Blog
Payroll & HR guides for small businesses
Clear, practical answers to the questions owners ask most.
Guide · 8 min
How to Run Payroll for a Small Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
A plain-English walkthrough of running payroll for the first time: registrations, employee paperwork, pay schedules, withholdings, and record keeping.
Guide · 7 min
Hiring Your First Employee: The Complete Checklist
Everything to prepare before your first hire: registrations, offer letters, paperwork, payroll setup, and onboarding.
Guide · 6 min
Employee vs. Contractor: How to Tell the Difference
Understand how worker classification works, why it matters for payroll and taxes, and what paperwork each type needs.
Guide · 6 min
Employee Benefits for Small Businesses: What to Offer and How to Start
A practical overview of common small-business benefits, from health coverage to retirement plans and paid time off, and how to choose.
Guide · 5 min
7 Common Payroll Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)
The payroll errors that most often cause penalties or unhappy employees, with simple ways to prevent each one.
Guide · 6 min
How to Choose Payroll Software for a Small Business
The questions to ask and features to compare when picking payroll software, including what to check before signing up.
Guide · 5 min
Gusto vs OnPay for Teams Under 10 (2026 Cost Comparison)
Gusto vs OnPay for small teams: monthly cost for 1, 5, and 10 people, where each fits, and questions to ask before choosing.
Guide · 5 min
Gusto vs Patriot Payroll for Teams Under 10 (2026 Cost Comparison)
Gusto vs Patriot Payroll for small teams: monthly cost for 1, 5, and 10 people, what to check, and which fits whom.
Guide · 5 min
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll for Teams Under 10 (2026 Cost Comparison)
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll for small teams: monthly cost for 1, 5, and 10 people and how bundled accounting changes the math.
Guide · 5 min
Gusto vs Square Payroll for Teams Under 10 (2026 Cost Comparison)
Gusto vs Square Payroll for small teams: monthly cost for 1, 5, and 10 people, and which fits shops and restaurants.
Guide · 6 min
Gusto for 1 Employee or a Single-Owner S-Corp: Cost and Setup (2026)
What Gusto costs for one person, how single-owner S-corps use payroll to pay themselves, and when payroll software is worth it at this size.