The best payroll software for a home-service business in 2026 depends on how many employees you run, whether you need same-state or multi-state payroll, and how tightly you want payroll to connect with your scheduling and job-costing tools. Gusto is a strong pick for most trade contractors because it publishes transparent per-person pricing, supports unlimited payrolls and tax filings on every plan, and connects directly to field-service platforms like Jobber. Connecteam adds time-tracking and scheduling alongside a free-for-life plan for teams of ten or fewer. Below you will find verified pricing, plan-by-plan breakdowns, honest trade-offs and a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
Why payroll software matters for trade contractors
Running payroll by hand or inside a spreadsheet is a compliance risk. The IRS requires small businesses to keep records that support every tax return, and payroll records — hours worked, wages paid, taxes withheld — sit near the top of that list. Dedicated payroll software automates federal and state tax calculations, generates pay stubs and files quarterly and annual returns on your behalf, reducing the chance of a late-payment penalty.
For field-service businesses specifically, payroll complexity grows quickly: overtime rules, per-job commissions, mileage reimbursements, seasonal workers and subcontractors all require accurate tracking. Getting that data from your dispatch board into your payroll run without re-keying it is where integrations matter most.
What to look for before you choose
Tax filing and compliance coverage
Every credible payroll platform handles federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and FUTA. The difference shows up at the state level: some plans restrict you to one state, others let you run multi-state payroll from day one. If your crews cross state lines for long jobs, confirm multi-state support before signing up.
Integration with your field-service software
Your schedulers log job hours; your payroll system needs those hours. Look for a native sync with whatever job-management tool you use. Gusto, for example, integrates directly with Jobber (confirmed on Jobber's published integration list). Without that sync, someone re-enters time data manually — and manual re-entry creates errors.
Contractor payments versus W-2 employees
Many HVAC, plumbing and landscaping companies mix W-2 employees with 1099 subcontractors. Not every payroll tool handles both cleanly. Confirm the platform generates 1099-NEC forms and whether it charges a per-payment fee for contractor payouts.
Time tracking
If your payroll platform does not include time clocks, you will need a separate tool — Connecteam, for example, has its own GPS time clock that can feed into payroll. Factor the combined cost of both tools when comparing options.
Transparent pricing
Some payroll vendors hide prices behind a demo request. For a buyer's guide to be useful, the pricing has to be verifiable. We focus on platforms that publish their prices openly so you can budget before you talk to sales.
Gusto: best all-around payroll software for trade contractors
What it is and who it fits
Gusto is a cloud payroll and HR platform built for small and mid-size businesses. It handles full-service payroll — calculating, filing and paying federal and state taxes automatically — and adds benefits administration, time tracking and contractor payments. It is a strong fit for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping and cleaning companies that want a single platform for payroll, taxes and basic HR without enterprise-level complexity.
Verified plan pricing (as of November 2026)
- Simple: $49/month + $7/month per person. Payroll in one state, unlimited payrolls, tax filings and payments, basic PTO and holiday pay.
- Plus: $99/month + $12/month per person. Adds time tracking and scheduling, unlimited next-day direct deposit, multi-state payroll and contractor invoice management.
- Premium: $179/month + $22/month per person. Adds premium support, HR guidance tools, Gusto Business Compliance, unlimited same-day and instant pay, and project-based costing rules.
All prices are in USD per month; no long-term contract is required, and you can upgrade, downgrade or cancel any time (gusto.com/product/pricing, checked November 2026). Prices may change — confirm current rates at Gusto's pricing page before signing up.
Add-ons worth noting for field-service businesses
- Next-day pay on Simple: $15/month + $3/month per person.
- Same-day pay: $90 per payroll on Simple and Plus.
- Instant pay: $100 per payroll on Simple and Plus.
- Time and Attendance Plus on Simple: free to try, then $6/month per person.
- Contractor payments: $5 per payment to US bank accounts; global payments to 120+ countries with no monthly per-contractor fee.
- R&D tax credit service: 15% of credits identified.
Integration with field-service tools
Gusto is listed as a direct integration on Jobber's published plan page. If you run Jobber for scheduling and invoicing, that sync can eliminate manual time-entry before payroll. For other field-service platforms, confirm integration availability on Gusto's or your FSM vendor's integration directory before committing.
Customer reviews
Gusto carries 4.6/5 from 4,233 reviews on Capterra (October 2026). On Trustpilot the score is 2/5 from 2,561 reviews (October 2026). The gap between those two platforms is wide; read reviews on both before deciding. The Capterra volume is large and includes many small business owners; the Trustpilot score likely reflects a different reviewer mix. Neither rating represents our own testing or opinion.
Who it suits less well
Gusto's Simple plan limits payroll to one state — multi-state coverage starts on Plus at $99/month base. If you have only a handful of employees and want the lowest possible monthly cost, the base fee plus per-person charges can feel steep compared with time-tracking-only tools. Gusto also does not include job scheduling or dispatch, so it works alongside your field-service software rather than replacing it.
Connecteam: best for teams that also need scheduling and time tracking
What it is and who it fits
Connecteam is an operations, communications and HR platform with a GPS time clock, job scheduling, checklists and a built-in communications hub. It is not a full-service payroll engine — it does not file taxes on your behalf — but its time-tracking data can export into a payroll system or accountant's workflow. It is a strong pick for cleaning companies, landscapers or pest-control businesses that want crew scheduling and time clocking bundled with HR features in one affordable app.
Verified plan pricing (as of October 2026)
- Small Business Plan: free for life for up to 10 users, includes all hubs and all features (connecteam.com/pricing, checked October 2026).
- Operations Hub — Basic: $29/month (annual) or $35/month (monthly) for the first 30 users; $0.80/month per additional user annually.
- Operations Hub — Advanced: $49/month (annual) or $59/month (monthly) for the first 30 users; $2.50/month per additional user annually.
- Operations Hub — Expert: $99/month (annual) or $119/month (monthly) for the first 30 users; $4.20/month per additional user annually.
Annual billing saves 18% versus monthly. A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required. Confirm current rates at Connecteam's pricing page.
What Connecteam does not do
Connecteam does not calculate or file payroll taxes. You still need a payroll processor — Gusto or your accountant — to handle withholding, W-2s and 1099s. Think of Connecteam as the time-and-attendance layer that feeds accurate hours into whichever payroll tool you use.
Customer reviews
Connecteam holds 4.6/5 from 5,318 reviews on Capterra and 4.7/5 from 1,914 reviews on Trustpilot (both October 2026).
Who it suits less well
Larger businesses that need automated tax filing, same-day direct deposit or benefits administration will need to pair Connecteam with a dedicated payroll platform, adding cost and a second login. If you want a single tool that handles both time tracking and full payroll, Gusto Plus (which includes time tracking) may cover both needs.
How Gusto and Connecteam compare side by side
- Full-service payroll (tax filing included): Gusto yes; Connecteam no.
- Published base price: Gusto $49/month + $7/person (Simple); Connecteam free up to 10 users, then $29/month for 30 users (Basic annual).
- Multi-state payroll: Gusto Plus and Premium; Connecteam not applicable.
- Time tracking: Gusto Plus and Premium (add-on on Simple); Connecteam all paid plans.
- GPS time clock: Gusto not listed in published facts; Connecteam yes (Operations Hub).
- Job scheduling: Gusto not listed; Connecteam yes (Operations Hub).
- Contractor payments (1099): Gusto yes ($5 per US payment); Connecteam not applicable.
- Jobber integration: Gusto yes (listed on Jobber's plan page); Connecteam not listed in verified sources.
- Free plan: Gusto no; Connecteam yes (up to 10 users).
- Contract required: Neither.
- Free trial: Gusto not stated in published facts — confirm on their site; Connecteam 14 days, no credit card.
Other tools that connect to payroll workflows for trade businesses
Jobber (scheduling + invoicing with Gusto integration)
Jobber is a field-service management platform — not a payroll tool — but it integrates with Gusto and is worth mentioning here because many contractors use both together. Jobber's Connect and Grow plans include time and expense tracking; that data flows into Gusto to build each payroll run. Jobber's Connect plan starts at $119/month for one user (monthly with annual commitment) and its Grow plan at $169/month; see Jobber's pricing page for current rates. Our separate guide at Housecall Pro vs Workiz compares other FSM options if Jobber is not the right fit.
Service Fusion (FSM with built-in payroll add-on)
Service Fusion is one of our featured partners on this site and offers field-service management with job costing, scheduling and dispatch across three flat-rate plans: Starter $208/month, Plus $325/month and Pro $533/month (annual billing; monthly is higher). Payroll is listed as an add-on — no price is published for it, so contact Service Fusion directly to confirm what that add-on covers. All plans include unlimited users, which makes Service Fusion unusually affordable for larger crews. See our Service Fusion pricing breakdown for a full walkthrough, or visit Service Fusion's pricing page to request a demo.
Housecall Pro (FSM with payroll add-on)
Housecall Pro's Max plan lists Payroll as an optional add-on with no price published on the pricing page (housecallpro.com/pricing, checked October 2026). If you already run Housecall Pro for scheduling and invoicing, check whether the payroll add-on covers your state and filing needs before paying for a separate platform. Housecall Pro holds 4.7/5 from 2,749 reviews on Capterra and 4.3/5 from 209 reviews on G2 (October 2026). Visit Housecall Pro's pricing page for add-on details. See also our guide to Housecall Pro pricing explained.
What payroll software does not cover
Payroll software calculates wages and handles tax filings, but it does not replace an accountant for complex situations — multi-entity businesses, workers' compensation audits or year-end CPA review. It also does not set your wage rates, determine overtime eligibility under state law, or advise you on worker classification (employee versus independent contractor). Those decisions carry legal weight; consult a licensed HR professional or employment attorney if you are uncertain.
Running-cost estimates — electricity, fuel, materials — are outside the scope of payroll software and outside the scope of this guide. For recordkeeping obligations, the IRS's recordkeeping guidance is the authoritative starting point.
Common mistakes when choosing payroll software
Ignoring the per-person fee
A $49 base price sounds modest until you multiply the per-person fee across a ten-person crew. On Gusto Simple, ten employees costs $49 + (10 × $7) = $119/month. Always calculate the total at your actual headcount, not just the headline base price.
Forgetting seasonal headcount swings
Landscaping and snow-removal businesses may double their crew in peak season. Check whether your platform charges for inactive employees or lets you pause users month to month without paying for them. Gusto charges per person on active payrolls; Connecteam charges per active user beyond 30. Verify the current policy on each vendor's pricing page before committing.
Assuming the FSM add-on is full payroll
Several field-service platforms list payroll as an add-on. Confirm whether that add-on is a full payroll engine with tax filing or simply a way to calculate gross pay before handing off to your accountant. The distinction is significant at tax time.
Choosing based on price alone
The cheapest plan that lacks multi-state support or contractor payment tools may cost more in accountant fees and manual corrections than a higher plan with those features built in. Map your actual needs against each tier before deciding.
How payroll software fits into a broader field-service tech stack
A typical home-service software stack in 2026 looks like this: a field-service management platform for scheduling, dispatch, invoicing and customer communication; a payroll platform to process wages and file taxes; and optionally a CRM or marketing tool for lead follow-up. Payroll sits at the back end but touches every part of the business.
If you are still building out your software stack, our guides cover the full picture. See best HVAC software, best plumbing software and best lawn care software for trade-specific FSM comparisons. For CRM specifically, our best CRM for contractors guide covers options including HighLevel, which this site also features. HighLevel's Starter plan is $97/month and includes CRM, marketing automation and AI tools — it is not a payroll platform, but it handles the customer-facing side of the business that feeds work into your payroll queue.
For cleaning businesses specifically, our cleaning software comparison covers ZenMaid and others that are purpose-built for that trade.
How we research
Every price and plan detail in this article comes from the vendors' own published pricing pages, checked in October and November 2026. We do not accept vendor claims at face value for facts we cannot verify on a public pricing or documentation page. Customer review scores are cited with the platform, the review count and the month they were checked — they represent customers' opinions, not our own testing. You can read more about our methodology at how we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does payroll software file taxes automatically?
Full-service payroll platforms like Gusto calculate, withhold and remit federal and state payroll taxes on your behalf, and file quarterly and annual returns. This is different from a simple wage-calculation tool that produces a number but leaves filing to you. Always confirm that "full-service" tax filing is explicitly stated for the plan tier you are buying, especially if you operate across multiple states.
Can payroll software handle 1099 subcontractors?
Gusto supports contractor payments at $5 per payment to US bank accounts and offers global contractor payments to more than 120 countries with no monthly per-contractor fee (gusto.com/product/pricing, checked November 2026). Not every payroll platform handles 1099s the same way — check whether the platform generates 1099-NEC forms at year end and whether contractor payments count toward your plan or are billed separately.
What is the difference between payroll software and time-tracking software?
Time-tracking software records hours worked — Connecteam, for example, offers a GPS time clock and job scheduling. Payroll software takes those hours, applies wage rates, calculates taxes and generates direct-deposit payments and tax filings. Many businesses use both: a time-tracking tool that feeds accurate hours into a payroll platform. Gusto's Plus and Premium plans include time tracking; its Simple plan offers it as a paid add-on.
Does payroll software integrate with field-service management tools?
Gusto integrates with Jobber (listed on Jobber's published plan page). For other FSM platforms — Housecall Pro, Service Fusion, ServiceTitan — check the integration directories on both the FSM vendor's site and Gusto's site, as integration availability varies by tier. Some FSM platforms, including Housecall Pro and Service Fusion, list payroll as a native add-on, which may reduce the need for a separate payroll platform altogether.
How much does payroll software cost for a ten-person crew?
Using Gusto's published prices (November 2026): Simple costs $49/month + ($7 × 10 employees) = $119/month for a ten-person team in one state. Plus costs $99/month + ($12 × 10) = $219/month and adds multi-state payroll and time tracking. Prices may change — confirm current rates at Gusto's pricing page. Connecteam's Operations Hub Basic covers up to 30 users for $29/month (annual), but it does not include tax filing.
Is there a free payroll software option for small crews?
Connecteam offers a free-for-life plan for up to ten users covering scheduling, time clocking and HR features — but it does not process payroll or file taxes. There is no free full-service payroll platform listed in this guide's verified sources. If your crew is small, the per-person fees on Gusto Simple may still be manageable; calculate your total at your actual headcount.
Do I need payroll software if my field-service platform has a payroll add-on?
It depends on what that add-on actually does. Housecall Pro and Service Fusion both list payroll as an add-on, but neither publishes a price or full feature breakdown on the pricing page checked in October 2026. Before assuming the add-on covers automated tax filing, ask the vendor specifically: Does it file federal and state taxes? Does it generate W-2s and 1099-NECs? If the answer is no, you still need a dedicated payroll platform alongside your FSM tool.
The bottom line
For most trade contractors — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, cleaning or pest control — Gusto is the clearest starting point for payroll software in 2026. Its transparent per-person pricing, unlimited payrolls, automatic tax filing and direct integration with Jobber make it a practical fit for businesses that want payroll handled without outsourcing it entirely to an accountant. Start on Simple if you operate in one state; move to Plus when you need multi-state coverage or want time tracking bundled in. See current pricing at Gusto's pricing page.
If you need crew scheduling and GPS time tracking alongside payroll data collection, pair Gusto with Connecteam — its free plan covers teams of ten or fewer, and paid Operations Hub plans start at $29/month for up to 30 users. Visit Connecteam's pricing page to start a free trial.
If you are already on Service Fusion for field-service management, check whether the payroll add-on covers your needs before adding a separate platform. Our Service Fusion review goes deeper on what each plan includes. Visit Service Fusion's pricing page to request a demo.