pay.day logo
Built for U.S. small businesses

Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses

Run payroll, manage payroll taxes, pay employees by direct deposit, track time and PTO, and keep payroll records organized in one simple platform.

✓ Plans start at $6✓ 50-state coverage✓ Direct deposit
Payroll Overview
$84.2KGross Payroll
42Employees
$19.3KTaxes & Deductions
September Payroll
Pay date Sep 25
Ready to process
▣ Online Payroll
✓ U.S. Tax Compliance
$ Direct Deposit
50 50-State Coverage
Why PayDay

Everything small businesses need to run payroll with less manual work

↻

Automated Payroll

Calculate regular pay, overtime, bonuses, commissions, reimbursements, deductions and net pay.

%

Payroll Tax Automation

Support federal, state and local payroll tax calculations and compliance workflows.

⇄

Direct Deposit

Move from payroll approval to employee payment with secure payment workflows and digital pay stubs.

◷

Time + PTO

Connect hours, attendance, overtime, leave and PTO directly with payroll.

Simple explanation

What is small business payroll software?

Small business payroll software helps calculate employee pay, manage deductions and payroll taxes, process payments, maintain payroll records and generate reports.

The right system should make everyday payroll easier while supporting a business as employees, locations and payroll requirements grow.

✓ Hourly & salaried pay
✓ Tax calculations
✓ Employee payments
✓ Payroll records
✓ PTO & overtime
✓ Reports & analytics

One connected payroll workflow

Instead of switching between spreadsheets, time sheets, banking tools and employee files, PayDay brings the workflow into one platform.

Employees
Payroll
Taxes
Payments
Time & PTO
Reports
Simple pricing

Payroll pricing small businesses can understand

$6 starting price
✓ Payroll processing
✓ Tax automation
✓ Employee self-service
✓ Payroll reporting
Flexible setup

Set up payroll around the way your business works

Support salaried employees, hourly workers, contractors, multiple pay schedules, benefits, deductions, departments, locations and business entities without creating separate manual processes.

✓ Weekly & biweekly payroll
✓ Semimonthly & monthly
✓ Benefits & deductions
✓ Multi-company support
Payroll Setup
Configure pay groups and schedules
USA
Hourly Team
Active
Salaried Team
Active
Contractors
Active
California Office
Active
Texas Office
Active
Payroll engine

Automated payroll processing for small businesses

01 / CALCULATE

Gross-to-Net Payroll

Calculate gross earnings and apply taxes, deductions, benefits, adjustments and other payroll items to determine net pay.

02 / REVIEW

Payroll Review

Review employee earnings, deductions, taxes and net pay before the payroll run is completed.

03 / RECORD

Payroll History

Maintain payroll history, compensation changes, payments and payroll records for easier review later.

Tax automation

Payroll tax automation and compliance support

Federal, state and local payroll support

Manage payroll tax calculations and organize payroll information across jurisdictions. Keep year-end and employee tax information available through the same payroll environment.

Federal Income TaxSocial SecurityMedicareState TaxesLocal TaxesW-2 AccessPayroll Reports
50
State Payroll Coverage

Built for businesses managing teams across the United States.

Employee PaymentsApproved
Total payroll$64,920.4042 employees • Sep 25 payday
Jordan MillerDirect deposit
$2,984.20
Amelia BrownDirect deposit
$2,626.90
Noah WilsonDirect deposit
$2,410.50
Payments

Pay employees with direct deposit

Move from payroll calculation to payment without creating another manual workflow. Generate digital pay stubs, keep payment history, and support secure employee payments.

✓ Direct deposit
✓ ACH workflows
✓ Digital pay stubs
✓ Payment history
Time + payroll

Track time, PTO and overtime with payroll

◷

Time Tracking

Track working hours, clock-in and clock-out activity, timesheets and attendance.

▦

Shift Management

Create schedules for fixed shifts, rotating teams and different work patterns.

↟

Overtime

Use tracked hours and payroll rules to calculate applicable overtime.

☼

PTO Management

Manage vacation, sick leave, paid time off and unpaid leave.

≋

Leave Balances

Track accruals, leave taken and available employee time.

✓

Approvals

Let managers review time-off requests through defined workflows.

Employee self-service

Give employees easy access to payroll information

Employees can review digital pay stubs, available tax documents, W-2 information, PTO balances and payroll details without asking HR to send the same information repeatedly.

✓ Pay stubs
✓ W-2 access
✓ PTO balances
✓ Mobile access
Good morning,
Alex Morgan
Latest net pay$2,742.80Paid Sep 10
▤ View Pay Stub ›
W-2 Tax Documents ›
PTO Balance · 72 hrs ›
Attendance ›
Payroll Reports & AnalyticsSep 2026
Payroll Cost$84.2K
Overtime186 hrs
Tax Liability$19.3K
Employees Paid42 / 42
Reporting

Payroll reports that help you understand labor costs

Use dashboards and reports to review earnings, deductions, taxes, overtime, leave and employee costs.

✓ Payroll register
✓ Tax liability reports
✓ Overtime & attendance
✓ Custom reports
How it works

Run payroll in three simple steps

1

Add employees

Set up pay rates, tax information, bank details, deductions, benefits and pay schedules.

2

Review payroll

Use hours, overtime, earnings, deductions and taxes to calculate each payroll run.

3

Pay & record

Process payments, generate pay stubs and keep payroll history updated.

Buyer comparison

Compare PayDay with other small business payroll software

What to comparePayDayWhat buyers should check
Payroll processing✓ AutomatedAre full payroll calculations included?
Payroll tax automation✓ AvailableWhich taxes and jurisdictions are included?
Multi-state payroll✓ 50-state coverageDo additional states cost extra?
Direct deposit✓ AvailableWhat payment speeds and rules apply?
Time tracking✓ IntegratedIs a separate product required?
PTO & leave✓ IntegratedAre balances and approvals included?
Employee self-service✓ AvailableWhat payroll documents can employees access?
Integrations

Connect payroll with the tools your business uses

Accounting Tools
HR Systems
Time Tracking
Benefits
Banking
API Access
Import / Export
Security

Secure payroll for sensitive employee data

Role-Based Access

Control who can view and manage payroll information.

Encryption

Protect sensitive information in storage and transit.

Audit Trails

Maintain visibility into payroll changes and adjustments.

Security Standards

Show verified standards and data-center compliance clearly.

More payroll tools

One connected platform as your payroll needs grow

Workshift & SchedulerShifts, staffing coverage and schedules.
Workflow & ApprovalsPayroll, PTO and reimbursement approvals.
AdjustmentsBonuses, retro pay and corrections.
Leave ManagementVacation, sick leave and PTO.
Benefits DeductionsMedical, dental, vision and insurance.
401(k) & RetirementEmployee retirement deductions.
CommissionsVariable and performance-based pay.
ReimbursementsApproved employee reimbursements.
GarnishmentsApplicable payroll garnishments.
HolidaysCompany and U.S. holiday calendars.
Loans & AdvancesRepayment schedules and deductions.
Multi-CompanyBranches, entities and payroll structures.

Built for small businesses that plan to grow

10k+Happy Customers
4.9/5Average Rating
99.5%Uptime
24/7Support

Frequently asked questions about small business payroll software

What is the best payroll software for small businesses?

The best payroll software is the system that fits the business's employee count, payroll frequency, tax requirements, payment methods, budget and workforce needs. PayDay combines payroll processing, tax automation, direct deposit, time and attendance, PTO, self-service and reporting in one platform.

How much does payroll software cost for a small business?

Pricing varies by provider, number of employees and included features. PayDay plans start at $6. Buyers should compare total cost and included features, not only the headline price.

Can a small business run payroll itself?

Yes. With correct employee information, payroll setup, tax rules and payroll software, many small businesses manage payroll internally.

Does PayDay support payroll in different U.S. states?

PayDay provides coverage across all 50 U.S. states and supports multi-state payroll workflows.

Does PayDay offer direct deposit and digital pay stubs?

Yes. PayDay supports direct deposit workflows and digital pay stubs with earnings, taxes, deductions, benefits and net pay details.

Does PayDay include time tracking and PTO?

Yes. Time, attendance, overtime, leave and PTO can connect with payroll so approved workforce data can flow into each payroll cycle.

Can I switch to PayDay from another payroll provider?

Businesses can migrate employee and payroll information during setup. Prior payroll records, employee details, pay structures and deductions should be reviewed during transition.

Make payroll easier for your small business

Bring payroll processing, tax automation, direct deposit, employee records, time tracking, PTO, self-service and reporting into one connected platform.