Guide · Checked Oct 4, 2026
Payroll for a 5-person team: what it costs
You have 5 employees and want someone else to run payroll and file the taxes. Here is what that costs today. Every price below comes from the vendor's own public pricing page.
We compared the cheapest full-service plan at 5 vendors. The total is the monthly base fee plus the per-person fee for 5 people. These are standard prices, before any introductory discount.
Monthly cost for 5 employees
| Tool and plan | Base per month | Per person per month | Total for 5 per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot SoftwareFull Service Payroll | $37 | $5 | $62 |
| Square PayrollPayroll | $35 | $6 | $65 |
| GustoSimple | $49 | $6 | $79 |
| OnPayPayroll Essentials | $49 | $6 | $79 |
| QuickBooks PayrollCore | $50 | $7 | $85 |
Checked Oct 4, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page, linked above. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you sign.
3 picks, by situation
1. Your team earns tips
Square Payroll
$65 per month for 5 people
Of the 5 pricing pages we checked, only Square names direct-tip tracking and importing. It is also the second lowest price here.
Checked Oct 4, 2026
2. You want the lowest standard price
Patriot Software, Full Service Payroll
$62 per month for 5 people
Lowest standard monthly total of the 5. Make sure you pick Full Service, not Basic Payroll, which leaves tax filing to you.
Checked Oct 4, 2026
3. You want a plain price with no introductory discount
OnPay, Payroll Essentials
$79 per month for 5 people
Its page lists one price with no introductory offer. Gusto Simple costs the same but covers payroll in one state only.
Checked Oct 4, 2026
What to check before you choose
Tips. If your staff earn tips, ask each vendor how tips are reported and taxed. Only Square's pricing page mentions tips, but others may handle them elsewhere.
States. Gusto Simple covers payroll in one state. If anyone works in another state, check the plan before you sign.
Introductory prices. QuickBooks and Patriot showed a discount for the first months on Oct 4, 2026. Budget for the standard price shown in the table.
Add-ons. Time tracking, HR tools and state tax registration can cost extra. Read the add-on list on the pricing page.
Your situation is different?
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