Payroll for one employee

It’s finally time to run payroll—for yourself. Get set up in no time with our flexible payroll built for owners.

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Run your business smarter with payroll for one employee

Owning your own business can be stressful. That’s why we’ve designed our payroll service to make paying your first employee (or yourself) as easy as setting it and forgetting it. Our best-in-class, 24/7 customer service and compliance expertise help keep owners covered. We even make scaling simple if you plan to grow your business—but you only have to pay for what you need right now.

Advantages of ADP’s payroll services for one employee

Focus on your business while we do your payroll and taxes for you, and take comfort in knowing that you're getting 24/7 phone and chat support for payroll issues that might arise. These are just some of the ways our payroll for one employee helps save you time—and headaches.

Payroll designed to help save time

If you’re like most business owners, you’d rather spend your time growing your business, not calculating payroll. Our payroll solution:

  • Pays your people in just minutes, with helpful tips that guide you along the way
  • Automatically calculates, deducts and files your payroll taxes for you — allowing you to focus on running your business
  • Will help keep you from incurring IRS penalties due to filing payroll taxes late or incorrectly
  • Creates, delivers and files W-2 forms for any new hire you bring on
  • Is enabled for direct deposit, to make sure you (or an employee) gets paid fast

Trusted support when you need it

We have over 70 years of payroll experience—for every business size—and customer service that is consistently best in class. Through us, you’ll receive:

  • Peace of mind, knowing you have access to 24/7 phone or chat support from certified payroll experts
  • Ongoing assistance with payroll questions
  • HR guidance and support, including new hire onboarding
  • A robust online help center, with thousands of answers at your fingertips
  • How-to guides, support articles, and much more

The peace of mind you need—and deserve

It might sound easy to run payroll for just one employee, but payroll complexities have little to do with the size of your business. We'll help you:

  • Stay ahead of the latest state and federal tax laws—for all 50 states
  • Keep up to date with changing HR regulations
  • Avoid costly mistakes thanks to our intelligent tech, which can flag errors before they occur
  • Handle compliance challenges associated with payroll and tax requirements, wage and hour laws, new hire reporting, and more

Your taxes, taken care of

Take comfort in knowing that when we're running your payroll, your taxes are covered. We will:

  • Calculate and deduct your taxes
  • File your taxes with government agencies for you
  • Handle IRS inquiries for you
  • Perform your quarterly and annual reporting
  • Manage your state unemployment insurance (SUI), including claims administration and reviewing your account for erroneous charges
  • Provide helpful guides to help keep you on top of changing federal and state tax requirements

See how we make payroll and HR easier for owners

Our user-friendly platform lets you run payroll in minutes, on your schedule. And our convenient HR tools and benefits are designed for you today—and if you grow your team in the future.

1 Minute Overview

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

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How ADP helps owners like you

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.

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More options — for fewer employees

Even the smallest of small businesses might need to offer solutions beyond payroll. That's why our payroll for one employee lets you add on exactly what your business needs—including health insurance, retirement, time tracking, workers’ comp and more—all designed to work seamlessly together within the RUN Powered by ADP platform.

Business Insurance and Health Benefits1

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.

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App Marketplace

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

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1 All insurance products will be offered and sold through Automatic Data Processing Insurance Agency, Inc., (ADPIA), 1 ADP Blvd, Roseland, NJ 07068. Licensed in 50 States CA License OD4044. ADPIA is an affiliate of ADP, Inc.

Expert insights for owners

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Payroll checklist for small businesses

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Leveling the playing field for small businesses

guidebook

Payroll implementation guide

Top FAQs about payroll for one employee

What is the easiest payroll software to use?

There are dozens of payroll companies out there, all offering varying levels of usability. Some are more DIY&rdquo while others may send a company representative to your business to train you on the product. The easiest solution for you will depend on your business’s unique needs.

How do I do payroll manually?

As opposed to using a payroll provider like ADP, processing payroll manually requires painstaking data entry, flawless recordkeeping and the ability to consistently meet deadlines. If you choose to do payroll this way, you’ll need to:

  1. Agree upon a salary or hourly wage
  2. Use a time clock or other means to track hours worked
  3. Calculate gross wages
  4. Deduct health care and any other pre-tax benefits you offer
  5. Withhold income tax, FICA taxes and any state taxes that apply
  6. Calculate employer contributions to FICA and unemployment tax
  7. Deduct garnishments and post-tax benefits, if applicable
  8. Pay your employee via check or direct deposit

Keep in mind that even with just one employee, there’s a chance you can make a mistake when processing payroll manually, which may result in fines from government agencies.

How much does payroll for one employee typically cost?

The price will hinge on which of the specific services your company requires, and elements such as integrations and related products can also affect price. It's worth keeping in mind that comprehensive payroll services generally save money in the long term—not to mention time. And with ADP, there are no fixed fees, no contract, and no need for an accountant, giving you ultimate flexibility.

How long does it take to set up payroll for one?

If you have all the required documentation, you can self-onboard in just minutes and begin processing payroll days after that. This streamlined setup process stands out in an industry known for long lag times.

How do I set up payroll for one employee?

To run payroll for one employee, whether you’re doing it yourself or working with a payroll service provider, you’ll need:

  • Employer identification number (EIN)
  • State and local tax ID numbers, if applicable
  • State unemployment ID number
  • Employee’s I-9 and W-4 forms
  • Employee’s state withholding allowance certificate
  • Department of Labor records
  • Defined pay periods
What kinds of owners typically use ADP for payroll for one-person businesses?

We are proud to support owners across a number of industries. Some of our payroll-for-one customers include financial services providers, those in the trucking industry, retail owners, and more. Whatever your business, ADP can help.

I hope to rapidly grow my business over the next several years. Can ADP still support me if I do?

Our products and services are designed to grow more robust as you bring on more employees. Along with payroll, our HR and hiring tools can help you manage a growing team.

Do you offer payroll for S-corps as well?

Yes. Learn more about S-corps here, or speak with one of our representatives to help you determine if designating your business as an S corporation can benefit you.

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