Small business payroll, made better

Get payroll done faster and tax filing done for you with a modern platform and direct access to payroll experts, designed to make paying your people easier (and more enjoyable) than ever before.

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See how easy small business payroll and HR can be

Pay your people in just minutes, with an intuitive platform. Convenient HR and hiring tools also help you grow and manage your team.

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1 Minute Overview

ADP has reimagined what’s possible, to make running payroll and HR better than ever before.

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Interactive demo

Click through our self-led demo to see how easy payroll and HR can be.

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ADP's payroll software gets top ratings

  • 4.5/5.0 stars

    Capterra

    4.5 / 5 Stars

  • 4.5/5.0 stars

    GetApp

    4.5 / 5 Stars

  • 4.6/5.0 stars

    G2

    4.5 / 5 Stars

  • 4.5/5.0 stars

    Software Advice

    4.5 / 5 Stars

Ratings include incentivized reviews and are accurate as of 03/15/2024.

Find your perfect small business payroll solution

You've got options — choose the RUN Powered by ADP® package that fits your business best.

Small business payroll that’s fast, smart and easy

Full-Service Payroll & Tax Filing

Payroll done faster, tax filing done for you

It’s not easy running a small business. We’re here with the payroll and tax solutions and support you need, when and how you need them:

  • Process payroll in minutes, at your desk or on the move — or set it to autopilot
  • Payroll taxes calculated, deducted and paid automatically for you
  • Quarterly and annual reporting done for you
  • Forms W-2 and 1099 created and sent automatically to your employees and contractors
  • Easily integrate time tracking, scheduling and job costing
  • IRS inquiries handled for you
  • Manage your state unemployment insurance (SUI), including claims administration and reviewing your account for erroneous charges.

See all payroll and tax features and services

Smiling man holding tablet with overlay text: anywhere, anytime, any device; auto taxes and forms; flexible pay options

Confidence & Compliance

Help avoid costly mistakes before they happen

We help you stay on top of tax laws and regulations. Our solutions include the latest updates across all 50 states and intelligent tech that flags possible errors for you. We can help you stay compliant with payroll and tax requirements, wage and hour laws, new hire reporting and much more.

Plus, our world-class global security organization helps ensure that your and your employees’ data is safe and secure.

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EXPERT SERVICE & SUPPORT

Always have peace of mind with 24/7 support

We know it's not easy running a small business, so we're here to help you get the answers you need, when and how you need them. Call or chat anytime, or find answers at your fingertips with a robust online help center that makes it easy to search for information like how-to guides and support articles.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

Give your employees the experience they deserve

Save time and empower your team with easy-to-use digital tools and meaningful perks, including simple, self-managed onboarding and flexible pay options.

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Why companies choose ADP small business payroll software

Nearly 800,000 small business clients trust ADP® to deliver a better payroll experience. Our small business expertise and easy-to-use tools simplify payroll and HR, so you can stay focused on the work that matters most.

9/10

customers tell us switching to ADP is easy and has made their jobs easier

3/4

customers spend 15 minutes or less running payroll through ADP

9/10

customers say ADP helps their company comply with payroll tax laws and regulations

Internal survey of 1,776 RUN Powered by ADP® customers in 2022

Getting started with payroll is easy

Set up in just three simple steps.

  • Begin the guided setup process

    We'll let you know what information to have handy before you start.

  • Count on us for support

    Our experts are available to help you set up payroll, benefits, and more.

  • We'll confirm you're ready to run payroll

    Once you're up and running, we'll have your back with 24/7 payroll support.

Get pricing

Sync it all with small business payroll

Everything you need in one, integrated platform — like health insurance, retirement solutions, time tracking, workers’ comp and more — designed to work seamlessly together within RUN Powered by ADP.

Business Insurance and Health Benefits3

Manage cash flow and plan for the coverage you need, including workers' compensation.

Learn more
Retirement Solutions

Take care of the people you count on with competitive retirement plan options.

Learn more
Time and Scheduling

Get better time management tools to automate time entry, simplify compliance and control labor costs.

Learn more
App Marketplace

Connect to hundreds of popular apps and get greater flexibility, seamless integrations and free trials.

Learn more

Plus, integrate ADP with your favorite accounting, POS, HR and business software.

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See case studies

Join the nearly 800,000 small business clients that count on ADP for faster, smarter, easier payroll

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RESOURCES FOR YOU

Expert payroll insights for small business owners

Small business payroll buyer’s checklist

tool

Payroll checklist for small businesses

Choosing the right payroll provider for your business guidebook

guidebook

How to choose a payroll provider for your business

Thinking about switching payroll providers? guidebook

guidebook

Switching payroll providers

Small business payroll FAQs

How much does small business payroll cost?

The cost of small business payroll depends on several factors, including payroll frequency, total number of employees and the specific services that are needed. Most commonly, there is a per-payroll processing fee and an annual base fee. The important thing to remember is that a payroll service may actually save you money when compared to the cost of tax penalties. ADP will work with you to determine the right payroll setup for your business, whether you have just one employee or several.

Can a small business do their own payroll?

Do-it-yourself payroll is a popular choice for some new businesses, but like any other DIY project, it may only save you money if you have the skills and resources to do it correctly. You could be quickly overwhelmed by the amount of time it takes to run payroll on your own and the costly penalties that can possibly ensue if you make mistakes. For this reason, many small businesses turn to a payroll service provider for assistance.

How do small businesses run payroll?

Whether you choose to tackle the job on your own or work with a professional, running small business payroll, in its most basic form, consists of these steps:

  1. Track and record employee hours worked
  2. Calculate wages and withholding amounts (taxes, benefits, etc.)
  3. Distribute wages to employees
  4. Deposit the withheld taxes with appropriate government agencies
  5. File employer tax returns at the applicable deadlines
  6. Send employees Form W-2 and other required tax forms
    Throughout each stage of this process, you’ll need to comply with constantly changing regulations – a task that can be difficult without the expertise and assistance of a payroll provider like ADP.

What does payroll software for small business include?

Depending on the provider’s capabilities, small business payroll software may include:

  • The ability to process payroll from any device, anywhere
  • Taxes calculated, paid and filed on your behalf with proper authorization
  • Employee self-service and flexible payment options
  • Intelligent technology that helps flag potential errors
  • Specialized support navigating some laws and regulations

What are the benefits of using small business payroll software?

Saving time is one of the primary reasons small businesses use payroll software. It also provides peace of mind that employees will be paid quickly and accurately via their preferred method of payment. As a result, you can focus more attention on improving your product or service, growing your customer base, and other initiatives that generate revenue.

Does small business payroll software save your business money?

Tax penalties and fines resulting from payroll errors can be expensive. By helping minimize or eliminate these mistakes, payroll software may save you money. Software also automates the payroll process, which may reduce labor expenses associated with running payroll.

Get started

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  2. Legal services are provided by Upnetic Legal Services, a third-party provider
  3. All insurance products will be offered and sold only through Automatic Data Processing Insurance Agency, Inc.,(ADPIA) its licensed agents or its licensed insurance partners, One ADP Blvd. Roseland, NJ 07068. CA license #0D04044. Licensed in 50 states. ADPIA is an affiliate of ADP, Inc.
  4. Internal survey of 1,776 RUN Powered by ADP® customers in 2022.