The best payroll software for accountants makes it easy to handle accounts for many clients. It should integrate with accounting software, include a dashboard to manage multiple clients, and offer benefits specific to the needs of CPAs. Below are the top seven payroll software for accountants.
Payroll Provider | Best for |
|---|---|
(Best overall) Accounting businesses willing to use or already using QuickBooks so that data can flow seamlessly from payroll to the general ledger | |
Small accounting businesses that want tools to help market their payroll add-on service | |
Accountants who want to provide their clients HR benefits management in addition to payroll | |
Accounting companies wanting a full-service payroll solution not only for their clients but also a free plan for themselves | |
Firms that are growing their client base and want to take advantage of wholesale pricing and discounts offered to accountants | |
Bookkeeping and accounting firms that work with growing companies or companies of different sizes | |
Accounting companies looking for an affordable option that offers the basic payroll and HR tools along with white labeling |
How We Chose the Top 7 Payroll Software for Accountants
The first thing we looked for is payroll software with programs specific for accountants. They needed to provide more than discounted pricing; we looked for client dashboards and benefits specific for accountants. Then, we looked at what the payroll offered clients and accountants as far as pay runs, tax filing, and HR tools. Finally, we considered the price for clients and accountants.
Overall, we chose QuickBooks Payroll for Accountants as the best payroll company. It’s a popular program with an integrated accounting software and offers a full range of payroll features, access to health benefits, and tools that make it easy for accountants to handle client payroll.
RUBRIC SCORECARD CRITERIA:
20% of Overall Score
We gave points for plans that cost less than $50 per user, as well as companies that offered transparent pricing, free trials, unlimited pay runs, and multiple options.
20% of Overall Score
We chose programs that have partner programs for accountants, integrate with accounting software (or offered it natively), and provide a dashboard to let you manage your clients.
20% of Overall Score
We gave credit to software that had direct deposit in two days or less, handled local as well as federal and state taxes with a penalty-free guarantee, and provided other features like automated payroll.
20% of Overall Score
We looked for features that make the software easy to use, such as a modern, intuitive interface, customizations, and integrations. We also gave credit to companies that provide help in the form of set-up assistance and a dedicated representative.
10% of Overall Score
We considered whether the software offered HR features that help your clients and your staff: self-service portals, online onboarding, filing new employee forms, and payroll services that had insurance in all 50 states.
5% of Overall Score
We averaged real-user reviews from our readers with review ratings from G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. An average of 4+ out of 5 stars is preferred. We also favored software with over 1,000 reviews.
5% of Overall Score
We looked for a large selection of reports and whether you could customize them.
QuickBooks Payroll for Accountants
PROS
- Price decreases as you add clients
- Unlimited pay runs
- Direct deposit within two days
CONS
- Limited integrations
- Must use QuickBooks for accounting
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
If you use QuickBooks for your clients, then we highly recommend QuickBooks’ Intuit Online Payroll for Accountants. With it, your clients can run payroll themselves or work with you. It lets you set client permissions, guarantees tax accuracy, and offers marketing templates—and the price decreases as your client base increases.
QuickBooks Payroll for Accountants is the highest-rated software on our list, with 4.61 out of 5 stars (slightly higher than Gusto). It is a feature-rich software with payroll and HR functions, has high ratings from users, and offers a partner program for accountants. Integrate with ProConnect Tax Online and you can sync your client’s data straight into a tax return.
QuickBooks Payroll for Accountants Pricing
- 1 Client: $45/month + $4/month, per employee
- 2–5 Clients: $22.50/month + $1.50/month, per employee
- 6–20 Clients: $18.50/month + $1.50/month, per employee
- 21–50 Clients: $14.50/month + $1.50/month, per employee
- 51–100 Clients: $12.50/month + $1.50/month, per employee
- 101+ Clients: $11.00/month + $.075/month, per employee
- ProTax Connect (add-on, starts at $47.95 for up to nine returns): File individual returns for federal state, multistate, or municipal returns. Also plans for filing business returns.
- E-signatures ($2.99 each, first five free): Offer e-signature capability to clients.
QuickBooks Payroll for Accountants Features
- Payroll: Unlimited pay runs, automatic pay runs, next-day or same-day direct deposit or pay cards, pay contractors and hourly and salary employees, PTO tracking, time tracking with TSheets, employee self-service terminal
- Tax filing: Federal and state tax filing, year-end report prep and delivery, files state and federal unemployment insurance
- Accountant-specific: Partner program, integration with QuickBooks, client management tools, ProAdvisor program for earning certifications, marketing resources
- HR: Employee onboarding, workers’ comp, job descriptions, document management, performance management
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance in 50 states, 401(k)
Gusto
PROS
- Partner program for accountants
- Wide range of customizable reports
- Integrates with several accounting programs
CONS
- No customizable interface
- No customizable interface
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 4.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
Gusto is a highly-rated and popular payroll service that provides HR support. It offers an accountant partnership program that goes beyond supplying client payroll, with certification programs and marketing venues for getting more clients. Meanwhile, Gusto Pro offers a client dashboard and tools to help you serve your clients well.
We awarded Gusto 4.56 out of 5 stars. It lost some points for not having as many HR features as others on our list and for not providing insurance in all 50 states, although it does offer online onboarding. Users love the service, giving it an average of 4.64 out of 5 stars on independent review sites. We liked the client dashboard features, such as the alert system. Because it lacks some advanced HR features, like ACA reporting, we recommend it for companies with fewer than 100 employees.
Gusto for Accountants Pricing
You get perks for being a Gusto partner: Free payroll for your firm, being featured in the Gusto Partner Directory, free payroll migration for your clients, and the chance to get People Advisory Certified.
- Core ($39 per month + $6 per month, per employee): Basic + employee onboarding, automatic and multi-state payroll, time tracking, health insurance administration, document management
- Complete ($39 per month + $12 per month, per employee): Core + permissions, employee directory and surveys, project tracking and workforce costing
- Concierge ($149 per month + $12 per month, per employee): Complete + HR resource center and certified advisers
Gusto for Accountants Features
Some features are available only on more expensive plans.
- Payroll: Unlimited pay runs, automatic pay runs, 2-day direct deposit or pay cards, pay contractors and hourly and salary employees, multiple pay rates, PTO tracking, time trackers, employee self-service terminal
- Tax filing: Federal, state, and local tax filing; year-end report prep and delivery, files state and federal unemployment insurance
- Accountant-specific: Unblock payrolls, alerts when clients are laying off employees that include suggestions for resources to help them financially, client onboarding, deadline tracking, perks for partners, integrates with multiple accounting programs
- HR: Employee onboarding, workers’ comp, files new hire forms, document management, expert advisers, and HR library
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance in 39 states, Gusto wallet, health reimbursement plans, HSA, and FSA, 401(k), commuter benefits
Paychex Accountant
PROS
- Full suite of HR tools
- Full-featured payroll options
- Continuing education through AICPA/CPA.com
CONS
- Non-transparent pricing
- Charges by pay run
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 2.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
Paychex’s payroll and HR software for accounting professionals offers technology and partnerships that help you provide excellent service for your clients. It starts with a client portal where you can work with clients to run payroll or run it yourself. Next, it adds tools to help you provide financial advice. Then, it includes partnerships with AICPA/CPA.com, a dedicated account services team of accountant relationship managers, and reference centers for you and your clients.
We gave Paychex 4.15 out of 5 stars. Like ADP, its pricing takes a hit, as it is call-for-a-quote and charges by pay run, making it more expensive for most clients. Nonetheless, it offers a terrific range of payroll and tax filing services. With Paychex, you can offer clients HR support as well. It includes a resource center, compliance help, and continuing education opportunities.
Paychex Accountant Pricing
Paychex provides custom quotes for plans for accountants. Starting prices are based on client size and range from $6 to $12 per employee, per pay run. That makes them more expensive if clients run more than one payroll a month. It also charges setup fees (though sometimes it waives these). They also charge for other services like W-2 and 1099 tax filing or wage garnishment processing.
Paychex Accountant Features
- Payroll: Unlimited pay runs, automatic pay runs, 2-day direct deposit, pay contractors, pay hourly and salary employees, multiple pay rates, PTO tracking, time trackers, employee self-service terminal
- Tax filing: Federal and state tax filing, year-end report prep and delivery cost extra
- Accountant-specific: Partner program, client dashboard, free CPE webinars, access to reference documents from checklists to tax guides, integrations with HRIS and accounting systems like Ximble, Humanity, Intacct Now, and Xero
- HR (many features cost extra): Employee onboarding, workers’ comp, files new hire forms, background checks, new hire support, access to HR experts, updates on regulation changes for compliances
- Benefits (may cost extra): Health, dental, and vision insurance in all 50 states, HSA and FSA, 401(k), financial wellness programs
OnPay
PROS
- Free payroll for your firm
- Files and pays state and local taxes
- Easy to use and highly rated by users
CONS
- Does not file local taxes
- Direct deposit takes more than two days
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
OnPay lets you provide both payroll and HR support in all 50 states. It has a single plan that includes all features with straightforward pricing and provides you with a dashboard to manage all your clients. If you let OnPay bill clients directly, you can get a discount. You also get free payroll for your firm.
OnPay earned 4.08 out of 5 stars. It includes a comprehensive suite of payroll functions but charges for year-end reports. It includes HR benefits from onboarding to a library of HR forms and offers benefits in all 50 states. It does not offer advanced education opportunities like Paychex or other software on our list but does give you a free payroll program for your office.
OnPay Pricing
OnPay charges $36 per month + $4 per month, per employee. There’s a one-month free trial.
OnPay Features
- Payroll: Unlimited pay runs, automatic pay runs, 2-day direct deposit, pay cards, pay contractors as well as hourly and salary employees, PTO tracking, time trackers, employee self-service terminal
- Tax filing: Federal, state, and local tax filing; year-end report prep and delivery (extra)
- Accountant-specific: Access to payroll experts, client dashboard, permissioning, customizable reports, integration with popular accounting software, free client data migration, free payroll for your office; HR, benefits, 401(k) integrated into the software
- HR: Employee onboarding, workers’ comp, files new hire forms, document management, document templates and HR library, custom reports
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance in 50 states, surveys, health reimbursement plans, HSA, and FSA, 401(k)
Patriot Software
PROS
- Partner programs
- Wholesale pricing and free payroll with 6+ clients
- Co-branding throughout software
CONS
- Few HR tools
- Interface not customizable
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
With Patriot Online Software for Accountants, you receive wholesale pricing and discounts on Patriot programs. This lets you purchase the client software at a reduced price, then set your own price for your services. It also offers expert support, a client portal, and a fully integrated accounting system (like QuickBooks). You can co-brand the software as well.
A close tie to OnPay for features and services, it earns 4.06 out of 5 stars. By offering wholesale pricing, you have the freedom to set your own client prices. You can manage clients from a single login and reach out to Patriot’s payroll experts if you have questions. The payroll system itself is strong on features, although it lacks pay cards and is weak on HR features. It also does not provide extra benefits for accountants, like continuing education.
Patriot Software Pricing
Patriot’s retail pricing starts at $30 + $4 per employee, per month. It offers discounts based on the number of clients you have.
Patriot Discounts for Accountants
Discount Tiers | 1–5 client accounts | 6–20 client accounts | 21–50 client accounts | 51+ client accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Payroll | 20% discount | 30% discount | 40% discount | 50% discount |
Payroll for your firm | 20% discount | Free | Free | Free |
Accounting | 10% discount | 15% discount | 20% discount | 25% discount |
Accounting for your firm | 10% discount | Free | Free | Free |
Co-branding | Free | Free | Free | Free |
HR, time and attendance | 20% discount | 30% discount | 40% discount | 50% discount |
Patriot Software Features
- Payroll: Unlimited pay runs, automatic pay runs, direct deposit, pay contractors as well as hourly and salary employees, PTO tracking; customizable reports
- Tax filing: Federal, state, and local tax filing, year-end report prep and delivery
- Accountant-specific: Integrates with Patriot Accounting and QuickBooks
- HR: Files new hire forms, expert advisers on staff, workers’ comp, wholesale pricing, free payroll for your firm (with 6+ client accounts), client portal, expert support, co-branding
ADP Accountant Connect
PROS
- Accountant program is free
- Earn money for each client on ADP
- Good for companies of all sizes
CONS
- Non-transparent pricing for clients
- Charges clients by pay run
- Year-end reporting costs extra
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 1.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
Many businesses turn to ADP Accountant Connect because it provides a comprehensive set of payroll and HR tools. ADP offers its Accountant Connect payroll software for free and lets you earn revenue when your clients choose ADP for payroll. It then manages the customer’s payroll, tax filings, and HR. It also offers you additional tools like benchmarking client data, helpdesk support, resources and analysis, and other tools.
ADP earned 3.93 out of 5 stars. It charges your clients per pay run and according to the tools they need, so it will call for a quote. It is generally more expensive than Gusto or QuickBooks, especially if your client does more than monthly pay runs. Otherwise, it’s an excellent program, with nearly every feature we looked for, plus more.
ADP Accountant Connect Pricing
ADP does not list pricing online, as it tailors a package to your needs. We received a quote of $9.95 per employee, per pay run for basic payroll for 10 employees. And unlike QuickBooks, it has setup fees as well and charges for each year-end form you need prepared and distributed. The first three months of payroll service are free.
ADP Accountant Connect Features
Some features may add to the price.
- Payroll: Automatic pay runs, 2-day direct deposit or pay cards, pay contractors as well as hourly and salary employees, PTO tracking, time trackers, employee self-service terminal, basic and advanced payroll reports
- Tax filing: Federal, state, and local tax filing; year-end report prep and delivery, files state and federal unemployment insurance, penalty insurance if ADP makes an error
- Accountant-specific: Client portal, compliance assistance, analysis and benchmarking tools to help you advise clients, general ledger integration, outsourcing services, tax resources, CPE courses, integrations with popular accounting software and other programs
- HR: Employee onboarding, workers’ comp, files new hire forms, document management, expert advisers available 24/7, HR handbook wizard, post jobs on ZipRecruiter, background checks, HR advisers and training
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance in 50 states, employee discounts, HSA and FSA, 401(k)
SurePayroll for Accountants
PROS
- Integrates with accounting software
- Revenue share or direct billing
- Free payroll with 10+ clients
CONS
- Payroll is an add-on
- No continuing education opportunities
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Accountant Tools | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| HR Tools | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 1.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Payment Features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
SurePayroll is a Paychex company and offers many of the same services, but it’s a simpler and less expensive software. It also offers a partner program for accountants, with a single platform for managing clients, a white-label solution, wholesale pricing, and dedicated support.
Earning 3.9 out of 5 stars, SurePayroll is a strong competitor. Like Patriot, it offers wholesale pricing. Plans include free account setup, unlimited payroll, tax processing and filings, HR tools and compliance posters, and dedicated support. You have the option to have SurePayroll bill you wholesale costs, which lets you use your own billing software. For an additional fee, you can use SurePayroll’s Revenue Share to bill clients within SurePayroll at a markup you specify. Payments are automatically processed from the client’s designated account, saving you time.
SurePayroll for Accountants Pricing
SurePayroll charges a monthly wholesale price of $69.99 + $4 per employee, per month, with a discount maximum based on the number of clients. In addition, it charges $45 + $4.50 for W-2/1099 for filing. If you want to add revenue share, it’s another $5 per month, per client.
Discounts for Accountants Using SurePayroll
- 1–9 clients: Up to 30%
- 10–24 clients: Up to 40%
- 25–49 clients: Up to 50%
- 50–99 clients: Up to 55%
- 100+ clients: Up to 60%
SurePayroll for Accountants Features
- Payroll: Automatic, unlimited pay runs, 2-day direct deposit, pay contractors and hourly and salary employees, online tip sharing, PTO tracking, employee self-service terminal
- Tax filing: Federal, state, and local tax filing; year-end report prep and delivery
- Accountant-specific: Partner programs, integrate with popular accounting software, client dashboard, white-label branding, choice of billing, dedicated support
- HR: Workers’ comp, files new hire forms
- Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance in 50 states, health reimbursement plans, employment pre-screening, 401(k), financial wellness
If you just want to recommend a payroll software for your clients to manage themselves, check out our guides on the best payroll software and best payroll services. And, if you need help choosing a provider that’s right for your business, read our guide on how to choose a payroll service.
Bottom Line
If you have preferred accounting software, check to see if it offers payroll, such as QuickBooks and Patriot do. Otherwise, check to see if any of the software on our list integrates with it. Then, consider the needs of your client and your own desires—whether free payroll for yourself or educational opportunities—and decide accordingly.
We find QuickBooks Payroll to be the best payroll software for accountants managing small businesses because you can use its integrated payroll and accounting platform to transfer payroll data to the general ledger, saving you time from doing it yourself. It also offers you free payroll for your company, a client dashboard, and rates that decrease the more employees you add. Sign up for a free trial today.
