The 8 Best Payroll Software For Accountants

Get Started with Intuit Online Payroll

Pros

Integrates with QuickBooks Online
Client discounts
Free QBO Elite Payroll subscription for accountants
Easy to use

Cons

Poor customer support

For QuickBooks users, Intuit Online Payroll (also known as QuickBooks Online Payroll) is a smart choice for payroll software. This cloud-based software integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online. For accountants, signing up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and QuickBooks ProAdvisor offers a number of perks — from free software subscriptions to client discounts and more. Best of all? It’s free to sign up.

quickbooks accountant dashboard

QuickBooks Online Accountant Features

QBO users already know the benefits of using this robust accounting software. But there are even more benefits to signing up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and the ProAdvisor Program, including:

Free QuickBooks Online Elite Payroll software for accountants
Free QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Time for your firm
Billing options for your firm or directly to your clients
30% off discounts for QuickBooks Online accounting software
30% off discounts for QuickBooks Online Payroll
ProConnect Tax Online for syncing QBO data to tax returns
Marketing resources
Free training and opportunities to earn CPE credits

QuickBooks Online Accountant Pricing

It is free to sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and the ProAdvisors Program. You can also pass down your ProAdvisor pricing to your clients, helping them save 30% off QuickBooks Online Payroll. Plans range from $31.50-$87.50/month + $3.40-$8.50/month per contractor or employee.

Is QuickBooks Online Accountant Right For You?

If you’re already a QuickBooks Online user, it makes sense to sign up for QuickBooks Online Payroll. Though its customer service leaves much to be desired, QuickBooks Online has a lot to offer with its robust feature set, mobility, and ease of use. Add in free benefits for accountants, and it’s easy to see why this software is a top pick.

2. ADP Accountant Connect: Best Free Payroll Software For Accountants

ADP Payroll

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Get Started with ADP Payroll

Pros

Free accountant portal
Cloud-based
Single sign-in access for ADP clients

Cons

Non-transparent pricing for clients
Additional fees

ADP Accountant Connect is a tool that allows you to access all of your authorized clients’ accounts with a single sign-on. This cloud-based program will enable you to easily access payroll data, tax forms, and other important information for your clients who use Run by ADP, ADP Workforce Now, and ADP TotalSource. You’ll receive valuable insights and have access to numerous features to manage your clients’ payroll — all at no cost to you.

adp accountant connect dashboard

ADP Accountant Connect Features

ADP Accountant Connect makes it easy to manage payroll for multiple clients. Standout features include:

Single sign-on access for all authorized accounts
Multi-client payroll reports
Easy onboarding
Client Insights feature provides transparency, tips, and emerging trends
Compensation Benchmarking
Access to Wolters Kluwer IntelliForms for current tax forms and instructions
Numerous accounting software and business app integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and Slack
Hundreds of client letter templates
Payroll, tax, and retirement calculators
Accounting Marketing Toolkit

ADP Accountant Connect Pricing

ADP Accountant Connect is absolutely free. However, your clients will need to subscribe to one of ADP’s payroll plans. Unfortunately, ADP is not transparent when it comes to payroll pricing, so your clients will have to connect with an account rep for more information. However, you can easily refer clients to ADP through your Accountant Connect dashboard. Simply enter client information, and an account rep will reach out to help them get started.

Is ADP Accountant Connect Right For You?

ADP Accountant Connect is a great tool for accountants that work with one or more small- to mid-sized businesses that use ADP payroll. The platform is easy to use, and it’s completely free. Referring clients to ADP is also a breeze. However, accountants with clients that use other payroll services and are unwilling to switch won’t find any benefits from using ADP Accountant Connect.

3. Gusto Pro: Overall Best Payroll Software For Accountants

Gusto

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Pros

Free payroll subscription
Client discounts
Intuitive UI

Cons

Limited reporting

Gusto Pro makes it easy for accountants and accounting firms to run payroll, whether you have one client or 50+. Gusto Pro offers full-service payroll, along with benefits and HR support. Real-time alerts, numerous software integrations, and solid customer support make Gusto Pro a top choice among accountants, potentially at no cost to you.

gusto pro dashboard

Gusto Pro Features

As a Gusto Partner, you’ll get a generous set of features within Gusto Pro. Most notably, you’ll receive:

Free Gusto Complete payroll by onboarding a new client every 12 months
Free trials for clients
Dedicated account rep
Discounts to pass to clients or keep as revenue share
Full-service payroll
Benefits management
Compliance and HR support
Opportunities to earn CPE credits from live webinars
Integrations with software and apps, including QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and Expensify

Gusto Pro Pricing

Gusto Pro is free for accountants, provided you onboard at least one new client every 12 months. For your clients, Gusto pricing plans range from $39-$149/month + $6-$12/month per employee. With your Gusto Pro plan, you can potentially receive discounts of up to 20% off to pass down to your clients.

Is Gusto Right For You?

Gusto is the choice for over 200,000 small businesses that want to manage payroll and benefits, and it’s easy to see why. With full-service payroll, an easy-to-use platform, solid features and integrations, and good customer support, Gusto has a lot going for it. For accountants, free software for your business, revenue sharing, and client features are just a handful of extras that add to the value of this payroll software.

Get Started with Gusto

4. Rippling For Accountants: Best Payroll Software For Large Accounting Firms

Rippling

Pros

Suitable for large accounting firms
HR and IT management features
Numerous integrations
Excellent customer support

Cons

Non-transparent pricing
It may be unsuitable for smaller firms

Rippling is a professional employer organization (PEO) solution that provides payroll, HR, and IT management services. Rippling For Accountants simplifies payroll, enhances transparency, and automates processes, leaving you more time to grow your accounting firm. It boasts numerous integrations for additional automation and excellent support to help you get the most out of the software.

rippling dashboard

Rippling Features

Rippling is designed to help you automate your payroll processes and improve accuracy, whether you have a single client or thousands. Here’s what to expect when you subscribe to this software:

All-in-one payroll, HR, benefits, time, and attendance system
Pay rate auto-calculations
Integrates with accounting software, including QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct
Integrates with time-tracking tools
Tax support and compliance
Job costing
90-second employee onboarding

Rippling Pricing

Rippling does not disclose its pricing online, only stating that plans start at $8/month per user. You must contact Rippling to receive your custom quote.

Is Rippling Right For You?

Rippling is best suited for larger firms that serve clients with complex payroll, HR, and IT needs. With built-in automations, integrations, and a load of features, Rippling is robust enough for accountants that handle numerous clients but may be overkill for smaller firms that serve clients with basic payroll needs.

5. Patriot Partner Program: Best Combined Accounting & Payroll Software For Accountants

Patriot Payroll

Get Started with Patriot Payroll

Pros

Free accounting and payroll subscription
Client discounts
Excellent customer support

Cons

Limited benefits and HR
Limited customizability

Patriot Payroll is easy-to-use cloud-based software that features everything you need in payroll software, along with excellent customer support and tax support. There are even more reasons for accountants to sign up, including free accounting and payroll software and discounted client pricing through its no-fee partner program.

patriot payroll partner program

Patriot Partner Program Features

Patriot’s Partner Program is a free program open to accountants, bookkeepers, and CPAs. Here’s what to expect when you sign up:

Discounts of 5%-20% on your payroll software
Free payroll and accounting software for users with six or more clients
Consolidated billing
Free two-day direct deposit for qualified clients
Free co-branding
Summarized Partner Reports to easily view client data
A single sign-in to access all client accounts
Bonuses for referring new clients
Easy data migration for clients

Patriot Partner Program Pricing

You can receive your Patriot software at a discounted rate when you sign up for its Partner Program. Pricing is based on your number of clients and ranges from $29.60-$35.15/month + $3.20-$3.80/month per employee or contractor. You can also receive Patriot’s accounting and payroll software for free if you have six or more active clients.

Is Patriot Partner Program Right For You?

What Patriot lacks (such as benefits, HR management, and a customizable dashboard), it makes up for in usability and affordability — for both you and your clients. For accountants managing one or more small business clients with basic payroll, Patriot offers just enough features and integrations to fulfill that need. Give the software a try yourself with a 30-day free trial.

6. Paychex: Best Payroll Software For Growing Accounting Firms

Paychex

Pros

Scalable
Easy to use
Strong reporting

Cons

Non-transparent pricing

Paychex is a cloud-based payroll and HR solution that offers loads of benefits to businesses, including insurance, health care, and more. As an accountant, you can sign up for Paychex’s partner program, which allows you to access all client data easily. Paychex is a scalable solution that enables you to manage one or multiple clients through a single dashboard, even clients with more complex payroll and HR needs.

paychex flex dashboard

Paychex Features

This cloud-based software offers a number of features for its users, including a nice set of perks for accountants.

Here’s what to expect from Paychex:

Accountant-specific dashboard in Paychex Flex to manage your client data
Financial calculators
Federal and state tax forms
Free CPE credits through online courses and webinars
Integration with Paychex General Ledger
Year-end accounting tools and resources
Numerous integrations with business apps and software, including QuickBooks and Xero
100+ reports

Paychex Pricing

Unfortunately, Paychex isn’t very forthcoming on its website with the pricing of its products. You will need to contact the company directly to receive a quote for services.

Is Paychex Right For You?

Paychex offers payroll and other business solutions that you can help your clients manage efficiently. It provides a solid set of features, robust reporting, and excellent customer service. Users report that the software is easy to use. With so many different products, it’s a scalable option for growing businesses and accounting firms.

Get Started with Paychex

7. SurePayroll For Accountants: Best Payroll Software For Small Accounting Firms

SurePayroll

Pros

Free payroll subscription
Accounting software integrations
Easy to use
Good customer support

Cons

Non-transparent pricing
Unsuitable for businesses with advanced payroll needs

Accountants can partner with SurePayroll by becoming a SurePayroll Reseller. This cloud-based software features an easy-to-use dashboard with single sign-on access to manage all of your clients, and a mobile app makes it easy to handle payroll on the go. Consolidated billing helps you control pricing for your clients. White-label options and numerous accounting software integrations make it easy to provide payroll services to your clients.

SurePayroll For Accountants Features

SurePayroll For Accountants has a wide selection of features designed to help you manage payroll while boosting your brand and revenue.

Highlights include:

Free software for your firm by bringing on 10 clients
White-label option available
Dedicated Sales and Enrollment specialist and support from a team of payroll experts
Revenue Share and Direct Invoice consolidated billing options
Free integrations with accounting software, including QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Xero, AccountEdge, and Sage 50
Marketing tools and other resources for accountants

SurePayroll For Accountants Pricing

You can get started with SurePayroll For Accountants with a free Reseller Dashboard. Your payroll software is also free if you bring on 10 clients. If you don’t receive your product for free, you will receive wholesale pricing as a Reseller. Typical pricing for SurePayroll is $19.99-$29.99/month + $4-$5/month per employee.

Is SurePayroll For Accountants Right For You?

SurePayroll For Accountants is most suitable for smaller firms with small clients, including individuals that have household employees. While you won’t find all of the bells and whistles available with other payroll options, SurePayroll covers the basics. Add in affordable pricing, a free Reseller program, and mobility, and you’ll see this software is a solid contender for accountant payroll software.

8. OnPay Partner Program: Easiest Payroll Software For Accountants

OnPay

Pros

Free payroll subscription
Revenue sharing and discounts
Marketing resources
Easy to use

Cons

Limited integrations

OnPay’s Partner Program helps you easily manage your clients and grow your firm while providing great perks for accountants. You won’t just get free payroll software for your firm — you’ll also have access to tools and resources for marketing your firm, integrating your accounting software, and accurately running payroll for your clients.

onpay payroll partner dashboard

OnPay Partner Program Features

The OnPay Partner Program is designed to help you streamline your accounting business, manage your clients, and even boost your revenue.

Standout features available to OnPay partners include:

Free payroll software for your accounting business
Intuitive dashboard to manage multiple clients in one place
Multiple user permissions
Integrations with QuickBooks and Xero
Discounts of 10%-20% that can be passed to clients or used as revenue sharing
Marketing resources
OnPay experts available for support, dashboard setup, and client transitions
Co-branding available for larger firms

OnPay Partner Program Pricing

It is free to become an OnPay partner. For your clients, OnPay has a single pricing plan priced at $36/month + $4/month per person. Depending on the number of clients you have, you can receive discounts of up to 20% that can be passed along to your clients.

Is OnPay Partner Program Right For You?

One potential drawback of OnPay is that there is no in-house accounting software, and the software only integrates with QuickBooks or Xero. If you can overlook this (or you’re a QuickBooks or Xero user), you’ll find that OnPay is easy to use, affordably priced, and has a lot of solid perks for accountants. OnPay also provides good customer support and is available to help you get your firm (and your clients) efficiently set up for payroll processing.