Back office
Books and payroll for a small shop
Dispatch software does not replace the books or payroll. These five are widely used by small employers. Gusto and OnPay publish payroll prices. The accounting products below did not get a confirmed price in this pass, so those cells say see site.
Editorial, not sponsored. How we will mark paid placements.
| Tool | QuickBooks Online | Xero | Wave | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping | Payroll | Payroll |
| What the vendor says | QuickBooks Online is Intuit’s small-business accounting product. The site describes bookkeeping, invoicing and getting paid, expenses, payroll, and related business tools, including Intuit Intelligence features for cleaning up books and drafting invoices. | Xero describes online accounting software for small businesses that connects to your bank, your accountant or bookkeeper, and other business apps. | Wave says small businesses can create invoices, accept online payments, and handle accounting in one place. | Gusto handles payroll, tax filing, and HR for employers, including benefits and time tools on higher plans. The pricing page lists three public plans and says service is month to month. | OnPay describes payroll software with tax filing, HR tools, benefits, and time tracking. The pricing section lists a base fee plus a per-worker fee, and says setup help is included. |
| Published price | See siteSee site. We did not confirm a current public price. | See siteXero’s site offers a free trial. Plan prices were not confirmed in this pass. | See siteSee site. We did not confirm a current public price. | Simple from $49/mo + $6 per personOn Gusto’s pricing page, Simple is $49/mo plus $6/mo per person, Plus is $80/mo plus $12/mo per person, and Premium is $180/mo plus $22/mo per person. Gusto says plans are month to month and that you can cancel any time. Add-ons cost extra. | $49/mo + $6 per workerOnPay’s site lists a $49 per month base fee and $6 per month per worker. The page says expert setup is included and that you can add time tracking, HR, or benefits. |
| Our note | The books system many trade apps already sync to. If your field software has a QuickBooks integration, this is the default accounting shortlist. | The other common accounting system alongside QuickBooks. Check that your field software syncs to it before you switch. | A starter books-and-invoices option for a very small shop. Confirm what is included before you assume the accounting tools are free. | A clear payroll shortlist for a crew that is on W-2s. It does not replace your scheduling software. | Published pricing in the same range as Gusto’s Simple plan. Compare support and the time-clock features if techs work in the field. |
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What to do with this
Pick the accounting system your field software can sync to, then pick payroll that files the taxes. If your bookkeeper already has a system, switching for a lower sticker price can cost more than it saves.
All guides includes head-to-head matchups and best-software pages by trade.