options. Group benefits rates through a PEO can save $200 to $500 per employee per year on health insurance, potentially offsetting the higher PEO fee.
Calculate Your Exact Cost
Enter your employee count, industry, and features to see provider-by-provider pricing.