Gusto Solo for Creators

You built your brand, but running the business can feel lonely. Not anymore. Gusto Solo helps digital creators save thousands as an S corp, automate payroll, and simplify tax compliance—with support at every step. And with healthcare and 401(k) options available, big-company benefits are finally built for you.

Save thousands on taxes

Successful creators elect S corp status to save tens of thousands every year on taxes. Calculate your savings here.

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Pay yourself with Gusto, not Venmo or ACH

Gusto automatically files your state and federal taxes, so you can focus on running your business.

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Don’t worry about S corp compliance

End-to-end tax and S corp compliance is managed without a headache on Gusto Solo. S corp election and reasonable salary calculation, done.

Big following? Get big discounts.

Your audience counts. Influencers can earn months of Gusto Solo free based on follower count,* making it easier to run payroll and stay compliant as your creator business grows. We’ll also include time tracking, priority support, and domestic contractor fees.*

50k followers

3 months free

200k followers

6 months free

500k followers

18 months free

*Eligible creators must maintain a qualifying aggregate follower count across approved platforms, verified by Gusto. Free months apply to the Gusto Solo base subscription, per-person fees, and select add-ons activated before the discount start date. Other fees and exclusions apply. See full Promotion Terms for details.

"Moving to America AND starting a company meant a lot felt unfamiliar. You have so much to do as a solopreneur - speaking to clients, building products, dealing with taxes, hiring and compliance… The list is endless! Thank the lord that Gusto can take a bunch of that off my plate!"

Will McTighe, LinkedIn & B2B Marketing Whisperer, @will-mctighe

“Starting a business as a solo founder can feel incredibly isolating. You wear every hat: planning the finances, building the systems, and trying to find time to make content… with Gusto, I stopped worrying about things I didn’t need to worry about like payroll and S corp compliance.”

AJ Eckstein, Founder/CEO of Creator Match, @aj_eckstein

“It’s easily overlooked how quickly your success as a solopreneur can go downhill due to a lack of systems. Without Gusto, I’d struggle to identify where my money is going, who my best partners are, and how to remain in compliance as a business owner. Gusto lets me be a creative.”

Tameka Bazile, B2B Content Creator, @thetamekabazile

Tax savings for content creators

Save thousands by electing S corp tax treatment

S corps were built to reward creators with serious tax savings. The right election can unlock thousands each year—without changing how you run your business. Calculate your savings here.

Automated payroll

Pay yourself with Gusto instead of Venmo or ACH bank transfer

Paying yourself through Venmo or random bank transfers blurs the line between personal and business money—not to mention it creates headaches at tax time. With Gusto, you can run payroll for yourself, automatically withhold state and federal taxes, and keep everything clean, compliant, and easy to track.

S corp compliance

Rest easy with simplified tax compliance

Saving thousands is great, but you’ll need to take extra care with tax prep to meet IRS guidelines. If S corp compliance isn’t handled correctly, you could face penalties, back taxes, or an unexpected tax bill down the line. To help avoid costly mistakes, thousands of solopreneurs use Gusto to manage S corp compliance, pay themselves properly, and submit the right forms on time.

Benefits for creators

Big business benefits for small businesses

We’re here to support a long-term career, not just a side hustle. Gusto Solo lets you open a Solo 401(k) and save up to $72,000 towards retirement while reducing taxable income. You can also get access to individual health, dental, and vision coverage through Stride, an official partner of HealthCare.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gusto Solo is a payroll and compliance platform built specifically for solopreneurs and one-person creator businesses. It helps you pay yourself correctly, stay compliant with tax laws, and simplify everything from payroll to retirement savings — without needing a full HR team.

If you run your creative business as an S corporation, Gusto Solo automates payroll to help you pay yourself a reasonable salary, file payroll taxes accurately, and stay compliant. It also includes tools to calculate tax savings and guide your payment setup.

Yes — Gusto Solo helps you onboard and pay contractors compliantly, with direct deposit and year-end 1099 form generation. You can manage both your own payroll and contractor payments in one place.

Gusto Solo gives you access to tools that go beyond payroll, such as a Solo 401(k) retirement plan to help you save as both the employer and employee. It also offers access to benefits like individual health insurance and other financial features to support your long-term creative career. Invoicing and Bill Pay are available through Gusto Money (taxes and fees may apply).

Gusto Solo automates many compliance tasks and provides tools like reasonable salary and tax savings calculators to reduce complexity, but it’s still a good idea to consult with a tax or legal advisor for personalized advice — especially around entity elections, deductions, and income tax filing for your business. Find your Gusto Solo certified accountant here.

Businesses of all sizes use Gusto to simplify their back office. You can also get access to 401(k) and health benefits, plus Gusto Money tools like invoicing and Bill Pay—benefits often associated with larger companies, now accessible to businesses of one (Additional fees apply).

Yes! Gusto Solo’s built-in AI S corp advisor helps you explore whether S corp election makes sense for your business. You’ll get a personalized recommendation based on your situation and we can connect you with an accountant to help out at any time.

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