Best payroll software for 1 employee
By the FirstHire Team · Last updated Nov 2026
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If you have exactly one employee, payroll software can feel like overkill, but it usually costs less than a single late-deposit penalty. The trick is that most providers charge a monthly base fee plus a per-person fee, so with one employee the base fee is almost the whole bill. This guide compares the published prices of full-service payroll tools for a one-person payroll, explains what "full service" really means, and shows when doing it yourself might be enough.
How we wrote this: we read each vendor's public pricing and product pages (linked at the bottom) and compared them for a business with 1 to 10 people. We have not run a long-term hands-on test of these products, and we will say so on this page when we have.
What one employee actually costs on each tool
All prices below come from each vendor's public pricing page as of Nov 2026. "Full service" means the provider files and pays your payroll taxes for you.
| Tool and plan | Published price | Cost with 1 employee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Software, Full Service Payroll | $37/mo + $5 per worker paid | $42/mo | Federal, state and local filings included; 30 days free, then 50% off for 3 months (promotion as of Nov 2026) |
| Patriot Software, Basic Payroll | $17/mo + $4 per worker paid | $21/mo | You file and deposit taxes yourself |
| Gusto, Simple | $49/mo + $6 per person | $55/mo | Tax filings, unlimited runs, month to month |
| OnPay | $49/mo base + $6 per worker | $55/mo | OnPay says pricing starts at $55/month and includes W-2s, 1099s, and multi-state filing |
| RUN Powered by ADP | Quote only | Ask ADP | Four packages; promotion of up to 6 months free as of Nov 2026 |
Do you need full service?
With Patriot's Basic Payroll (or a spreadsheet), the software calculates paychecks but you make the tax deposits and file the returns. For one employee in Utah that means, at minimum:
- Federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare deposits through EFTPS, on the schedule the IRS assigns you.
- Form 941 every quarter (or Form 944 if the IRS tells you to file annually) and Form 940 each year for federal unemployment.
- Utah withholding returns with the Utah State Tax Commission, and quarterly unemployment reports with the Utah Department of Workforce Services.
- W-2 and W-3 filing every January.
If missing one of those dates would keep you up at night, the extra $21 a month for Patriot Full Service (or a bit more for Gusto or OnPay) is usually worth it. Our Utah payroll deadline calendar lists every date if you decide to do it yourself.
The options, one by one
Patriot Software: lowest published full-service price
Patriot's Full Service Payroll is the cheapest published full-service option we found for one employee, at $42 a month before the current promotion. It includes federal, state and local tax filings and deposits, year-end forms at no additional fee, free direct deposit, an employee portal, and unlimited payrolls. Support is U.S.-based by phone, chat and email from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. Each additional state costs $12 a month. It does not have a free plan.
Good for: owners who want the lowest monthly bill and don't need built-in benefits or HR tools.
Gusto Simple: easiest to grow into
Gusto Simple costs $55 a month with one employee. You get tax filings and payments, unlimited payroll runs, and basic PTO tracking, and you can add benefits, workers' comp, and time tracking later. It bills month to month. The extra cost over Patriot buys a more polished setup and a larger set of add-ons for when you hire employee number two or three.
Good for: owners who expect to hire again soon or want benefits and workers' comp in the same place. See our Gusto verdict and Gusto cost breakdown.
OnPay: one plan, everything included
OnPay's pricing page lists Payroll Essentials at a $49 base plus $6 per worker, and says pricing starts at $55 a month. OnPay says W-2s, 1099s, year-end filings, unlimited pay runs, and filing in as many states as you need are included, with no implementation fees.
Good for: owners who may have employees in more than one state.
ADP RUN: big provider, quoted price
ADP doesn't list RUN prices. If you like the idea of a very large provider with 24/7 support, request a quote and compare the total against the published options above.
Hidden costs to watch
- Contractors count too. Patriot charges per worker paid, including 1099 contractors. Gusto bills U.S. contractors at the per-person rate in months you pay them.
- Faster direct deposit. Some tools charge extra for next-day or same-day pay. Gusto's next-day pay is a $15/mo + $3/person add-on on Simple.
- Extra states. Patriot charges $12 a month for each additional state.
- Promotions end. Patriot's 50% off lasts 3 months as of Nov 2026, and ADP's free months are promotional. Budget for the regular price.
Don't forget the employer taxes
The software fee is the small part. For one employee you also pay the employer half of Social Security and Medicare (7.65% of wages), federal unemployment tax, Utah unemployment insurance at the rate DWS assigns you, and workers' comp premiums. Use our true cost of an employee calculator and read what your first employee really costs.
What payroll software won't do for you
Even full-service payroll leaves a few jobs on your desk. You still collect Form I-9 and Form W-4 from the employee on day one, buy workers' comp coverage before they start (Utah requires it from the first employee), keep time records for hourly workers, and tell the software about raises, bonuses and terminations before payroll runs. You also need to open your Utah withholding and unemployment accounts before the first paycheck unless the provider offers registration help.
Our take
For a single employee, Patriot Full Service has the lowest published price we found for having your taxes filed for you. Gusto Simple costs about $13 more a month and is the better pick if you plan to grow or want benefits in one place. If you choose Basic Payroll or a spreadsheet to save money, put every deadline on your calendar before the first paycheck.
FAQ
What's the cheapest payroll for one employee?
Among published full-service prices we checked in Nov 2026, Patriot Full Service Payroll was lowest at $37/mo + $5 per worker, or $42/mo for one employee.
Can I run payroll for one employee myself?
Yes. Many owners do. You'll need to deposit taxes through EFTPS, file Forms 941 and 940, file Utah withholding and unemployment returns, and send W-2s each January.
Do I need payroll software if I pay myself only?
It depends on your business structure. S corporation owners usually pay themselves through payroll. Ask a tax professional about your situation.
Does payroll software handle Utah new hire reporting?
Many full-service providers report new hires for you, but confirm it with the provider. Utah requires the report within 20 days of hire.
Sources: Patriot Software pricing, Gusto pricing, OnPay pricing, RUN Powered by ADP, IRS: hiring employees, Utah DWS new hire reporting. Prices and features as of Nov 2026. Check the vendor site before you buy, because prices and promotions change. Not tax or legal advice.