Simple contractor payroll with Gusto.

Gusto’s all-in-one platform helps make it easy for you to outsource your projects to an independent contractor. Onboard new hires, track payments and manage benefits all from one place. Payroll and tax filing are automated, which leaves you free to run your business.

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Let us do the juggling.

Paying both contractors and employees can be overwhelming. Luckily, Gusto’s all-in-one platform keeps track of all payments and lets you manage both from one place.

Low, transparent pricing.

Get unlimited payments, tax filing, and more for a per-person fee or opt into the Contractor Only plan. Either way, you only pay for the months your contractors are paid.

Level up with Gusto.

Gusto is designed for the business you are now and the business you’re sure to become. As you expand, you can add employees, upgrade your benefits, and more.

Gusto saves me time with fewer errors.

Kandy Dicken, Owner, Strong Thinkers Inc.

Gusto is one of the most helpful tools we use. It takes the time-consuming and confusing aspects of running a business and makes them fast and easy to understand.

Brand Manager, Small Business Retail Company

95%

95% of small businesses said that Gusto serves businesses with remote workers well.¹

90%

90% of small businesses said switching to and setting up Gusto was easy.²

1. Source 2020 TechValidate survey of 283 Gusto customers
2. Source: 2020 TechValidate survey of 309 Gusto customers

Automated payroll and taxes

Outsource your projects with ease.

Gusto lets contractors self-onboard online so they can get to work quickly. And they’ll appreciate getting our automatic payday emails and 1099-NEC forms where required. Meanwhile, you can rest easy knowing that your tax forms are automated, as well as all the calculations involved. So you don’t have to worry about forgotten signatures, missing forms, or a misplaced zero.

Transparent pricing

Get what you pay for, and more.

Every Gusto plan includes contractor payments for the same per-person fee as your employees. You get perks like unlimited payments, direct deposit, tax filing, and pay stubs with no extra fees to set up or file 1099s. We even have a Contractor Only plan for businesses without W-2 employees. Plus we don’t charge you contractors in months you don’t pay them.

Flexible growth

Scale your business without the growing pains.

Success is all about adapting to change. As you succeed and your team expands, Gusto adjusts to your needs. You can onboard and pay more contractors and full-time employees, and add benefits like health insurance. Oh, and those additional paychecks, tax forms, and new hire reports are all automated, so it can be a smooth ride to the top.

Dedicated support

We’re here to help.

Gusto’s support team is dedicated to helping your business succeed. They’re reachable by phone, chat, or email to resolve issues and get you back on track. Plus, Gusto provides online resources like our Help Center, Talk Shop Blog, and How-To Guides.

How can I pay independent contractors manually?

There are several ways to pay a 1099 contractor, including by check, ACH transfer, wire transfer, credit card, and an online payment system such as Paypal or Venmo. Each of these methods has its pros and cons when it comes to related fees and account security, but they’re all tried and true. Without using software like Gusto, however, there may be many more steps.

Why use Gusto to pay independent contractors?

Gusto helps reduce administrative costs by automating tasks that could otherwise sap your time and resources. Our all-in-one platform keeps forms and documents organized in one place, so no matter how complicated the math or how many contractors you hire, you can stay on top of things. Read more about the advantages of running contractor payments through Gusto.

Why should I choose Gusto over other payroll providers?

Gusto’s streamlined software, upfront pricing model, and great customer support makes it a leader in cloud-based payroll services. We’re so confident in our system that we’ve laid out the differences between us and some other providers so that you can decide for yourself. Check it out.

Is Gusto payroll safe?

Gusto’s modern software is designed for security. Gusto leverages industry-standard encryption to secure all of your data, whether you run payroll on your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Plus, we proactively monitor your account to help prevent fraudulent transactions.

What’s the difference between a 1099 vs. W-2?

The primary difference between a 1099 and W-2 is that self-employed independent contractors are paid in full for their services and are responsible for filing their own taxes, while employees have their taxes withheld from their paycheck. The payer reports payments to contractors on IRS Form 1099, and to employees on a W-2. Learn more about the difference from our experts.