Gusto

What Gusto is

Gusto handles payroll filing, tax payments, contractor payments, onboarding, and benefits administration with an interface simple enough that an owner without an HR person can run it. Multi-state support and workers compensation integration cover the common contractor complications.

What it does well

• Automatic tax filing across states
• Simple onboarding and document handling
• Benefits and workers compensation integration
• Contractor and employee payments in one place

Integrates with

QuickBooks Online · Xero · ClockShark · Buildertrend

Integration lists change often and "integrates" can mean anything from a real two-way sync to a one-way push through Zapier. Ask the vendor which fields move, in which direction, and how often.

Before you commit

• Pick what your accountant already works in unless you have a strong reason not to. Migration costs real money.
• Job-level profit is the number to chase. Verify labour burden — not just wage — flows into job cost.
• If you run crews across jurisdictions, check multi-state payroll tax handling before you commit.
• Prevailing-wage or public work means certified payroll. Confirm it is supported natively.
• Weekly categorisation habit beats any feature. Software makes bookkeeping faster, not automatic.

How to judge it in a trial

Run one real job through it end to end — not the demo data. Quote it, schedule it, do it, invoice it, take the payment. Then ask the only question that matters on day 400: did the people who have to use this every day find it faster than what they do now? Friction you notice in week one compounds forever, and tool-hopping costs more than any feature gap.