Why We Recommend Gusto for Small Business Payroll & HR
Managing payroll and HR can be overwhelming for small business owners, but it doesn’t have to be. At The Hazel Group, we often recommend Gusto as an affordable, easy-to-use platform that simplifies payroll, automates compliance, and streamlines employee management. Whether you're running payroll for the first time or scaling your team, Gusto is a powerful all-in-one solution that grows with your business.
Why Small Businesses Love Gusto
Gusto is built with small to mid-sized businesses in mind. It offers a clean interface, flexible features, and top-tier support which make it a favorite among business owners, bookkeepers, and HR teams alike.
As part of our bookkeeping services at The Hazel Group, we not only recommend Gusto, we also handle the setup and integration for you. We connect Gusto directly to your QuickBooks Online account, enabling seamless automation that keeps your payroll data synced and your books accurate in real time.
Easy Payroll Processing
Gusto’s automated payroll features save hours each pay period. It handles tax calculations, automatic tax filing, and direct deposit without the need for manual input which reduces the risk of errors and late filings. You can run unlimited payrolls, including bonuses and off-cycle runs, across multiple states with ease.
With customizable pay schedules and support for different pay types (hourly, salaried, contractors), Gusto makes payroll management truly flexible. Paperless paychecks also keep things eco-friendly and efficient.
Full-Service HR Tools Without the Overhead
Beyond payroll, Gusto includes HR tools that help businesses manage the entire employee lifecycle from hiring to performance management. Key features include:
Hiring and onboarding tools, including job posts, offer letters, and onboarding checklists
PTO tracking with automated accruals and approvals
A centralized employee database
Compliance alerts to help you stay ahead of labor law changes
Employee self-service portals to reduce administrative burden
If you’re working with The Hazel Group’s People Services team, we can also set up your Gusto platform and advise on access levels, benefit configurations, employee tracking options, and performance tools tailored to your organization’s size, industry, and needs.
Simplified Benefits Administration
Gusto makes it easy to offer competitive employee benefits, even as a small business. The platform supports:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) retirement plans
Workers’ compensation insurance
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Pre-tax commuter benefits
Employees can enroll and manage their benefits directly through the platform, saving you time and reducing administrative overhead. The Hazel Group can also help guide you through setup and ongoing administration to ensure compliance and ease of use.
Smart Reporting and Business Insights
With Gusto’s built-in reporting tools, you can analyze payroll trends, benefits utilization, and labor costs to make more informed business decisions. The insights dashboard provides a clear view of workforce metrics, helping you plan ahead and manage more effectively.
Seamless Integration with QuickBooks Online
Gusto integrates directly with QuickBooks Online, allowing for real-time syncing of payroll data to your general ledger. As part of our bookkeeping support at The Hazel Group, we handle this integration for you, ensuring payroll, taxes, and employee expenses flow accurately into your financial reporting without manual entry or delays.
Final Thoughts: A Smart Payroll & HR Solution for Growing Businesses
If you're looking for a user-friendly payroll service that also supports your HR and employee benefits needs, Gusto is one of the most effective tools on the market. It’s ideal for small businesses that want scalable solutions, without the complexity or cost of an enterprise system.
Whether you're using The Hazel Group for bookkeeping, or People & HR services, we’ll help ensure Gusto is set up properly, integrated with QuickBooks Online, and configured to meet your specific goals.
Check out Gusto to see how it can simplify your payroll and HR and then reach out to us to learn how we can make it work even better for your business.
