Why We Recommend Gusto: Because Running a Business Shouldn’t Require 14 Different Software Tools

Gusto is one of those rare platforms that actually does what it promises: it makes running a small business easier. Here’s everything they offer—and why we think they’re one of the best one stop shops available today.

Every once in a while, a software tool comes along that doesn’t just solve a problem—it solves an entire genre of problems. Enter Gusto, the platform that looked at payroll, HR, benefits, onboarding, time tracking, compliance, and business admin and said, “Yeah, we’ll do all of it.” In a world where most small business owners are drowning in disconnected apps, Gusto functions like a life raft packed with all the snacks, sunscreen, and emergency supplies you could ever need.

Let’s start with the crown jewel: payroll. Gusto automates federal, state, and local tax filings, ensures employees get paid accurately, handles W-2s and 1099s, supports multistate operations, syncs hours and PTO, and—bless them—files everything on time without the emotional drama payroll often brings. Employees get self-service access to pay stubs, tax forms, and direct deposit changes, eliminating the “Can you send me my W-2 again?” emails you pretend not to receive.

But Gusto doesn’t stop there. Their HR features are robust enough to make you wonder how you ever lived without them. Think custom employee handbooks, onboarding checklists, offer letters, e-signatures, job postings, document storage, and even automated reminders for everything from birthdays to license renewals. You get workflows. You get structure. You get a digital filing cabinet that never loses anything and never asks you why you need “yet another” HR folder.

Then there are benefits—health, dental, vision, life, disability, FSA, HSA, commuter benefits, 401(k), and more. Gusto integrates directly with leading insurance carriers, automates deductions, manages eligibility, handles open enrollment, and lets employees choose their plans online without needing you to interpret insurance jargon like a part-time actuary. Offering benefits suddenly becomes achievable instead of terrifying.

Time tracking? Included. PTO management? Included. Scheduling tools? Yep. Performance reviews? Shockingly, also included. Compliance features such as hiring reporting, document retention, ACA support, and state-specific rules? Absolutely included. Background checks, embedded learning modules, people analytics dashboards, and integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero—Gusto delivers all of it in one place.

What seals the deal is the employee experience. Gusto turns payroll and HR from bureaucratic chores into something surprisingly elegant. Employees have a clean dashboard, update their info, access benefits, clock in, request PTO, and even receive financial wellness tools. Some even get early access to wages at no cost—a perk that instantly boosts retention and goodwill.

For small businesses, Gusto is more than software. It’s a co-pilot. A multi-tool. A stress reducer. A platform that lets you manage your entire back office from one login instead of fourteen. We’ve tested it, we use it, and we recommend it because it simply makes business life easier—accurate payroll, streamlined HR, organized benefits, and clean integrations all working together without friction.

If running a business sometimes feels like juggling chainsaws, Gusto is the tool that gently takes the chainsaws away and hands you a neatly organized checklist instead. And honestly? That alone makes it worth it.